UPSC Prelims 2011 Q14: Geography – Population & Demography
India is regarded as a country with “Demographic Dividend”. This is due to
- (a) Its high population in the age group below 15 years
- (b) Its high population in the age group of 15 - 64 years
- (c) Its high population in the age group above 65 years
- (d) Its high total population
Answer: (b) Its high population in the age group of 15 - 64 years
Explanation
Why India has a 'Demographic Dividend'
A demographic dividend is the economic growth boost a country can get when its working-age population is proportionally larger than its dependents.
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) High population below 15 years | Incorrect | This group is a dependent, not working-age, population |
| (b) High population aged 15-64 years | Correct | This is the working-age group; a large share means more workers and savers relative to dependents |
| (c) High population above 65 years | Incorrect | The elderly are dependents, not contributors to the dividend |
| (d) High total population | Incorrect | Sheer size alone does not create a dividend; the age structure matters |
Demographic dividend in brief:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Working-age group | 15-64 years |
| Dependency ratio | Falls when this group is proportionally large |
| India's window | Expected to last roughly till around 2055-56, varying by study |
| Needs | Skilling, jobs and health investment to realise the dividend, not just have it |
Answer: (b) Its high population in the age group of 15-64 years.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. The below-15 group is dependent, not working-age.
- (b) CORRECT. A large 15-64 years working-age population is what creates the demographic dividend.
- (c) Incorrect. The above-65 group is also dependent, placing a burden rather than creating a dividend.
- (d) Incorrect. A high total population alone, without a favourable age structure, does not create a dividend.
Key point
Demographic dividend: a large working-age (15-64 years) population relative to dependents (below 15, above 65) — not sheer population size.
Remember
Demographic dividend = large 15-64 working-age share.
Common mistakes
- Equating a large population in general with a demographic dividend.
- Forgetting the below-15 group counts as dependents, not contributors.
- Missing that the dividend is about age structure, not just numbers.
Exam tip
Demographic dividend = more working hands relative to mouths to feed. Always the 15-64 bracket.
Sources
- Ministry of Finance, Government of India — Economic Survey 2010–11 (demographic dividend)
- National Commission on Population — Population Projections for India and States 2001–2026 (Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections, 2006)