During which decade in India's population history did the country record a negative decadal growth rate?

Introduction / Context:
Population growth trends provide important insights into health, mortality, and social conditions of a country. India usually records positive decadal growth, meaning the population at the end of a ten year period is higher than at the beginning. However, there was one decade in which the growth rate turned negative. This question asks students to identify that unusual decade, a fact that frequently appears in Indian population geography and demographic studies.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on decadal population growth in India.
• We are asked to identify the decade with negative growth.
• Options list several consecutive census decades in the twentieth century.
• We assume standard census data as recorded by official statistics.

Concept / Approach:
The decade from 1911 to 1921 is known as the demographic divide in India. During this period, the country experienced severe hardships, including the influenza pandemic of 1918, which caused a very high number of deaths. As a result, the population at the 1921 Census was actually lower or grew much more slowly than expected, leading to a negative or extremely low decadal growth rate. Subsequent decades showed positive growth again. Thus, when asked about the decade with negative population growth, 1911 to 1921 is the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that 1921 is often called the year of demographic divide in India. Step 2: Understand that this label reflects unusual population behaviour during the decade preceding 1921. Step 3: Historical accounts describe the influenza pandemic and related crises causing a sharp increase in mortality between 1911 and 1921. Step 4: This led to a negative or near zero decadal growth rate of population for that period. Step 5: Therefore, among the options, the decade 1911-1921 correctly matches the description.

Verification / Alternative check:
If students consult population tables from census publications or geography textbooks, they will see that the decadal growth rate for 1911-1921 is negative, while all later decades show positive growth. Many exam guides explicitly mention that India recorded a negative growth rate only in the decade 1911-1921, and that after 1921 population growth became steadily positive, marking 1921 as a turning point in demographic history.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The decades 1921-1931, 1931-1941, 1941-1951, and 1951-1961 all experienced positive population growth, although the rate varied from decade to decade.
None of these later decades is associated with a negative population growth rate, and they are not described as demographic divide decades in standard literature.
Therefore, selecting any of these alternatives would contradict the officially recorded census data.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to pick a decade near major wars or independence, such as 1941-1951, under the assumption that disturbances must have reduced population. However, despite World War and partition, overall population in these decades still increased. Another pitfall is simply guessing a middle option without recalling the specific term demographic divide. To avoid confusion, students should remember the simple pair: negative decadal growth and the decade 1911-1921 in Indian population history.

Final Answer:
India recorded a negative decadal growth rate of population in the decade 1911-1921.