UPSC Mains 2015 GS1 Q9 — Population and Poverty
Critically examine whether growing population is the cause of poverty OR poverty is the main cause of population increase in India. (Answer in not more than 200 words)
Question Decoded — examiner's intent
- Directive verbs
- Critically examine
- Scope keywords
- growing populationcause of povertypoverty is the main causepopulation increaseIndia
- Implicit sub-parts
- Arguments supporting Malthusian view: How rapid population growth strains resources and capital formation in India.
- Arguments supporting the 'Poverty is the cause' view: Demographic transition, high IMR leading to insurance births, and lack of education/access.
- The 'vicious cycle' synthesis: How both factors reinforce each other in a feedback loop.
- Current Indian context: The role of falling TFR and the 'Demographic Dividend' shift.
- Common pitfalls
- Taking a definitive side instead of examining the dialectic relationship between the two.
- Ignoring the role of social factors like women's agency, literacy, and healthcare access.
- Failing to mention specific Indian data such as NFHS-5 findings or TFR trends.
- Writing a generic essay on overpopulation without addressing the 'causality' debate.
- Dimensions required
- Socio-economicDemographicEducationalGender/Women's EmpowermentPolicy/Institutional
- Marks allocation hint
Allocate 40 words to the case for population causing poverty, 60 words to the more nuanced argument of poverty driving high birth rates (rational choice theory), 60 words to the synthesis of a 'poverty-population trap', and 40 words for a conclusion focusing on human capital and recent TFR trends.
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