RAS question
Rajasthan's total population as per Census 2011 was approximately:
Correct answer: (A) 6.86 crore.
Rajasthan's total population in Census 2011 was 6.85 crore, usually rounded in exam options to about 6.86 crore.
Explanation
The Census 2011 A-1 table records Rajasthan as a state and gives its total population as 68,548,437. Expressed in the Indian numbering system, that is 6.8548437 crore, so the closest approximate option is 6.86 crore. Rajasthan was among India's most populous states and accounted for about 5.67% of India's population, which reinforces the scale of the figure. The official Census total converts into crore and rounds to 6.86 crore; treating rounded figures as exact population counts would be incorrect.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) 5.65 crore is lower than the Census 2011 Rajasthan total of 68,548,437 people, which is about 6.86 crore.
- (C) 8.5 crore overstates Rajasthan's 2011 population because the official total is about 6.86 crore.
- (D) 4.2 crore is far below the Census 2011 total for Rajasthan and misses the official figure by more than 2.6 crore.
Concept
Rajasthan demography under Census 2011 requires conversion of official absolute population into crore. RAS repeatedly asks such figures because population size anchors questions on density, urbanisation, planning and state rankings.