Mastering Parajumbles: Tips, Tricks, and Examples for Competitive Exams

The Census of India 2011 is one of the most important resources for competitive exams, providing key demographic, social, and economic data. This data is often asked in exams like UPSC, SSC, IBPS, State PSCs, and others.

Understanding and memorizing the essential figures from the Census can give you a significant edge in the General Studies and Current Affairs sections of your exams. In this post, we break down the most crucial data from the Census of India 2011, organized into easy-to-understand sections with tables, bullet points, and visual aids.

The Census of India 2011 is the 15th national census conducted by the Census Organization of India, with Mr. C. Chandramouli serving as the Commissioner & Registrar General. It is crucial for competitive exams and banking exams. Here's a detailed summary of essential facts about the 2011 Census that are frequently asked in various government exams.

Key Points to Remember:

• What is a Census?

  • A census is the official count of people living in a country and the collection of information about them for statistical purposes.

• History of Census in India:

  • The first census in India was introduced by Lord Mayo in 1872, but it officially began in 1881. The first-ever census in the world was conducted in Sweden in 1749.
  • India’s 15th Census was conducted in 2011, and it was the 7th census for Independent India.
  • The first census of Independent India was conducted in 1951, which was the seventh census in its continuous series. Henry Walter is known as the father of the Indian Census.
  • Negative Growth Rate has been recorded for India during the period between 1911-1921.

• Key Responsibilities:

  • The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, is responsible for conducting the decennial census.
  • Census 2011 Commissioner: C. Chandramouli

• Census Phases:

  • The 2011 Census was conducted in two phases:
    1. House Listing: Collecting information about houses.
    2. Population Enumeration: Collecting data on the population.

• Geographical Coverage:

  • The 2011 Census covered all 28 states and 7 Union Territories, including:
    • 640 districts
    • 497 cities
    • 5,767 tehsils
    • Over 6 lakh villages

Important Census 2011 Statistics:

Census 2011 at a Glance

Total Population	1.21 Billion (121 Crore)
Global Share	17.5% of the world’s population
Growth (2001-2011)	17.7% increase in total population
Urban Population	31.2% (~37 Crore)
Rural Population	68.8% (~84 Crore)
Sex Ratio	943 females per 1000 males
Child Sex Ratio	919 females per 1000 males
Population Density	382 people per square km
Literacy Rate	74.04% (Male: 82.14%, Female: 65.46%)
Population Growth Rate (2001-2011)	17.7%

• India has the largest youth population in the world. By 2020, the average age of Indians was expected to be 29 years.
• The target year for India to reach population stability has been shifted from 2045 to 2070.
• According to the Census Analytical Report, India has the highest youth population, with a growing younger population contributing to the country’s demographic strength.

Top Populated Regions (States & UTs)

Category	Region	Population
Most Populated States	Uttar Pradesh	20 Crore (200 million)
	Maharashtra	11 Crore (110 million)
	Bihar	10 Crore (100 million)
Most Populated Union Territory	Delhi	1.67 Crore (16.7 million)
Least Populated States	Sikkim	6 Lakh (600,000)
	Mizoram	10 Lakh (1 million)
Least Populated Union Territory	Lakshadweep	64,000

Population Growth Rate (2001-2011)

Category	Region	Growth Rate
States with Highest Growth Rate	Meghalaya	+27.9%
	Arunachal Pradesh	+26%
States with Lowest Growth Rate	Nagaland	-0.6%
	Kerala	+4.9%
Union Territories with Highest Growth Rate	Dadar & Nagar Haveli	+55.9%
Union Territories with Lowest Growth Rate	Lakshadweep	-6.3%

Population Density (Per Square Kilometer)

Category	Region	Population Density (per km²)
States with Highest Density	Bihar	1,106
	West Bengal	1,028
States with Lowest Density	Arunachal Pradesh	17
	Mizoram	52
Union Territories with Highest Density	Delhi	11,320
Union Territories with Lowest Density	Andaman & Nicobar	46

Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 Males)

• National Sex Ratio: 940 females per 1,000 males
• Rural Sex Ratio: 949 females per 1,000 males
• Urban Sex Ratio: 929 females per 1,000 males

Category	Region	Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 Males)
States with Highest Sex Ratio	Kerala	1084
	Tamil Nadu	996
States with Lowest Sex Ratio	Haryana	879
	Jammu & Kashmir	889
Union Territories with Highest Sex Ratio	Puducherry	1037
Union Territories with Lowest Sex Ratio	Daman & Diu	618

Literacy Rate Insights (Census 2011)

• National Literacy Rate: 73% (an increase from 64.8% in 2001)
• Maximum Difference in Literacy rate of Females & Males: Rajasthan (27.1%)
  • Male Literacy Rate for Rajasthan : 79.2%
  • Female Literacy Rate for Rajasthan : 52.1%

Category	Region	Literacy Rate
States with Highest Literacy Rate (Females & Males)	Kerala	94%
	Mizoram	91.3%
Union Territories with Highest Literacy Rate	Lakshadweep	91.8%
States with Lowest Literacy Rate (Females)	Bihar	61.8%
	Arunachal Pradesh	65.4%
States with Lowest Literacy Rate (Males)	Bihar	61.8%
	Rajasthan	79.2%
Union Territories with Lowest Literacy Rate	Dadar & Nagar Haveli	76.2%

Scheduled Castes (SC) & Scheduled Tribes (ST)

• Scheduled Castes (SC): 20 Crore (16.6% of India's total population)

• Scheduled Tribes (ST): 10 Crore (8.6% of India's total population)

• Top States & UTs with High SC Population:

  • Uttar Pradesh has the highest SC population.
  • Punjab had the highest percentage (%) of SC population among states, at 28.9%. Himachal Pradesh and West Bengal followed with 25.2% and 23.5% of the population belonging to the SC Community.
  • Chandigarh had the highest percentage of Scheduled Caste (SC) population among the union territories of India, at 17.5%

• Top States & UTs with High ST Population:

  • Madhya Pradesh has the highest ST population.
  • Lakshadweep is a Union Territory of India with the highest tribal population.
  • Total ST Population is 8.6% (Rural: 11.3% and Urban: 2.8%)

Top Repeated MCQs from Census 2011 for Competitive Exams

Census 2011 remains a significant topic for competitive exams like RPF SI, SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, and various other government job exams in 2024. Many questions from this census have been frequently asked in previous exams, making it crucial for aspirants to understand the key statistics and trends.

Here, we highlight the most repeated questions from Census 2011, helping you focus on essential areas and better prepare for your exams.

Practice Show All Answers

Q1: Which union territory had the highest population growth according to the Census 2011?

A. Delhi

B. Puducherry

C. Lakshadweep

D. Daman and Diu

According to the Census 2011, Daman and Diu had the highest population growth among the union territories. This territory is geographically separated by the Gulf of Khambhat and is surrounded by Gujarat and the Arabian Sea. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Mumbai High Court.

Q2: Which union territory had the highest literacy rate as per the Census 2011?

A. Chandigarh

B. Lakshadweep

C. Daman and Diu

D. Delhi

Lakshadweep, with a literacy rate of 92.28%, is the Union Territory with the highest literacy rate in India according to Census 2011. Kerala ranks the highest in terms of literacy rate among the states with a 93.91% literacy rate.

Q3: Which union territory had the lowest population according to the Census 2011?

A. Daman and Diu

B. Dadra and Nagar Haveli

C. Chandigarh

D. Lakshadweep

Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory in India. The word Lakshadweep means 'one hundred thousand islands'. It is located in the Arabian Sea and was formed on 1st November 1956.

Q4: Which state had the highest sex ratio (females per 1000 males) according to the Census 2011?

