Demography of India Archives

21. The speakers of major Indian languages belong to how many language fam

The speakers of major Indian languages belong to how many language families ?

Two

Three

Four

Six

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The correct answer is C) Four.

Major Indian languages belong primarily to four language families: Indo-European (specifically the Indo-Aryan branch), Dravidian, Austroasiatic, and Sino-Tibetan.

The vast majority of India’s population speaks languages from the Indo-European and Dravidian families. The Austroasiatic and Sino-Tibetan families are spoken by smaller, but significant, populations, mainly in eastern, central, and Himalayan regions. While other minor language families or isolates exist (like Andamanese), the four listed are considered the major families spoken in India.

22. According to Census of India, 2011, which one among the following is t

According to Census of India, 2011, which one among the following is the least populated state in India ?

Maharashtra

Madhya Pradesh

Odisha

Punjab

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The correct answer is D) Punjab.

According to the Census of India, 2011, among the given options, Punjab had the lowest population. Its population was approximately 27.7 million.

Comparing with other options based on Census 2011 data: Maharashtra (approx 112.4 million), Madhya Pradesh (approx 72.6 million), Odisha (approx 41.9 million). While Sikkim is the least populated state in India overall, among the choices provided, Punjab has the minimum population.

23. Which one of the following is the correct descending order of Indian S

Which one of the following is the correct descending order of Indian States in terms of sex ratio as per Census 2011?

Mizoram—Manipur—Tripura—Meghalaya

Tripura—Manipur—Meghalaya—Mizoram

Meghalaya—Manipur—Mizoram—Tripura

Manipur—Meghalaya—Tripura—Mizoram

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2018

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According to Census 2011, the correct descending order of the given Indian States in terms of sex ratio is Meghalaya—Manipur—Mizoram—Tripura.

– Sex ratio is defined as the number of females per 1000 males in a population.
– According to Census 2011 data for the given states:
– Meghalaya: 989
– Manipur: 985
– Mizoram: 976
– Tripura: 960
– Arranging these states in descending order of sex ratio (highest to lowest): 989 (Meghalaya) > 985 (Manipur) > 976 (Mizoram) > 960 (Tripura).
– The correct order is Meghalaya—Manipur—Mizoram—Tripura.

– Kerala had the highest sex ratio among Indian states in Census 2011 (1084), while Haryana had the lowest (879).
– The national average sex ratio in India according to Census 2011 was 943.

24. Which one of the following Indian States has recorded negative growth

Which one of the following Indian States has recorded negative growth of population as per Census 2011?

Manipur

Mizoram

Tripura

Nagaland

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2018

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As per the Census of India 2011, Nagaland recorded a negative population growth rate of -0.58% during the decade 2001-2011. This made it the only state in India to register a decline in population during this period.

The decadal population growth rate for India as a whole was 17.72% during 2001-2011. Most states recorded positive growth, with varying rates. The negative growth in Nagaland was a significant demographic anomaly during this census period.

The reason for the negative growth rate in Nagaland is not definitively established but is speculated to be related to factors like under-enumeration in previous censuses, revisions in enumeration methodology, and potentially socio-economic factors influencing birth and death rates or migration patterns. Other states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu showed relatively low growth rates but were still positive.

25. As per census 2011, which one of the following states has the highest

As per census 2011, which one of the following states has the highest number of inhabited villages ?

Uttar Pradesh

Odisha

Rajasthan

Maharashtra

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2016

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The correct answer is A) Uttar Pradesh. As per the Census 2011 data, Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of inhabited villages among all states in India.

– Census 2011 is the source for the number of inhabited villages per state.
– Uttar Pradesh, being the most populous state, also has the largest number of administrative units like villages.

– The total number of inhabited villages in India according to Census 2011 was 597,608.
– Uttar Pradesh accounted for over 107,000 of these inhabited villages.
– States like Bihar, Maharashtra, and West Bengal also have a high number of inhabited villages, but less than Uttar Pradesh. Odisha and Rajasthan have fewer.

26. Which of the following statements concerning Scheduled Castes (SC) pop

Which of the following statements concerning Scheduled Castes (SC) population in India are correct ?

1. The highest percentage of SC population out of the total population of the state is found in Punjab
2. Bihar is the second largest state in respect of total SC population in India
3. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of SC population in India
4. Among the Indian states, the lowest percentage of SC population out of the total population of the state is found in Goa

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1, 2 and 3

1 and 3 only

2 and 4 only

1, 2 and 4

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2016

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Statements 1 and 3 are correct.

According to Census 2011 data:
Statement 1: Punjab has the highest percentage of SC population relative to its total population (around 31.9%). This is correct.
Statement 3: Uttar Pradesh has the highest total number of SC population in India (over 4 crore). This is correct.

