• The total number of people residing in a Country at a specified period of time is called the ‘Population’ of that country.
• India is the most populous country in the world Surpassing China.
• India covers only 2.4 Percent of the land area of the world, but is the home of about 17.5 percent of the world ‘Population.
• It shows that the proportion of Population of India is far higher than the Proportion of its area.
• Thus, a little more than One out of every six persons in the world is From India.

Census:

• Population census is the total process of Collecting, compiling, analysing or otherwise disseminating demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a specific time, of all Persons in a country or a well-defined part of a Country.
• It happens in an interval of ten years.
• The data collected through the census are used for administration, planning, policy making as well as management and evaluation of various Programmes by the government.
• In India the first census was carried out in the year 1872.
• But the first complete and synchronous Census was conducted in 1881.
• The 2011 census represents the fifteenth census of India.

Distribution and Density of Population:

• The term ‘Population Distribution’ refers to the way the people are spaced over the earth’s Surface.
• The distribution of population in India is quite uneven because of the vast variation in the availability of resources.
• Population is Mostly concentrated in the regions of industrial Centres and the good agricultural lands.
• On the Other hand, the areas such as high mountains, Arid lands, thickly forested areas and some Remote corners are very thinly populated and Some areas are even uninhabited.
• Terrain, Climate, soil, water bodies, mineral resources, Industries, transport and urbanization are the Major factors which affect the distribution of Population in our country.
• Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in the country with a population of 199.5 million followed by Maharashtra (112.3 million), Bihar (103.8 million) West Bengal (91.3 million) and the combined Andhra Pradesh and Telangana (84.6 million), Tamil Nadu is 6^th most populous state in India (Current population – 2023 – 8.39 crores)
• These five states account for about half of the country’s population.
• Sikkim is the least Populous state of India (0.61 million).
• Delhi With 16.75 million population tops among the Union territories.
• The uneven distribution of population in the country is the result of several factors such as physical, socio-economic and historical Ones.
• The physical factors include relief, Climate, water, natural vegetation, minerals and energy resources.
• Socio-economic factors Consists of the religion, culture, political issues, Economy, human settlements, transport Network, industrialization, urbanization, Employment opportunity etc.

Density of population:

• It is expressed as number of persons per Sq km.
• According to 2011, the average Density of population of India is 382 persons Per sq.km.
• India is one of the most thickly Populated ten countries of the world.
• The Most densely populated state of India is Bihar and the state with least population density is Arunachal Pradesh.
• Among the union territories, Delhi is the densely populated one with 11,297 per sq.km, while Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the lowest density of Population.
• Tamil Nadu Population Density – 555 per sq km.

Population Growth and Change:

• Population change refers to an increase or decrease of population of an area from one period to another period.
• Population Growth is influenced by the birth rate, death rate and migration.
• These three make the changes in Population.
• Birth rate refers to the number of live Births per thousand people in a year and the Death rate refers to the number of deaths per Thousand people in a year.
• The rapid decline in Death rate is the major cause of the rapid growth of population in India.

Population composition:

• Population composition refers to the Characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, Caste, religion, language, education, occupation Etc.
• The study of composition of population helps us to understand the social, economic and demographic structure of population.

Age composition:

• The age composition of population refers to the number of people in different age groups in a country.
• Population of a nation is generally grouped in to three broad categories.
• In India, the children who has less than 15 years of age Constitute 29.5% and the people above 60 years Constitute 8.0%.
• So, the dependent population in India is 37.5% and the independent population (16-59 yrs) is 62.5%.
• It shows that our country has enormous manpower.

Sex Ratio:

• Sex ratio is defined as the number of Females per 1000 male population.
• According to 2011 census, the sex ratio of the country is 940 females per 1000 males.
• This Suggests that the size of female population is Lower than males.
• It is 1084 in Kerala and 1038In Puducherry.
• In Tamil Nadu sex ratio – 996/1000 Males
• The lowest sex ratio is recorded in the union territory of Daman and Diu (618).

