Demography structure of Indian Society Notes in English Class 12 Sociology Chapter-1 Book-Indian Society

 

What is sociology?

Sociology is a social science that teaches us that society is not just a group of people but a confluence of ideas, traditions and institutions.

• What is learned in sociology?

• How are people connected to each other?

• What is the importance of social relationships?

• How do institutions like family, religion, education work?

• What effect do rules and traditions have on society?

• Why and how do changes occur in society?

• What is the process of social reform and development?

Founder of Sociology

The credit for establishing sociology as an independent subject goes to Auguste Comte. 

• He called it the "scientific study of society".

• Impact of sociology as a discipline 

• Sociology is based on facts and logic.

• It analyses the problems like caste, religion, class.

• It expands identity, ideology and understanding.

• It inspires reform and positive change in society.

• It increases understanding of issues such as population, family and gender inequality.

• It helps us to understand society and our role in it in depth.

• Sociology makes us logical, aware and socially responsible. 

C. Wright Mills' idea

Sociology explains the relationship between personal troubles and social issues. 

Sometimes individual problems are connected to larger problems of society and sociology helps in understanding these relationships

As -

If a person is not getting a job, it is his personal problem. But if unemployment is increasing in the entire city, then it is a social issue.

CHAPTER - 2

Demographic Structure of Indian Society 

Indian Society

What is demography?

Demography is a branch of sociology that studies the size, structure and change of population. In Hindi it is also called 'Janankiki' and in English 'Demography'.

It is composed of two Greek words: 

• Demos (people)

• Graphene (study)

This topic helps in understanding aspects such as number of people, births, deaths and migration.

Sociology and Demographics

• The study of demography is very important for sociology.

• The emergence and establishment of sociology as a separate academic discipline can be attributed to demography.

Late 18th century:

Two important processes took place simultaneously in Europe:-

• Establishment of nation-states (as a form of political organisation).

• The beginning of modern statistical science.

Modern State and Statistics

The modern state expanded its role and functioning over time. Under this, the state's activity increased in many new areas. 

• Development of early forms of public health management such as hospitals, vaccination, cleanliness campaigns.

• Police and law and order compliance such as crime prevention, traffic rules, safety measures.

• Creation of policies related to agriculture and industry like subsidy to farmers, tax exemption to industries.

• Active involvement in taxation and revenue generation like GST, Income Tax, levies on Government services.

• Interest in urban governance such as waste management, public space development.

Social significance of demography

Demographics does not just tell numbers, it paints a picture of the needs of the society.

Why is the study of population important?

• It tells how many people live where and what facilities are needed there.

• It helps the government in planning the facilities like health services, employment opportunities, schemes for senior citizens, education etc.

• Demographics is the pulse of society – it tells us where society is, and where it needs to go.

Two Main Types of Demographics

• Formal Demography

• It is completely based on data.

It studies:-

• Birth

• Death

• Migration

Social Demography

It looks at how population affects society.

It studies:-

• Education,

• employment,

• Politics,

• social structure

Population Census and its importance

• Census means counting of the country!

• It's a way we find out how many people live in a country, where they live, what they do, and what kind of life they lead.

History of Census:

• The tradition of collecting social statistics is very old, but modern censuses began in the late 18th century.

• The first modern census in the United States took place in 1790.

• This method was also adopted in Europe in the early 19th century.

Beginning of Census in India:

• The British first started the census work between 1867-72.

• From 1881 onwards, regular census started being conducted every ten years.

• India also continued this process after independence.

• Since 1951, seven decennial censuses have been conducted.

• The 2011 census is the most recent.

Population Growth in India

From 1951 to 1981 the population in India grew very rapidly.

The reasons were 

• Better health services

• Death rate decreased but birth rate remained high

Its effect

• increased burden on resources

• Rise in unemployment and poverty

What happened after that ?

• The government launched family planning and awareness campaigns.

• Due to which the population growth rate gradually started declining. 

