The Demographic Transition Theory explains the shift in birth and death rates as countries develop economically. Which of the following correctly describes Stage 2 of the Demographic Transition?

The Demographic Transition Theory describes four stages of population change as societies industrialise. Stage 1 (Pre-Industrial): high birth rates and high death rates  population is slow-growing and relatively stable. Stage 2 (Early Industrial/Transitional): death rates fall sharply due to improvements in medicine, sanitation, food production, and public health  but birth rates remain high because social norms, agrarian economies, and lack of family planning sustain large families. Result: rapid population growth (population explosion). Most developing countries went through Stage 2 in the 20th century. Stage 3: birth rates begin to fall as women’s education, urbanisation, and access to family planning improve. Stage 4: both rates are low, population stabilises. India has reached a national TFR of 2.0 (below replacement level of 2.1), broadly indicating a late-stage demographic transition, though with significant inter-state variation.