Table 6.3 shows the stages of growth in India 's population. On the basis of data one may divide the population history of India into four distinct stages: before 1921; 1921-1951; and 1951-1971; and after 1971. Before 1921 the population of India had an erratic growth rate, sometimes increasing and sometimes decreasing, though growing slowly on a long term basis. After 1921 it started growing at a rate of more than 1 percent per year. The cause of this increased growth rate was not a rise in fertility but a decline in mortality that set in due to better health facilities, education and overall development. During 1951-1971 the process of improvement in the mortality rate was accelerated and the population started growing at rate above 2 percent. After 1971, though the population still grew at a rate above 2 percent, the rate of growth started falling. Increasing success in family planning programme was a major cause of this.

The October 2009 Bulletin of Sample Registration Scheme shows that for year the 2008 the natural growth rate of India is 15.4 per thousand. This means that if we exclude the effect of international migration (which is estimated to be -.0 per 1,000) the growth rate of India 's population is 1.54 percent per year. This is much less than the decadal growth rate for 1991-2001 (2.16 percent) indicating a rapid reduction in fertility after 1991.