Question

Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option.
Assertion (A) : In recent decades, the urban population of India has grown rapidly.
Reason (R) : In India, the workforce is shifting from farm-based to non-farm-based occupations.

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Hint:

Urbanization = Migration + Natural Increase + Reclassification of settlements.
Workforce shift is a structural economic change leading to urbanization.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Concept:
• Urbanization is the process of population shift from rural to urban areas.

• It is driven by 'Pull factors' of cities and 'Push factors' of rural areas.

Step 1: Verify the Assertion
Data from the last few decades shows a rapid increase in the number of urban dwellers in India.
The percentage of the urban population has increased from \( 17.29\% \) in \( 1951 \) to \( 31.16\% \) in \( 2011 \).
Thus, Assertion (A) is true.

Step 2: Verify the Reason
Economic development leads to a shift in the workforce from the primary sector (agriculture) to the secondary and tertiary sectors.
Non-farm-based occupations are primarily concentrated in urban centers.
Thus, Reason (R) is true.

Step 3: Check the logical link
The availability of non-farm jobs in cities acts as a major pull factor.
This shift in employment directly causes people to move to cities, leading to urban population growth.
Therefore, (R) explains (A).