NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography Chapter 1: Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition (NCERT 2026–27)

These Class 12 Geography Chapter 1 solutions cover Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition from the textbook India – People and Economy (Unit I), updated for the 2026–27 session. This chapter studies how India’s population — the second largest in the world at 1,210 million (Census 2011) — is spread across space, how dense it is, how it has grown through four distinct phases, and how it is composed in terms of rural–urban residence, language, religion and occupation. Below you get verbatim NCERT exercise questions with original, exam-ready answers, plus key terms, formulas, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.

Class: 12 Subject: Geography Book: India – People and Economy Chapter: 1 (Unit I) Census reference: 2011 Session: 2026–27
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Class 12 Geography Chapter 1 – Overview

Chapter 1 examines the four key dimensions of India’s population. Distribution is highly uneven — Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar and West Bengal hold the largest shares, and the ten most populous states together account for about 76 per cent of the country’s population, governed by physical (climate, terrain, water), socio-economic and historical factors. Density rose from 117 persons/sq km in 1951 to 382 persons/sq km in 2011, ranging from 17 in Arunachal Pradesh to 11,297 in Delhi, and is refined through physiological and agricultural densities. Growth has passed through four phases — stagnant (1901–1921), steady (1921–1951), population explosion (1951–1981) and slowing-but-high growth (post-1981). Composition covers rural–urban residence (68.8% rural in 2011), the four linguistic families, religious communities (Hindus 79.8%, Muslims 14.2%) and the occupational structure dominated by the primary sector (54.6% of workers). Together these reveal the close link between people, resources and development.

Key Terms, Concepts & Formulas

Census: the official count of population collected every 10 years in India. The first Census was conducted in 1872 and the first complete Census in 1881.

Distribution of population: the pattern of how people are spread over space. In India it is highly uneven — the North Indian Plains, deltas and coastal plains are densely peopled, while hills, deserts and interior districts are sparsely peopled.

Density of population: the number of persons per unit area (per sq km). India’s density in 2011 was 382 persons/sq km. It is a crude measure of the human–land relationship.

Physiological density: total population divided by net cultivated area — a finer measure of pressure of population on cultivated land.

Agricultural density: total agricultural population divided by net cultivable area. Agricultural population includes cultivators, agricultural labourers and their family members.

Growth of population: the change in the number of people in an area between two points of time, expressed as a percentage. It has two components — natural (births minus deaths) and induced (in- and out-migration). The chapter discusses only natural growth.

Population doubling time: the time taken by a population to double itself at its current annual growth rate.

Work participation rate: the proportion of working population (main + marginal workers) in the total population. In India it was 39.8% in 2011, leaving about 60% as non-workers.

Main worker / Marginal worker: a main worker works for at least 183 days (six months) in a year; a marginal worker works for less than 183 days in a year.

Population composition: the analysis of population by age and sex, place of residence, language, religion, marital status, literacy and occupation.

Key formulas:

MeasureFormula
Decadal growth rateg = [(P₂ − P₁) / P₁] × 100, where P₁ = base-year population, P₂ = present-year population
Physiological densityTotal population / Net cultivated area
Agricultural densityTotal agricultural population / Net cultivable area
Density of populationTotal population / Total land area (sq km)

NCERT Exercises – Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Exercises. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style.

1. Choose the right answers of the followings from the given options.

(i) India’s population as per 2011 census is : (a) 1028 million    (b) 3182 million    (c) 3287 million    (d) 1210 million

ANSWER (d) 1210 million. According to the Census of 2011, India’s total population was 1,210 million (1,21,01,93,422 persons), making it the second most populous country in the world after China.

(ii) Which one of the following states has the highest density of population in India? (a) West Bengal    (b) Kerala    (c) Uttar Pradesh    (d) Bihar

ANSWER (d) Bihar. Among the states, Bihar had the highest density of population in 2011 at 1,102 persons per sq km, followed by West Bengal (1,029) and Uttar Pradesh (828). (Note: the National Capital Territory of Delhi, a Union Territory, had a still higher density of 11,297, but among states Bihar ranks first.)

