An Analysis of Census 2001 State-specific Population Data 

ARUN C. MEHTA

Fellow

National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration

New Delhi – 110016 (INDIA)

(E-Mail: acmehta100@hotmail.com)  

Introduction  

The Census 2001 results are just released. So far, only total population and its male and female distribution, 0-6 population, sex ratio, density of population and literacy rates have been disseminated. The data is available both at the all-India, as well as, state level. However, district level data and information on a variety of other indicators included in the Census is eagerly awaited.  An attempt has been made to use this set of data to assess the contribution of formal education system to total literates produced during the period 1991-2001.In addition indicators, such as, male/female differential in literacy rate, literate per lakh population, percentage contribution to literates and illiterates increase during 1991 and 2001, female/male ratio of literacy rates, sex ratio among literate population and state-wise number of decades required to achieve universal literacy rate have also been computed and analysed to know more about literacy development in the country.

 

Free and compulsory education to all children up to the age fourteen is the constitutional commitment in India.  Despite spectacular quantitative expansion in every sphere of elementary education, the goal to achieve universal enrolment is still a far distant dreame. Census 2001 is a mixed lot of satisfaction and to some extent some dissatisfaction also. The population has shown a declining trend but it is still about 2 per cent. During the period 1991-2001, the population of India increased at the rate of 1.95 per cent per annum to 1,027 million, which is 16.7 per cent of the total world population. In absolute terms, population during the same period increased by more than 180 million. It is also heartening to note that the present growth rate (1.95 per cent) is the lowest in the last four decades.  The decline in growth rate suggests that finally family planning measures have started showing results, however the impact is only marginal.  The recent data of Sample Registration System suggest lower annual growth rate than reported by the Census 2001. The Economic Survey: 2000-01, even projected a further lower growth rate of 1.6 per cent between the years 1997 and 1999.  All this suggests that the decline will be even more rapid in years that follow. 

 

The male and female population in 2001 stands at 531 and 496 million that gives a sex ratio of 933 females per thousand male population. During the previous decade, the same was 927; thus showing a marginal improvement of six points. But sex ratio among children of age group 0-6 years has fallen in a number of states; this is perhaps the most disappointing feature of the Census 2001.  The percentage of 0-6 population to total population stand at 15.42 per cent compared to 17.94 per cent in 1991.The increase in the population is also reflected in the density of population, which has increased from 267 in 1991 to 324 per sq. km. in 2001. We now have 57 more people per sq. km.

 

More than decline in population growth rate, it is the spurt in literacy rates that make the present Census stand out from others in post-independence India. More than three-fourths of our male population and a little more than half of the female population are now literate compared to one-third of Indians still do not possess even the basic proficiency in literacy. During 1991-2001, literacy rates improved impressively from 52.01 per cent in 1991 to 65.38 per cent in 2001; thus showing an improvement of more than 13 percentage points. More glaring aspect of improving literacy rates is the significant increase of 14.87 per cent in case of female literacy rate, which is more than the increase in the male literacy rate, which is increased by 11.72 per cent.  However, still the differential in male/female literacy rate is of the tune of almost 22 percentage points. This is also reflected in the sex ratio among literate population, which is as low as 667 compared to 933 overall sex ratio. Despite the decline in number of illiterates and improvised literacy rates, India has to go a long way to achieve the goal of universal literacy.  

 

The detailed state-wise analysis is presented below. 

 

Growth in Population: 1991-2001

 

The total population of the country has increased from 846 million in 1991 to 1027 million in 2001. The increase is more than the total population of Uttar Pradesh (166   million) and Delhi (14 million) in 2001. However, it may be noted that the increase of 181 million during

 

Table 1: Selected Demographic Indicators: Census of India 2001

 

States/UT	Total Population, 2001 (In thousand)	% to Total National Population	Decadal Growth Rate, 1991-2001 (%)	Annual Rate of Growth, 1991-2001 ( %)	Percentage of Child Population (0-6 Year)  to Total Population	Density of Population (Per Sq. Km.)	Sex Ratio, 2001
							Overall	Child Population	Literate Population
A & N Islands	356	0.03	26.94	2.40	12.54	43	846	965	726
Andhra Pradesh	75728	7.37	13.86	1.31	12.77	275	978	964	708
Arunachal	1091	0.11	26.21	2.35	18.33	13	901	961	613
Assam	26638	2.59	18.85	1.74	16.33	340	932	964	721
Bihar	82879	8.07	28.43	2.4	19.59	880	921	938	510
Chandigarh	901	0.09	40.33	3.45	12.13	7,903	773	845	683
Chhatisgarh	20796	2.02	18.06	-	16.68	154	990	975	668
D & N Haveli	220	0.02	59.20	4.80	17.77	449	811	973	457
Daman & Diu	158	0.02