The trend of the birth rate in India, 1911–50

Abstract

In an earlier paper on the trend of the birth rate in West Bengal (Population Studies, vol. ix, no. 3, March 1956) the author developed a method for the correction of registered data on births and deaths. In this paper the method used previously in correcting West Bengal returns has been extended to the provinces of Assam, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, and it has been shown that it gives satisfactory results. The only provinces in which it is not applicable are shown to be Madras, Bombay and the Punjab. Reasons why this correction is applicable to some provinces and not to others are suggested and correction for the last three provinces are made on other considerations. The trends of all-India birth rates for the years 1911-50 are estimated on this basis, and it is noted that there has been no significant change in this during the period 1911–1950.