Population distribution refers to the spatial pattern in which people are spread over a given area at a particular time. It indicates how population is arranged across different regions, states, districts, and settlements, and whether it is concentrated or dispersed. Population distribution is influenced by physical factors such as climate, relief, soil fertility, water availability, and natural resources, as well as socio-economic factors like industrialization, urbanization, transportation, employment opportunities, political stability, and government policies. Understanding population distribution is essential for planning and implementing population policies and development programmes, as it helps identify areas of high density, under-population, migration trends, and regional imbalances. In India, population distribution is highly uneven. Certain regions such as the Indo-Gangetic plains, coastal areas, and major metropolitan cities have very high population densities, while hilly regions, deserts, and forested areas such as the Himalayas, the Thar Desert, and parts of the North-East have sparse populations. This unevenness also reflects in the rural-urban composition of the population. India has traditionally been a rural country. For decades after independence, a large proportion of the population lived in villages and was primarily dependent on agriculture and allied activities for livelihood. According to census data over the years, although the proportion of rural population has been declining gradually, it still constitutes a significant share of the total population. The rural population is characterized by smaller settlements, agrarian occupations, lower population density compared to cities, and relatively limited access to infrastructure and services such as healthcare, education, sanitation, and employment opportunities. The distribution of rural population in India is closely associated with agricultural potential and availability of water resources. States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Odisha have large rural populations. The fertile alluvial soils of the Indo-Gangetic plains support intensive agriculture, leading to dense rural settlements. Similarly, coastal plains