A. Kerala

B. Punjab

C. Himachal Pradesh

D. Tamilnadu

Kerala has the highest sex ratio in India according to the Census 2011, with 1084 females per 1000 males. The state is known as the "Spice Garden of India" and "God's Own Country". It has the lowest positive population growth rate in India and the highest literacy rate (93.91%).

Capital	Thiruvananthapuram
Formed in	1 November 1956
Districts	14
Languages	Malayalam, English
Known as/for	Nickname: Spice Garden of India, God's Own Country, Land of Backwaters The lowest positive population growth rate in India Highest sex ratio - 1084 females per 1000 males

Q5: Who was the first Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India after independence?

A. Ashok Mitra

B. MWM Yeatts

C. RB Chari

D. Vijay S Verma

The first ever CENUS in India was conducted by Lord Mayo. MWM Yeatts was the first Register General & Census Commissioner of Independent India(1951). RA Gopalaswami was the first Indian Register General & Census Commissioner of India.

C. Chandra Mauli was the Register General & Census Commissioner of 15th CENSUS(2011). Vivek Joshi was the Register General & Census Commissioner of the 16th CENSUS(2021)

Q6: Which union territory had the highest slum population according to the Census 2011?

A. Delhi

B. Chandigarh

C. Puducherry

D. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

According to the Census 2011, Delhi had the highest slum population among the union territories. Maharashtra had the highest slum population among the states (1.18 crore, 18.1% of the total slum population of the country), followed by Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh.

Q7: Which group of union territories had the highest population density according to the Census 2011?

A. Delhi, Chandigarh and Daman and Diu

B. Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Puducherry

C. Delhi, Chandigarh and Puducherry

D. Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu and Chandigarh

According to the Census 2011, Delhi had the highest population density among the union territories, with 11,297 persons per square kilometer. Among the states, Bihar had the highest population density, followed by West Bengal. Among the union territories, Delhi was followed by Chandigarh and Puducherry.

Q8: Which north-eastern state had the highest literacy rate according to the Census 2011?

A. Tripura

B. Assam

C. Meghalaya

D. Nagaland

Tripura had the highest literacy rate ( 87.75%) among the north-eastern states according to the Census 2011. The capital of Tripura is Agartala, the Chief Minister is Manik Saha, and the Governor is Indrasena Reddy. The 49th Amendment recognized Tripura as a Tribal-State.

Q9: In which state is Serchhip, the district with the highest literacy rate in the Census 2011, located?

A. Andhra Pradesh

B. Kerala

C. Rajasthan

D. Mizoram

Serchhip, which recorded the highest literacy rate in the Census 2011, is a district in Mizoram. Serchhip in Mizoram is the most literate district in India, while Alirajpur in Madhya Pradesh is the least literate.

Kerala retained the top position with a 93.91% literacy rate, while Bihar ranked last with a 63.8% literacy rate. Lakshadweep is the most literate union territory in India with a 92.8% literacy rate, while Dadra Nagar Haveli is the least literate with a 76.2% literacy rate.

Q10: Which union territory had the least population density according to the Census 2011?

A. Andaman and Nicobar islands

B. Lakshadweep

C. Puducherry

D. Chandigarh

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands had the least population density according to the Census 2011. This archipelago is composed of 265 big and small islands, with Port Blair as its capital.

Baratang Island of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands contains the only known examples of mud volcanoes in India, called locally as “Jalki”.

Q11: Which union territory had the highest literacy rate among males in India according to the Census 2011?

A. Lakshadweep

B. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

C. Delhi

D. Puducherry

Lakshadweep had the highest literacy rate among males in India according to the Census 2011. It has the highest population share of Muslims (96%) and Scheduled Tribes (94.8%) among the union territories. Malayalam is the official and widely spoken native language in the territory.

Q12: Which of the following states recorded a population of more than 10 crore in the Census of India 2011?

