1. Census 2011 indicates that there is a stark north-south divide with respect to the ongoing demographic shifts in India. Explain this phenomenon and discuss its policy implications for both northern and southern states?

Approach:

♤ Explain the difference between demographic shift taking place in northern and southern states. For instance as per recent data, one in every 3 children in 0-14 is from UP or Bihar. On the other hands southern states have stabilized their population long back and are now seeing a rapid rise in their old age population.

♤ Policy implications such as – northern states need to invest more on education, skill building etc. While southern ones due to their ageing population should invest more on healthcare, pensions, insurance.