Literacy Rate:

• The people who are able to read and write are known as literates.
• It is an important Indicator of quality of people.
• The percentage of literate people to the total population is Termed as literacy rate.
• There has been a steady Improvement in the literacy levels in India.
• India’s literacy rate as per 2011 census is 74.04%.
• From this, the literacy rate of male is 82.14% and the female is 65.46%.
• It shows that still there is a Vast gap (16.68%) between the male and female Literacy rates.
• Kerala ranks first in the country with a literacy rate of 93.91% followed by union Territory Lakshadweep with 92.28%.
• The lowest Literacy rate is found in Bihar (63.82 %).
• In Tamil Nadu – Male – 86.77% / Female – 73.44%

Occupational structure:

• The economically active part of a Country’s population is enumerated during the census operations and stated as workers.
• Workers are placed under three-fold categories in census record.
• They are main workers, Marginal workers and non-workers.
• According to the Census of India, all those who had worked for the major part of the preceding year (at least 6 months or 183 days) are recorded as main Workers.
• Those who worked for less than six Months are recorded as marginal workers and the people who have not worked at all come under non workers.

Population Dynamics:

• Human population dynamics is a field that tracks factors related to changes in the size of Population and its characteristics.
• Predicting Population changes is an important aspect of Population studies.

Problems of over Population:

• In India, growing pressure of Population on resource base, created many socio-Economic, cultural, political, ecological and Environmental problems.
• The Population Problems vary in space and time and differ from region to region.
• Some of the major issues created by the overpopulation in our Country are overcrowding, unemployment and Under employment, low standard of living, Malnutrition, mismanagement of natural and Agricultural resources, unhealthy environment Etc.

Racial groups:

• Race is a group of individuals who may be distinguished from other groups by physical characteristics such as skin colour, hair colour, jaw structure, and eye structure.
• As a result, race may be defined as a biological notion relating to a person’s physical and genetic features Mongolo-Dravidian,
• Mongoloid
• Turko-Iranian
• Indo-Aryan
• Scytho-Dravidian
• Aryo-Dravidian
• Mongolo-Dravidian
• Mongoloid
• Dravidian

Tribal population:

• A tribe is a group or a social division in a society consisting of families linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties with a common culture and dialect.
• Each tribe is unique because everyone contains a distinct cultural, social and political identity.
• In India, tribes are known as ‘Adivasis.’
• The tribal communities in India have been recognised under Schedule 5 of the Indian Constitution.
• This is the reason these tribes are called the ‘Scheduled Tribes’.
• India’s tribal population is spread across the country in different pockets.
• Across the mainland, the places with the maximum tribal population are
• Mizoram (94.4% of the total state population)
• Lakshadweep (94% of the total union population)
• Meghalaya (86.1% of the total state population)
• Nagaland (86.5% of the total state population
• Tamil Nadu: Adiyan, Aranadan, Eravallan, Irular, Kadar, Kanikar, Kotas, Todas, Kurumans.
• A tribe is a social division in a traditional society consisting of families linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect.
• A tribe possesses certain qualities and characteristics that make it a unique cultural, social, and political entity.

Tribes in India:

• The Constitution of India has recognized tribal communities in India under ‘Schedule 5’ of the constitution.
• Hence the tribes recognized by the Constitution are known as ‘Scheduled Tribes’.
• There are around 645 distinct tribes in India.

Major Tribes in India: Arranged State-wise:

