Causes of Death and Mortality Transition in India

India is been undergoing rapid demographic change over more than the three decades. Since 1980s, mortality rates have been declining continuously (Bhat 1990, James 2002). According to SRS (various reports), the mortality rates among the adult and older age groups has been declining. Nevertheless, Gompertz-Makeham law holds well and per se, the mortality rates in the old age groups rises exponentially. In parallel to this, the morbidity rates increased remarkably during the last two decade. In the current state of demographic and epidemiological transition, country is witnessing the unique phenomena of low mortality and high morbidity since the last two decade. Kumar (1993) addressed low mortality and high morbidity in Kerala, which seems to be true for India and bigger states in present demographic scenario. During the recent decades, prevalence rate (per 1000 persons) of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) increased many folds than any other category of diseases. Accordingly, structural change in causes of death was observed. Chronic NCDs have been responsible for major share of deaths than any other major categories of causes of death. Altogether, the structural changes in morbidity & causes of death and fall in mortality rates has stimulated the process of mortality transition in the country (James 2011, Kurpad et. al. 2006, Chaurasia 2006).