NCERT Economics Class 9 Chapter 2 | Quality of Population Notes & PDF

Topic covered: Quality of Population and MCQs Questions: People as Resource (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 “Quality of Population“ from the NCERT Economics notes for class 9th chapter 2 People as Resource.

Download the NCERT Economics for Class 9th Chapter 2 People as Resource Notes PDF

Chapter 2: People as Resource in Class 9 Economics shifts focus from material wealth to human beings as an asset. It shows how education, health, and skills turn a population into productive power. Many students struggle to connect terms like “human capital” with real-life examples, so these notes explain them in a simple, relatable way. You’ll find clear points on economic activities, the role of men and women, and why investment in people matters as much as investment in machines. Download the NCERT Economics for Class 9th Chapter 2 People as Resource Notes PDF to make your revision faster and easier.

Quality of Population

• The quality of population is judged by:
  i. Literacy rate
  ii. Health of a person (indicated by life expectancy)
  iii. Skill formation acquired by people
• The quality of population determines the growth rate of a country.
• A literate and healthy population is considered an asset for the nation.
• An illiterate and unhealthy population becomes a liability (implied for exam comparisons).

Education

1. Role of Education:

• Education helped Sakal secure a good job and salary.
• It is an important input for individual and social growth.
• Benefits of education:
  a. Opens new horizons, aspirations, and values of life.
  b. Enhances national income, cultural richness, and efficiency of governance.

2. Government Initiatives:

• Universal access, retention, and quality in elementary education, with focus on girls.
• Establishment of Navodaya Vidyalayas in each district.
• Development of vocational streams to equip high school students with job-related skills.
• Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan:
  a. Covers pre-school to Class XII.
  b. Ensures inclusive and equitable quality education.
  c. Linked with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Mid-day Meal Scheme:
  a. Encourages attendance and retention.
  b. Improves nutritional status of children.

3. Investment in Education:

• Plan outlay on education:
  a. Rs 151 crore in First Plan.
  b. Rs 99,300 crore in 2020–21.
• Education expenditure as % of GDP:
  a. 0.64% in 1951–52.
  b. 3.1% in 2019–20 (stagnant around 3%).
  c. Declined to 2.8% in 2020–21 (B.E.).

4. Literacy Trends:

• Literacy increased from 18% in 1951 to 85% in 2018.
• Male literacy is 16.1% higher than female literacy.
• Urban literacy is 14.2% higher than rural literacy.
• As per 2011 Census:
  a. Kerala: 94% literacy.
  b. Bihar: 62% literacy.

5. Education Infrastructure:

• Primary school system (Classes I–V): 7,78,842 lakh schools in 2019–20.
• Issues: poor quality of schooling and high dropout rates dilute expansion.

6. Higher Education:

• Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER): 27% (2020–21) in 18–23 years age group, matching world average.
• Growth in universities, colleges, enrolment, and teacher recruitment over last 60 years.
• Focus areas:
  a. Access and quality.
  b. State-specific curriculum modifications.
  c. Vocationalisation.
  d. IT-based education and distance learning.
  e. Convergence of formal, non-formal, distance, and IT institutions.

7. Key Insight:

• Education = national asset.
• Acts as a catalyst in human growth and must be planned sensitively.
• Human beings are a precious national resource that need nurturing and development.

Health

1. Importance of Health:

• Firms prefer healthy workers since ill health reduces efficiency and output.
• Good health allows individuals to:
  a. Realise potential.
  b. Fight illness.
  c. Contribute to overall growth of the organisation and economy.
• Health is an indispensable basis of well-being.

2. National Policy on Health:

• Priority of the country: improving health status of population.
• Aims include:
  a. Accessibility of healthcare, family welfare, and nutritional services.
  b. Special focus on the underprivileged.

3. Health Infrastructure in India:

• Built over the last five decades.
• Covers primary, secondary, and tertiary sector in both government and private sector.
• Current institutions:
  a. 542 medical colleges.
  b. 313 dental colleges.
• Concentration: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have the maximum number of medical colleges.
• Problem: Many areas in India still lack even basic healthcare facilities.

4. Achievements in Health (1951–2021):

• Life expectancy: increased to 67.2 years (2021).
• Infant Mortality Rate (IMR): 147 (1951) → 28 (2020).
• Crude Birth Rate: dropped to 20.0 (2020).
• Death Rate: dropped to 6 (2020).

5. Significance of Improvements:

• Longevity of life = indicator of good quality of life and self-confidence.
• Reduction in IMR indicates better:
  a. Protection from infections.
  b. Maternal and child nutrition.
  c. Childcare facilities.
• Overall improvements in health help in assessing future progress of the country.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE Economics Class 9 Chapter 2: People as Resource

MCQs on NCERT Economics Class 9 Chapter 2 Topic – Quality of Population

Here are the top exam-oriented MCQ-type questions on “Quality of Population” that you should prepare for your CBSE or state board exams:

Question 1. The quality of population depends on:

(a) Wealth, jobs, housing
(b) Literacy, health, skill formation
(c) Caste, culture, customs
(d) Population growth only

Answer: (b) Literacy, health, skill formation

Question 2. Literate and healthy population is considered:

(a) A burden
(b) An asset
(c) A liability
(d) A challenge

Answer: (b) An asset

Question 3. Education contributed to Sakal’s growth by—

(a) Giving him a good job and salary
(b) Making him spend more money
(c) Increasing his family size
(d) Restricting his aspirations

Answer: (a) Giving him a good job and salary

Question 4. Which of the following is NOT a contribution of education?

