RAS question
Total population of Rajasthan as per Census 2011 is approximately:
Correct answer: (A) 6.86 crore.
Rajasthan's total population as per Census 2011 was approximately 6.86 crore.
Explanation
Census 2011 is the correct reference year for Rajasthan's population. The Rajasthan Foundation's “Demography of Rajasthan” section lists the state's total population as 68,621,012 people. This is approximately 6.86 crore, or 686 lakh, so option A is correct. Older or lower figures do not match the 2011 total, while 7.96 crore is too high. Rajasthan was the 8th most populous state in 2011. For RAS, remember the census year, the approximate population and the state's population rank together.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) 5.67 crore is too low for Census 2011; Rajasthan's population that year was 68,621,012, or approximately 6.86 crore.
- (C) 4.86 crore is associated with 2001, not 2011; Rajasthan's population in 2011 was approximately 6.86 crore.
- (D) 7.96 crore is too high for 2011; Rajasthan's population that year was approximately 6.86 crore.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan's population distribution and core Census 2011 data, a recurring RAS Geography area. Population size underpins comparisons of density, sex ratio, literacy and urbanisation, as well as demographic, planning and socioeconomic analysis. Approximate crore-level figures are usually sufficient, but the census year must be identified correctly.