Meaning of Population Explosion

It refers to the rapid increase in the population of an area among human beings.
Furthermore, it is a situation where the economy is not capable of coping with the
increasing demand of its population.

Meaning of Population census

Population Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing and
disseminating demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a specific
time, of all persons in a country or a well-defined part of a country.

Features of recent census

1.Sponsorship: To conduct a census, vast organisation and considerable resources
are needed. This can be done only by National Government with the cooperation of
States and Local Governments.
2.Defined Territory: The population figures have no meaning unless they refer to
a well defined territory.
3.Universality: Each person present and/or residing within its scope, without
omission or duplication should be included in the census to ensure completeness
and accuracy of census data.
4.Simultaneity: The total population enumerated should refer to one well defined
point of time and the data collected should also refer to a well defined point or
period of time.
5. Periodicity: Censuses should be taken at regular intervals so that comparable
information is made available in a fixed sequence.

6.Individual Units: Census data must be collected separately for each individual
so that detailed classifications may be provided in all the required combinations.
7.Compilation and Publications: No census is complete unless the data collected
are compiled and published by geographic areas and by basic demographic
variables.
8.International Simultaneity: The census of any country is of greater value
nationally, regionally and internationally if it can be compared with the censuses of
other countries which are taken at approximately the same time.

Effects of rapid growth of population

The effects of overpopulation are as follows :
1.Pressure on food, clothing & housing :
A country with fast growing population has to face a serious problem of scarcity of
necessary food, minimum clothing & proper housing facilities, which are basic
needs of human life. Thus, it affects the life style and results slum areas, starvation
etc.

2.Unemployment
The overpopulation aggravates the unemployment & disguised unemployment
problem. The vacancy rate is negligible as compared to wants of employment,
which ultimately results into low income groups and large families depending upon
single earning person (earner).

3.Standard of living :
The overpopulation creates or give rise to large families with low income reducing
the standard of persons living therein. The slum areas, starvation and frequently
epidemics are the results affecting health and standard of persons within such
nation.

4.Decrease forest area :

The basic need of the growing population is of residence and shelter. To construct
houses and place of shelter, man is greatly cutting and reducing forest to make a
place to live.
5.Enviromental pollution :
Over population creates a large affect on the environment by exhausting a large
proportion of waste. On the other hand reducing forest which results the growth of
pollution.

6.Education :
The low income of large family dose not afford to provide education to their
children. Which results into creating a problem of illiteracy and again none
awareness among the class.

7.Energy crisis :
Population explosion accompanied with rapid industrialization and urbanization
has led to greater demand for already deficient energy (fuel wood, fossil fuel and
electricity).

8.Hygienic condition :
More people in a small area breed unhygienic condition which has ill effects on
human health.

9. Eco-degradation :
Overpopulation leads to eco-degradation by increasing air, water, soil and noise
pollution, unhygienic condition, deforestation leading to flood and soil erosion. So
rapid human population growth is creating increased pressure on the infrastructure,
economy, environment, availability of primary health care and nutrition.
Demographic transition theory/ Theory of demographic transition as applied
to India

The demographic transition theory studies the relationship between economic

development and population growth. It discusses about changes in birth rate and
death rate and how it effects the process of growth and development. The theory
tells us that population of any region changes from high births and high deaths to
low births and low deaths as society progresses from rural agrarian and illiterate to
urban industrial and literate society. There are four stages of demographic
transition related to the state of economic development. They are as follows:

1.First Stage or Stage of High Birth Rate and High Death Rate (Till 1920)
In first stage, the country is at low level of economic development. Agriculture is
the main occupation of the people. Standard of living of the people is low. Death
rate is high because of lack of medical facilities, epidemics, famines and illiteracy.
Birth rate is high because of social and economic reasons.
Life expectancy is low, people are mostly illiterate and have low levels of
technology. Two hundred years ago all the countries of the world were in this
stage.

2.Second Stage or Stage of High Birth Rate and Low Death Rate ( Till 1970)
In this stage, birth-rate is high but death rate is low. It results in high growth rate of
population. In this stage, income begins to rise and economic activities expand. On
account of better health facilities and nourishing diet, death rate falls rapidly. Birth
rate remains high due to social backwardness and limited access to contraceptives.

3. Third Stage or Stage of Declining Birth Rate and Low Death Rate ( From
1971)
In the third stage, a declining birth rate and low death rate lead to low population
growth. Along with economic development of the country, structural changes in
the economy begin to take place. Large population begins to reside in urban areas.
People start considering large families as liability. Consequently, birth rate begins
to fall. Death rate continues to be low. Growth rate of population declines. India is
passing through this stage of demographic transition.

4. Fourth Stage or Stage of Low Birth Rate and Low Death Rate ( Around
2026)
In the fourth stage, low birth rate and low death rate lead to Population
stabilisation. In this stage, because of rapid economic development, standard of
living of the people becomes very high. Quality of life is given a priority to the size
of the family.
The population becomes urbanised, literate and has high technical knowhow and
deliberately controls the family size. This shows that human beings are extremely
flexible and are able to adjust their fertility. In the present day, different countries
are at different stages of demographic transition.

Demographic Dividend:
Demographic Dividend refers to the growth in an economy that is the result of a
change in the age structure of a country’s population. The change in age structure
is typically brought on by a decline in fertility and mortality rates.

Communicable disease
A communicable disease is one that is spread from one person to another through a
variety of ways that include: contact with blood and bodily fluids; breathing in an
airborne virus; or by being bitten by an insect.
Example: Spanish Flu, Covid-19, SARS, MERS, Influenza, Zika virus, Ebola etc.
Impact of communicable disease (covid-19) on Indian Economy:
1.The hospitality sector includes many businesses like restaurants, beds and
breakfast, pubs, bars, nightclubs and more. The sector that has contributed to a
large portion of India’s annual GDP has been hit hard by restrictions and curfews
imposed by the states.

2.Online grocery stores had been badly affected due to unclear restriction on the
movement of transportation vehicle.

3. Entertainment industry faced huge losses due to restriction on shooting and less
occupancy of cinema theatre. But OTT platforms gained too much popularity
during that time.

4.Tourism industry comprises hotels, homestays, motels and more. The restrictions
have crippled the tourism sector, and thus making them suffer from huge losses.

5.Aviation and other sector establishments faced a massive struggle during the first
and second wave of the pandemic. The larger travel sector is also taking a hit as
people are scared to step out of their homes.

6. The real estate and construction activities have started facing a disruption during
the second wave as a large number of migrant workers have left the urban areas.

7. Pharmaceutical industries faced pressure from public and media for the
development of vaccination, thus resulting in investment of large amount of money
in research and development.

8. Telecom industries boomed due to implementation of work from home but at the
same time many telecom companies were facing competition from each other. The
network became very slow due to internet traffic.