• Andhra Pradesh: Andh, Sadhu Andh, Bhagata, Bhil, Chenchus (Chenchawar), Gadabas, Gond, Goundu, Jatapus, Kammara, Kattunayakan, Kolawar, Kolam, Konda, Manna Dhora, Pardhan, Rona, Savaras, Dabba Yerukula, Nakkala, Dhulia, Thoti, Sugalis, Banjara, Kondareddis, Koya, Mukha Dhora, Valmiki , Yenadis, Sugalis, Lambadis.
• Arunachal Pradesh: Apatanis, Abor, Dafla, Galong, Momba, Sherdukpen, Singpho, Nyishi, Mishmi, Idu, Taroan, Tagin, Adi, Monpa, Wancho
• Assam: Chakma, Chutiya, Dimasa, Hajong, Garos, Khasis, Gangte, Karbi, Boro, Borokachari, Kachari, Sonwal, Miri, Rabha, Garo.
• Bihar: Asur, Baiga, Birhor, Birjia, Chero, Gond, Parhaiya, Santhals, Savar, Kharwar, Banjara, Oraon, Santal, Tharu
• Chhattisgarh: Agariya, Bhaina, Bhattra, Biar, Khond, Mawasi, Nagasia, Gond, Binjhwar, Halba, Halbi, Kawar, Sawar,
• Goa: Dhodia, Dubia, Naikda, Siddi,Varli, Gawda.
• Gujarat: Barda, Bamcha, Bhil, Charan, Dhodia, Gamta, Paradhi, Patelia, Dhanka, Dubla, Talavia, Halpati, Kokna, Naikda, Patelia, Rathawa, Siddi.
• Himachal Pradesh: Gaddis, Gujjars, Khas, Lamba, Lahaulas, Pangwala, Swangla, Beta, Beda Bhot, Bodh.
• Jammu and Kashmir: Bakarwal, Balti, Beda, Gaddi, Garra, Mon, Purigpa, Sippi, Changpa, Gujjar.
• Jharkhand: Birhors, Bhumij, Gonds, Kharia, Mundas, Santhals, Savar, Bedia, Ho, Kharwar, Lohra, Mahli, Parhaiya, Santal, Kol, Banjara.
• Karnataka: Adiyan, Barda, Gond, Bhil, Iruliga, Koraga, Patelia, Yerava, Hasalaru, Koli Dhor, Marati , Meda, Naikda, Soligaru.
• Kerala: Adiyan, Arandan, Eravallan, Kurumbas, Malai arayan, Moplahs, Uralis, Irular, Kanikaran, Kattunayakan, Kurichchan, Muthuvan.
• Madhya Pradesh: Baigas, Bhils, Bharia, Birhors, Gonds, Katkari, kharia, Khond, Kol, Murias, Korku, Mawasi, Pardhan, Sahariya,
• Maharashtra: Bhaina, Bhunjia, Dhodia, Katkari, Khond, Rathawa, Warlis, Dhanka, Halba, Kathodi, Kokna, Koli Mahadev, Pardhi, Thakur,
• Manipur: Naga, Kuki, Meitei, Aimol, Angami, Chiru, Maram, Monsang, Paite, Purum, Thadou, Anal, Mao, Tangkhul, Thadou, Poumai Naga.
• Meghalaya: Chakma, Garos, Hajong, Jaintias Khasis, Lakher, Pawai, Raba, Mikir.
• Mizoram: Chakma, Dimasa, Khasi, Kuki, Lakher, Pawi, Raba, Synteng, Lushai
• Nagaland: Angami, Garo, Kachari, Kuki, Mikir, Nagas, Sema, Ao, Chakhesang, Konyak, Lotha, Phom, Rengma, Sangtam,
• Odisha: Gadaba, Ghara, Kharia, Khond, Matya, Oraons, Rajuar, Santhals, Bathudi, Bathuri, Bhottada, Bhumij, Gond, Juang, Kisan, Kolha, Kora, Khayara, Koya, Munda, Paroja, Saora, Shabar, Lodha.
• Rajasthan: Bhils, Damaria, Dhanka, Meenas(Minas), Patelia, Sahariya, Naikda, Nayaka, Kathodi.
• Sikkim: Bhutia, Khas, Lepchas, Limboo, Tamang
• Tamil Nadu: Adiyan, Aranadan, Eravallan, Irular, Kadar, Kanikar, Kotas, Todas, Kurumans, Malayali,
• Telangana:
• Tripura: Bhil, Bhutia, Chaimal, Chakma, Halam, Khasia, Lushai, Mizel, Namte, Mag, Munda, Riang,
• Uttarakhand: Bhotias, Buksa, Jannsari, Khas, Raji, Tharu.
• Uttar Pradesh: Bhotia, Buksa, Jaunsari, Kol, Raji, Tharu, Gond, Kharwar, Saharya , Parahiya, Baiga, Agariya, Chero
• West Bengal: Asur, Khond, Hajong, Ho, Parhaiya, Rabha, Santhals, Savar, Bhumij, Bhutia, Chik Baraik, Kisan, Kora, Lodha, Kheria, Khariam, Mahali, Mal Pahariya, Oraon,
• Andaman and Nicobar: Oraons, Onges, Sentinelese, Shompens.