A. Rajasthan

B. Tamil Nadu

C. Madhya Pradesh

D. Bihar

Bihar recorded a population of more than 10 crore in the Census of India 2011. The state's population was 10.41 crore, up from 8.30 crore in the 2001 census. The total population growth rate for this decade was 25.42%, and Bihar's population made up 8.60% of India's total population in 2011.

Q13: What was the percentage increase in female literacy in India during 2001-2011 according to the Census 2011?

A. 5%

B. 22%

C. 9%

D. 14%

The female literacy rate in India increased by 22% during 2001-2011 according to the Census 2011. The literacy rate is the percentage of people who can read and write in a given population. The overall literacy rate in India was 74.04% as per the Census 2011, with the male literacy rate at 82.14% and the female literacy rate at 65.46%.

Q14: How many states recorded a population of less than 10 lakhs according to the Census 2011?

A. Two

B. Zero

C. One

D. Three

According to the Census 2011, only one state (Sikkim, with a population of about 6 lakhs) recorded a population of less than 10 lakhs.

Q15: Which union territory had the highest decadal growth rate of population according to the Census 2011?

A. Chandigarh

B. Puducherry

C. Lakshadweep

D. Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Dadra and Nagar Haveli had the highest decadal growth rate of population according to the Census 2011. The population of Dadra and Nagar Haveli increased from approximately 220,490 in 2001 to 343,709 in 2011, a growth rate of 55.88%. This is the highest growth rate among the union territories during this period.

Q16: Which north-eastern state reported the highest literacy rate according to the Census of India 2011?

A. Meghalaya

B. Manipur

C. Mizoram

D. Assam

Mizoram reported the highest literacy rate among the north-eastern states according to the Census of India 2011. The state had a literacy rate of over 91.3%, with a male literacy rate of 93.35% and a female literacy rate of 89.27%. Kerala had the highest literacy rate in India with 94%, and Lakshadweep had the highest literacy rate among the union territories with 91.85%.

Q17: Which union territories had the highest sex ratio according to the Census of India 2011?

A. Chandigarh, Puducherry, Delhi

B. Puducherry, Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

C. Chandigarh, Puducherry, Lakshadweep

D. Puducherry, Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

According to the Census of India 2011, Puducherry, Lakshadweep, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands had the highest sex ratio among the union territories.

The top five states/union territories with the highest sex ratio were Kerala (1,084), Puducherry (1,038), Tamil Nadu (995), Andhra Pradesh (992), and Chhattisgarh (991).

The five union territories with the lowest sex ratio were Daman & Diu (618), Dadra & Nagar Haveli (775), Chandigarh (818), NCT of Delhi (866), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (878).

Q18: What was the gap between male and female literacy rates in India according to the Census 2011?

A. 21.59%

B. 16.68%

C. 24.84%

D. 18.30%

The gap between male and female literacy rates in India was 16.68% according to the Census 2011. The gap of 21.59% points recorded between male and female literacy rates in 2001 Census and in 2011 it has reduced to 16.68% points.

Q19: Which state had the maximum female workforce participation rate in rural India according to the Census 2011?

A. Himachal Pradesh

B. Uttar Pradesh

C. Arunachal Pradesh

D. Andhra Pradesh

Himachal Pradesh had the highest female workforce participation rate in rural India at 47.4% according to the 2011 Census of India. The overall female workforce participation rate in India was 25.51%, while the male workforce participation rate was 53.26%.

Q20: What was the share of female adolescents in the age group of 10-19 years according to the Census 2011?

A. 31.3%

B. 47.3%

C. 52.7%

D. 20.9%

The share of female adolescents in the age group of 10-19 years was 47.3% according to the Census 2011.

Q21: Which district in Tamil Nadu had the highest literacy rate of Scheduled Castes (SC) according to the Census 2011?

A. Erode

B. Theni

C. Kanyakumari

D. Ariyalur

Kanyakumari district had the highest literacy rate of Scheduled Castes (SC) in Tamil Nadu according to the Census 2011. The literacy rate in Tamil Nadu reached a record high of 80.33%. Kanyakumari district had the highest literacy rate of any district at 92.14%.

