UGC-NET (NTA) POPULATION STUDIES, JUNE-2025

Based on the SRS Abridged Life Tables (2017-2021), the Life Expectancy at Birth (LEB) figures for the selected states are as follows:
C. West Bengal: ~72.3 years - one of the highest in eastern India due to improved healthcare access and urban health infrastructure.
D. Telangana: ~71.4 years - among the higher southern states, benefiting from better maternal and child health indicators.
A. Bihar: ~69.5 years - improving steadily but still below the national average due to lower healthcare utilization and poverty.
B. Chhattisgarh: ~ 64.6 years - the lowest in India, largely due to higher infant mortality, maternal deaths, and weaker health services.
In descending order (highest to lowest life expectancy): West Bengal → Telangana → Bihar → Chhattisgarh, i.e., C, D, A, В.

Based on Census 2011, the percentage of Scheduled Tribe (ST) population to the total population in each state is:
D. Maharashtra: 9.4%
A. Rajasthan: 13.5%
C. Madhya Pradesh: 21.1%
B. Odisha: 22.8%
In ascending order (lowest to highest % ST): Maharashtra → Rajasthan → Madhya Pradesh → Odisha, i.e., D, A, C, В.

Fertility measures are arranged by level of refinement-from the most general to the most specific indicator:
C. Crude Birth Rate (CBR): Total live births per 1,000 population-least refined, ignores age or sex structure.
A. General Fertility Rate (GFR): Live births per 1,000 women of reproductive age (15-49 years)-slightly more specific.
B. Age Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR): Births per 1,000 women in a specific age groupmore refined, shows fertility pattern.
D. Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Sum of all ASFRSsrepresents average children per woman-most refined and comprehensive measure.
Thus, the refinement order is C→ A →B→ D.

According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2021 and corroborated by NFHS-5 (2019–21) data, the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) - defined as the number of female births per 1,000 male births - for the given states is as follows:
C. Uttarakhand: 852 (lowest among the four states, showing persistent gender imbalance).
A. Haryana: slightly below Rajasthan, typically ranging between 880-900, showing gradual improvement but still below the national average.
D. Maharashtra: 924, indicating relatively balanced gender outcomes.
B. Rajasthan: 929, the highest among these states, reflecting improved female survival and reporting accuracy.
Arranging them in ascending order (lowest to highest SRB): Uttarakhand (852) → Haryana (≈890) → Maharashtra (924) → Rajasthan (929). Thus, the correct sequence is C, A, D, B.

According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2021, the Mean Age at Effective Marriage (MAEM) for females in the given states is:
B. Bihar: 20.6 years
A. Uttar Pradesh: 21.6 years
C. West Bengal: 22.1 years
D. Assam: 22.3 years
This indicator represents the average age at which women effectively begin married life, reflecting social norms, education levels, and economic conditions. Arranged in ascending order (lowest to highest MAEM): Bihar (20.6) → Uttar Pradesh (21.6) → West Bengal (22.1) → Assam (22.3) Hence, the correct order is B, A, C, D.

In economically developed countries, population ageing occurs primarily because of two demographic transitions:
A. Declining birth rate: Fertility has dropped below replacement level (around 2.1 children per woman), leading to fewer young people entering the population.
B. Declining death rate: Advances in healthcare, nutrition, and living standards have reduced mortality, especially among older adults, increasing life expectancy.
Together, these lead to a larger elderly population and smaller youth population, a hallmark of developed societies. Migration (internal or international) affects numbers temporarily but does not drive ageing structurally. Hence, A and B only.

Package of antenatal services (ANC) in India - what it includes and why:
A. First check-up within the first 12 weeks: Early registration in the 1st trimester enables baseline screening (history, examination, BP, weight, Hb, urine, blood grouping, infections), early risk identification, and timely counselling on diet, danger signs, and birth preparedness.
B. At least four antenatal check-ups during pregnancy: A minimum contact schedule commonly followed is:
• Visit 1: ≤ 12 weeks (registration + baseline labs)
• Visit 2: 14-26 weeks (follow-up, review labs, counselling)
• Visit 3: 28-34 weeks (foetal growth, BP/protein check for pre-eclampsia)
• Visit 4: ≥36 weeks (final assessment, place-of-birth plan, referral readiness)
These periodic contacts detect complications early and reduce maternal-perinatal risks.
C. Consumption of at least 100 IFA tablets: Daily Iron-Folic Acid supplementation (traditionally ≥100 tablets, often 180 where program logistics allow) addresses anaemia in pregnancy, improving maternal reserves and foetal outcomes. Typical dose per tablet: 60 mg elemental iron + 500 µg folic acid (as per national norms).
D. At least one TT injection: Tetanus protection in pregnancy is essential. The operational schedule is two TT (or Td) doses at least 4 weeks apart, or a single booster if adequately immunized in the recent past. The item explicitly requires at least one dose, which is part of the ANC package to prevent maternal and neonatal tetanus.
Why all four belong in the ANC package: Together, early registration, scheduled contacts, IFA supplementation, and TT/Td immunization constitute the core preventive-screeningprophylaxis bundle that lowers anaemia, hypertensive complications, sepsis/tetanus, and improves birth preparedness-hence all four are integral to India's antenatal care package.

The Post Enumeration Survey (PES) of the 2011 Census was conducted by the Registrar General of India to assess the coverage and content errors in census data. It specifically evaluated:
A. Omission errors: Individuals or households missed in enumeration.
B. Duplication errors: Individuals or households counted more than once.
D. Content errors in some items: Limited verification of data items (such as age, sex, relationship, etc.), not the full schedule.
Hence, the PES covered omission, duplication, and some content verification, making the correct combination A, B, D only.

According to the Census of India, an area is defined as urban based on the following criteria:
Administrative structure: All places with a Municipality, Corporation, Cantonment Board, or Notified Town Area Committee are urban by definition.
• Demographic and economic criteria:
• Population size: At least 5,000 persons.
• Density: Minimum 400 persons per sq. km.
• Economic activity: At least 75% of male workers engaged in non-agricultural pursuits.
Thus, all four factors - population size, density, economic activity, and administrative status - are used to define urban areas.

What demographers require to classify a move as migration (the three essentials):
A. Change in one's residence: The person's usual place of residence must shift (permanent or semi-permanent).
B. Crossing an administrative boundary: The move must cross a recognized boundary (village/town/ward, district, state, or country) used for statistical classification.
C. Occur within a specified reference period:
The change of residence must take place during a defined time window (e.g., since last census, past year). What is not required (and does not qualify on its own):
D. Commuting from rural to urban area: Daily/periodic travel for work or study without changing usual residence is not migration. No residential shift occurs, so it fails criterion (A).
Why the options don't fit:
• Options 1, 3, 4 each include D, which is not a migration criterion.
• Option 2 includes A, B, C (correct) but also wrongly includes D.
Since none of the listed combinations match exactly the three required conditions (A, B, С) without D, the correct choice is NONE.