Statement 2 is incorrect; while Bihar has a large SC population, it is not the second largest by total numbers (West Bengal is typically second after UP). Statement 4 is incorrect; Goa has a relatively low percentage of SC population (1.7%), but several North-Eastern states like Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh have significantly lower or negligible percentages.

27. Arrange the following states in order of their decreasing population s

Arrange the following states in order of their decreasing population size as per the census 2011 :

1. West Bengal
2. Bihar
3. Maharashtra
4. Andhra Pradesh

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

2 – 3 – 1 – 4

3 – 2 – 1 – 4

1 – 4 – 3 – 2

3 – 1 – 4 – 2

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Based on the 2011 Census of India, the population sizes of the given states were approximately:
1. West Bengal: ~91.3 million
2. Bihar: ~104.1 million
3. Maharashtra: ~112.4 million
4. Andhra Pradesh (undivided): ~84.6 million
Arranging these in decreasing order of population: Maharashtra > Bihar > West Bengal > Andhra Pradesh. This corresponds to the sequence 3 – 2 – 1 – 4.

– Maharashtra had the second-largest population in India as per Census 2011 (after Uttar Pradesh).
– Bihar had the third-largest population.
– West Bengal had the fourth-largest population.
– Andhra Pradesh (undivided) had the fifth-largest population.

The Census of India is conducted every 10 years and provides vital demographic data. Population figures can change over time, and state reorganizations (like the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh into Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in 2014) impact current rankings, but the question specifically refers to the 2011 census data.

28. Consider the following Indian States : 1. Bihar 2. Rajasthan 3.

Consider the following Indian States :

1. Bihar
2. Rajasthan
3. Jammu and Kashmir
4. Haryana

Which one of the following is the correct ascending order of the above States on the basis of percentage of State’s population to total population of India (based on census 2011) ?

3 – 4 – 1 – 2

4 – 2 – 1 – 3

3 – 4 – 2 – 1

2 – 3 – 4 – 1

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2017

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We need to arrange the given states in ascending order based on their percentage of the total population of India as per the 2011 Census.
Let’s approximate the populations (in millions) and calculate the percentages (approx) relative to India’s total population (approx 1210 million) in 2011:
1. Bihar: Approx 104 million (approx 8.6%)
2. Rajasthan: Approx 68.5 million (approx 5.6%)
3. Jammu and Kashmir: Approx 12.5 million (approx 1.0%)
4. Haryana: Approx 25.3 million (approx 2.1%)

Arranging these percentages in ascending order:
1.0% (Jammu and Kashmir) < 2.1% (Haryana) < 5.6% (Rajasthan) < 8.6% (Bihar) The corresponding order of states is Jammu and Kashmir (3), Haryana (4), Rajasthan (2), Bihar (1). Thus, the correct ascending order is 3 – 4 – 2 – 1.

This question requires knowledge of the relative populations of Indian states and their share in the total national population based on census data.

Population distribution across states is a crucial demographic aspect of India, influencing political representation, resource allocation, and development planning. Uttar Pradesh has the largest population, followed by Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal (as per 2011 census).

29. Which one of the following Union Territories has the highest female li

Which one of the following Union Territories has the highest female literacy rate ?

Chandigarh

Lakshadweep

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Puducherry

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2018

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Based on the Census of India 2011 data, Lakshadweep had the highest female literacy rate among the given Union Territories.

Census 2011 female literacy rates for the options were approximately: Lakshadweep (88.25%), Andaman and Nicobar Islands (81.84%), Chandigarh (81.38%), Puducherry (81.22%).

Literacy rate data is typically collected during national censuses. The 2011 Census is the most recent comprehensive data publicly available and frequently used in such questions.

30. According to the Census 2011, the density of population in which one a

According to the Census 2011, the density of population in which one among the following States is the lowest ?

Sikkim

Nagaland

Manipur

Mizoram

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UPSC NDA-1 – 2017

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According to the Census 2011, the density of population is lowest in Mizoram among the given options.

Based on the 2011 Census of India, the population densities of the given states are:
Sikkim: 86 persons per sq km
Nagaland: 119 persons per sq km
Manipur: 128 persons per sq km
Mizoram: 52 persons per sq km
Comparing these figures, Mizoram has the lowest population density among the listed states.

Arunachal Pradesh holds the distinction of having the lowest population density among all Indian states according to the 2011 Census, with only 17 persons per sq km. The high population density states are primarily in the Indo-Gangetic plains, with Bihar having the highest density (1106 persons per sq km). The population density of India as a whole was 382 persons per sq km in 2011.