At 00.00 hours of 1st March, 2001, the population of India stood at 1028, 737,436 comprising of 532,223,090 males and 496,514,346 females crossing the one billion mark, the only country after China to do so. This vast wealth of human resource is dispersed in thirty five states and union territories consisting of 593 districts, 5470 sub districts 5161 towns and 638,588 villages.
Population – Like 1991 Census, in 2001 Census also Uttar Pradesh continues to be the most populous state in the country (166 million) followed by Maharashtra with a population of around 97 million. In fact, the population of Uttar Pradesh is more than the estimated population of Pakistan. Bihar with 83 million population is ranked at number three, the position held by West Bengal in 1991 which slipped to fourth rank at the 2001 Census. The union territory of Lakshadweep, has the lowest population of only 61 thousand. At the 2001 Census top ten ranked states have more than 50 million population against only six such states in 1991.
Decadal Growth - India added about 182 million persons during 1991-2001, which is more than the estimated population of Brazil, the fifth most populous country in the world. The percentage decadal growth of the country as a whole has declined from 23.9 during 1981-1991 to 21.5 during 1991-2001. Thus, India has registered a fall in its decadal growth rate by 2.3 percentage points, which is the sharpest decline since independence. Decline in the decadal growth of population during 1991-2001 as compared to 1981-1991 has been observed in twenty seven states/union territotries. As regards relative ranking Nagaland retains its number one position of 1991 in 201 also with very high decadal growth of 64.5 per cent. Among the major states Bihar has recorded the highest increase in the percentage decadal growth from 23.4 during 1981-91 to 28.6 per cent during 1991-2001. During 1991-2001, the lowest growth rate is recorded in Kerala 9.43 percent and is placed at the bottom of the ranking preceded by Tamil Nadu (11.72 ) and Andhra Pradesh (14.59). The most remarkable fall in decadal growth is observed in Andhra Pradesh which registered a fall of about 10 percentage points.
Density of Population – The Census 2001 brings out the fact that there are 62 persons more per square kilometer in the country as compared to 1991. The diverse pattern of density can be gauged by the fact that while Delhi at the top of the list has population density of 9,340 persons per sq. km. while at the bottom of the ranking lies north eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh with density of only 13 persons per square kilometer. Among the major states West Bengal is the most densely populated state with 903 persons living in every square kilometer area followed by Bihar (881) and Kerala (819).
Sex Ratio - Sex Ration of population (Number of females per 1000 males) for India is 933 which is an improvement of 6 points over 927 recorded in 1991 Census. The significant feature of sex ration of population in 2001 is that 23 states and union territories have registered increase as compared to 1991. Like the 1991 Census, the highest sex ratio (1058) has been reported in Kerala. Second and third ranks are held by Pondichery (1001) and Chhattisgarh (989) respectively. Haryana has reported the lowest sex ration of 861 among the major states while at the bottom of the ranking stands the Union Territory of Daman & Diu with very low sex ration of 710.
Child Sex Ratio (0-6) – The most disturbing and alarming fact that has emerged at the 2001 Census relates to declining child sex ration in the 0-6 year age group in the country and many states and union territories. The child sex ratio in the age group 0-6 years at the national level has slipped from 945 in 1991 Census to 927 in 2001 Census thereby registering a decline of eighteen points. A majority of the states and union territories (31) have registered decline in the child sex ration in 2001 as compared to 1991 Census. The sharpest decline in the child sex ratio (0-6) has been observed in Punjab, Haryana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal and Union territories of Chandigarh and Delhi. Among the major states Chattisgarh recorded the highest child sex ration (975) followed by Assam (965) and Jharkhand (965). Punjab continues to be at the bottom with the lowest child sex ration of 798 at the 2001 Census.
Percentage of Child population in the age group 0-6 - At the national level there is a perceptible decline in the proportion of child population from 17.9 percent in 1991 to 15.9 percent in 2001 Census, which is indicative of significant decline in fertility. The phenomenon of decline in the proportion of child population is observed in all the states and union territories at the 2001 Census. While at the 1991 Census, seven states had more than twenty percent of its population in the age group of 0-6 years, the number of such states at 2001 Census was only two viz., Bihar and Nagaland. Declining trend in fertility can be further confirmed by the fact that while in 1991, twenty-nine states/union territories had registered more than 15 percent of child population, in 2001 only fourteen states/union territories fall in this category. Goa has reported the lowest proportion of child population being (10.8) percent in 2001 followed by Tamil Nadu (11.6) and Kerala (11.9).
Scheduled Castes – The Scheduled Castes population aggregated at national level for Census 2001 constitutes 16.2 percent (166,635,700) of the total population against 16.5 percent at the 1991 Census. As in 1991, Punjab (28.9), Himachal Pradesh (24.7), West Bengal (23.0), Uttar Pradesh (21.1) and Haryana (19.3) continue to occupy top five ranks in terms of percentage of Scheduled Caste population in 2001 also. The newly created state of Uttranchal occupies the seventh rank in 2001 Census which was held by Delhi in 1991. In Nagaland, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands no Scheduled Caste has been notified.