Migration:

• Migration has been defined differently by different experts.
• In general, migration is defined as the permanent or semi permanent Change of residence of an individual or group of People over a significant distance.
• So, the term Migration refers to the movement of people from one place to another.

United Nations Organization Definition:

• Migration is a form of geographical mobility of population between a geographical unit to another, generally involving a permanent Change of residence.
• One of the most important aspects of social science is “Human Migration”.
• It has maintained a close relation with mankind from Its earliest stage.
• Migration is one of the most important dynamic human activities from the very beginning of human life.
• During the early Days, people moved from one place to another in search of food.
• When most of the people Ceased to live in forest and adopted civilized life, they developed relationship with domesticated Animals and fertile land.
• As a result, mobility of Mankind changed considerably.
• They almost left the nomadic life and started to live in permanent Settlements.
• At this stage, people continued to Move from one region to another in search of Fertile land for cultivation.
• Afterwards, the nature of mobility frequently changed over a period of Time.

Factors of Migration:

• There are a number of factors which are responsible for the migration of human Population.
• These factors can be grouped under the heads of favourable and unfavourable Factors.
• The favourable factors which attract people towards a location are called pull factors.
• The unfavourable factors which make the People to move out from a location are called push factors.
• The various causes which are responsible for human migration is categorized under five Groups as follows.

Ecological or Natural Causes of Migration:

• The causes operate under this category are Natural ones.
• They include volcanic eruption, Earthquake, flood, drought etc.
• These events Force the people to leave their native places and Settle in the new areas.
• The conditions like the availability of water resources, areas free from Hazards, pollution etc., attract the migrants.

Economic causes of Migration:

• Economy is one of the most important causes of human migration from one area to Another.
• Various economic causes determine the level and direction of migration.
• The availability of fertile agricultural land, employment opportunities, development of technology Etc., are some of the economic causes that Attract the migration.
• The mass poverty and Unemployment force the people to move out from their native places to the places where the better employment opportunities are available.

Socio-Cultural causes of Migration:

• Socio-cultural causes also play some roles in the process of migration.
• Migration of women after Marriage and migration associated with pilgrimage are based on the socio-cultural customs.

Demographic causes of Migration:

• In demographic sense, the population composition like age and sex, over population and under population are the major causes of Migration.
• It is well known fact that adults are more migratory than any other age-groups.
• Women mostly migrate after their marriage.
• Generally over population is considered as a Push factor and under population to be pull Factor in the context of migration.

Political causes of Migration:

• Various political causes like colonization, wars, government policies etc.
• Have always been Playing important role in human migration from Time to time.

Wars have been one of the significant causes of migration since ancient time:

Types of Migration:

• Migration can be classified in several ways.
• It is usually categorized as follows;

Based on the movement associated with administrative limits:

Internal migration:

• The movement of people within a country is known as internal migration.
• Further, the internal migration is classified into four categories on the basis of the place of origin and destination of migrants.

Rural to Urban Migration:

• It is the movement of population from rural areas to growing Towns and cities mainly in search of Employment, education and recreation Facilities.

Urban to Urban Migration:

• It is the migration between one urban centre to the other like in search of higher income.

Rural to Rural Migration

• It is driven by fertile Land for cultivation and other sociological Factors like Marriage etc.

Urban to Rural Migration

• It is the movement from urban centres to rural areas to get Rid-off the urban problems and returning to native places after retirement from Jobs.
• Rural to urban migration is the most Common one.

International Migration

• Migration that Occurs across the national boundaries are Known as International Migration.

Based on the willingness of the migrants for migration:

• Voluntary Migration: If the migration Takes place on person’s free will, initiative and desire to live in a better place and to improve their financial status, the Migration is said to be voluntary.
• Involuntary or forced Migration:
• If the Migration takes place against the will of migrants, the migration is termed as involuntary migration.
• The push factors like war may force the people to emigrate from a place is of this type.

