ABSTRACT
The results of the census of 1991 once more disappointed those who had hoped for an indication that the demographic transition was impending in India. Total population amounted to 844 million, the annual exponential growth rate stood at 2.11 per cent. In the four decades after 1951 this rate had increased from 1.25 to 2.22. The recent figure at least shows a break of the rising trend, but not yet a clear sign of that transition which happens when birth rates decline to the same extent as death rates. The control of epidemics has reduced the death rate in India considerably. Infant mortality is still fairly high (91 in 1000 live births), but the death rates registered in general amount to 10.2 per 1000 as contrasted with birth rates of 30.5 per 1000 (1989).
