Question 1

Consider the following statements regarding the distribution of religious groups in India: 1. The Jain population has its major concentration in the rural areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. 2. The primary concentration of the Sikh population is observed in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. 3. Buddhist-majority areas in India include Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and the Chotanagpur plateau region. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The major concentration of the Jain population is found in the urban areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, not the rural areas as stated. Statement 2 is correct. The Sikh population is primarily concentrated in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Chotanagpur area is a region with a significant Christian population concentration, not a Buddhist majority area. While Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are areas with Buddhist concentration, the inclusion of the Chotanagpur plateau makes the statement false. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 2

With reference to the distribution of minority religious groups in India, consider the following statements: 1. The main concentration of the Christian population is observed along the Western coast in states like Goa and Kerala, and also in the hill states of North-East India. 2. Jains have their major concentration in the urban areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. 3. Buddhist majority areas are found in Maharashtra, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh, but not in Tripura. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. The distribution of the Christian population has its main concentration along the Western coast (Goa, Kerala) as well as in the hill states of the North-East (Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland). The statement accurately reflects this dual concentration. Statement 2 is correct. The concentration of the Jain population is specified to be in the urban areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Statement 3 is incorrect. While it correctly identifies Maharashtra, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Ladakh as areas with Buddhist concentration, it incorrectly excludes Tripura. The source material explicitly lists Tripura as one of the 'other areas of Buddhist majority'. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 3

Consider the following pairs regarding work participation rates in India (2011): 1. State with high worker percentage : Himachal Pradesh 2. Union Territory with high participation rate : Daman and Diu 3. State with low worker percentage : Chhattisgarh. In how many of the above pairs is the given information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Pair 1 is correctly matched. Himachal Pradesh is explicitly listed as a state with a larger percentage of workers, having a work participation rate of about 51.9%. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Daman and Diu is mentioned as one of the Union Territories having a higher participation rate. Pair 3 is incorrectly matched. Chhattisgarh is listed among the states with a 'larger percentage of workers', meaning it has a high work participation rate, not a low one. The statement incorrectly attributes a low worker percentage to it. Therefore, only two pairs are correctly matched.

Question 4

Based on the general patterns of population distribution in India as depicted on a standard population map, consider the following statements: 1. The Brahmaputra valley is characterized as a sparsely populated corridor surrounded by the densely populated hills of the North-East. 2. The Western Ghats act as a demographic divide, with a higher population concentration on its eastern rain-shadow plateau and a lower concentration on the western coastal plains. 3. Significant population voids are observable in the Thar Desert region of western Rajasthan and in the delta regions of major rivers like the Ganga and Kaveri. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

None. Statement 1 is incorrect. The Brahmaputra valley is described as a 'distinct, linear, and densely populated corridor' which is surrounded by 'sparsely populated hills'. The statement reverses this relationship. Statement 2 is incorrect. The text indicates a 'high concentration of population on the narrow western coastal plains' and a 'lower concentration on the eastern rain-shadow Deccan plateau'. The statement reverses this spatial pattern. Statement 3 is incorrect. While a population void is correctly identified in the Thar Desert, the statement incorrectly claims a similar void in delta regions. The text notes that 'Population clusters are visible in delta regions, such as the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta... and Kaveri delta.' Therefore, none of the statements are correct.

Question 5

Consider the following rows regarding the population density of Indian states as per the 2011 Census data. In how many of the above rows is the state correctly matched with its population density category (persons per sq. km)?

Row 1: Uttar Pradesh : 801 - 1200
Row 2: Rajasthan : 101 - 400
Row 3: Assam : 401 - 800

Accepted Answer

All three rows. All three rows are correctly matched based on the provided data. 
- Row 1 is correct: Uttar Pradesh, with a density of 828 persons/sq km, falls into the 'High Density' category of 801-1200 persons/sq km. 
- Row 2 is correct: Rajasthan falls into the 'Low Density' category of 101-400 persons/sq km. The text mentions irrigation development leading to moderate concentration, but its overall density category remains low. 
- Row 3 is correct: Assam, an anomaly in the North-East, has a density that places it in the 'Moderate Density' category of 401-800 persons/sq km.

Question 6

With reference to population density in India, consider the following statements:

1. The population density of India more than tripled between 1951 and 2011.
2. According to the 2011 census data, Kerala's population density is higher than that of Uttar Pradesh.
3. Agricultural Density is defined as the ratio of the total agricultural population to the net cultivated area.

How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

All three. All three statements are correct.
- Statement 1 is correct. The density increased from 117 persons/sq km in 1951 to 382 persons/sq km in 2011. A tripling of the 1951 figure would be 117 * 3 = 351. Since 382 is greater than 351, the density more than tripled.
- Statement 2 is correct. The text specifies Kerala's density as 859 persons/sq km and Uttar Pradesh's as 828 persons/sq km. Thus, Kerala's density is higher.
- Statement 3 is correct. The text provides the exact definition: 'Agricultural density = total agricultural population / net cultivable area'. The statement accurately reflects this definition.