• Now people have started understanding small families.

Causes of Population Change

Population sometimes increases, sometimes decreases – but why?  

There are three main reasons behind this:

Birth Rate

• It tells how many children are born per 1000 people.

• If birth rate is high → population will increase.

• Example:- In villages where families are big, the birth rate may be high.

Death Rate

• It tells how many deaths occur per 1000 people.

• If death rate is high → population will decrease.

• But nowadays mortality rate has reduced due to better health facilities.

Migration

• This happens when people move from one place to another. If many people come to a city, the population there increases. And if people move out of the city, the population there decreases.

• Example: People move from villages to cities for jobs.

Uses of population studies

Demographics is not just a game of numbers, it is a mirror of a society. Its use is very important for both the government and the society.

1. Helpful in policy making

• The government makes accurate and useful plans based on population statistics.

• For example, where schools are needed, where hospitals are needed, where employment opportunities need to be increased.

2. Help in education, health and employment schemes

• If we know how many children are there in which area → schools can be built there.

• If an area is suffering from diseases → health services can be improved there.

• Employment scheme can be brought in the areas where there is unemployment.

3. Understanding the social, economic and political impact

From the population study it is understood that – 

What does which class need,  what issues are emerging in the society,  all these things also influence political decisions.

Malthus's theory of population growth

• English economist Thomas Robert Malthus (1766–1834) gave his theory on population growth, known as "Malthus's Population Theory". 

• He presented this theory in his book "An Essay on the Principle of Population" in 1798.

• This was a pessimistic theory. 

What was the main idea of ​​Malthus?

Malthus talked about the imbalance between the growth of population and food. 

he believed:

1. Population increases in Geometric Progression:-

That is, very quickly:- 2, 4, 8, 16, 32...

2. Food production increases in Arithmetic Progression :-

That is, gradually:- 2, 4, 6, 8, 10...

This means that as the population grows rapidly, the quantity of food will not be able to increase at the same pace.

outcome:

• lack of food,

• Starvation,

• poverty,

• Conflict and instability

Measures to control population

Malthus suggested two kinds of measures to control population:

(a) Artificial restraints 

These measures are meant to reduce the birth rate. That is, an attempt to stop the population beforehand.

Main measures:

• Delay in marriage 

• Family planning 

• Moral discipline (such as self-control)

• Government Policies That Help Reduce Population

(b) Natural Deterrents (Positive Checks)

These are the conditions that increase mortality. If the population does not stop, nature will punish.

Main factors:

• War

• Famine

• Epidemics (Diseases)

• Natural Disasters

Criticism of Malthus's theory

Many scholars said that if the country develops economically, then the population can also be controlled.

Experience of Western countries:

• It has been observed in Europe and America that with time the population growth rate slows down and the standard of living of people improves.

• In the modern era, technology has increased food production a lot. The standard of living has also become better than before.

Marxist and modern thought

The cause of poverty is not population, but the unequal distribution of resources. Some people use a lot of resources, while the majority live in poverty. This shows that the problem lies in the economic and social inequality of society, not just in population.

Influence of Malthus's theory

• His ideas gave direction to population studies.

• His theory was followed by modern population policies.

• Many countries adopted measures to control the birth rate.

 

Demographic transition theory

This theory states that as a country develops economically and socially, its rate of population growth changes. 

Three main steps:

• traditional society 

• High birth rate and high death rate 

• Disease, malnutrition, and lack of medical care result in high mortality rates.

• People have more children, which doesn't cause much change in the population.

• The population remains roughly stable.

Transitional societies

• high birth rate and low death rate

• Improvements in medicine, sanitation, and nutrition reduced mortality rates.

• But the birth rate still remains high.

• The population increases very rapidly.

modern society

• Low birth rate and low death rate 

• People adopt family planning.

• Lifestyle improves, education increases.

• The rate of population growth slows down and society becomes stable.

Importance:

• Helps in understanding the relation between development of society and population growth.

