Q100. According to Census 2011, what was the sex ratio among the Scheduled Tribe population in India?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 19 June 2026, Shift 1]
(A) 970
(B) 990
(C) 1,010
(D) 950
Answer: (B) 990
Explanation: The 2011 enumeration recorded 990 females for every 1,000 males among Scheduled Tribes, higher than the overall national ratio of 943. This distinction matters because tribal sex ratios and India’s aggregate sex ratio are different census indicators.
Q99. Which state had the largest population of children aged 0–6 years according to provisional Census 2011 figures?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 19 June 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Bihar
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (D) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Uttar Pradesh contained the largest absolute number of children aged below seven, reflecting its position as India’s most populous state. The question asks about number of children, not the percentage of children within a state’s population.
Q98. Which Union Territory had the lowest literacy rate in Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 18 June 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Lakshadweep
(B) Chandigarh
(C) Dadra and Nagar Haveli
(D) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Answer: (C) Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Explanation: Among the then Union Territories, Dadra and Nagar Haveli had the lowest literacy rate, approximately 76.24%. The comparison uses the administrative boundaries existing at the 2011 Census, before the later merger with Daman and Diu.
Q97. Which state has high population density due to early human settlement and development?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 15 June 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Meghalaya
(D) Sikkim
Answer: (B) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Uttar Pradesh occupies much of the fertile Ganga Plain, where plentiful water, level land, productive soils and long-established settlements have supported dense populations for centuries. Arid and mountainous states generally have fewer people per square kilometre.
Q96. Population density is defined as the number of people per:
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 14 June 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Total population
(B) Unit of land area
(C) Urban centre
(D) Arable land
Answer: (B) Unit of land area
Explanation: Population density expresses how many inhabitants occupy a unit of land area, conventionally one square kilometre. Census 2011 reported India’s population density as 382 persons per square kilometre, allowing geographical comparisons between regions of unequal size.
Q95. Which among these States or Union Territories had the lowest sex ratio according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 13 June 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Haryana
(B) Chandigarh
(C) Delhi
(D) Daman and Diu
Answer: (D) Daman and Diu
Explanation: The former Union Territory of Daman and Diu recorded approximately 618 females per 1,000 males, the lowest ratio among the listed territories. Male-dominated industrial migration was an important contributor to this unusual imbalance.
Q94. In 1951, approximately what percentage of India’s population lived in urban areas?
[SSC GD Constable, 30 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) 17.3%
(B) 41.3%
(C) 37.3%
(D) 27.3%
Answer: (A) 17.3%
Explanation: India remained overwhelmingly rural at the first post-independence census. Urban residents represented approximately 17.3% of the population in 1951, compared with roughly 31.2% in 2011. The increase illustrates long-term urbanisation and structural economic change.
Q93. In how many phases will India’s next population census be conducted?
[SSC GD Constable, 30 May 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Two
(B) Three
(C) Four
(D) Five
Answer: (A) Two
Explanation: The planned census uses two major operational stages: houselisting and housing enumeration, followed by population enumeration. Separating these stages helps enumerators compile information on buildings and household amenities before gathering person-level demographic details.
Q92. The Technical Group on Population Projections projects how many crore Indians aged 60 or above by 2036?
[SSC GD Constable, 29 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) 15 crore
(B) 23 crore
(C) 31 crore
(D) 35 crore
Answer: (B) 23 crore
Explanation: The Population Projections report for 2011–2036 anticipates roughly 22.7 crore people aged at least 60 by 2036, commonly rounded to 23 crore. Longer life expectancy and declining fertility increase the elderly share of India’s population.
Q91. Which was India’s largest metropolitan city by population according to Census 2011?
[SSC GD Constable, 22 May 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Kolkata
(B) Delhi
(C) Mumbai
(D) Chennai
Answer: (C) Mumbai
Explanation: Mumbai’s urban agglomeration counted about 18.4 million residents in 2011, more than Delhi and Kolkata. An urban agglomeration includes contiguous settlements beyond the municipal core, so its population differs from a narrowly defined city-proper total.
Q90. In the demographic transition model, India is generally placed in which stage of population growth?
[SSC GD Constable, 20 May 2026, Shift 3]
(A) High stationary
(B) Early expanding
(C) Late expanding
(D) Low stationary
Answer: (C) Late expanding
Explanation: India is conventionally described as being in the late-expanding stage, with falling birth rates alongside already reduced death rates. Population continues to grow, partly because a large number of people remain in reproductive age groups.
Q89. According to Census 2011, the population density of which state was approximately 1,102 persons per square kilometre?
[SSC GD Constable, 20 May 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Kerala
(B) Bihar
(C) Nagaland
(D) Haryana
Answer: (B) Bihar
Explanation: Bihar was India’s most densely populated state in the 2011 Census. Some preliminary materials quote approximately 1,102 persons per square kilometre, while final tabulations commonly report about 1,106. Both identify Bihar as the state in question.
Q88. Which state recorded the highest absolute rural population in India in Census 2011?
[SSC GD Constable, 18 May 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Bihar
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Maharashtra
(D) West Bengal
Answer: (B) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Uttar Pradesh had more than 155 million rural residents in 2011. This is an absolute-population ranking: a smaller state might have a greater rural proportion without having as many rural inhabitants in total.
