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CM9.1-7 | Demography and Vital Statistics — Graded Quiz
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The General Fertility Rate (GFR) uses which denominator?
Correct. GFR = live births per 1,000 women aged 15–49 years (the reproductive age group). This corrects the CBR's insensitivity to age-sex structure.
Fertility rate hierarchy — CBR (all pop) → GFR (women 15–49) → ASFR (5-year age bands within 15–49) → TFR (sum of ASFRs × 5).
Incorrect. GFR denominator = women aged 15–49 per 1,000. Option A is CBR. Option C is the denominator for General Marital Fertility Rate. Option D uses a non-standard age range.
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The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is conducted by:
Correct. NFHS is conducted by IIPS (International Institute for Population Sciences), Mumbai, with technical assistance from ICF International. It is funded by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Vital statistics sources: Census = RGI; SRS = RGI/ORGI; NFHS = IIPS; NSSO = household consumption/morbidity surveys; CBHI = hospital statistics. NFHS-5 is the fifth round (2019–21).
Incorrect. NFHS is led by IIPS, Mumbai. RGI conducts the Census and SRS. NSSO conducts household economic surveys (not NFHS). The Census Commissioner is part of RGI.
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The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) is expressed per:
Correct. IMR = deaths under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births in the same year. India's IMR per SRS 2020 = 28 per 1,000 live births.
Key denominators: CBR, CDR, IMR, NMR, U5MR = per 1,000 live births; MMR = per 100,000 live births; suicide rate = per 100,000 population.
Incorrect. IMR denominator is 1,000 live births. Option A is for CBR/CDR. Option C (per 100,000) is the denominator for MMR. Option D is the GFR denominator.
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A population's rate of natural increase is determined by:
Correct. Rate of Natural Increase = CBR – CDR (birth rate minus death rate). It reflects growth from vital events alone, excluding migration.
Total Population Growth Rate = Natural Increase + Net Migration. Natural Increase = CBR – CDR. India's current natural increase ≈ 19.5 – 6.0 = 13.5 per 1,000 (SRS 2020), indicating the population is still growing but the growth rate is decelerating.
Incorrect. Natural increase = CBR – CDR. IMR is not subtracted from CBR (IMR is a component of CDR, not a separate population growth term). TFR and GFR are fertility measures; their difference is not a meaningful growth indicator.
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The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, 1994 (amended 2003) primarily targets:
Correct. PC-PNDT Act 1994 (amended 2003) prohibits sex determination and sex-selective abortion, targeting prenatal diagnosis misuse to prevent female foeticide. It mandates registration of all diagnostic centres and bans sex disclosure.
Legislation targeting sex ratio: PC-PNDT Act (sex selection via prenatal diagnosis) + Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme (awareness) + POSCO Act (child protection). The PC-PNDT amendment of 2003 extended the prohibition to pre-conception techniques.
Incorrect. Mandatory prenatal screening is not mandated by PC-PNDT. Surrogacy is regulated under the Surrogacy Regulation Act 2021. MTP is governed by the MTP Act 1971 (amended 2021). PC-PNDT specifically addresses sex selection.
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At an annual population growth rate of 1.2%, the approximate time for India's population to double (using the Rule of 70) is:
Correct. Rule of 70: Doubling time = 70 / growth rate (%). At 1.2%: 70 / 1.2 ≈ 58.3 years.
Rule of 70: doubling time (years) ≈ 70 / annual growth rate (%). This is a simple approximation of the exponential doubling formula. India's growth rate has declined from ~2.2% in the 1970s to ~1% now.
Incorrect. Apply Rule of 70: Doubling time = 70 ÷ 1.2 ≈ 58 years. 35 years = 70 / 2 (for a 2% growth rate). 70 years = 70 / 1 (for 1% growth). 84 years = 70 / 0.83 (sub-1% growth). India's actual population growth rate ≈ 1.0–1.2% per decade.
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Which of the following is classified as a terminal (permanent) method of contraception for women?
Correct. Mini-laparotomy tubectomy (Minilap) is a terminal/permanent method — it involves surgical ligation/division of fallopian tubes, which is irreversible in intent. It is the most common female sterilisation method in India.
Classification: Terminal = tubectomy (female) / vasectomy (male); Long-acting reversible = IUCD (Cu-T, LNG-IUS), implants, injectables; Short-acting = OCP, condoms, EC pills. India's family planning basket also includes Antara (DMPA injectable) and Chhaya (centchroman).
Incorrect. Copper-T is a long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC). DMPA (Antara) is a 3-monthly injectable hormonal contraceptive — reversible. Centchroman (Saheli) is an oral non-steroidal once-weekly pill — reversible. Only tubectomy (and vasectomy) are terminal methods.
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The long-term demographic objective of National Population Policy 2000 (NPP 2000) is to achieve a stable population by:
Correct. NPP 2000's long-term objective is population stabilisation at a level consistent with sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental protection by 2045.
NPP 2000 three-tiered objectives: Immediate (by ~2007) = unmet contraceptive need; Medium-term (by 2010) = TFR 2.1; Long-term (by 2045) = population stabilisation. India's TFR reached 2.0 by NFHS-5 — the medium-term goal has essentially been achieved.
Incorrect. NPP 2000 long-term target year is 2045. 2010 was the medium-term objective (TFR to replacement). 2025 and 2035 are not NPP 2000 target years. 2050 is sometimes cited in global SDG discussions, not NPP 2000.
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A state health official wishes to compare the fertility burden across districts with very different age-sex structures. Which demographic measure is MOST appropriate?
Correct. TFR is the preferred measure for comparing fertility across populations with different age structures because it is age-standardised (derived from age-specific fertility rates) and independent of population composition. CBR is influenced by the proportion of women in reproductive age.
For cross-population comparisons: TFR or ASFR > GFR > CBR. TFR represents the average number of children a woman would have over her lifetime at current age-specific fertility rates — it removes the effect of population composition.
Incorrect. CBR is confounded by age-sex structure differences between districts (a district with more elderly will have a lower CBR even at equal underlying fertility). NMR measures mortality, not fertility. Standardised birth rate requires a reference population. TFR is the standard comparative fertility measure.
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The main limitation of India's Civil Registration System (CRS) as a source of vital statistics is:
Correct. The CRS suffers from chronic under-registration of vital events, particularly in rural and tribal areas. Registration rates have improved (births >90% by 2020) but death registration and cause-of-death data remain incomplete. SRS is therefore used as the benchmark for vital rates.
CRS vs SRS: CRS aims for universal registration (compulsory under Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969) but is incomplete; SRS uses a dual-record sample system and is more accurate for vital rates. NFHS supplements both with survey-based estimates.
Incorrect. CRS aims to be universal (urban and rural). It is a prospective continuous system — not retrospective. CRS registers both births and deaths. The key limitation is under-registration, especially for deaths and cause-of-death in rural areas.
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