Human and Population Geography — Practice Questions
UPSC Prelims-pattern practice questions on India's population geography with explanations — settlements, growth phases, towns, NFHS-5, Census 2011.
Questions
These are original UPSC-pattern practice questions. Attempt each one before revealing the answer.
Dispersed or isolated rural settlements are characteristic of which of the following?
- Meghalaya
- Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
- Kerala
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Solution
NCERT names parts of Meghalaya, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala as areas of dispersed settlement — hilly terrain and forests in the first three, homestead farming along the coast in Kerala. All three are correct.
Answer: D
The phase of “population explosion” in India refers to which period?
Solution
1951–1981: death rates fell sharply with public health and development, while birth rates stayed high. 1901–1921 was stagnant; 1921–1951 steady; after 1981 growth remained high but slowed.
Answer: A
Consider the following pairs:
| Town | Dominant function |
|---|---|
| 1. Mhow | Garrison |
| 2. Kandla | Port and transport |
| 3. Roorkee | Mining |
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Solution
Mhow is a cantonment town and Kandla a major port on the Gulf of Kachchh — both correct. Roorkee is an educational town, not a mining town (mining towns include Jharia, Raniganj and Digboi). So two.
Answer: B
According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21), India’s total fertility rate was
Solution
NFHS-5 reported a TFR of 2.0, below the replacement level of 2.1 — which is the trap option. NFHS-4 (2015–16) had reported 2.2.
Answer: C
According to Census 2011, the shares of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in India’s population were, respectively, about
Solution
Scheduled Castes formed 16.6% and Scheduled Tribes 8.6% of the population in Census 2011. Option B reverses them; 14.2% is the share of Muslims.
Answer: A
Mains
“India’s demographic dividend is a window of opportunity, not a guarantee.” Discuss.
Solution
Introduction: A demographic dividend is the growth potential that arises when the working-age share of the population rises relative to dependants. With fertility falling (NFHS-5 TFR of 2.0) and a large young population, India is in this window — but it will not stay open forever.
Body — why it is an opportunity:
- A larger labour force and lower dependency ratio can raise savings, investment and growth.
- Young consumers expand domestic demand; a young workforce can serve an ageing world.
Body — why it is not automatic:
- Health and nutrition: stunting and anaemia reduce productivity.
- Education and skills: learning outcomes and skill mismatch limit employability.
- Jobs: growth has not created enough formal, productive jobs; much work remains informal and in agriculture.
- Women’s participation: low female labour force participation wastes half the dividend.
- Regional divergence: southern States are ageing while northern States are still young — the dividend arrives at different times in different regions, which links to migration.
Way forward: invest in early childhood nutrition and foundational learning; align skilling with industry; labour-intensive manufacturing and services; childcare and safety to raise women’s participation; plan for ageing in the south and for migrant welfare.
Conclusion: Demography provides the people; policy must provide the health, skills and jobs. If the window closes before then, India risks growing old before it grows rich.