Q87. In the Indian Census, the population is classified into which three categories by work participation?
[SSC GD Constable, 9 May 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Main workers, marginal workers and non-workers
(B) Agricultural, industrial and service workers
(C) Organised, unorganised and unemployed
(D) Rural, urban and migrant workers
Answer: (A) Main workers, marginal workers and non-workers
Explanation: Census work-participation tables distinguish main workers, marginal workers and non-workers. Main workers worked for at least six months during the reference year; marginal workers worked for a shorter duration. Non-workers were not engaged in enumerated economic activity.
Q86. Which Union Territory had the lowest population density according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 8 May 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Chandigarh
(B) Puducherry
(C) Lakshadweep
(D) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Answer: (D) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Explanation: Andaman and Nicobar Islands registered about 46 persons per square kilometre in 2011, the lowest density among Union Territories. Its widely scattered islands, forests and restricted settlement areas contrast with densely occupied territories such as Chandigarh.
Q85. Which statement correctly describes the change in Indian literacy between 2001 and 2011?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 27 March 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Female literacy increased faster than male literacy
(B) Male and female literacy rose at identical rates
(C) Male literacy declined while female literacy rose
(D) Male literacy increased faster than female literacy
Answer: (A) Female literacy increased faster than male literacy
Explanation: Female literacy gained more percentage points than male literacy between the two censuses. Although men retained a higher literacy rate in 2011, the faster increase among women helped narrow the gender gap in educational attainment.
Q84. Which Union Territory recorded the highest decadal population growth rate in Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 25 March 2026, Shift 2]
(A) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(B) Daman and Diu
(C) Puducherry
(D) Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Answer: (D) Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Explanation: Dadra and Nagar Haveli recorded a very large increase of approximately 55.9% from 2001 to 2011. Industrial expansion and inward migration contributed significantly to this growth, which far exceeded the national decadal rate.
Q83. Which pair of states had literacy rates above 80% according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 22 March 2026, Shift 3]
(A) Himachal Pradesh and Haryana
(B) Tamil Nadu and Assam
(C) Sikkim and Odisha
(D) Goa and Tripura
Answer: (D) Goa and Tripura
Explanation: Both Goa and Tripura exceeded 80% literacy in the final 2011 figures. The other pairs each contain at least one state whose literacy rate was below that mark, even though some individual states in those pairs performed well.
Q82. Which state was the least densely populated according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 18 March 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Mizoram
(C) Assam
(D) Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: (D) Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: Arunachal Pradesh had only around 17 people per square kilometre in 2011, the lowest density among Indian states. Mountainous relief, dense forests, difficult transport and limited accessible settlement space help explain its sparse population distribution.
Q81. Which state registered negative population growth between the 2001 and 2011 censuses?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 17 March 2026, Shift 1]
(A) Gujarat
(B) Kerala
(C) Punjab
(D) Nagaland
Answer: (D) Nagaland
Explanation: Nagaland uniquely recorded a small population decline, about 0.6%, in the 2001–2011 census interval. The result was unusual because most Indian states continued growing, and enumeration differences can complicate interpretation of its earlier high reported growth.
Q80. What was India’s population density per square kilometre in Census 1951?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 29 November 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 77
(B) 97
(C) 117
(D) 217
Answer: (C) 117
Explanation: The 1951 census recorded approximately 117 persons per square kilometre in India. As the population expanded over subsequent decades, the density increased to 382 in 2011, though the increase varied sharply across states and physical regions.
Q79. The Census of India is conducted under the provisions of the Census Act of which year?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 24 November 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 1948
(B) 1965
(C) 1932
(D) 1954
Answer: (A) 1948
Explanation: The Census Act, 1948 provides the statutory basis for population enumeration in independent India. The Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner conducts the exercise under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with safeguards governing census information.
Q78. What was India’s literacy rate according to the Census of 1951?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 22 November 2025, Shift 1]
(A) 18.33%
(B) 28.33%
(C) 10.33%
(D) 9.33%
Answer: (A) 18.33%
Explanation: Only about 18.33% of the population was literate in the 1951 census, highlighting the low educational base inherited at independence. Subsequently, literacy grew considerably, reaching about 74.04% by Census 2011 under revised age-group comparisons.
Q77. Which religious community formed India’s second-largest population group according to Census 2011?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 21 November 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Christian
(B) Sikh
(C) Muslim
(D) Buddhist
Answer: (C) Muslim
Explanation: Muslims were the second-largest religious community, comprising approximately 14.2% of India’s population in 2011. Hindus constituted the largest group. Census religion tables describe population composition and should be distinguished from language or caste classifications.
Q76. Which listed state had a population exceeding 100 million according to Census 2011?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 18 November 2025, Shift 3]
(A) West Bengal
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Bihar
(D) Rajasthan
Answer: (C) Bihar
Explanation: Bihar had approximately 104 million residents in 2011, exceeding the 100-million threshold. West Bengal had about 91 million, while Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh had smaller populations. Bihar ranked third nationally after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Q75. What was India’s overall sex ratio in the Census of 2001?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 18 November 2025, Shift 1]
(A) 933
(B) 912
(C) 920
(D) 981
Answer: (A) 933
Explanation: India recorded 933 females per 1,000 males in Census 2001. The equivalent final 2011 figure rose to 943, demonstrating an improvement in the overall ratio, though several states and child-age groups remained markedly imbalanced.
