Who developed the theory of 'population growth'?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) Malthus.
Thomas Robert Malthus was an English cleric and scholar, influential in the fields of political economy and demography.
He developed the theory of population growth, famously outlined in his work "An Essay on the Principle of Population" published in 1798.
Malthus argued that population growth would always tend to outstrip the food supply and that improvement of living standards would be only temporary, as population increases would outpace agricultural production.
His theory suggested that population growth is exponential while food production grows at an arithmetic rate, leading to inevitable shortages unless checked by factors such as famine, disease, or moral restraint.
Information Booster:

• ​Aristotle: A Greek philosopher and polymath, Aristotle made significant contributions to many fields, including biology, but did not develop a theory of population growth.
  
• Darwin: Charles Darwin, an English naturalist, is best known for his theory of evolution by natural selection, as outlined in "On the Origin of Species." His work was influenced by Malthus's ideas on population.
  
• Plato: A Greek philosopher, Plato's works primarily focused on philosophy, politics, and ethics, and he did not develop a theory of population growth.