Q22: Which language among the following had the maximum number of speakers in India according to the Census 2011 data?

A. Odia

B. Bengali

C. Kannada

D. Malayalam

Bengali had the 2nd highest number of speakers in India according to the Census 2011 data, with 9.72 crore speakers. The other languages with a significant number of speakers were Hindi (52.83 crore), Marathi (8.30 crore), Telugu (8.11 crore), Tamil (6.90 crore), Gujarati (5.54 crore), Urdu (5.07 crore), Kannada (4.37 crore), Odia (3.75 crore), and Malayalam (3.48 crore).

Q23: Which state had the largest number of Christians according to the Census 2011?

A. Goa

B. Nagaland

C. Kerala

D. Mizoram

Kerala had the largest number of Christians according to the Census 2011. The Christian population in Kerala was approximately 6.1 million. While Nagaland and Mizoram have significant Christian populations, Kerala has the highest number of Christians among all Indian states.

Q24: What was the population density in India according to the Census 2011?

A. 11,320 persons per sq km

B. 400 persons per sq km

C. 829 persons per sq km

D. 382 persons per sq km

The population density in India was 382 persons per square kilometer according to the Census 2011. The Indian Census is a credible source of information on demography, economic activity, literacy and education, housing household amenities, urbanization, fertility and mortality, etc.

Q25: Which state had the lowest population density according to the latest census?

A. Sikkim

B. Arunachal Pradesh

C. Mizoram

D. Nagaland

Arunachal Pradesh had the lowest population density according to the latest census. Itanagar is the capital of the state, and the main spoken language is Hindi. Before 1962, this state was known as the North-East Frontier Agency (NEFA).

Q26: Which state had the highest literacy rate among females in India according to the Census 2011?

A. Goa

B. Kerala

C. Mizoram

D. Himachal Pradesh

Kerala had the highest literacy rate among females in India according to the Census 2011. The literacy rate in Kerala was 94.00%, with male literacy at 96.11% and female literacy at 92.07%. The average literacy rate of 72.98% in India.

Q27: According to the Census of India, what does the term 'marginal worker' mean?

A. A person who works for less than 183 days (or six months) in a year

B. A person who works for 83 days in a year

C. A person who works for eight months in a year

D. A person who works for more than 183 days (or six months) in a year

According to the Census of India, a 'marginal worker' is a person who works for less than 183 days (or six months) in a year. Workers are classified as main and marginal workers based on their work. Those who work for the major part of the year (six months or more) are termed as main workers. The percentage of marginal workers reflects a less developing economy and poverty.

Q28: What was India's annual exponential growth rate as per the 2011 Census?

A. 1.64%

B. 3.54%

C. 1.10%

D. 4.34%

India's annual exponential growth rate was 1.64% as per the 2011 Census. The growth of population is the change in the number of people living in a particular area between two points of time.

Q29: What was the increase in literacy rates for males and females, respectively, as compared to the 2001 Census according to the Census 2011?

A. 4.88% and 10.79%

B. 6.88% and 11.79%

C. 5.88% and 12.79%

D. 3.88% and 13.79%

The gap between male and female literacy rates was 16.68% in 2011, reduced from 21.59% in 2001.

Q30: In which state is the concentration of Buddhism the largest as per the 2011 Census data?

A. Maharashtra

B. Uttarakhand

C. Goa

D. Andhra Pradesh

The concentration of Buddhism is the largest in Maharashtra as per the 2011 Census data. Maharashtra has the highest number of Buddhists in India, with over 6 million people following the religion. The state is home to important Buddhist pilgrimage sites such as Ajanta and Ellora caves, and the famous Buddhist stupa at Sanchi.

Q31: Which state had the highest number of people living in rural areas according to the Census of India 2011?