• Improvements in health and education can stabilize the population.

• It is a useful theory for population control and economic policy in many countries.

Various Concepts and Indicators in Population Studies

Various concepts and indicators are important in population studies, which help in understanding the size, structure and trends of the population.

1. Birth Rate

• This is the number of children born in a year per 1000 people. 

• It is expressed as:

  

It indicates how quickly the population is growing in an area.

2. Death Rate

• This is the number of people who die in a year per 1000 people.

• It is expressed as:  

It is an indicator of the health services and living standards of a society.

3. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)

• This is the number of children who die before the age of one year per 1000 live births.

• It is an important parameter of health facilities and nutritional level in the society.

4. Fertility Rate

• It represents the average number of children a woman gives birth to in her lifetime.

• To maintain the natural fertility rate this rate should be 2.1.

5. Sex Ratio

• It represents the number of women per 1000 men.

• It is expressed as:

If this ratio is very low, it means that there may be gender discrimination or higher mortality rates for women.

Population age structure 

It tells how the population of an area is distributed on the basis of age. It provides very important information for the economic, social and policy planning of the society.

There are three main divisions of the age group:

0–14 years → Boys age group 

• This class is dependent.

• They need education, nutrition and health services.

15–64 years → working population 

• This class drives the economy.

• These are the people who do jobs, participate in production and also pay taxes.

65+ years → Older population 

• These also come under the dependent category.

• They need health services, pension and care.

Population Age Structure Importance:

This information helps the government decide how much resources, services and schemes are needed for which category.

India's population size and growth

• India is the second most populous country in the world after China.

• According to 2011 census: Total population of India – 121 crores (1.21 billion)

1. History of population growth

A. 1901–1951: 

Slow growth (1.33%) The growth of population was not very high. Poverty, diseases, famine and poor health services were the main reasons during this period.

B. 1911–1921: 

Lowest growth (-0.03%) This was the only decade in India's history in which the population declined.

Main reasons:

The 1918–1919 influenza pandemic killed about 12.5 million people. 1921 is therefore called the "pandemic dividing point".

C. 1951–1981: 

• The era of population explosion

• During this time, health services improved, death rates decreased, but birth rates remained high.

• Between 1961–1981, the growth rate was around 2.2%

• There was a rapid increase in population.

After 1981: 

• Beginning of control

• The government promoted family planning, awareness campaigns, and health services.

• Due to this the population growth rate gradually started decreasing.

2. Declining mortality rates and improving health

A. Before 1931 both the birth rate and death rate were high.

B. After 1921, mortality rates began to decline due to control of epidemics.

C. Massive deaths (12.5 million) from the 1918-19 influenza pandemic.

D. Later vaccinations, improvements in medical services, and sanitation campaigns reduced mortality rates.

E. In 1994 and 2006, diseases like plague came again, but did not cause much damage.

3. Effects of famine and starvation

• Earlier famines used to occur due to poor agricultural production and distribution system.

• The Green Revolution, storage systems, and government schemes improved the situation.

• Schemes like MGNREGA provided employment and food security to the poor.

4. Reasons for the decline in the birth rate

• Education, women's empowerment, and family planning reduced the birth rate.

• The birth rate varied from state to state: 

• The birth rate remained high in North India.

• The birth rate remained low in South and East India (around 1.7).

5. Future Prospects

• India's population growth rate may be almost zero by 2041.

• The population of many states will become stable.

• But population growth may still remain fast in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Age of Indian population 

India has a young population, meaning there are more young people here. India has a higher proportion of younger people than other countries, which gives it a demographic advantage.

1. Population distribution in different age groups

0-14 Years (Child Age Group): 

• It was 42% in 1971, but declined to 29% in 2011.

• By 2026 it may reach 11%.

15-59 years (working age group): 

• It was 53% in 1971, which increased to 63% in 2011.

• This growth means that the working age population in India is getting larger.

