#GD@ssbclear
4 AFSB VARANASI
We know that India's population is so high. What are the consequences India is facing?
- unemployment
- resources depletion
- education problem
GD Topic: Consequences of India’s High Population
"Population growth without proper planning can turn a demographic dividend into a demographic disaster."
India, with over 1.44 billion people (as per UN estimates, 2024), is the world’s most populous country. While a large population offers economic potential, it also brings several challenges. Below are the consequences under the given leads:
1️⃣ Unemployment
📌 Rising Job Competition:
- India’s unemployment rate stands at 8.2% (CMIE, Feb 2024), indicating job scarcity.
- Every year, over 12 million youth enter the workforce, but job creation lags behind.
📌 Informal & Underemployment:
- 90% of India's workforce is in the informal sector (ILO), with minimal social security benefits.
- Many educated youth work in low-paying jobs due to skill-job mismatch.
📌 Pressure on Government Schemes:
- Schemes like PM Rozgar Yojana & Skill India Mission aim to generate employment, but demand exceeds supply.
- MNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) is overburdened, with demand for work rising by 40% post-pandemic.
📌 Brain Drain:
- Talented professionals migrate due to fewer high-paying opportunities, impacting India’s knowledge economy.
- Over 2 lakh Indians renounced citizenship in 2023 (MEA Report), many seeking better employment abroad.
2️⃣ Resource Depletion
📌 Water Scarcity:
- Per capita water availability in India has declined by 70% since 1951.
- By 2030, 40% of Indians may not have access to safe drinking water (NITI Aayog).
📌 Deforestation & Land Degradation:
- India loses 1.5 million hectares of forest cover annually due to urban expansion.
- Soil erosion affects 30% of agricultural land, impacting food security.
📌 Energy Crisis:
- India’s energy demand has risen by 50% in the last decade, straining power supply.
- Coal reserves may last only 40-50 more years at the current consumption rate (Ministry of Coal).
📌 Food Insecurity:
- Despite being the 2nd largest food producer, India ranks 111th in Global Hunger Index 2023.
- Food wastage accounts for ₹92,000 crore losses annually, while millions face malnutrition.
3️⃣ Education Problem
📌 Overburdened Education System:
- India has 260 million students in schools, but the student-teacher ratio is 30:1 (UNESCO), affecting quality learning.
- Government schools face lack of infrastructure, trained teachers, and digital access.
📌 Dropout Rates & Literacy Gap:
- The dropout rate in secondary education is 14.6% (MoE, 2023), primarily due to poverty and child labor.
- Female literacy (68%) lags behind male literacy (84%), widening the gender gap.
📌 Higher Education Challenges:
- Only 27% of youth (18-23 years) enroll in higher education (AISHE 2023).
- Many engineering & management graduates remain unemployed due to outdated curricula and skill gaps.
📌 Impact of Population on Competitive Exams:
- Over 23 lakh candidates applied for UPSC CSE 2023, with only 1,000+ selections, showing extreme competition.
- Even SSC, Banking, and Railways exams face 1:1000 selection ratios, leaving many aspirants unemployed.
Conclusion
India's growing population is a double-edged sword. If managed well through education, skill development, and resource planning, it can be an asset. However, if left unchecked, it may worsen unemployment, deplete resources, and strain the education system, slowing India’s growth.
