Question

Which states in India have reached or are very near the ‘replacement levels’ of population growth? Which ones still have very high rates of population growth? In your opinion, what could be some of the reasons for these regional differences?

Answer 1

Replacement level refers to the rate of growth required for new generations to replace the older ones that are dying out. 

Replacement level refers to giving birth to two children that replacement completes. States at the replacement level of population growth: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab

States very near to the replacement levels of population growth: Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and West Bengal. 

States having very high rates of population growth: U.P., Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh. 

Reasons of regional differences: 

• Difference in Literacy Percentage in different states. 

• Societal conditions vary in different states. Terrorism, war-like conditions and insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East. 

• Socio-Economic conditions vary in different states.  

(i) Number of BPL people is highest among states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. 

(ii) Socio-cultural formation: A belief that more children means more hands to earn or religious beliefs.