The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society — Sociology STD 12 Humanities — Question

Malthus in ‘Essay On Population' states that humanity is condemned to live in poverty forever because the growth of agricultural production will always be overtaken by population growth. While population rises in geometric progression, agricultural production can only grow in arithmetic progression.
Because of this, the only way to increase prosperity is by controlling the growth of population. Malthus spoke of Preventive checks i.e. postponing marriage or practising sexual abstinence or celibacy or Positive checks i.e. famines and diseases.
Criticisms to Malthus's Theory:

1. Historical experience of European countries provided for a strong refutation to Malthus's theory. The pattern of population growth began to change. Birth rates declined, and outbreaks of epidemic diseases were being controlled. Malthus's predictions were proved false because both food production and standards of living continued to rise despite rapid growth in population.
2. Liberal and Marxist scholars asserted that poverty was caused by unequal distribution of economic resources.