Q74. Consider the statements:
I. India’s population pyramid is broad at its base and top but narrow in the middle.
II. India has a large young population because of high past birth rates and declining mortality.
Which is correct?
[SSC CGL, 24 September 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Both I and II are correct, and II explains I
(B) Both I and II are correct, but II does not explain I
(C) I is correct, but II is incorrect
(D) I is incorrect, but II is correct
Answer: (D) I is incorrect, but II is correct
Explanation: India’s age pyramid has historically had a relatively broad base, but it does not simultaneously have a broad elderly top and narrow middle. A youthful age structure reflects decades of high births and improved survival.
Q73. Approximately what share of India’s population lived in urban areas according to Census 2011?
[SSC CGL, 16 September 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 24%
(B) 31%
(C) 36%
(D) 41%
Answer: (B) 31%
Explanation: Census 2011 placed approximately 31.16% of Indians in urban settlements, commonly rounded to 31%. The corresponding rural share was about 68.84%. Urbanisation rose from its 2001 level as towns grew and settlements were reclassified.
Q72. What is meant by population density?
[SSC CGL, 12 September 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Population per household
(B) People per square kilometre
(C) People per region
(D) People per district
Answer: (B) People per square kilometre
Explanation: Population density relates the number of inhabitants to the land area occupied, normally expressed as persons per square kilometre. This standardised indicator makes it possible to compare settlement concentration across administrative areas of different geographical sizes.
Q71. What decision about the forthcoming decennial census did the Union government announce on 30 April 2025?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 3 September 2025, Shift 3]
(A) Conduct a completely digital-only census
(B) Postpone the census indefinitely
(C) Include caste enumeration in the next census
(D) Eliminate caste data collection
Answer: (C) Include caste enumeration in the next census
Explanation: The government announced that caste enumeration would be incorporated into the next national population census. This policy decision concerned the scope of data collection and was separate from the earlier Socio-Economic and Caste Census conducted in 2011.
Q70. What was India’s overall population density according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 18 August 2025, Shift 2]
(A) 382 persons/km²
(B) 325 persons/km²
(C) 500 persons/km²
(D) 450 persons/km²
Answer: (A) 382 persons/km²
Explanation: The official 2011 population density was 382 persons per square kilometre, compared with 324 in 2001. Rising density reflects growth in the national population within a largely unchanged geographical area, although regional population distributions remain highly uneven.
Q69. Which listed state had the second-highest population density according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 11 August 2025, Shift 2]
(A) Madhya Pradesh
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) West Bengal
Answer: (D) West Bengal
Explanation: West Bengal ranked second among the states in population density, behind Bihar, in the 2011 Census. Fertile alluvial plains, major urban centres and intensive historical settlement contributed to a density of roughly 1,029 persons per square kilometre.
Q68. According to Census 2011, what was the decadal population growth rate of Madhya Pradesh during 2001–2011?
[MPPSC Assistant Professor (GS Paper I), 27 July 2025]
(A) 27.16%
(B) 20.30%
(C) 27.24%
(D) 24.34%
Answer: (B) 20.30%
Explanation: Madhya Pradesh recorded population growth of approximately 20.30% from 2001 to 2011. The figure measures percentage change over an entire decade and is distinct from the state’s annual growth rate or the national decadal average.
Q67. Approximately what was India’s literacy rate around the time of independence in 1947?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 24 June 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Close to 90%
(B) Below 20%
(C) Around 50%
(D) Over 75%
Answer: (B) Below 20%
Explanation: At independence literacy remained below one-fifth of the population, reflecting limited educational opportunities during colonial rule. Census 1951 subsequently recorded 18.33% literacy, establishing an early post-independence benchmark for improvements over later decades.
Q66. What was India’s literacy rate according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 23 June 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 72.98%
(B) 76.23%
(C) 74.04%
(D) 75.12%
Answer: (C) 74.04%
Explanation: The published 2011 literacy rate commonly quoted in competitive examinations is 74.04%. Literacy refers to persons aged seven and above who can read and write with understanding; male literacy exceeded female literacy in that census.
Q65. Which state was recorded without a notified Scheduled Tribe population in Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 23 June 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Punjab
(B) Odisha
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Kerala
Answer: (A) Punjab
Explanation: Punjab had no communities notified as Scheduled Tribes under the census classification applicable to the state in 2011. This is a question about official Scheduled Tribe recognition, not a claim that no residents had tribal ancestry.
Q64. What was India’s approximate decadal population growth rate between 2001 and 2011?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 21 June 2025, Shift 3]
(A) 14.9%
(B) 21.3%
(C) 25.6%
(D) 17.6%
Answer: (D) 17.6%
Explanation: India’s population expanded by approximately 17.6% during 2001–2011, slower than in 1991–2001. The decadal rate compares populations recorded ten years apart and is different from the average annual growth percentage.
Q63. Which listed state recorded the highest Scheduled Tribe sex ratio according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 16 June 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Goa
(B) Mizoram
(C) Arunachal Pradesh
(D) Tamil Nadu
Answer: (A) Goa
Explanation: Among the listed states, Goa had the highest Scheduled Tribe sex ratio, about 1,046 females per thousand males. Sex ratios differ by both territory and population group, so an ST-specific ranking need not mirror the total-population ranking.
