1. Period of Stagnant Population

The first two decades (from 1901 to 1921) was the period of stagnant or stable population. During this period, the birth rate and the death rate were high. Consequently, the population showed a stagnant phase of population growth. It may be termed as the first phase of demographic transition in India. There was high mortality during this period because of epidemics like, cholera, influenza, malaria, plague, small pox, etc. Food shortage caused severe droughts in the years of 1911, 1913, 1915,1918 and 1920. Moreover, thousands of Indian soldiers lost their lives during the First World Wai (1914 18). Interestingly enough, the population showed a declining trend between 1911 and 1921. The Census year of 1921 is termed as the year of ‘demographic divide’in the demographic history of India.