Question

Which year is known as the year of great divide for India’s population?
a. 1991
b. 2001
c. 1981
d. 1921

Answer 1

Hint:
The Population Census is the overall process of collecting, compiling, analysing or otherwise disseminating demographic, economic and social data concerning all persons in a country or in a well-defined part of a country at a specific time. As such, the census offers a snapshot of the population and housing of the country at a given point in time.

Complete solution:
The year 1921 is considered to be the defining year. As population growth was scarce before that time, it is also known as the year of the Great Divide. The population growth of India after 1921 was steady.

It is known as the demographic divide since the population was not constant until this year, often increased and at other times decreased. The population growth scale was generally low prior to 1921. But after this year the population grew dramatically and slowly.

The net population growth between 1901 and 1911 was 5.9 per cent and there was a decline of 0.39 per cent between 1911 and 1921. The rise was 11.1 per cent during the 1921-1931 decade, 14.00 per cent from 1931 to 1941, and 13.5 per cent from 1941-1951. After that, it shows an increasing trend. The year 1921 is thus rightly referred to as the demographic divide or the year of the great divide.

Hence, the correct answer is option D.

Note:
Information on the size, distribution and socio-economic, demographic and other characteristics of the population of the country is given in the census. Data collected through the census was used by the government, NGOs, academics, commercial and private companies, etc. for the administration, planning and policy-making as well as for the management and evaluation of different programmes.