Q62. What term describes a city with a population above ten million?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 14 June 2025, Shift 1]
(A) Town
(B) Mega City
(C) Metropolitan City
(D) Metro town
Answer: (B) Mega City
Explanation: A mega city generally refers to a settlement or urban agglomeration with at least ten million residents. It occupies a higher population-size category than a million-plus city, making the threshold important in urban-geography classifications.
Q61. What was India’s overall sex ratio according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 11 June 2025, Shift 2]
(A) 950 females per 1,000 males
(B) 948 females per 1,000 males
(C) 940 females per 1,000 males
(D) 943 females per 1,000 males
Answer: (D) 943 females per 1,000 males
Explanation: Final 2011 census tables record an overall ratio of 943 females per thousand males. The often-encountered figure of 940 comes from provisional 2011 results; students should note whether a question specifies provisional or final census data.
Q60. Malthus argued that population grows in a _____ progression, whereas food supply grows in a _____ progression.
[UPPSC PCS Prelims, 2024, GS Paper I, Q94]
(A) Linear, exponential
(B) Exponential, linear
(C) Arithmetic, geometric
(D) Geometric, arithmetic
Answer: (D) Geometric, arithmetic
Explanation: Thomas Malthus proposed that population tends to increase geometrically while food production increases arithmetically. The contrasting growth paths formed the basis of his concern about population pressure, although technological progress later complicated the theory’s predictions.
Q59. Arrange the following states in descending order of 2011 Census population:
1. Bihar;
2. Andhra Pradesh;
3. Uttar Pradesh;
4. West Bengal.
[UPPSC PCS Prelims, 2024, GS Paper I, Q5]
(A) 3, 4, 1, 2
(B) 1, 3, 2, 4
(C) 1, 3, 4, 2
(D) 3, 1, 4, 2
Answer: (D) 3, 1, 4, 2
Explanation: In 2011 Uttar Pradesh had the largest population among the four states, followed by Bihar, West Bengal and undivided Andhra Pradesh. The correct coded sequence is therefore 3, 1, 4, 2; the question uses pre-bifurcation Andhra Pradesh.
Q58. According to Census 2011, arrange these Madhya Pradesh districts in descending order of population density.
[MPPSC Assistant Professor (GS Paper II), 17 November 2024]
(A) Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior
(B) Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior
(C) Jabalpur, Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore
(D) Gwalior, Jabalpur, Indore, Bhopal
Answer: (B) Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior
Explanation: Bhopal district had the highest population density among the four, followed by Indore, Jabalpur and Gwalior in the 2011 Census. The ordering is based on residents per square kilometre rather than total population or geographical size.
Q57. Which state recorded the lowest child sex ratio according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 13 November 2024, Shift 3]
(A) Punjab
(B) Haryana
(C) Rajasthan
(D) Madhya Pradesh
Answer: (B) Haryana
Explanation: Haryana recorded the lowest state child sex ratio, approximately 834 girls per 1,000 boys aged 0–6 in Census 2011. Child sex ratio measures the youngest population rather than the full population, and it highlights important gender disparities.
Q56. Which of the listed states was the least urbanised according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 5 November 2024, Shift 3]
(A) Chhattisgarh
(B) Bihar
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Himachal Pradesh
Answer: (D) Himachal Pradesh
Explanation: Himachal Pradesh had only about one-tenth of its population living in urban settlements in 2011, less than the other listed states. Mountainous terrain and scattered villages contribute to its predominantly rural settlement pattern.
Q55. Which Indian state had the highest percentage of urban population in Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 4 November 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Kerala
(C) Mizoram
(D) Goa
Answer: (D) Goa
Explanation: Goa had the highest urban share among Indian states in 2011, at roughly 62%. This percentage-based measure differs from the absolute number of city residents, for which more populous states may be larger.
Q54. Which state had the highest child sex ratio for ages 0–6 according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 29 October 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Kerala
(C) Mizoram
(D) Chhattisgarh
Answer: (C) Mizoram
Explanation: Mizoram recorded the highest state child sex ratio, around 971 girls per thousand boys in the 0–6 age group. This differs from the overall sex-ratio ranking, in which Kerala led among states.
Q53. What was India’s average annual population growth rate around Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 22 October 2024, Shift 1]
(A) 1.97%
(B) 2.16%
(C) 2.22%
(D) 1.64%
Answer: (D) 1.64%
Explanation: The average annual exponential growth rate for 2001–2011 was approximately 1.64%. This is not the ten-year cumulative growth rate, which was about 17.6%; the two percentages measure change across different time intervals.
Q52. In the Census definition, a marginal worker works for fewer than how many days in a year?
[SSC MTS, 21 October 2024, Shift 1]
(A) 180
(B) 173
(C) 170
(D) 183
Answer: (D) 183
Explanation: The Census treats workers engaged for less than six months, equivalent to fewer than 183 days in the reference year, as marginal workers. Those working for six months or more are classified as main workers.
Q51. Which Union Territory had the second-highest percentage of urban population according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 17 October 2024, Shift 2]
(A) Delhi
(B) Puducherry
(C) Chandigarh
(D) Daman and Diu
Answer: (C) Chandigarh
Explanation: Chandigarh ranked just below Delhi in urban share, with roughly 97.25% of its residents counted as urban in 2011. Urban proportion and urban population density are separate indicators, despite both being high in major city territories.
