The Decadal growth rate of population in terms of percentage was highest in India in 1971. The population growth rate peaked during the decade 1971-81, perhaps in the year’s 1972-73 (based on the Sample Registration Scheme data). The avg. annual exponential growth rate declined marginally to 2.11 per cent (4.5%) after having remained at a plateau for the previous two decades of 1961-71 & 1971-81. At this point in time, the fertility and mortality trends indicate that the India will reach the replacement level fertility (Net Reproductive Rate of Unity) by the years 2010-2015. The decadal growth rate is a critical part of the census operations. It gives an overview of the percentage of total population growth in a particular decade. There are records that keep track of the increase and the decrease in population. And it is called ‘decadal’ as the decade consists of a period of 10 years. Therefore, the decadal growth rate gives an overview of the total population growth in a particular decade.