60+ Years (Older Age Group): 

• It was 7% in 2001, and may reach 12% by 2026.

• This will increase the health and social security needs of the elderly.

Age Group Pyramid, 1961, 1981, 2001 and 2026

2. Regional variations 

• In some states the child age group is higher in number, while in others the number of elderly people is increasing.

• North India has a younger population while South India has a growing older population.

• In terms of age structure, it has started achieving the status of developed countries

• The proportion of population in younger age groups is quite high and the proportion of older people is relatively low

3. Effects of changes in age structure

• Demand for education and health services will increase.

• Employment opportunities and workforce conditions will be affected.

• Social schemes for the care of the elderly will be necessary.

4. Future Prospects

• If India's young workforce is utilized properly, it can accelerate economic growth.

• The government will have to focus on education, skill development and health policies.

Falling sex ratio in India 

What is the male-female ratio?

It tells how many women there are per 1000 men in a country or region. It is an important social indicator that gives a glimpse of the status, security and rights of women.

1. Historical perspective of the sex ratio in India

• In 1901: There were 972 women per 1000 men.

• In 1961: It decreased to 941.

• In 2001: It fell to 927, the lowest ever.

• In 2011: There was a slight increase to 943.

2. Decline in child sex ratio 

• In 1961: The male-female ratio in the 0-6 age group was 976.

• In 2001: It decreased to 927.

• In 2011: It further declined to 914.

3. Reasons for decline in male-female ratio

The decline in the number of women in India is linked to social, economic and cultural reasons:

Main reasons:

1. Female foeticide and sex selective abortion

• Killing the girl child in the womb by misusing modern technology.

2. Higher mortality rate of girls

• Malnutrition, lack of health services, and discrimination against the girl child.

3. Social and cultural reasons

• Giving more importance to boys

• Fear of dowry system

• Considering girls as financial burden

4. Regional variations 

There is a clear difference in the male-female ratio in different states of India:

In North India (minor proportion):

• Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh

• Boys are given more priority here.

• Cases of foeticide and discrimination are high.

In South India (better ratio):

• Kerala, Tamil Nadu

• Here women get more opportunities in education and health services.

• Social awareness is better.

5. Government efforts and laws

The Indian government has taken several legal and social steps to improve the sex ratio and prevent female foeticide:

1. The PNDT Act, 1994

• To prevent female foeticide, legal ban on sex determination during pregnancy

• Strict rules were made to prevent misuse of ultrasound and other technologies.

2. "Save daughters, Educate daughters" campaign (2015)

• Preventing female foeticide

• Promoting education and protection of the girl child

• This campaign increased public awareness and tried to change the thinking towards girls in the society.

6. Future Possibilities

1. Education, health and empowerment of girls

• If girls get equal opportunities, good education, nutrition and health services,  then it is possible to improve the sex ratio.

• Women empowerment will increase the respect and safety of girls in the society.

2. Awareness and effective implementation of laws

• Just making laws is not enough,  their strict implementation and public awareness is also necessary.

• Society can be made aware through education, media, schools and panchayats.

Literacy

Literacy means the ability to read, write and understand. This puts any person on the first step towards becoming educated.

1. The importance of literacy

• It is the foundation of economic, social and cultural development.

• A literate person not only reads and writes, but also contributes to the development of society, family and country.

• He understands health, employment and civic responsibilities better.

2. Status of literacy rate in India

• 1991-2001: During this period the literacy rate increased by 16.3%.

• 2001–2011: Literacy rate increased by 10.4%.

• The literacy rate of men was higher than that of women.

3. Gender inequality

• The literacy rate of women is lower than that of men.

• Discrimination in girls' education, economic condition and social reasons are the main reasons for this.

• However, female literacy rate is improving due to government schemes and awareness campaigns.

4. Differences in literacy rates across social groups

• Literacy rates among Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities are lower than those among other groups.

• The literacy rate in rural areas is lower than in urban areas.