Q50. Which Union Territory had the smallest population according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 16 October 2024, Shift 3]
(A) Lakshadweep
(B) Daman and Diu
(C) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(D) Delhi
Answer: (A) Lakshadweep
Explanation: Lakshadweep had approximately 64,000 people in the 2011 Census, making it the least populous Union Territory. Its small island area and distance from the mainland help explain the modest absolute population size.
Q49. Which article of the Constitution concerns legislative authority under which population census falls?
[SSC MTS, 14 October 2024, Shift 2]
(A) Article 179
(B) Article 246
(C) Article 233
(D) Article 128
Answer: (B) Article 246
Explanation: Article 246 distributes lawmaking powers through the Union, State and Concurrent Lists. Census is placed in the Union List, enabling Parliament to legislate on the subject; the Census Act of 1948 provides the operative statute.
Q48. In which year was the Census Act enacted in India?
[SSC MTS, 8 October 2024, Shift 1]
(A) 1950
(B) 1948
(C) 1949
(D) 1951
Answer: (B) 1948
Explanation: The Census Act was enacted in 1948 to provide a legal foundation for systematic enumeration after independence. The first census held under the post-independence legal framework was the 1951 census, making these dates useful to distinguish.
Q47. What was India’s overall sex ratio in Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 7 October 2024, Shift 1]
(A) 950
(B) 998
(C) 943
(D) 933
Answer: (C) 943
Explanation: The final 2011 count reported 943 females per thousand males. This represented an improvement from 933 in 2001. Sex ratio is measured for the entire population and should not be confused with the separate child sex ratio.
Q46. Which group of Union Territories had the highest population density in Census 2011?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 24 September 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Puducherry
(B) Delhi, Chandigarh, Daman and Diu
(C) Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry
(D) Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Chandigarh
Answer: (C) Delhi, Chandigarh, Puducherry
Explanation: Delhi, Chandigarh and Puducherry formed the highest-density group of Union Territories in 2011. Major built-up areas with comparatively limited land areas produce high densities, while more dispersed island territories usually record lower figures.
Q45. Consider these statements about India’s census:
1. The first all-India census was attempted in 1872.
2. Decennial censuses became a regular feature from 1881.
Which statement(s) is/are correct?
[UPSC CDS-II (General Knowledge), 1 September 2024]
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (C) Both 1 and 2
Explanation: Both statements are correct. The 1872 census was an initial, non-synchronous enumeration. The 1881 census provided a more uniform and simultaneous national count, establishing the regular decennial sequence subsequently followed in India.
Q44. Which of the following states had the highest population density according to Census 2011?
[RPSC Assistant Professor (Geography Paper II), 18 May 2024]
(A) West Bengal
(B) Bihar
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Maharashtra
Answer: (B) Bihar
Explanation: Bihar recorded about 1,106 persons per square kilometre in the final 2011 Census, the highest among states. West Bengal followed with about 1,029. Rankings should use population relative to area, not absolute population, where Uttar Pradesh stood first.
Q43. Literacy rate measures the percentage of a defined age group that can do what?
[SSC GD Constable, 7 March 2024, Shift 2]
(A) Read only
(B) Speak
(C) Read and write
(D) Write only
Answer: (C) Read and write
Explanation: Literacy requires the ability to read and write with understanding, not merely to speak or recognise letters. For India’s Census 2011, the standard literacy rate is calculated for people aged seven years and above.
Q42. What was the female literacy rate in India according to Census 2011?
[SSC GD Constable, 29 February 2024, Shift 3]
(A) 82.8%
(B) 65.46%
(C) 74.04%
(D) 39.3%
Answer: (B) 65.46%
Explanation: Female literacy was about 65.46% in 2011, compared with approximately 82.14% for males. The gap highlights inequalities in access to education, although female literacy grew faster than male literacy during the preceding decade.
Q41. What is the process of collecting, compiling, analysing and disseminating data about all people in a country at a specified time called?
[SSC GD Constable, 20 February 2024, Shift 1]
(A) Population
(B) National Survey
(C) Population Census
(D) Constitution
Answer: (C) Population Census
Explanation: A population census is a comprehensive statistical enumeration at a specified reference time. It collects demographic, social and economic characteristics of residents, allowing planners to assess population size, composition and spatial distribution throughout the country.
Q40. What was Bihar’s population density in Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 14 September 2023, Shift 1]
(A) 1,106 persons/km²
(B) 980 persons/km²
(C) 1,050 persons/km²
(D) 1,320 persons/km²
Answer: (A) 1,106 persons/km²
Explanation: The final 2011 census tables place Bihar’s density at about 1,106 persons per square kilometre. It ranked first among the states, reflecting a large population concentrated in a relatively small and agriculturally productive territory.
Q39. What was Kerala’s literacy rate in Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 13 September 2023, Shift 2]
(A) 85.8%
(B) 90.3%
(C) 87.9%
(D) 94.0%
Answer: (D) 94.0%
Explanation: Kerala recorded about 94% literacy in 2011, the highest among Indian states. This performance is associated with an extensive school network, public education investment and historically strong social demand for literacy.
