After India's independence in 1947, significant improvements were made in public health, sanitation, and control of epidemic diseases. This led to a sharp decline in the death rate. However, the birth rate remained high. The decade 1951-1961 saw the largest decadal growth rate percentage-wise up to that point (21.6%), indicating a rapid acceleration in population increase due to the widening gap between birth and death rates. Subsequent decades also saw high growth rates, peaking in 1961-71 and 1971-81, but the acceleration truly began post-1951.