(iii) Which one of the following states has the highest proportion of urban population in India according to 2011 Census? (a) Tamil Nadu    (b) Maharashtra    (c) Kerala    (d) Goa

ANSWER (d) Goa. Among the states, Goa had the highest proportion of urban population (about 62 per cent) according to the 2011 Census, as Goa and Mizoram have only a little over half their population residing in villages.

(iv) Which one of the following is the largest linguistic group of India? (a) Sino – Tibetan    (b) Indo – Aryan    (c) Austric    (d) Dravidian

ANSWER (b) Indo – Aryan. The Indo-European (Aryan) family, of which Indo-Aryan is the main branch, is the largest linguistic group in India, covering about 73 per cent of the population, far ahead of Dravidian (20%), Austric (1.38%) and Sino-Tibetan (0.85%).

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) Very hot and dry and very cold and wet regions of India have low density of population. In this light, explain the role of climate on the distribution of population.

ANSWER Climate strongly controls where people live. Very hot, dry deserts and very cold, wet or snowbound mountains are harsh, lacking water and fertile land, so they are thinly peopled. Moderate climates with reliable water, such as the North Indian Plains, support dense populations.

(ii) Which states have large rural population in India? Give one reason for such large rural population.

ANSWER States like Himachal Pradesh and Bihar have a very high percentage of rural population. One main reason is the dominance of agriculture as the chief occupation and a low level of urbanisation and industrialisation, which keeps most people living and working in villages.

(iii) Why do some states of India have higher rates of work participation than others?

ANSWER Work participation tends to be higher in less economically developed states, where many manual workers are needed for subsistence farming and allied activities. Thus states like Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and the north-eastern states record higher work participation rates than more developed ones.

(iv) ‘The agricultural sector has the largest share of Indian workers.’ – Explain.

ANSWER India’s economy is still largely agrarian. In 2011 about 54.6 per cent of all workers were cultivators and agricultural labourers, far more than in household industries (3.8%) or other services (41.6%), showing that the primary (agricultural) sector employs the largest share of Indian workers.

3. Answer the following questions in about 150 words.

(i) Discuss the spatial pattern of density of population in India.

ANSWER Density of population — the number of persons per sq km — was 382 in India in 2011, but it varies enormously across space, ranging from 17 in Arunachal Pradesh to 11,297 in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. High-density regions: Among the northern states, Bihar (1,102), West Bengal (1,029) and Uttar Pradesh (828) have very high densities because of the fertile, well-watered North Indian Plains and a long history of settled agriculture. In the peninsular south, Kerala (859) and Tamil Nadu (555) also record high densities. Union Territories (except the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) have very high densities due to urbanisation. Moderate-density regions: States like Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand and Odisha have moderate densities, reflecting a mix of agriculture, minerals and industry. Low-density regions: The hill states of the Himalayas and the north-eastern states (excluding Assam) have relatively low densities owing to rugged terrain, harsh climate and limited cultivable land. Thus the density pattern closely follows physical, socio-economic and historical factors.

(ii) Give an account of the occupational structure of India’s population.

ANSWER Occupational structure refers to the engagement of people in different economic activities — farming, manufacturing, trade, services and professions. The 2011 Census divides the working population into main workers, marginal workers and non-workers, and groups workers into four categories: cultivators, agricultural labourers, household-industry workers and other workers. Dominance of the primary sector: About 54.6 per cent of total workers are cultivators and agricultural labourers (primary sector). Only 3.8 per cent work in household industries (secondary), while 41.6 per cent are ‘other workers’ in trade, commerce, construction, transport and services (tertiary). Trends and variations: The share of agricultural workers has declined (from 58.2% in 2001 to 54.6% in 2011), with a corresponding rise in secondary and tertiary employment, indicating a sectoral shift. Male workers outnumber female workers in all three sectors, though women form a relatively high share of primary-sector workers. Spatially, states like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have large shares of cultivators, while highly urbanised areas like Delhi, Chandigarh and Puducherry have most workers in ‘other services’.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What is meant by density of population? What was India’s density in 2011?