Q38. Approximately what was India’s population according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 13 September 2023, Shift 1]
(A) 131 crore
(B) 121 crore
(C) 111 crore
(D) 101 crore
Answer: (B) 121 crore
Explanation: India’s census population was approximately 121 crore, or 1.21 billion, in 2011. It had increased substantially since 2001, although the rate of growth declined compared with the earlier decade.
Q37. Which state had the second-highest overall sex ratio according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 11 September 2023, Shift 3]
(A) Kerala
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Assam
(D) Bihar
Answer: (B) Tamil Nadu
Explanation: Kerala led the states with 1,084 females per thousand males, while Tamil Nadu ranked next with about 996. The ranking covers overall state population sex ratios, not urban-only, rural-only or child-specific measures.
Q36. Which state had the lowest population among those listed in Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 11 September 2023, Shift 2]
(A) Sikkim
(B) Goa
(C) Manipur
(D) Mizoram
Answer: (A) Sikkim
Explanation: Sikkim recorded about 6.1 lakh residents, fewer than Goa, Manipur or Mizoram in 2011. A small state’s population is influenced by settlement history, geographical accessibility and size, rather than area alone.
Q35. What was India’s female literacy rate according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 11 September 2023, Shift 1]
(A) 75.35%
(B) 65.46%
(C) 55.84%
(D) 70.24%
Answer: (B) 65.46%
Explanation: The female literacy rate was approximately 65.46%, lower than the male rate of 82.14%. Census literacy counts those aged seven or older who can read and write with understanding in any language.
Q34. Which listed Union Territory had the lowest population growth rate according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 8 September 2023, Shift 2]
(A) Lakshadweep
(B) Delhi
(C) Daman and Diu
(D) Chandigarh
Answer: (A) Lakshadweep
Explanation: Lakshadweep recorded one of the lowest decadal population increases among the former Union Territories in 2001–2011. Small island populations may experience limited natural increase and migration, giving a comparatively low growth percentage.
Q33. Which state recorded a negative decadal population growth rate in Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 5 September 2023, Shift 2]
(A) Sikkim
(B) Kerala
(C) Arunachal Pradesh
(D) Nagaland
Answer: (D) Nagaland
Explanation: Nagaland was the only state to report negative population growth between the 2001 and 2011 counts. A negative rate means the recorded population declined over the decade, unlike the positive growth seen across most states.
Q32. Which state or Union Territory had the lowest overall sex ratio according to Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 4 September 2023, Shift 3]
(A) Punjab
(B) Lakshadweep
(C) Daman and Diu
(D) Haryana
Answer: (C) Daman and Diu
Explanation: Daman and Diu had only about 618 females per thousand males, lower than Haryana and the other listed regions. Its male-heavy industrial and migrant workforce contributed strongly to the overall demographic imbalance.
Q31. Which pair correctly identifies the state and Union Territory with the highest literacy rates in Census 2011?
[SSC MTS, 4 September 2023, Shift 1]
(A) Mizoram and Lakshadweep
(B) Kerala and Chandigarh
(C) Goa and Puducherry
(D) Kerala and Lakshadweep
Answer: (D) Kerala and Lakshadweep
Explanation: Kerala topped the state literacy ranking, and Lakshadweep led the then Union Territories in Census 2011. It is essential to distinguish administrative categories, because the highest-literacy state is not itself a Union Territory.
Q30. Which state had the highest population density according to Census 2011?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 14 August 2023, Shift 4]
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) Bihar
(C) West Bengal
(D) Kerala
Answer: (B) Bihar
Explanation: Bihar ranked first among the states by population density in 2011, exceeding 1,100 persons per square kilometre. The fertile Gangetic plain supports large rural populations, while limited land area raises the statewide density figure.
Q29. Which were the three most populous states according to Census 2011?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 9 August 2023, Shift 3]
(A) Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh
(B) Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Goa
(C) Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar
(D) West Bengal, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh
Answer: (C) Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar
Explanation: The 2011 rankings placed Uttar Pradesh first, Maharashtra second and Bihar third. This order refers to total residents rather than population density, where Bihar and West Bengal occupied the first two positions.
Q28. What share of India’s population identified as Muslim in Census 2011?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 9 August 2023, Shift 4]
(A) 14.2%
(B) 11.9%
(C) 16.4%
(D) 18.5%
Answer: (A) 14.2%
Explanation: About 14.2% of India’s population was enumerated as Muslim in Census 2011, making Islam the second-largest religious affiliation. These figures describe the census religion distribution and not the shares of linguistic or occupational groups.
Q27. What was India’s population density according to Census 1951?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 8 August 2023, Shift 2]
(A) 117 persons/km²
(B) 324 persons/km²
(C) 103 persons/km²
(D) 382 persons/km²
Answer: (A) 117 persons/km²
Explanation: Population density in India stood at about 117 persons per square kilometre in 1951. The 2011 census recorded 382, illustrating how more people came to occupy the same national land area over six decades.
Q26. What percentage of Indians lived in rural areas according to Census 2011?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 4 August 2023, Shift 4]
(A) 65.25%
(B) 70%
(C) 69%
(D) 68.8%
Answer: (D) 68.8%
Explanation: Rural residents accounted for approximately 68.8% of India’s population in 2011, with about 31.2% classified as urban. This shows that India remained predominantly rural despite sustained growth of cities and towns.
