WBCS Preliminary Examination 2023 — General Studies · Question 175 of 200

Answer: (D) 1961 - 1981

India's population history is usually divided into four phases: 1901–21, stagnant growth (1921 is the "Year of the Great Divide", after the only decade with negative growth); 1921–51, steady growth; 1951–81, population explosion, when death rates fell quickly but birth rates stayed high; and after 1981, high growth with definite signs of slowing. Decadal growth peaked at 24.8% in 1961–71 and was 24.66% in 1971–81, so among the given options 1961–1981 is the period of explosion. Census 2011 recorded 121.08 crore people and decadal growth of 17.7%.