ANSWERDensity of population is the number of persons living per unit area, usually expressed as persons per square kilometre. It helps understand the spatial distribution of population in relation to land. India’s density of population in 2011 was 382 persons per sq km.

Q2. Distinguish between physiological density and agricultural density.

ANSWERPhysiological density is total population divided by net cultivated area, showing pressure on cultivated land. Agricultural density is the total agricultural population (cultivators, agricultural labourers and their families) divided by net cultivable area, showing pressure of the farming population on farmland.

Q3. Name the four phases of population growth in India with their periods.

ANSWERPhase I (1901–1921) – stagnant/stationary phase; Phase II (1921–1951) – period of steady growth; Phase III (1951–1981) – population explosion; Phase IV (post-1981 till present) – high but gradually slowing growth.

Q4. Why is 1921 called the ‘year of the Great Divide’ in India’s population history?

ANSWERThe decade 1911–1921 recorded a negative growth rate (−0.31%) due to epidemics, famines and high death rates. After 1921 the population grew continuously, so 1921 marks the turning point separating the stagnant phase from the era of steady growth.

Q5. What is the work participation rate, and what was its value in India in 2011?

ANSWERThe work participation rate is the proportion of working population (main and marginal workers) in the total population. In India it was 39.8 per cent in 2011, leaving about 60 per cent of the population as non-workers and indicating a large dependent population.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe the four phases of population growth in India.

ANSWERPhase I (1901–1921): Stagnant phase. Population growth was very low and even negative during 1911–1921. Both birth and death rates were high due to poor health and medical services, illiteracy and an inefficient food-distribution system. Phase II (1921–1951): Steady growth. Improvements in health, sanitation, transport and communication lowered the mortality rate while birth rates stayed high, producing steady growth despite the Great Depression and World War II. Phase III (1951–1981): Population explosion. A rapid fall in mortality combined with a high fertility rate gave an average annual growth of about 2.2 per cent; developmental planning, better living conditions and some international migration added to it. Phase IV (post-1981 to present): Growth remained high but began slowing because of a falling crude birth rate, a higher mean age at marriage and improved female education. Thus India moved from stagnation towards a gradually moderating growth.

Q2. Explain the factors responsible for the uneven distribution of population in India.

ANSWERIndia’s population is distributed very unevenly because of a combination of physical, socio-economic and historical factors. Physical factors: Climate, terrain and availability of water are the most important. The fertile, well-watered North Indian Plains, deltas and coastal plains attract dense populations, while the Himalayas, deserts of Rajasthan and rugged north-eastern hills are thinly peopled. Socio-economic and historical factors: Evolution of settled agriculture and agricultural development, patterns of human settlement, development of transport networks, industrialisation and urbanisation draw people to certain regions. River plains and coastal areas have long been centres of population concentration. Recent influences: Development of irrigation in Rajasthan, mineral and energy resources in Jharkhand, and transport networks in the Peninsular states have raised population in once-thinly-peopled areas, while industrial-urban centres like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai attract heavy rural-urban migration. Together these explain why ten states hold about 76 per cent of India’s population.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. The first complete population Census in India was conducted in:

(a) 1872    (b) 1881    (c) 1901    (d) 1911

2. The density of population in India in 2011 was:

(a) 117 persons/sq km    (b) 267 persons/sq km    (c) 382 persons/sq km    (d) 411 persons/sq km

3. Which state had the highest population according to the 2011 Census?

(a) Maharashtra    (b) Bihar    (c) West Bengal    (d) Uttar Pradesh

4. The decade that recorded a negative growth rate of population in India was:

(a) 1901–1911    (b) 1911–1921    (c) 1921–1931    (d) 1941–1951

5. The period 1951–1981 in India’s population history is known as the period of:

(a) stagnant growth    (b) steady growth    (c) population explosion    (d) declining growth

