[UPPSC-UP Special Syllabus Decoded] Demography, Population & Censuses of UP

1. Census 2011 (The Statistical Backbone)

Trend: While old, Census 2011 remains the official source for data interpretation until the next Census. Questions often ask to compare 2011 data with recent NFHS reports to show “Trends of Change.”

A. Key Demographic Indicators (Memorize for Data Fodder)

• Total Population: 19.98 Crore (16.5% of India); if UP were a country, it would be the 5th most populous.
• Population Density: 829 persons/sq. km (National: 382).
• Sex Ratio:
  • Adult: 912 (National: 943).
  • Child (0-6): 902 (Alarming decline in some districts).
• Literacy:
  • Total: 67.7% (Male: 77.3%, Female: 57.2%).
  • Trend: The Gender Gap in literacy (20.1%) is a critical issue for Mains.
• Urban-Rural Split: 77.7% Rural vs 22.3% Urban (Low urbanization compared to national avg).

B. SC/ST Demography

• Scheduled Castes (SC): UP has the highest SC population in India (20.7% of state population).
  • Highest Concentration: Sitapur.
• Scheduled Tribes (ST): Very low share (0.6%).
  • Highest Concentration: Sonbhadra.

2. Population Dynamics & Policy Interventions

Trend: Analytical questions on “Population Control vs. Dividend” and “Family ID” as a policy tool.

A. UP Population Policy (2021-2030)

• Goal: To bring the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) down to 2.1 by 2026 and 1.9 by 2030.
• Key Provisions (Draft Bill Debate):
  • Incentives: Two additional increments, housing subsidy, and free healthcare for public servants adhering to the “Two-Child Norm.”
  • Disincentives: Debarring violators from local body elections and government subsidies (Ration card limit).
• Current Status: Focus has shifted from coercion to empowerment (contraception access, female education).

B. Demographic Trends (NFHS-5 vs. Census 2011)

• Fertility Decline: TFR in UP has dropped to 2.4 (NFHS-5), nearing the replacement level (2.1).
• Sex Ratio Improvement: NFHS-5 data suggests an improvement in the sex ratio at birth, attributed to strict PC-PNDT implementation (Mukhbir Yojana).

Current Affairs Linkage :

• Family ID (Ek Parivar Ek Pahchan):
  • The “Live Census”: With Census 2021 delayed, UP uses the Family ID database (covering 6.5 Crore+ families as of 2025) as a real-time demographic tool.
  • Impact: In 2025, the Social Welfare Dept identified 1.5 Lakh new old-age pensioners purely through Family ID data mapping, without them applying.
• Zero Poverty Target: Using demographic data to identify families with zero economic assets and lifting them out of poverty.

3. Migration & Urbanization Demography

Trend: “Reverse Migration” post-Covid and “New Townships.”

A. Migration Patterns

• Out-Migration: Eastern UP (Jaunpur, Azamgarh) and Bundelkhand remain high out-migration zones to Mumbai/Delhi.
• Reversal: Industrial corridors (Gorakhpur Link, Bundelkhand) are creating local employment to check distress migration.

B. Urbanization Trends

• State Capital Region (SCR):
  • Planning: Creation of SCR (Lucknow + 6 districts) to manage the population explosion in the capital.
• New Townships:
  • BIDA (Jhansi): Expected to attract a population of 1-2 Lakh industrial workers.
  • New Noida: Planned urbanization to house the workforce of the Dadri-Jewar belt.

4. The Caste Census Debate

Trend: Highly relevant political-demographic topic in 2024-26.

A. The Issue

• Demand: Post-Bihar Caste Survey (2023), there is a demand for a similar exercise in UP to determine the exact count of OBCs (estimated >50%).
• Government Stance: Focus on “Economic Census” via Family ID rather than “Caste Headcount,” prioritizing welfare delivery based on economic deprivation (Garib Kalyan).

Current Affairs Linkage :

• NITI Aayog MPI Report: UP registered the largest decline in the number of poor, with 5.94 Crore people escaping multidimensional poverty. This demographic shift from “Poor” to “Neo-Middle Class” is a key Mains talking point.

Digital Census (Upcoming): The upcoming national census (likely 2025/26) will be India’s first Digital Census, allowing citizens to self-enumerate; UP is preparing its digital infrastructure (BharatNet in Gram Sachivalayas) for this massive exercise.