Topic: population and associated issues
1) Declining rates of both absolute population growth and total fertility have been steady in the country, do you think they negate the need for population regulation measures? Critically analyse.(250 words)
Why this question:
The prime minister, in his Independence Day speech, flagged “population explosion” as a problem and talked of the need to counter it. It is surprising that the government has missed the message on the declining trend in fertility in the country and is gearing up to fight yesterday’s problem.
Key demand of the question:
The answer must evaluate the current population level dynamics.
Directive:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgement.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Present the situation of population in the country.
Body:
The proponents of population regulation raise the bogey of the absolute population level already being too high and the resulting resources-demand gap fueling social misery and instability. But this deliberately ignores or underplays the fact that the rates of both absolute population growth and total fertility have been declining steadily, and negate the need for population regulation measures.
Explain the causes and consequences of the declining trend and what kind of change in population policy is desired.
Conclusion:
Conclude with way forward.