Scheduled Tribes – The Scheduled Tribes population of the country aggregated at national level) constitutes 8.2 percent (84,326,240) of the total population at the 2001 Census similar to 1991 at 8.1 percent. Like 1991, the north-eastern state of Mizoram continues to hold number one rank with 94.5 percent Scheduled Tribes population and Lakshadweep also accounts for similar proportion and occupies number two rank at 2001 Census. It may be seen that the first thirteen rank states/union territories have 20 percent population as Scheduled Tribes at 2001 Census. The least proportion of Scheduled Tribe population is seen in Uttar Pradesh 0.1 percent preceded by Bihar 0.9 percent. There is no notified Scheduled Tribe in the State of Punjab, Haryana and UTs Chandigarh, Delhi and Pondicherry. In Jammu & Kashmir where 1991 Census was not held, the percentage of Scheduled Tribe poluation (notified for the first time) for 2001 is 10.9 percent.
Literacy Status - The literacy rates among the population age seven years and above for the country stands at 64.8 percent at the 2001 Census. Thus, literacy rate has recorded an impressive jump of 14.6 percentage points from 52.2 in 1991 to 64.8 in 2001. Kerala continues its lead in the overall litracy race with 90.9 percent followed by Mizoram 88.8 and Lakshadwwep 86.7 percent maintaining ranking of 1991 Census in 2001 Census. Bihar has recorded the lowest literacy rate of 47.0 percent in 2001 in the country. Significant progress in the overall literacy rate can be gauged by the fact that top eleven rank states and union territories in 2001 have more than three fourth of their population as literates while in 1991 Census only six top ranked states/union territories had this distinction. Except Bihar, all other states and union territories have more than 50 percent literacy rate in 2001, a quantum leap as compared to 1991 Census when eleven states/union territories returned less than 50 percent literacy rates.
Male literacy – At the national level, three-fourth of the male population is literate at the 2001 Census marking a jump of eleven percent points as compared to 1991. Kerala ranks first in the male literacy in 2001, a position that it also held in 1991. Lakshadweep and Mizoram posting more than 90 percent male literacy rates and maintaining the ranks they established in 1991 Census. The gains in the male literacy are highlighted by the fact that except Bihar all states/union territories have registered more than 60 percent literacy at the 2001 Census while in 1991 only twenty four states and union territories could cross this mark in male literacy rates.
Female literacy – The female literacy rate crossed the 50 percent mark at the 2001 Census, a significant improvement of 14.4 percentage points from its level of 39.3 in 1991. Continuing their lead of 1991 Census, Kerala, Mizoram and Lakshadweep again emerged at the top three ranks with over 80 percent female literacy in 2001 Census. In addition union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has recorded more that 75 percent female literacy rate. Significant increase in female literacy is seen in all the states and union territories between 1991 and 2001/. However despite having more than ten percentage points increase, Bihar (33.1) and Jharkhand (38.9) are placed at the bottom of the ranks in 2001, slipping downwards from its position in 1991 Census. Rajasthan which was at the bottom rank in 1991 has improved its rank to twenty nine at the 2001 Census.
Work Participation Rate(WPR) – Work Participation Rate or percentage of workers to total population is 39.1 percent in 2001 Census which is marginal increase from 37.5 percent in 1991. Mizoram leads with 52.6 percent WPR followed by Dadra & Nagar Haveli (51.8) and Himachal Pradesh (49.2). While Himachal Pradesh has registered sharp increase in WPR and improved its rank from 8th in 1991 to 3rd in 2001 Census, Sikkim has also jumped from 13th rank in 1991 Census to 4th in 2001 Census. At the bottom of ranking are two southern states and union territories of Kerala and Lakshadweep with 32.3 and 25.3 percent WPR respectively. An overall increase in WPR in twenty eight states and union territories is noted. Of these, perceptible increase is noted in Punjab and Haryana. On the other hand Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Maharashtra, Meghalaya, Assam and Lakshadweep register slight decline in WPR in 2001 census as compared to 1991 Census.
Male Work Participation Rate (WPR) – The Male WPR (51.7) remained constant during 1991 and 2001 censuses at the national level. Daman and Diu has returned a very impressive male WPR of 65.5 percent and moved from 15th rank it held in 1991 to number one rank at the 2001 Census. Dadra and Nagar Haveli with 62.3 percent male WPR holds second rank. Among the major states Tamil Nadu at third rank has recorded male WPR of 57.6 percent in 2001 Census. Twenty-five states and union territories have more than half of their male population as workers. Twenty states and union territories have registered increase in male WPR as compared to 1991 Census.
