Siba Prasad Rath

Demography of India: Challenges & Dynamics of India's Population & Census Siba Prasad Rath

Demography is the key element of any developmental study. This concept in the Indian context dates back to Mauryan period of BC 350 to BC 150 as a state practice. British period gave it a regular shape of study in India from 1872. National economy and planning requirements are heavily dependent on the outcomes of the Census every decade. No wonder demography has gone beyond the headcounts; study of the population in every census in India raises issues of National and International concern. Especially, India is at the alarming stage of demographic developmental studies as per the statistical anticipation of having the worlds? largest population by 2036. Censuses in India have defined the population growth as ? 1891 ? 1921, as Stagnant Population, 1921 ? 1951, as Steady Growth, 1951 ? 1981, as Rapid Growth, 1981 ? 2011 High Growth with signs of Slowing down, 2011 ? onward, as Controlled Growth which has been used as parameters of measuring many social sciences studies. Current census of 2011 clearly defines the Indian Population as the emerging Super Power in Manpower of the world by 2020 because of the largest segment of the young population.