Geography · 10 Aug 2026

demographic winter Pathanamthitta

With reference to recent reports on Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, which one of the following statements is correct?

AThe district's Total Fertility Rate has fallen to 1.3, the lowest in Kerala and well below the replacement level.

BThe district's Total Fertility Rate has fallen to 1.8, matching the national average but below Kerala's average.

CThe district's share of Kerala's inward remittances has risen from 4.3% to 7.2% over the past decade.

DThe Kerala Migration Survey 2023 recorded a rise in emigrants from the district from 1.01 lakh to 1.41 lakh over the past decade.

This question is based on: The Money Used to Come Home Too - Now It Doesn't Even Do That

Take this in full test mode → Instructions for 10 Aug 2026

About this question

Why in news

A field report on Pathanamthitta district documents villages like Kumbanad being hollowed out by decades of emigration, with ageing population, falling fertility and reverse capital flight now emerging as measurable trends.

Why for UPSC

UPSC frequently tests demographic transition concepts through current sub-national case studies; this format checks whether aspirants can distinguish the actual direction of a trend from a plausible but reversed distractor - a common UPSC technique.

Prelims summary

Pathanamthitta district has Kerala's lowest TFR at 1.3, sharply below replacement level, alongside a falling share of Kerala's inward remittances (7.2% to 4.3%) and declining emigrant numbers per the Kerala Migration Survey 2023.

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