Q25. Approximately what percentage of India’s population lived in urban areas according to Census 2011?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 4 August 2023, Shift 2]
(A) 25.7%
(B) 49.71%
(C) 41.72%
(D) 31.16%
Answer: (D) 31.16%
Explanation: Urban residents made up approximately 31.16% of India’s 2011 population. The census applies statutory and demographic criteria to classify settlements, meaning urbanisation measures both population changes and the evolving designation of towns.
Q24. Arrange states A. Kerala, B. Himachal Pradesh and C. Haryana in descending order of literacy rates in Census 2011.
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 26 July 2023, Shift 2]
(A) A, C, B
(B) B, A, C
(C) C, B, A
(D) A, B, C
Answer: (D) A, B, C
Explanation: Kerala had the highest literacy rate, followed by Himachal Pradesh and then Haryana. Their approximate rates were 94%, 83% and 76%, respectively, which establishes the required descending sequence A, B, C.
Q23. Which census used the slogan “Our Census, Our Future”?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 19 July 2023, Shift 4]
(A) 1981
(B) 2011
(C) 2001
(D) 1991
Answer: (B) 2011
Explanation: The motto “Our Census, Our Future” belonged to the 2011 Indian Census. The campaign emphasised the importance of reliable population statistics for planning public services, infrastructure and future development priorities.
Q22. Which period is described as the stagnant or stationary phase of India’s population growth?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 18 July 2023, Shift 2]
(A) 1921–1941
(B) 1901–1921
(C) 1961–1981
(D) 1941–1961
Answer: (B) 1901–1921
Explanation: Population growth was very slow between 1901 and 1921 because high birth rates were offset by high mortality, epidemics and food shortages. The 1921 census is often called the Great Divide in India’s demographic history.
Q21. Approximately how much area came under the Tribal Sub-Plan of Chhattisgarh according to Census 2011?
[CGPSC Preliminary Examination (General Studies), 2023]
(A) 78,000 km²
(B) 88,000 km²
(C) 98,000 km²
(D) 108,000 km²
Answer: (B) 88,000 km²
Explanation: The tribal sub-plan covered approximately 88,000 square kilometres in Chhattisgarh. It aimed to direct development resources to areas with substantial Scheduled Tribe populations, illustrating the geographical importance of demographic patterns for regional planning.
Q20. In India, the first census was held in which year?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 13 December 2022, Shift 3]
(A) 1872
(B) 1860
(C) 1900
(D) 1920
Answer: (A) 1872
Explanation: The first all-India census attempt took place in 1872, although enumeration was not conducted simultaneously throughout the country. The first complete synchronous census followed in 1881, establishing the regular ten-year sequence used in subsequent Indian population counts.
Q19. Which state government decided to conduct a caste-based census known as the “Jaati Aadharit Ganana”?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 12 December 2022, Shift 1]
(A) Madhya Pradesh
(B) Rajasthan
(C) Tripura
(D) Bihar
Answer: (D) Bihar
Explanation: Bihar announced the Jaati Aadharit Ganana exercise to enumerate the social and economic profile of caste groups in the state. It was a state-level undertaking rather than the regular all-India decennial population census supervised by the Union government.
Q18. The official enumeration of population conducted periodically is called what?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 7 December 2022, Shift 4]
(A) Census
(B) Demographic count
(C) Estimation
(D) Record
Answer: (A) Census
Explanation: A census is an organised official count of a country’s population and its demographic characteristics. Indian censuses gather information about age, sex, literacy, residence and occupation, providing a statistical basis for government planning and resource allocation.
Q17. According to Census 2011, which was the least populous Indian state?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 2 December 2022, Shift 4]
(A) Nagaland
(B) Sikkim
(C) Arunachal Pradesh
(D) Goa
Answer: (B) Sikkim
Explanation: Sikkim was India’s least populous state in 2011, with about 6.1 lakh residents. It must not be confused with the least populated Union Territory, Lakshadweep, because census comparisons distinguish states from Union Territories.
Q16. In which year was the first complete census of India conducted?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 1 December 2022, Shift 3]
(A) 1881
(B) 1872
(C) 1900
(D) 1860
Answer: (A) 1881
Explanation: The 1881 enumeration is considered India’s first complete and synchronous census. An earlier exercise took place in 1872 but was spread over different times in different regions, so it is distinguished from the regular modern census series.
Q15. According to Census 2011, what was the sex ratio in Daman and Diu?
[RRB NTPC CBT-II Level 3, 17 June 2022, Shift 1]
(A) 748 females per 1,000 males
(B) 696 females per 1,000 males
(C) 723 females per 1,000 males
(D) 618 females per 1,000 males
Answer: (D) 618 females per 1,000 males
Explanation: The former Union Territory of Daman and Diu recorded only 618 females per 1,000 males in 2011. Significant male-dominated labour migration was associated with the imbalance. This figure relates to the pre-merger territory, not its later administrative configuration.
Q14. What was Kerala’s sex ratio according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 4 March 2021, Shift 2]
(A) 1,084
(B) 1,058
(C) 963
(D) 943
Answer: (A) 1,084
Explanation: Kerala recorded 1,084 females for every 1,000 males in Census 2011, the highest overall sex ratio among Indian states. The figure of 943 represents the national overall ratio and should not be substituted for Kerala’s state value.
