Here is a comprehensive guide to Chapter 2, “Demography of Assam,” from the “Swadesh Adhyayan” textbook, created specifically for AHSEC Class 12 students. This guide includes a summary, complete textual answers, previous years’ AHSEC questions, and other important questions.
Chapter 2: Demography of Assam
Here is a comprehensive guide to Chapter 2 from the “Swadesh Adhyayan” textbook, created to help you prepare thoroughly for your upcoming AHSEC Class 12 exams. This guide includes a summary, complete textual answers, previous years’ AHSEC questions, and other important questions.
Summary Note
This chapter focuses on the demography of Assam, detailing its population size, growth, distribution, and composition. According to the 2011 census, Assam’s population was 3.12 crore, accounting for 2.6% of India’s total population on 2.4% of its land area. The state has historically shown a much higher population growth rate than the national average, primarily due to high birth rates and large-scale migration from neighboring countries and other Indian states.
The chapter highlights the uneven distribution of population. The plains of the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys are densely populated, with an average density of 397 persons per sq. km, while the three hilly districts are sparsely populated, with only about 12 persons per sq. km. The literacy rate in Assam was 72.2% in 2011, with a significant gap between male and female literacy (female literacy was only 66.3%).
A major theme of the chapter is the impact of migration on Assam’s demographic structure. Migration has occurred for economic reasons, with people coming from Bangladesh, Nepal, and other parts of India to work as laborers or engage in business. This has led to significant changes in the religious and linguistic composition of several districts. The chapter notes that this “unnatural growth rate” has created social, political, and economic challenges, threatening the cultural heritage and integrity of the indigenous Assamese society. The text points out that a large number of these migrants have settled in the fertile but ecologically sensitive char (riverine island) areas.
Complete Textual Question and Answer
1. According to the census of 2011, the total population of Assam is-
Answer: (c) 3.12 crore
2. The decadal growth of population during 2001-2011 in Assam is –
Answer: (d) 16.9 per cent (The text states 16.93%, which rounds to 16.9%).
3. The percentage of population engaged in primary sector in Assam is about-
Answer: (d) 52.4%
4. As per 2011 census, the literacy rate in Assam is –
Answer: (d) 72.2%
5. The percentage of population engaged in Quinary activity in Assam is –
Answer: (b) 3.0%
6. The population density in Assam as per 2011 census is –
Answer: (b) 397 per/km²
7. The female literacy in Assam according to 2011 census is –
Answer: (b) 66.3 per cent
8. The first ever census in Assam was held in which year?
Answer: (b) 1872
9. Show the percentage of population engaged in different sector of the occupation.
Answer: The percentage of population engaged in different sectors of economic activity in Assam is as follows:
- Primary activities: 52.4 per cent
- Secondary activities: 14.0 per cent
- Tertiary activities: 24.3 per cent
- Quaternary activities: 6.3 per cent
- Quinary activities: 3.0 per cent
10. What are the pillars of HRD? Name them accordingly.
Answer: According to the book, the four pillars of Human Resource Development (HRD) are Equality, Production, Durability, and Rights.
11. What is skill development? How it can be achieved?
Answer: Skill development is the process of enhancing the abilities and expertise of the human resource to improve their employability and productivity. It can be achieved through proper training, which should be given top priority. This should be done in cooperation with financial organizations and banks, and supported by government subsidies and tax holidays to encourage entrepreneurs and traders, which ultimately leads to economic development.
12. Name the hilly districts of Assam. State atleast four causes of low density of population in the hilly districts.
Answer: The three hilly districts of Assam are Dima Hasao, Karbi Anglong, and West Karbi Anglong.
Four causes for the low density of population in these hilly districts are:
- Difficult Terrain: The rugged, mountainous character of the land makes settlement and agriculture difficult.
- Lack of Amenities: There is a scarcity of modern facilities and infrastructure compared to the plains.
- Poor Connectivity: Transport and communication links are poorly developed, isolating these areas.
- Shifting Cultivation: The practice of shifting cultivation by the majority of inhabitants (like the Karbis and Dimasas) leads to villages shifting their location every 5-6 years, preventing the growth of large, permanent settlements.
Previous Year AHSEC Question Answers (2019-2025)
Short Answer Questions (2 Marks)
1. What was the population of Assam according to the 2011 census? What percentage of India’s population does it represent? (Probable Question)
Answer: According to the 2011 census, the total population of Assam was 3,12,05,576 (or 3.12 crore). This accounts for about 2.6 per cent of the total population of India.
2. Mention the two main reasons for the high population growth rate in Assam. (Probable Question)
Answer: The two main reasons for the high population growth rate in Assam are:
(a) High birth rate and a declining death rate.
(b) Large-scale migration (immigration) from neighboring foreign countries like Bangladesh and Nepal, as well as from other states of India.
3. What is the average population density in the plain and hilly districts of Assam? (Probable Question)
Answer: There is a marked difference in population density. In the thirty plain districts of Assam, the average population density is 397 persons per km². In contrast, the three hilly districts have a very sparse population density of only 12 persons per km².
Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)
1. Discuss the spatial variation in the distribution and density of population in Assam. (Probable Question)
Answer: There is a significant spatial variation in the distribution and density of population across Assam. The state can be broadly divided into densely populated and sparsely populated regions.
- Densely Populated Areas: The districts in the central Brahmaputra Valley and all the districts of the Barak Valley are densely populated. Districts like Kamrup Metro, Goalpara, Dhubri, and Hailakandi have population densities higher than the state average of 397 persons per sq. km. This is due to fertile plains, better economic opportunities, and urban centers.
- Sparsely Populated Areas: All three hilly districts—Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao—are very sparsely populated due to the difficult terrain and lack of amenities. Similarly, areas on the south bank of the Brahmaputra (east of Golaghat) and on the north bank (east of the Bornadi river) also exhibit sparse population, except for the main town areas.
This uneven distribution is a direct result of the state’s varied physiography, with the fertile plains supporting a much larger population than the rugged hills.
Most Important Question Answers
1. What does the book say about the literacy rate in Assam?
Answer: According to the 2011 census, the overall literacy rate in Assam is 72.2%. However, there is a significant gender disparity, as the female literacy rate is only 66.3%. The text notes that despite various government and voluntary projects for the development of female education, the desired results have not been achieved.
2. What are the different sectors of economic activity in Assam and the percentage of people engaged in them?
Answer: The population of Assam is engaged in the following five sectors of economic activity:
- Primary activities (like agriculture and fishing): 52.4%
- Secondary activities (like industry and manufacturing): 14.0%
- Tertiary activities (service sector): 24.3%
- Quaternary activities (knowledge-based sector): 6.3%
- Quinary activities (high-level decision-making): 3.0%
This shows a heavy dependence on primary activities, indicating an inertia in the development of industries and commerce.
3. According to the chapter, which districts have a population growth rate higher than the state average? What is the suspected reason for this?
Answer: According to the 2001-2011 census, 14 districts in Assam have a growth rate higher than the state’s average of 16.93%. While the growth in some districts like Kamrup Metro is due to inter-state migration, the “unnatural growth rate” in ten other districts—such as Dhubri (24.4%), Morigaon (23.4%), Nagaon (22.1%), and Barpeta (21.4%)—is suspected to be the result of illegal migration from neighboring countries, mainly Bangladesh and Nepal.