Female Work Participation Rate (WPR) – One of the major efforts in 2001 Census was to net female contribution in the economy in paid as well as unpaid work. Special training modules, examples and focused publicity was undertaken to capture truly the female work participation specially in those areas where female work participation showed inordinately low returns at the 1991 Census. Aginst this back drop, as per 2001 Census, every fourth woman is worker or economically active in the country. The female WPR of 25.6 percent is an increase of 3.3 percent point since 1991 Census. Majority of state/union territories have recorded higher female work participation as compared to 1991 Census. Among these marked increase in female WPR is noticed in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh in northern India, Bihar, Jharkhand and Sikkim in the east. As a result Himachal Pradesh which was ranked eighth in the 1991 Census climbed up to occupy second rank at the 2001 Census with 43.7 percent. Similarly, Haryana and Punjab moved from 30th and 34th rank they held in 1991 to 18th and 24th ranks in 2001. Mizoram with 47.5 percent is at the top of ladder at the 2001 Census Chhattisgarh with 40 percent female WPR maintained its third rank. Among the major states Kerala has the lowest female WPR at 15.4 percent while last three ranks are occupied by Chandigarh, Delhi and Lakshadweep.
Main Workers – At the national level main workers (those who worked for more than six months in the year preceding Census) have declined from 91 percent in 191 to 77.8 percent in 2001 Census. This phenomenon of decline in the total main workers has been noted in majority of the states and union territories. For example in 1991, twenty two states and union territories accounted for more than 90 percent main workers and this number has dropped to only four union territories, namely, Chandigarh, Delhi, daman & Diu and Pondicherry. These are also occupying first four ranks at the 2001 Census. Orissa (67.2), Himahcal Pradesh (65.6) and Jharkhand (63.8) are at the bottom of the ranking at the 2001 Census.
Marginal Workers - Unlike main workers, the marginal workers (those who worked for less than six months in the year preceding census) have registered a significant increase from 9 percent in 1991 to 22.2 percent in 2001. This increasing trend in proportion of marginal workers is noted in majority of the states and union territories except in the union territories of Daman & Diu, Delhi and Chandigarh which have registered increase. Jharkhand (36.2), Himachal Pradesh (34.4) and Orissa (32.8) hold the top three ranks in 2001. Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur also have more than 30 percent marginal workers. The relative rankings of the States and Union Territories so far as marginal workers are concerned show considerable shift. For instance, Uttar Pradesh with 7.4 percent marginal workers was at the 20th rank in 1991 has moved to 5th rank with 27.1 percent marginal workers in 2001. Similarly, Bihar with barely 4.8 percent marginal workers was at the 27th rank has now climbed to 12th rank with 24.7 percent marginal workers in 2001.
Total Cultivators – At the national level proportion of cultivators to total workers declined sharply from 39.7 percent in 1991 to 31.7 percent in 2001. This trend of decline in proportion of cultivators is noted for all the states and union territories. Himachal Pradesh tops with 65.3 percent cultivators followed by Nagaland with 64.7 percent. Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Uttrachanl also account for more than fifty percent cultivators to total workers. Incidentally, seventeen states/union territories as per 2001 Census have less than thirty percent workers as cultivators. Highly urbanized union territories of Delhi and Chandigarh account for less than one percent cultivators to their total workers.
Agricultural labourers – Percentage of agricultural labourer have also registered slight decline from 27.4 percent in 1991 to 26.5 percent in 2001. Twenty states/union territories also observed similar trend of decline in agricultural labourers’ proportion in 2001 as compared to 1991 Census. Bihar accounts for the highest proportion of agricultural labourers at 48.0 percent followed by Andhra Pradesh 39.6 percent and Orissa 36.0 percent thereby retaining their respective ranking of 1991. Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu occupied fourth and fifth rank in 2001 with more than 30.0 percent agricultural labourers. Bottom eight states/union territories as per ranking of 2001 have less than 5.0 percent agricultural labourers to their total workers. Data on cultivators and agricultural labourers suggests definite shift away from primary or agricultural related activities during 1991-2001.
Household Industry Workers (HHI) – Household Industry Workers at the national level registered increase from 2.4 percent in 1991 to 4.2 percent in 2001 Census. Manipur accounted for 10.3 percent of total Household Industry Workers and is at the top ranking in 2001 while this rank was held by union territory of Lakshdweep in 1991 Census. West Bengal with Household Industry Workers is placed at number two. Seven states and union territories at 2001 Census accounts for more than 5 percent total Household Industry Workers while only three states and union territories accounted for this proportion of Household Industry Workers at the 1991 Census. At the 1991 Census six states and union territories had less than one percent of its workers as Household Industry Workers while in 2001 Census only Dadra & Nagar Haveli has less than one percent i.e. 0.7 percent Household Industry Workers to total workers and placed at the bottom of the ranking. It is further observed that 31 states and union territories registered an increase in the proportion of total HHI Workers at the 2001 Census.
Other Workers (OW) – At the national level total Other Workers (OW) reveals a perceptible increase in the proportion from 30.5 percent in 1991 to 37.6 percent in 2001. Union territory of Chandigarh holds number one rank with 98.1 percent followed by Delhi 95.7 percent and Lakshadweep 94.1 percent. Interestingly, first nine ranking states/union territories are able to hold their positions in 1991 as well as in 2001 in this category. In 2001 Census, one third of the total workers fall in the category of OW in 25 states/union territories. Bihar with 18.8 percent, total Other Workers has been ranked last preceded by adjoining state of Chhattisgarh with 21.5 percent Other Workers. Both these states are at the bottom of the ranking at the 1991 Census.