Inter-State Variations in Population Growth and Population Policy V K R V Rao The rate of population growth reached in 1971-81 needs to be drastically brought down in the next two decades if India is not to face an intolerable population situation by the beginning of the next century. For effecting the desired reduction in the combined crude birth rates and death rates at the national level, analysis of interstate variations and rural-urban variation serves as pointers to the demographic policy to be followed.