(a) Enhances national income
(b) Increases efficiency of governance
(c) Provides cultural richness
(d) Reduces literacy rates

Answer: (d) Reduces literacy rates

Question 5. What is the main aim of Navodaya Vidyalayas?

(a) To provide vocational training only
(b) To provide pace-setting schools in each district
(c) To replace private schools
(d) To reduce higher education enrolment

Answer: (b) To provide pace-setting schools in each district

Question 6. Vocational streams in education aim to—

(a) Train students for non-market activities
(b) Equip students with occupation-related knowledge and skills
(c) Eliminate secondary education
(d) Provide only distance education

Answer: (b) Equip students with occupation-related knowledge and skills

Question 7. Plan outlay on education increased from Rs. 151 crore in the First Plan to—

(a) Rs. 19,300 crore in 2020–21
(b) Rs. 99,300 crore in 2020–21
(c) Rs. 3,100 crore in 2019–20
(d) Rs. 99,300 crore in 2019–20

Answer: (b) Rs. 99,300 crore in 2020–21

Question 8. Expenditure on education as % of GDP remained stagnant around—

(a) 5%
(b) 4%
(c) 3%
(d) 2%

Answer: (c) 3%

Question 9. Literacy rate in India increased from 18% in 1951 to—

(a) 62% in 2011
(b) 85% in 2018
(c) 80% in 2015
(d) 90% in 2020

Answer: (b) 85% in 2018

Question 10. Literacy among males is how much higher than females?

(a) 10%
(b) 12.5%
(c) 16.1%
(d) 20%

Answer: (c) 16.1%

Question 11. Which state had the highest literacy rate as per 2011 census?

(a) Bihar
(b) Kerala
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Maharashtra

Answer: (b) Kerala (94%)

Question 12. Which state had the lowest literacy rate as per 2011 census?

(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Bihar
(d) Madhya Pradesh

Answer: (c) Bihar (62%)

Question 13. Primary school system (I–V) expanded to how many schools in 2019–20?

(a) 7,78,842
(b) 6,50,000
(c) 8,50,000
(d) 7,00,000

Answer: (a) 7,78,842

Question 14. Which scheme extends from pre-school to Class XII and focuses on equitable quality education?

(a) Mid-day Meal Scheme
(b) Samagra Shiksha
(c) Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
(d) Beti Bachao Scheme

Answer: (b) Samagra Shiksha

Question 15. Mid-day Meal Scheme was implemented to—

(a) Reduce education costs
(b) Encourage attendance, retention, and improve nutrition
(c) Train teachers
(d) Provide books to students

Answer: (b) Encourage attendance, retention, and improve nutrition

Question 16. GER (Gross Enrolment Ratio) in higher education in 2020–21 was—

(a) 15%
(b) 20%
(c) 27%
(d) 35%

Answer: (c) 27%

Question 17. Health of a person is indispensable for—

(a) Increasing population
(b) Realising well-being and output
(c) Cultural growth only
(d) Political stability

Answer: (b) Realising well-being and output

Question 18. National policy on health aims at improving—

(a) Export facilities
(b) Accessibility of healthcare, family welfare and nutrition services
(c) Entertainment services
(d) Industrial growth

Answer: (b) Accessibility of healthcare, family welfare and nutrition services

Question 19. How many medical colleges exist in India?

(a) 412
(b) 500
(c) 542
(d) 313

Answer: (c) 542

Question 20. How many dental colleges exist in India?

(a) 313
(b) 400
(c) 542
(d) 250

Answer: (a) 313

Question 21. Which states have the maximum number of medical colleges?

(a) UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha
(b) Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
(c) Kerala, Punjab, Rajasthan, MP
(d) Gujarat, Assam, Haryana, Chhattisgarh

Answer: (b) Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu

Question 22. Life expectancy in India increased to—

(a) 60 years in 2011
(b) 65 years in 2015
(c) 67.2 years in 2021
(d) 70 years in 2020

Answer: (c) 67.2 years in 2021

Question 23. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) fell from 147 in 1951 to—

(a) 25 in 2018
(b) 28 in 2020
(c) 30 in 2019
(d) 32 in 2021

Answer: (b) 28 in 2020

Question 24. Crude birth rate dropped to—

(a) 25 in 2011
(b) 20 in 2020
(c) 18 in 2021
(d) 15 in 2019

Answer: (b) 20 in 2020

Question 25. Death rate dropped to—

(a) 7 in 2020
(b) 8 in 2019
(c) 6 in 2020
(d) 5 in 2021

Answer: (c) 6 in 2020