Based on the duration of stay of migrants in the place of Destination:

• Short term migration:
• In this kind of Migration, the migrants stay outside only for a short duration before returning to the place of Origin.
• The duration may be from a few days to Few months.
• Long term migration: It is a kind of Migration in which the migrants stay outside at Least for a few years.
• Seasonal migration:
• In this type of Migration usually a group of people migrates from their native places during a particular Season and returns after end of that season.
• People migrating to hill stations during Summer and the migration of agricultural Workers during sowing seasons belong to this Category.
• Transhumance is an another example of seasonal migration.
• Female migrants outnumber male migrants in Europe, Northern America, Oceania and Latin America and the Caribbean, while in Africa and Asia, particularly Western Asia, migrants are predominantly men.
• The number of international migrants Worldwide has continued to Grow rapidly in recent years, Reaching 258 million in 2017, up from 220 million in 2010 and 173 million in 2000.

Consequences of Migration:

• Migration affects both the areas of origin of migration and the areas of destination. The following are the major consequences of Migration.
• Demographic consequences:
• It changes age and sex composition of population.
• Migration of Females after their marriage leads to decline in sex Ratio in the source regions and increase the sex Ratio in the regions of destinations.
• The migration of male workers in search of jobs decreases the independent population of the source regions which increases the dependency ratio.
• Social consequences:
• The migration of People from different regions towards an urban area leads to the formation of plural society it helps the people to come out of narrow Mindedness and people become generous.
• Economic consequences:
• The migration of more people from over populated to under Populated regions results the imbalance of the resource-population ratio.
• In some cases, the regions of over and under population may Become the regions of optimum population.
• Migration may influence the occupational Structure of the population of an area.
• Through this it will certainly affect the economy of the Regions also.
• Brain drain is a consequence of Migration.
• Brain drain refers to the migration in which skilled people from economically Backward countries move to developed Countries in search of better opportunities.
• Eventually, this leads to backwardness in source Regions. This is called as “backwash effect”.

Environmental consequences:

• Large scale Movement of people from rural to urban areas Causes overcrowding in cities and puts heavy Pressure on resources.
• It leads to rapid growth of Cities.
• The over population in urban areas leads to the pollution of air, water and soil.
• Scarcity of Drinking water, lack of space for housing, traffic Congestions and poor drainage are the common environmental problems prevail in urban areas.
• The lack of space for housing and the rising of Land cost lead to the formation of slums.

Urbanisation:

• Urbanisation refers to the process in which there is an increase in the proportion of Population living in towns and cities.

Causes of Urbanisation:

• Urbanisation is driven by three factors: natural Population growth, rural to urban migration and the reclassification of rural Areas into urban areas.
• Present day urbanisation includes changes in Demographics, land cover, economic processes and characteristics of geographic area.

Urbanization in India:

• The level of urbanization is measured in terms of percentage of urban Population.
• Goa is the most urbanized state.
• Himachal Pradesh is the least urbanized state.
• Among the Union territories, Delhi is the most urbanized Region followed by Chandigarh.
• Among the Major states, Tamil Nadu continues to be the most urbanized state with 48.4% percent of urban population followed by Kerala and Maharashtra.
• In 1950, 30% of the world’s Population was urban, and by 2050, 68 % of the world’s Population is projected to be Urban (World Urbanisation Prospects, 2018, Key facts).

Impact of Urbanization:

• Urbanization and population Concentration go hand – in – hand and are closely related to each other.
• Rural to urban Migration leads to population explosion in urban areas.
• Metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi have more population than that can accommodate.
• The following are the major problems of Urbanization in India.
• It creates urban sprawl.
• It makes overcrowding in urban centres.
• It leads to shortage of houses in urban areas.
• It leads to the formation of slums.
• It increases traffic congestion in cities.
• It creates water scarcity in cities.
• It creates drainage problem.
• It poses the problem of solid waste Management.
• It increases the rate of crime.