gives a better idea of population growth since these are people born within the period of the census exercise. As per the 2011 census data, the absolute population of both Muslims & Christians in the 0-9 age group increased while the population of Hindus in this age group decreased compared to the 2001 census. Population growth rate is a key measureto identify the increase in population over a period of time. Factly hadearlier written about the population growth rates across the country at district level and among the various religious communities. The growth of population is influencedby the number of births as well the number of deaths over a period of time,with the net value reflecting in the population growth rate. In this story, weanalyse the actual number of people that are being added to the population, orthose in the 0-9 age group in different parts of India as well as from differentreligious communities. To measure the number of people added overa decade, we have considered the population within the age group of 0-9 years’as per both 2001 and 2011 census, as these are born during theintervening decade. Share of population in the 0-9 Years age group declines across religious communities The share of population within 0-9years age group has come down in 2011 census compared to 2001 census. The share of population in the 0-9-years’ agegroup as per 2001 census was 23.2%, while it reduced to 19.8% as per the 2011census. This reduction in the share of this age group is consistent across allthe religious communities. As per 2001 Census, among the Hindus,22.8% were in the 0-9 years’ age group which reduced to 19.3% in 2011. In thecase of Muslims, the share of those in the 0-9 years’ age group was 27.2% in2001, but has reduced 23.8% as per 2011 census. The same is true among otherreligious communities. Of all the religious communities, as per 2011 census,the share of those in the 0-9 years age group is more than the national averageof 19.8% only in the case of Muslims. Increase in the absolute population of 0-9 age group observed among Muslims & Christians As per the census in 2001, populationwithin the age group of 0-9 was around 23.87 crores which increased to 23.97crores in 2011, an increase of around 10 lakhs. This comparative increase canbe attributed to the increase in the corresponding numbers among Muslims andChristians. The population of Muslims in the 0-9 agegroup was 4.09 crores as per 2011 census, up from 3.76 crores as per the 2001census, an increase 33 lakhs. Similarly, in the case of Christians, thepopulation in the 0-9 age group as per 2001 census was 47.14 lakhs whichincreased to 48.9 lakhs in 2011, an increase of 1.76 lakhs. Meanwhile, in the case of Hindus, thepopulation in the 0-9 age group as per 2001 census was 18.84 crores whichreduced to 18.61 crores in 2011, a decrease of 23 lakhs. A similar decreasing trendis observed among other religious communities. Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh witness increase in the population of 0-9 age group Among the states, Bihar saw anexponential increase in population of 0-9 age group in 2011 census compared tothat of 2001 census. As per 2001 census, the population in the 0-9-years’ agegroup was 2.38 crores in Bihar, which increased to 2.78 crores as per 2011census i.e. an increase of nearly 40 Lakhs. This increase is observed across allthe major religious communities within Bihar. The comparative increase in Hindupopulation in this age group was 30.7 lakhs and Muslim population in this agegroup grew by 8.33 lakhs. In the case of Jharkhand, thepopulation in the 0-9 age group increased by 6.12 lakhs between 2001 &2011. Of this Hindu population increased by 3.26 lakhs and the Muslimpopulation increased by 1.55 lakhs. Similar population increase across thecommunities is observed in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Chhattisgarh along withJammu & Kashmir. West Bengal and erstwhile Andhra Pradeshare among the bigger states who saw a significant decrease in the population of0-9 years age group. In Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), as per 2001census the population in this age group was 1.56 crores while it decreased to1.35 crores as per 2011 census i.e. a reduction of 21 lakhs. Similarly, WestBengal’s population in this age group was 1.71 crores in 2001 and it decreasedto 1.55 crores in 2011 i.e. decrease of 15 lakhs. The decrease in populationfor this age group was consistent across all the religious communities in thesetwo states. In the case of Andhra Pradesh, 95% of this decrease is among theHindus. In few other states, the trend ofchange in population differed between the communities. In Uttar Pradesh, the populationin the 0-9 age group decreased by 1.74 lakhs between 2001 & 2011.