Answer: Option C
Answer: (c)
The rising population can be a virtue or can be vice with regards to the economic development of a country.
In India, the demerits of population growth outweigh its merits. Due to the large population size and its rate of growth, our per capita income continues to be stagnant at a low level. Since First Five Year Plan, our national income has increased about 11 times but our per capita income has increased only about three and half times, thanks to the rise in population.
Also, large population size has tended to reduce the landman ratio in India which reduces the productivity of land and labour. The growing population has also reduced the per capita availability of cereals and pulses.
Further, due to the high growth rate of the population, unemployment is assuming monstrous proportions. Lack of employment opportunities outside agriculture builds pressure on farming as a source of subsistence. Consequently, disguised unemployment in the farming sector is emerging as a serious challenge.