In India, the regional differences can also be seen along with inequality in the spatial distribution of population. The distribution of population is controlled by many natural, social, economic and political factors in India. 

The important factors are the following:

1. Climate: Climate is the most important factor in influencing the population distribution. Extremely cold, extremely hot and extremely humid areas of India are not favourable for human habitation, and thus, such areas show scarce population density. This is the reason that high cold mountain areas of the Himalayas, dry desert areas of Rajasthan and extremely humid areas of Lowlands are included in scarcely populated areas of India.

2. Geographical terrain: In wind – swept regions, in the areas with rough and uneven surface terrain in agriculturally infertile tracts, due to inconvenience in agricultural operations, transport problems and isolation, the population remains less.

3. Water – availability: Water is the fundamental resource for human life and his activities. The density of population in the northern part of India goes down from the east to the west along with the decreasing amount of rainfall. Due to the supply of adequate water through Indira Gandhi Canal in the north-western parts of Rajasthan, the population density is relatively high.

4. Mineral Resources: The mineral – rich areas of India have adequate potential for industrial and economic development, due to which, there is attraction for human habitation in these areas. Dense population is found in mineral – rich areas like Damodar Valley, Plateau in Chota Nagpur and Kolar fields.

5. Transport Facilities: As compared to mountains and plateaus, transport facilities are more developed in the plains. This encourages intensive population in the plains.

6. Social – Psychological Factors: The social, psychological, religious and cultural factors also have an important role in influencing population density and distribution. Among the factors influencing distribution of population directly or indirectly, the remarkable factors include social organisation, social structure, rituals and traditions, religious structure, social values, religious values, ethics, standard of living, food and drink, etc.

7. Political and Economic Factors: Political factors affecting the regional distribution of the population include political instability, dissatisfaction and insecurity. While the factors like industrialization and urbanisation play an important role as economic factors. For example, in the last few decades, the rate of migration of population has increased due to the increase in terrorist incidents in states like Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Punjab.