UGC NET Questions (Paper – 1)

The term demographic dividend refers to the economic boost that can result when a country has a high proportion of working age people relative to dependants. This age structure can raise savings,investment and productivity if appropriate policies exist. The stem describes exactly this situation of a larger working age share. Therefore dividend is the correct completion of the phrase demographic dividend.

Option A:
Dividend is used here in an economic sense to indicate a potential payoff arising from favourable demographic conditions. When the working age group expands while fertility falls,there is an opportunity to accelerate growth. This option matches both the standard terminology and the description in the question.

Option B:
Surplus suggests having more of something than needed but does not capture the specific idea of an age structure advantage. It is not the established term in demographic literature for this phenomenon,so it is not the best choice here.

Option C:
Transition refers to the broader demographic transition process involving changes in birth and death rates. While demographic transition creates the conditions for a dividend,it is not itself the benefit described in the stem.

Option D:
Bonus is sometimes used informally but demographic bonus is less common and not the standard technical phrase. The widely accepted term is demographic dividend,so bonus is not the most accurate answer.