NCERT Geography Class 9 Chapter 6 | Population Growth And Processes Of Population Change Notes & PDF

Topic covered: Population Growth And Processes Of Population Change and MCQs Questions: Population (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).

We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 9th about the “Population Growth And Processes Of Population Change” from the NCERT Geography notes for class 9th chapter 6 “Population“.

Download the NCERT Geography for Class 9th Chapter 6 Population Notes PDF

NCERT Geography for Class 9th Chapter 6 – Population Notes & MCQ’s Question-Answer – E-book NCERT

Population studies in Class 9 Geography Chapter 6 often feel tricky because there are so many terms – density, growth rate, distribution, and migration patterns. To make it easier, I’ve prepared notes that explain these concepts in a straightforward way with examples you’ll actually remember. The notes highlight key trends in India’s population and why they matter for understanding resources and development. They’re structured to help you revise quickly before exams without feeling lost in long paragraphs. You can easily download the NCERT Geography for Class 9th Chapter 6 Population Notes PDF and keep everything handy for clear, focused preparation.

Population Growth And Processes Of Population Change

1. Concept of Population:

• Population is a dynamic phenomenon – it is always changing.
• The changes occur in three aspects:
  a. Numbers (total size of population)
  b. Distribution (spread over different areas)
  c. Composition (structure in terms of age, sex, literacy, occupation, etc.).

2. Processes of Change:

• Three main processes of population change:
  a. Births – increase the population.
  b. Deaths – decrease the population.
  c. Migrations – affect both number and distribution of population.
• Interaction of these three processes = population growth and variation in a country.

Population Growth

1. Meaning of Population Growth:

• Growth of population – change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory during a specific time (e.g., 10 years).
• Expressed in two ways:
  a. Absolute numbers – difference between population at two points in time.
  b. Percentage change per year – rate of increase.
• Absolute increase = later population – earlier population (e.g., 2011 – 2001).
• Annual Growth Rate = percentage increase per year (e.g., 2% means 2 persons added per 100 per year).

2. Population Trends in India:

• India’s population increased from 361 million (1951) to 1210 million (2011).
• 1951–1981 – annual growth rate steadily increased – rapid rise in population (361m – 683m).
• Since 1981 – growth rate declining due to declining birth rates.
• Despite decline, absolute increase large: e.g., 182 million added in the 1990s alone.
• Reason: when applied to very large base population, even low growth rate – very high absolute increase.
• Large annual increase neutralises efforts to conserve resources and environment.
• Declining growth rate = positive indicator of birth control efforts.
• But total additions continue, leading India to overtake China in 2023 as the most populous country.

3. Processes of Population Growth:

• Three main processes: Birth rates, Death rates, Migration.
• Natural increase = Birth rate – Death rate.

4. Birth Rate:

• Birth rate = number of live births per 1,000 persons per year.
• In India, birth rate has always been higher than death rate – major factor of population growth.
• Since 1981, birth rates have started declining gradually.

5. Death Rate:

• Death rate = number of deaths per 1,000 persons per year.
• Main cause of population growth in India = rapid decline in death rates.
• Till 1980 – high birth rate + declining death rate = rapid growth.
• After 1981 – both birth and death rates declined – slower population growth.

6. Migration:

• Migration = movement of people across regions/territories.
• Types:
  a. Internal (within the country) – does not change total size, only distribution.
  b. International (between countries) – changes size.
• Effects of migration:
  a. Influences distribution of population.
  b. Changes composition (age, sex ratio).
• In India – most migration is rural – urban.
• Push factors in rural areas: poverty, unemployment.
• Pull factors of cities: jobs, better living conditions.
• Migration – rise in urban population.
• Urban population – increased from 17.29% (1951) to 31.80% (2011).
• Million-plus cities:
  a. 35 (2001) – 53 (2011).
  b. 59 (2023).

Adolescent Population

• Adolescent population = most significant feature of Indian population.
• They constitute one-fifth (20%) of India’s total population.
• Adolescents = age group of 10 to 19 years.
• They are considered the most important resource for the future.
• Nutrition requirements of adolescents are higher than those of children or adults.
• Poor nutrition – deficiency and stunted growth.
• In India, diet available to adolescents is inadequate in all nutrients.
• A large number of adolescent girls suffer from anaemia.
• Adolescent problems have not received adequate attention in development policies.
• Adolescent girls need to be sensitised to their problems.
• Awareness among adolescents can be improved through literacy and education.

National Population Policy (NPP 2000)

• India’s Family Planning Programme was initiated in 1952.
• It was the first comprehensive family planning programme in the world.
• Aim – improve individual health and welfare through family planning.
• Later renamed as Family Welfare Programme.
• It promotes responsible and planned parenthood.
• Parenthood is to be adopted on a voluntary basis, not forced.
• National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 = culmination of years of family planning efforts.
• NPP 2000 provides a policy framework for multiple goals:
  a. Free and compulsory education up to 14 years of age.
  b. Reduce infant mortality rate (IMR) to below 30 per 1000 live births.
  c. Achieve universal immunisation of children against all vaccine-preventable diseases.
  d. Promote delayed marriage for girls.
  e. Make family welfare a people-centred programme.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE Geography Class 9 Chapter 6: Population

MCQs on NCERT Geography Class 9 Chapter 6 Topic – Population Growth And Processes Of Population Change

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “Population Growth And Processes Of Population Change” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. Population is a dynamic phenomenon because:

a) It changes only in numbers
b) It remains constant over time
c) It changes in numbers, distribution and composition
d) It is not influenced by migration