A. Jharkhand

B. Uttar Pradesh

C. Rajasthan

D. Bihar

Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of people living in rural areas according to the Census of India 2011. It has a rural population of 155 million, which is 18.6% of the total rural population of India. Bihar stood second with approximately 92 million people living in rural areas during the same time period. According to the 2011 census, 68.84% of the population in India lives in rural areas.

Q32: What does the term 'household' mean according to the Census?

A. A group of related individuals living together under one roof

B. A group of unrelated individuals residing in the same locality

C. A group of persons engaged in common economic activities

D. A group of persons who share a common kitchen and take meals together

According to the Census, the term 'household' means a group of persons who share a common kitchen and take meals together. This typically includes individuals who share a residence and may or may not be related by blood or marriage. A household can consist of a single person living alone, a family, or a group of unrelated individuals living together.

Q33: Which state had the lowest literacy rate according to the Census 2011?

A. Uttarakhand

B. Arunachal Pradesh

C. Haryana

D. Meghalaya

Arunachal Pradesh had the lowest literacy rate according to the Census 2011. The state has a population of approximately 122,930 and an area of approximately 200 square kilometers. The economy is primarily agrarian, with significant contributions from the handloom and handicraft industry.

Q34: Which state had the largest Scheduled Tribe population as per the 2011 Census?

A. Odisha

B. Jharkhand

C. Chhattisgarh

D. Madhya Pradesh

Madhya Pradesh had the largest Scheduled Tribe population as per the 2011 Census. The state has the highest tribal population in the country, touching a number of 15.31 million and covering 21.1% of the state's population. There are 46 recognized Scheduled Tribes in Madhya Pradesh, India, three of which have been identified as 'Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PTGs)'.

Q35: Which States/UTs does NOT have any SC population as per the Census 2011?

A. Sikkim

B. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

C. Manipur

D. Tripura

Andaman and Nicobar Islands does NOT have any SC population as per the Census 2011. The population density of Andaman and Nicobar Islands is 46 persons per square kilometer, which is much lower than the national average of 382 persons per square kilometer.

Q36: According to the Census of India 2011, ‘Other Religions and Persuasions (ORP)’ comprise how much of the population?

A. 9.9 million

B. 3.9 million

C. 5.9 million

D. 7.9 million

According to the Census of India 2011, 'Other Religions and Persuasions' formed 0.7% of the country's population

'Other Religions and Persuasions' is a category that includes smaller religious groups not classified under major religions like Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Q37: Marathi is the _________ largest most spoken language of India according to the 2011 census.

A. Third

B. Fifth

C. Fourth

D. Second

According to the 2011 census, Marathi (6.86%) is the third most spoken language in India, after Hindi and Bengali. It is the official language and co-official language in the Maharashtra and Goa states of Western India. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India

Q38: Which of the following states has the highest population density in India as per Census 2011?

A. Uttar Pradesh

B. West Bengal

C. Bihar

D. Madhya Pradesh

As per the 2011 Census, the most densely populated state in India is Bihar with a density of 1106. In the 2001 Census, the density of Bihar was 881.

Q39: According to the Census of India 2011, which state in India has the highest proportion of its population living in the urban areas?

A. Kerala

B. Haryana

C. Goa

D. Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has a high urban population and is one of the most urbanized states in India. The term "urban areas" refers to areas with a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometre and with a minimum of 75% of the male working population engaged in nonagricultural activities.

Q40: According to Census 2011, which district displays the highest population?

A. Kollam

B. Ajmer

C. Thane

D. Pune

The Thane district of Maharashtra is the most populated district of India. The Dibang Valley of Arunachal Pradesh is the least populated district of India.

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This breakdown of Census 2011 data will give you an edge in your preparation for General Studies, Current Affairs, and Social and Economic Development questions in exams. Understanding this data in-depth is crucial for tackling questions on Indian demographics and policy planning.

By regularly reviewing and internalizing these key figures, you’ll not only enhance your General Knowledge but also increase your chances of acing competitive exams. Stay updated and all the best for your preparation!