5. Government efforts and education schemes

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) – To provide primary education to all children.

• Mid-Day Meal Scheme – To encourage poor children to go to school.

• Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao – To promote education of girls.

6. Future Prospects 

1. Continuous efforts to increase the literacy rate

• Government, society and private institutions together will have to increase investment in the field of education.

• The main goal should be to provide education to every citizen.

2. Special focus on women's education

• It is important to send girls to school and encourage them to pursue secondary and higher education.

• The strongest way to women empowerment is education.

3. Promote digital literacy

• In today's time, just reading and writing is not enough,  digital knowledge (like mobile, computer, internet) is also necessary.

• Digital learning can help in providing education to people in rural and remote areas.

4. Vocational Training

• Not only bookish knowledge, but skill development is also important.

• Youth can be made self-reliant by providing them employment-oriented education.

Rural-Urban Variations

Most of the population in India lives in rural areas, but urbanization is gradually increasing.

1. The ratio of rural and urban population

Census 2001 :-

• 72% of the population was in rural areas.

• 28% of the people lived in cities.

Census 2011 :-

• The rural population declined to 68.8%.

• The urban population increased to 31.2%.

What does it mean?

• People are moving from villages to cities in search of better life, education, health and employment.

• This is leading to increasing urbanisation, and increasing pressure on cities (e.g., housing, traffic, pollution).

2. Due to urbanization

In India, people are rapidly moving from villages to cities. There are many important reasons behind this:-

Economic growth and employment opportunities

• Factories, companies, business and service sectors are growing rapidly in cities.

• This gives rise to more employment opportunities, which attracts people.

3. Better health, education and lifestyle

• Cities offer: good hospitals, higher educational institutions, and a comfortable lifestyle

• People move to cities in search of a better life.

4. Decreasing dependence on agriculture in villages

• Income from farming is declining, and agriculture is no longer a very reliable occupation.

• The use of machines and shortage of land have forced villagers to migrate to cities.

3. Inequalities between villages and cities

Livelihood : 

• Agriculture is the main employment in villages, while cities have more opportunities in industrial and service sectors.

Income and standard of living: 

• People have higher income in cities, whereas poverty is higher in villages.

facilities : 

• Education, health, transportation and entertainment facilities are better in cities.

• Problems of roads, electricity, water and internet still persist in the villages.

Housing and Settlements : 

• Slums are increasing in cities because people from villages are coming in search of employment.

4. Problems associated with urbanisation

• Migration from villages to cities.

• Congestion, traffic and inflation in cities.

• Increase in the number of people living in slums.

5. Measures necessary for rural development

• Education, health and basic facilities need to be improved in the villages.

• To increase employment opportunities, industry and small businesses need to be encouraged.

• To control urbanization, better living facilities will have to be provided in the villages itself.

Population policy of India 

Population policy has been formulated to control the population of India and ensure socio-economic development.

1. India's first population policy (1952)

• India adopted a population control policy for the first time in 1952.

• The main objective of this policy was to control the rate of population growth and promote family planning.

• It was linked to health and social development.

2. The main goals of the population policy

• Reducing the population growth rate.

• Promote family planning.

• Reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.

• To improve health services.

• Emphasis on education and empowerment of women.

3. Family planning campaign during 1975-76

• During this period, the government launched a forced sterilization campaign, which caused discontent among the public.

• Later voluntary family planning was promoted.

4. National Population Policy (2000)

Goal: To stabilise the population by 2045.

Key Points: 

• To reduce the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to 2.1 by 2010.

• Providing access to health services for all.

• Nutrition and vaccination programmes for children and women.

• Promoting education, especially for girls.

5. Means of family planning

• Sterilization

• Vasectomy for men 

• Tubectomy for women 

• Providing contraceptive pills and condoms.

6. Success and challenges of population policy

• The population growth rate has decreased, but it still remains high in some states.

• There is a need to further increase family planning in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

• It is necessary to pay more attention to women's education and health.

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