Answer: c) It changes in numbers, distribution and composition

Question 2. The three processes that influence population change are:

a) Births, deaths, migrations
b) Births, literacy, deaths
c) Deaths, urbanisation, employment
d) Education, health, family planning

Answer: a) Births, deaths, migrations

Question 3. Population growth refers to:

a) Change in population over 100 years
b) Change in population during a specific period of time
c) Only increase in population per year
d) Only migration in and out of a country

Answer: b) Change in population during a specific period of time

Question 4. The change in population expressed in absolute numbers is called:

a) Growth rate
b) Natural increase
c) Absolute increase
d) Annual growth rate

Answer: c) Absolute increase

Question 5. The rate of population increase studied in percent per annum is called:

a) Annual growth rate
b) Absolute increase
c) Natural growth rate
d) Death rate

Answer: a) Annual growth rate

Question 6. If the annual growth rate is 2%, it means:

a) 2 persons increase every year in the country
b) 2 persons increase every 100 persons in the base population per year
c) Population doubles every 2 years
d) Only 2 families increase per year

Answer: b) 2 persons increase every 100 persons in the base population per year

Question 7. India’s population in 1951 was:

a) 683 million
b) 361 million
c) 1210 million
d) 182 million

Answer: b) 361 million

Question 8. India’s population in 2011 was:

a) 1020 million
b) 361 million
c) 1210 million
d) 999 million

Answer: c) 1210 million

Question 9. Between 1951 and 1981, India’s population increased from:

a) 361 million to 1210 million
b) 361 million to 683 million
c) 500 million to 900 million
d) 600 million to 1200 million

Answer: b) 361 million to 683 million

Question 10. Since 1981, India’s annual population growth rate:

a) Increased steadily
b) Declined gradually
c) Stagnated completely
d) Rose sharply again

Answer: b) Declined gradually

Question 11. In the 1990s alone, how many people were added to India’s population?

a) 121 million
b) 182 million
c) 200 million
d) 150 million

Answer: b) 182 million

Question 12. India became the most populous country in the world, overtaking China, in:

a) 2011
b) 2018
c) 2020
d) 2023

Answer: d) 2023

Question 13. The natural increase of population is the difference between:

a) Birth rate and death rate
b) Birth rate and migration
c) Birth rate and growth rate
d) Growth rate and migration

Answer: a) Birth rate and death rate

Question 14. Birth rate means:

a) Total number of children born in a country
b) Number of live births per thousand persons per year
c) Number of live births per family
d) Number of females giving birth per year

Answer: b) Number of live births per thousand persons per year

Question 15. Death rate means:

a) Deaths per family in a year
b) Number of deaths per thousand persons in a year
c) Infant deaths only
d) Deaths caused by disease only

Answer: b) Number of deaths per thousand persons in a year

Question 16. Till 1980, high birth rates and declining death rates resulted in:

a) Low growth of population
b) Negative population growth
c) High growth of population
d) Decline in natural increase

Answer: c) High growth of population

Question 17. Since 1981, birth rates in India:

a) Increased
b) Declined gradually
c) Stagnated
d) Doubled

Answer: b) Declined gradually

Question 18. Migration can be:

a) Internal only
b) International only
c) Both internal and international
d) Seasonal only

Answer: c) Both internal and international

Question 19. Which of the following does NOT change the size of the population?

a) Births
b) Deaths
c) Internal migration
d) International migration

Answer: c) Internal migration

Question 20. The major push factor for migration in India is:

a) Better health facilities in cities
b) Poverty and unemployment in rural areas
c) Education opportunities in cities
d) Adventure and tourism

Answer: b) Poverty and unemployment in rural areas

Question 21. The pull factor of migration to cities is:

a) Lack of land
b) Increased employment opportunities and better living conditions
c) Harsh climate
d) Political instability

Answer: b) Increased employment opportunities and better living conditions

Question 22. In 1951, the urban population of India was:

a) 20%
b) 17.29%
c) 25%
d) 30%

Answer: b) 17.29%

Question 23. In 2011, the urban population of India was:

a) 25%
b) 29%
c) 31.80%
d) 35%

Answer: c) 31.80%

Question 24. The number of “million plus cities” in India increased from 35 to 53 between:

a) 1951–1961
b) 1971–1981
c) 2001–2011
d) 2011–2021

Answer: c) 2001–2011

Question 25. The number of million plus cities in India in 2023 was:

a) 35
b) 53
c) 59
d) 61

Answer: c) 59

Question 26. Adolescents in India are generally grouped in the age group:

a) 0–6 years
b) 7–14 years
c) 10–19 years
d) 15–25 years

Answer: c) 10–19 years

Question 27. The adolescent population constitutes about what fraction of India’s total population?

a) One-fourth
b) One-fifth
c) One-third
d) One-sixth

Answer: b) One-fifth

Question 28. A major health problem faced by adolescent girls in India is:

a) Obesity
b) Anaemia
c) Diabetes
d) Malaria

Answer: b) Anaemia

Question 29. The Family Planning Programme in India was initiated in:

a) 1947
b) 1950
c) 1952
d) 1961

Answer: c) 1952

Question 30. The NPP 2000 provides for:

a) Free and compulsory education up to 14 years
b) Reducing infant mortality rate below 30 per 1000 live births
c) Achieving universal immunisation of children
d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above

Question 31. The NPP 2000 also promotes:

a) Early marriage for girls
b) Delayed marriage for girls
c) Ban on marriages
d) Compulsory sterilisation

Answer: b) Delayed marriage for girls

Question 32. The approach of Family Welfare Programme is:

a) Forced sterilisation
b) Voluntary and people-centred
c) Government imposed
d) Compulsory

Answer: b) Voluntary and people-centred