100. Which census was the fifteenth national census of India?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (25 July, Shift 3) — 2023]
(A) 1991
(B) 2001
(C) 1981
(D) 2011
Answer: (D) 2011
Explanation: Counting the initial all-India enumeration of 1872, the fifteenth national census was carried out in 2011. The first synchronous decennial census was in 1881. These historical milestones explain why different references discuss both 1872 and 1881.
99. Which group recorded exceptionally high population growth in 2001–2011?
[SSC CGL Tier-I (14 July, Shift 3) — 2023]
(A) Bihar, Rajasthan, Sikkim
(B) West Bengal, Meghalaya, Bihar
(C) Bihar, Haryana, Meghalaya
(D) Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar
Answer: (D) Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar
Explanation: Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Bihar registered relatively high decadal growth between 2001 and 2011. Decadal growth measures change over ten years, not the size of the population. State comparisons should use consistent census figures.
98. What was India’s population recorded by Census 2011?
[SSC CGL 2022 Tier-II (7 March 2023) — 2023]
(A) 1.4 billion
(B) 1.21 billion
(C) 1.5 billion
(D) 1.11 billion
Answer: (B) 1.21 billion
Explanation: Census 2011 recorded about 1.21 billion Indians, an increase of roughly 181 million since 2001. A census count is a historical benchmark for policy and population projections, rather than a measurement of the current year.
97. According to the World Bank’s 2020–21 income classification, India belonged to which category?
[SSC MTS 2022 cycle (2 May, Shift 1) — 2023]
(A) Upper-middle-income economy
(B) Low-income economy
(C) Lower-middle-income economy
(D) High-income economy
Answer: (C) Lower-middle-income economy
Explanation: The World Bank classified India as a lower-middle-income economy using gross national income per capita thresholds. Such income categories are distinct from human-development rankings. The thresholds are adjusted periodically, so exam-year classifications should be interpreted historically.
96. Which environmental factors affect where people live: (I) climate, (II) soil, (III) terrain, (IV) water availability?
[SSC MTS (19 May, Shift 2) — 2023]
(A) II and IV only
(B) I, III and IV only
(C) I and III only
(D) I, II, III and IV
Answer: (D) I, II, III and IV
Explanation: All four conditions influence settlement. Climate affects comfort and farming, fertile soils favour cultivation, terrain determines accessibility, and reliable water supplies support households and industry. Economic opportunities and infrastructure further shape the distribution of population.
95. Which period is commonly called the population-explosion phase in India?
[SSC MTS (19 May, Shift 1) — 2023]
(A) 1951–1981
(B) After 1981
(C) 1901–1921
(D) 1921–1951
Answer: (A) 1951–1981
Explanation: India’s population grew quickly from 1951 to 1981 as death rates declined sharply while birth rates remained relatively high. Improvements in medicine and food supplies contributed to survival. Later decades saw a gradual reduction in population-growth rates.
94. Which age band was designated as the working-age population in the question?
[SSC MTS 2022 cycle (2 May, Shift 3) — 2023]
(A) 18–62 years
(B) 16–60 years
(C) 15–59 years
(D) 14–58 years
Answer: (C) 15–59 years
Explanation: The examination uses ages 15–59 as a conventional working-age group. Other demographic agencies may instead use 15–64. A larger working-age share may create a demographic dividend, but employment and skills determine its economic payoff.
93. How is population density expressed?
[SSC MTS 2022 cycle (12 May, Shift 1) — 2023]
(A) Rural inhabitants per unit area
(B) Literate persons per unit area
(C) All people per unit area
(D) People and animals per unit area
Answer: (C) All people per unit area
Explanation: Population density equals the total resident population divided by the geographic area, commonly stated as people per square kilometre. It permits comparisons across regions of different sizes, although it cannot show internal settlement patterns or differences in land quality.
92. During which decade did India’s population record negative decadal growth?
[SSC MTS 2022 cycle (4 May, Shift 3) — 2023]
(A) 1911–1921
(B) 1941–1951
(C) 1961–1971
(D) 1921–1931
Answer: (A) 1911–1921
Explanation: India’s census count fell during 1911–1921, influenced by severe mortality from epidemics, including influenza, and other crises. The year 1921 therefore became known as the Great Divide in Indian demographic history, preceding sustained population increase.
91. Which institution offers the Rapid Financing Instrument and the Rapid Credit Facility?
[UPSC CSE Prelims, GS Paper I — 2022]
(A) Asian Development Bank
(B) International Monetary Fund
(C) UNEP Finance Initiative
(D) World Bank
Answer: (B) International Monetary Fund
Explanation: Both facilities belong to the IMF. The Rapid Financing Instrument provides swift assistance for urgent balance-of-payments needs, while the Rapid Credit Facility offers concessional support to eligible low-income economies. They differ from long-term development project loans.
