RAS question
According to Census 2011, which is the most populous state in India?
Correct answer: (B) Uttar Pradesh.
According to Census 2011, Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state, with a total population of 19.98 crore.
Explanation
Census 2011 ranks Uttar Pradesh first among Indian states by population. The official Primary Census Abstract state table records Uttar Pradesh's total population as 199,812,341, which is 19.98 crore when expressed in Indian numbering. This matches the question's explanation that Uttar Pradesh alone accounts for about 16.5% of India's total population. The comparison matters because all three distractors are large states but remain well below Uttar Pradesh in the same Census 2011 table: Maharashtra is 11.24 crore, Bihar is 10.41 crore, and West Bengal is 9.13 crore. Therefore, the correct choice is not just the largest among the options; it is the most populous state in India as per the official 2011 Census figures.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Maharashtra is wrong because Census 2011 records its total population as 11.24 crore, below Uttar Pradesh's 19.98 crore.
- (C) Bihar is wrong because its Census 2011 population is 10.41 crore, placing it behind Uttar Pradesh.
- (D) West Bengal is wrong because its Census 2011 population is 9.13 crore, lower than Uttar Pradesh and also below Maharashtra and Bihar among these options.
Concept
This tests Census 2011 population distribution, a core Indian Geography theme for ranking states and interpreting demographic weight. It recurs in RAS because population size affects questions on regional planning, representation, and resource pressure.