PATTERN OF POPULATION GROWTH IN RURAL INDIA: 2011

Growth of population refers to, the change in the number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period of time. The number of births, deaths and migration are the three components, which play a vital role in increasing or decreasing a country's population growth rate. In this study, decadal growth rate has been taken to study the growth process of the rural parts of the country. India's 68.84 per cent of total population lives in rural areas. The present work is based on secondary source of data, which is taken from Census of India, 2011. The study revealed that, the decade of 2001-2011 recorded a decline in the proportion as well as in the growth rate of rural population. This decline is mainly contributed by the economically developed states, with a few exceptions. In comparison to the states, the union territories showed a totally different pattern of growth of rural population. Various factors have lent a helping hand in curbing the ever increasing growth of rural population, during this period.