The Dependency Ratio in India is declining because:

1. A

   Population of 0-14 years is relatively high

   (a) 0–14 relatively high. A large child share raises the young-age dependency ratio; that would not explain a decline.

2. B

   Population of 60 years and above is relatively high

   (b) 60+ relatively high. That raises old-age dependency, the opposite of a falling total ratio.

3. C

   Population of 15-59 years is relatively high

   (c) 15–59 relatively high. A fatter working-age share (demographic dividend) lowers dependents per worker. (c) Official key.

4. D

   Population of 0-14 years and 60 years and above together are relatively high

   (d) 0–14 and 60+ together relatively high. That is a high-dependency shape, not a declining ratio.

Summary. Official key is (c). India’s dependency ratio fell because the 15–59 working-age population became relatively large. High child or old-age shares would push the ratio up.