RAS question
What is Rajasthan's projected population as on 1st March 2024?
Correct answer: (C) 8.19 crore.
Rajasthan's projected population as on 1 March 2024 is 8.19 crore, making it the seventh most populous State in India.
Explanation
Rajasthan's projected population as on 1 March 2024 is 8.19 crore. The figure is not the 2011 Census count; it is the projected 2024 population used in the Rajasthan Economic Review 2024-25. In RAS preparation, static Census data and current official projections remain separate demographic baselines. Rajasthan also ranks as the seventh most populous State in India, so the population figure and the rank support each other. 8.19 crore is the 2024 projection, while the other figures either refer to a different indicator, an older Census count, or lack support in the Rajasthan Economic Review 2024-25.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 10.41 crore is wrong because 10.41 represents Rajasthan's share of India's area, not its projected population.
- (B) 6.85 crore is wrong because it was Rajasthan's 2011 Census population, not the projected population as on 1 March 2024.
- (D) 7.50 crore is wrong because the Rajasthan Economic Review 2024-25 gives the 1 March 2024 projected population as 8.19 crore, not 7.50 crore.
Concept
Rajasthan economy and demographic indicators require a clear distinction between Census figures and official projected population. RAS coverage uses population rank and current demographic baselines for comparisons across Indian States.