Q13. What was India’s overall sex ratio according to Census 2011?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 4 January 2021, Shift 2]
(A) 930
(B) 960
(C) 943
(D) 925
Answer: (C) 943
Explanation: India’s final 2011 sex ratio was 943 females per thousand males, compared with 933 in 2001. The provisional 2011 result was frequently reported as 940, which explains why both values sometimes appear in older study materials.
Q12. The last completed Indian population census was held in which year?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2020]
(A) 1991
(B) 2001
(C) 2011
(D) 2019
Answer: (C) 2011
Explanation: The last completed national decennial enumeration available to the 2020 examination was Census 2011. Census records provide an official snapshot of population size, household conditions and socio-economic characteristics; later population estimates do not themselves constitute a census.
Q11. What is meant by a demographic dividend?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2019]
(A) Increase in the population aged 0–5 years
(B) Increase in the population aged 6–15 years
(C) Increase in the population aged 16–64 years
(D) Increase in the population aged above 65 years
Answer: (C) Increase in the population aged 16–64 years
Explanation: A demographic dividend is the potential economic advantage arising when the working-age share of a population rises relative to dependants. The exam expresses that working-age group as 16–64 years, highlighting the importance of employment and productive participation.
Q10. Arrange these states in descending order of Census 2011 population:
1. West Bengal;
2. Bihar;
3. Maharashtra;
4. Andhra Pradesh.
[UPSC NDA (General Ability Test), 18 September 2016]
(A) 2, 3, 1, 4
(B) 3, 2, 1, 4
(C) 1, 4, 3, 2
(D) 3, 1, 4, 2
Answer: (B) 3, 2, 1, 4
Explanation: Maharashtra had the largest population of these four, followed by Bihar, West Bengal and undivided Andhra Pradesh. Matching those rankings to the coded list gives 3, 2, 1, 4, with historical state boundaries essential to the answer.
Q9. The latest population census of India had been conducted in which year?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2013]
(A) 2011
(B) 1991
(C) 2005
(D) 2001
Answer: (A) 2011
Explanation: For the 2013 examination, Census 2011 was the latest completed national enumeration. India traditionally conducted censuses at ten-year intervals, and the 2011 results became the main reference for state populations, literacy, sex ratios and settlement geography.
Q8. According to Census 2001, which state recorded the lowest literacy rate?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2012]
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Jharkhand
(C) Bihar
(D) Madhya Pradesh
Answer: (C) Bihar
Explanation: Bihar had the lowest literacy rate among Indian states in Census 2001, around 47%. The question specifically concerns the 2001 ranking and should not be answered using subsequent 2011 improvements or more recent education estimates.
Q7. What was India’s sex ratio according to Census 2001?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2012]
(A) 933
(B) 927
(C) 898
(D) 800
Answer: (A) 933
Explanation: Census 2001 reported 933 females for every 1,000 males nationally, an improvement over the 1991 figure of 927. Sex ratio is an important demographic indicator, but it does not describe child-specific ratios unless that age group is explicitly mentioned.
Q6. What was India’s overall sex ratio according to Census 2001?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2011]
(A) 875
(B) 975
(C) 950
(D) 933
Answer: (D) 933
Explanation: India’s 2001 census recorded 933 females per 1,000 males. The national ratio had improved from 927 in 1991, but remained below parity. The 2011 census later showed a further rise to 943 in the final figures.
Q5. Which of the following states had the highest population density according to Census 2001?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2010]
(A) West Bengal
(B) Maharashtra
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Bihar
Answer: (A) West Bengal
Explanation: West Bengal ranked first among Indian states in Census 2001 population density, at approximately 903 people per square kilometre. Bihar overtook it in 2011, so the correct answer depends on the census year stated in the question.
Q4. Which of the following states had the highest population density in Census 2001?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2009]
(A) Kerala
(B) West Bengal
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (B) West Bengal
Explanation: Among the listed states, West Bengal had the highest 2001 density, about 903 persons per square kilometre. Kerala was also densely populated, but its approximately 819 persons per square kilometre placed it below West Bengal in that census.
Q3. What was India’s overall sex ratio according to Census 2001?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2004]
(A) 893
(B) 904
(C) 922
(D) 933
Answer: (D) 933
Explanation: The 2001 census reported a national sex ratio of 933 females per 1,000 males. It was calculated for the entire enumerated population rather than children alone, and represented an improvement from 927 in the 1991 enumeration.
Q2. Which of the following states had the highest population density according to Census 2001?
[UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination, 2003]
(A) Kerala
(B) Madhya Pradesh
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) West Bengal
Answer: (D) West Bengal
Explanation: West Bengal led the listed states in population density in 2001, with approximately 903 persons per square kilometre. Kerala had around 819 and Uttar Pradesh around 690. The ranking is time-specific: Bihar became the densest state by Census 2011.
Q1. What was the approximate average annual growth rate of India’s population during 1990–1999?
[WBCS Preliminary Examination, 2002]
(A) 2.5%
(B) 2.2%
(C) 2.0%
(D) 1.8%
Answer: (C) 2.0%
Explanation: India’s annual population increase in the 1990s was approximately 1.9–2.0%, making 2.0% the closest listed answer. An annual growth rate should not be confused with the cumulative change over an entire ten-year census interval.