Population growth refers to the change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory during a specific period.

(i) The state having highest density of population is West Bengal (904)
(ii) The state with the lowest density of population is Arunachal Pradesh (13).

324 person per sq. km.

1. Human being are producers and consumers of earth's resources.
2. Therefore, it is important to know how many people are there in a country, where do they live, how and why their numbers are increasing and what are their characteristics.

The census of India provides us with information regarding the population of our country.

Greater Mumbai.

1. Less expenditure on health and hygiene.
2. Less expenditure on medicines.
3. Increase in efficiency of the people.
4. More work results in rapid development.
5. Healthy and study bodies.
6. Qualitative improvement in population.

Census
(i) A census is an official enumeration of population done periodically.
(ii) In India the first census was held in the year 1872.
(iii) Since then censuses have been held regularly every ten years.
(iv) The Indian census is the most comprehensive source of demographic, social and economic data.
(v) The decennial census of India is the largest single administrative exercise of its kind in the world.
Information we get from census are:
(i) Population size and distribution
(ii) Population growth and processes of population change
(iii) Characteristics or qualities of the population.

(a) Comprehensive Family Planning Programme was launched in 1952:
(i) It sought to promote, on a voluntary basic, responsible and planned parenthood.
(ii) National population policy 2000 is a culmination of these programmes and years of planned efforts.
(b) NPP 2000 provides:
(i) Imparting free and compulsory school education.
(ii) Reduction in infant mortality rate to below 30 per thousand live births.
(iii) Achievements of universal immunisation of children against all vaccine disease.
(iv) Promotion of delayed marriage age for girls.
(v) Making family welfare programmes a people-centred programme.
(vi) It aims at stabilising the population by 2045.

(a) The least populous state of India is Sikkim.
(b) These areas are very sparsely populated due to
1. hilly terrain
2. heavy rainfall
3. thick forests.