The book covers the dynamic processes of fertility, mortality and migration and describes demographic transition in India and in major states. Starting with a brief description of India's population profile, the book describes the vital registration system in India, its weaknesses. and limitations and presents the schemes of Sample Registration System and National Family Health Survey. The book then gives levels and trends of fertility and mortality in India and in certain selected countries. Migration pattern in India compares data from 1961 onwards and discusses differentials in age structure, educational attainment of migrants and non-migrants and differentials in their economic activity. The book finally describes demographic transition in India and infers that India has entered into third stage of demographic transition. The chapter shows that while Kerala and Tamil Nadu are well past in the third stage of demographic transition, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh will take another half a century or so to be able to move into third stage of demographic transition.
Mahendra K. Premi served the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi as Professor of Demography. He received his doctorate from the University of Chicago in 1968. He was a Visiting Fellow at the East-West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, that has published his two books. Prof. Premi has written several other books including India's Population: Heading Towards a Billion, Social Demography: A Systematic Exposition and Population of India in the New Millennium: Census 2001.
Prof. Premi was President of the Indian Association for the Study of Population for four years. He has been associated with the Census Organisation for past four decades.