India: Population Archives

11. The chief racial groups constituting India’s population are the Dravid

The chief racial groups constituting India’s population are the Dravidian, Aryans, and Mongoloids. Where do the Mongoloids live ?

Western India

Southern India

North-Eastern India

South-Western India

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2011

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The Mongoloid racial groups in India primarily live in North-Eastern India.

Populations with features typically associated with the Mongoloid group are predominantly found in the states located in North-Eastern India, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Sikkim.

These regions share geographical borders and historical migration patterns with countries in East and Southeast Asia. While India’s population is highly diverse due to complex migrations and interactions over millennia, the concentration of people with distinct characteristics often categorized under broad racial terms like Mongoloid is highest in the Northeast.

12. The shape of the population pyramid reflects the characteristics of th

The shape of the population pyramid reflects the characteristics of the population. The shape of the pyramid in India is

bell shaped and tapered towards the top

narrow base and a tapered top

broad base and a tapered top

narrow base and narrow top

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2011

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The shape of the population pyramid in India is typically described as a broad base and a tapered top.

A broad base indicates a large proportion of young people (high birth rates), and a tapered top indicates a smaller proportion of older people (due to mortality). India has historically had and continues to have relatively high birth rates (though declining), resulting in a large young population, and mortality rates cause the population size to decrease significantly in older age groups.

Population pyramids with a broad base and tapered top are characteristic of populations experiencing growth. Bell-shaped pyramids indicate a more stable population with moderate growth, while pyramids with a narrow base indicate low birth rates and potentially declining populations.

13. In which stage of ‘demographic transition’ is India at present ?

In which stage of ‘demographic transition’ is India at present ?

High birth rate and high death rate

High birth rate and low death rate

High birth rate and falling death rate

Low birth rate and low death rate

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2011

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India is generally considered to be in the later part of Stage 2 or entering Stage 3 of the demographic transition model. Among the given options, “High birth rate and low death rate” (Stage 2) best describes the condition leading to the significant population growth experienced by India, where death rates have fallen substantially while birth rates, although falling, remain relatively high compared to developed countries.

The demographic transition model describes population change over time.
– Stage 1: High birth rate, high death rate.
– Stage 2: High birth rate, falling death rate (leading to rapid population growth).
– Stage 3: Falling birth rate, low death rate (population growth slows down).
– Stage 4: Low birth rate, low death rate (population stabilizes or declines).
In India, death rates declined significantly due to improved healthcare and living conditions, starting earlier than birth rates. By 2011, death rates were relatively low, while birth rates were still considerably above replacement level, resulting in a large natural increase and rapid population growth, characteristic of Stage 2 or the transition phase into Stage 3 where birth rates begin to fall more significantly. Option B, “High birth rate and low death rate,” accurately reflects the state that generates rapid growth observed in India.

While birth rates in India were indeed falling by 2011 (moving towards Stage 3), option C “High birth rate and falling death rate” is less accurate for 2011 as death rates had already largely fallen and stabilised at a low level, rather than *rapidly* falling at that specific time. Option B describes the *result* of the process where death rates fell and birth rates remained high relative to death rates.

14. Arrange the following Indian states in descending order of population

Arrange the following Indian states in descending order of population density as per the Census of India 2011 :

Uttar Pradesh
Kerala
Bihar
West Bengal

Select the answer using the code given below :

4-3-2-1

3-4-2-1

2-3-4-1

3-4-1-2

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2011

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The correct descending order of population density among the given states as per the Census of India 2011 is Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, and Uttar Pradesh.

According to Census 2011:
– Bihar: 1106 persons per sq km
– West Bengal: 1028 persons per sq km
– Kerala: 860 persons per sq km
– Uttar Pradesh: 829 persons per sq km
Therefore, the descending order is Bihar (3) > West Bengal (4) > Kerala (2) > Uttar Pradesh (1), which corresponds to the sequence 3-4-2-1.

Bihar was the most densely populated state in India as per the 2011 census, followed by West Bengal. The national average population density in 2011 was 382 persons per sq km.

15. 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

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2020

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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.

16. 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

This question was previously asked in

UPSC NDA-2 – 2020

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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.

17. 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

This question was previously asked in

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.

18. 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

This question was previously asked in

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.

19. 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

This question was previously asked in

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.

20. 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

This question was previously asked in

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.