6. According to the 2011 Census, the percentage of India’s population living in rural areas was about:

(a) 31.16%    (b) 54.6%    (c) 68.8%    (d) 79.8%

7. A ‘main worker’ is a person who works for at least:

(a) 90 days in a year    (b) 120 days in a year    (c) 150 days in a year    (d) 183 days in a year

8. The largest religious community in India according to the 2011 Census (with about 79.8%) is:

(a) Muslims    (b) Hindus    (c) Christians    (d) Sikhs

9. The percentage of total workers engaged in the primary sector in 2011 was about:

(a) 3.8%    (b) 41.6%    (c) 54.6%    (d) 68.8%

10. The annual growth rate of India’s population in 2011 was:

(a) 1.64%    (b) 2.2%    (c) 2.5%    (d) 0.31%

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(d), 4-(b), 5-(c), 6-(c), 7-(d), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(a).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: The North Indian Plains have a high concentration of population.

Reason: Fertile soil, level land and availability of water make the plains favourable for dense settlement.

A-R 2. Assertion: Density of population is a perfect measure of the human–land relationship.

Reason: Density of population is calculated as total population divided by total land area.

A-R 3. Assertion: The decade 1951–1981 is called the period of population explosion.

Reason: A rapid fall in the mortality rate combined with a high fertility rate raised the average annual growth to about 2.2 per cent.

A-R 4. Assertion: The primary sector employs the largest share of Indian workers.

Reason: India’s economy is still largely agrarian, with about 54.6 per cent of workers being cultivators and agricultural labourers.

A-R 5. Assertion: Work participation rate tends to be higher in economically less developed areas.

Reason: More manual workers are needed to perform subsistence economic activities in such areas.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(C), 3-(A), 4-(A), 5-(A).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the key Census 2011 figures — total population 1,210 million, density 382/sq km, annual growth 1.64%, rural 68.8% / urban 31.16%, primary-sector workers 54.6%, Hindus 79.8% and Muslims 14.2%. Learn the four growth phases with their periods and causes, and the density extremes (Arunachal Pradesh 17, Delhi 11,297, Bihar highest among states). For density and occupational-structure long answers, organise the answer under sub-headings (high/moderate/low density; primary/secondary/tertiary) and quote exact figures. Know the formulas for decadal growth, physiological and agricultural density.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing the highest-density state (Bihar, 1,102) with the highest-density UT (Delhi, 11,297).
  • Mixing up physiological density (per net cultivated area) with agricultural density (agricultural population per net cultivable area).
  • Writing the wrong total — India’s 2011 population is 1,210 million, not 1,028 million (that was 2001).
  • Forgetting that 1911–1921 had a negative growth rate, making 1921 the ‘Great Divide’.
  • Treating density as a precise measure — it is only a crude measure of the human–land relationship.
  • Calling Indo-Aryan a separate family — it is the main branch of the Indo-European (Aryan) family.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 1 of Class 12 Geography (India – People and Economy) about?

Chapter 1, Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition, studies how India’s population is spread across space, how dense it is, how it has grown through four phases, and how it is composed by rural–urban residence, language, religion and occupation, all based mainly on Census 2011 data.

Which state had the highest population density in India in 2011?

Among the states, Bihar had the highest density at 1,102 persons per sq km, followed by West Bengal (1,029) and Uttar Pradesh (828). The National Capital Territory of Delhi, a Union Territory, had a much higher density of 11,297 persons per sq km.

What are the four phases of population growth in India?

They are Phase I (1901–1921) the stagnant phase, Phase II (1921–1951) steady growth, Phase III (1951–1981) the period of population explosion, and Phase IV (post-1981 to present) of high but gradually slowing growth.

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