Question 7

Consider the following statements regarding India's population growth based on Census data from 1901 to 2011: 1. The decadal percentage growth rate of population was highest during the 1961-1971 decade. 2. The absolute increase in population during the 2001-2011 decade was lower than the absolute increase during the 1991-2001 decade. 3. The census year 1921 is the only instance in the 20th century that recorded a negative population growth rate. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

All three. All three statements are correct based on the provided data. Statement 1 is correct: The census data for 1971 shows a percentage growth of (+) 24.80%, which is the highest in the table, corresponding to the 1961-1971 decade. Statement 2 is correct: The absolute increase for the decade ending in 2001 was (+) 182,307,640, whereas for the decade ending in 2011, it was (+) 181,583,094. The absolute increase was indeed lower in the latter decade. Statement 3 is correct: The census data for 1921 shows a negative growth rate of (-) 0.31%, representing an absolute decrease in population. This is the only such instance recorded in the 20th century according to the table.

Question 8

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The period from 1951 to 1981 is referred to as the period of population explosion in India. Statement-II: This phase was characterized by a rapid fall in the mortality rate due to developmental activities, but a persistently high fertility rate, leading to a high natural increase. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation of Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct. The demographic history of India identifies the period between 1951 and 1981 as Phase III, which is characterized as the period of 'population explosion'. Statement-II is also correct. The primary driver for this explosive growth was a significant and rapid decline in the mortality rate, a result of post-independence developmental activities and improved living conditions. This was coupled with a persistently high fertility rate. The combination of low death rates and high birth rates led to a very high rate of natural increase, with the average annual growth rate reaching up to 2.2 per cent. Therefore, Statement-II provides the correct causal explanation for the phenomenon described in Statement-I.

Question 9

With reference to the population growth trends in India since 1901, consider the following statements: 1. The decadal growth rate of population was negative only once during the entire 20th century. 2. The highest percentage decadal growth in population was recorded in the decade 1971-1981. 3. The absolute increase in population during 2001-2011 was lower than the absolute increase during 1991-2001. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. The census data shows a single instance of negative population growth, which occurred during the decade 1911-1921 with a rate of -0.31%. All other decades in the 20th century recorded positive growth. Statement 2 is incorrect. The highest percentage decadal growth was not in 1971-1981 (24.66%), but in the preceding decade of 1961-1971, which recorded a growth rate of 24.80%. Statement 3 is correct. The absolute increase in population during the 2001-2011 decade was approximately 181.58 million, which is marginally lower than the absolute increase of approximately 182.31 million recorded in the 1991-2001 decade. This reflects the slowdown in growth rate mentioned for Phase IV. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 10

With reference to the regional variations in population growth during 1991-2001, consider the following states: 1. Gujarat 2. Odisha 3. Kerala 4. West Bengal. How many of the above states are classified as having a low growth rate (not exceeding 20 per cent)?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. During the 1991-2001 period, Gujarat was classified as a state with a relatively high population growth rate, falling within the 20-25% bracket. Statement 2 is correct. Odisha is classified as a state with a low growth rate, not exceeding 20 per cent for the same period. Statement 3 is correct. Kerala is also classified as a low-growth state, recording the lowest growth rate of 9.4% among all states during 1991-2001. Statement 4 is incorrect. West Bengal was part of the belt of states experiencing relatively high growth rates between 20-25%. Consequently, only two of the listed states, Odisha and Kerala, had a low growth rate.

Question 11

Consider the following statements regarding India's population growth trends based on the Census data from 1901 to 2011: 1. The absolute increase in population was highest during the decade 2001-2011. 2. The decadal percentage growth rate has shown a continuous decline since the 1971 census. 3. The decade 1911-1921 is the only period to record a negative population growth rate. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. The highest absolute increase in population occurred during the decade 1991-2001 with an addition of 182.3 million people, which is slightly higher than the 181.6 million added during 2001-2011. Statement 2 is correct. The decadal percentage growth rate peaked in the 1971 census at 24.80% and has been continuously declining in every subsequent census: 24.66% (1981), 23.85% (1991), 21.54% (2001), and 17.64% (2011). Statement 3 is correct. The period 1911-1921, part of the stagnant growth phase, is the sole decade in the given period to register a negative growth rate of -0.31% due to high mortality from epidemics and famine. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 12

With reference to the decadal population growth in India from 1901 to 2011, consider the following statements: 1. The absolute addition to the population during the decade 2001-2011 was marginally higher than the addition during 1991-2001. 2. The decade 1961-1971 recorded both the highest percentage growth rate and the highest absolute increase in population. 3. The year 1921 is known as the 'Year of the Great Demographic Divide' primarily because it was the only census period to record a negative population growth rate. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

None. All three statements are incorrect. Statement 1 is incorrect. The absolute increase in population during 2001-2011 was 181.58 million, which is marginally lower, not higher, than the 182.30 million added during 1991-2001. Statement 2 is incorrect. While the decade 1961-1971 did record the highest percentage growth rate (24.80%), the highest absolute increase in population occurred during the decade 1991-2001 (+182.3 million). Statement 3 is incorrect. This is a causality trap. While the 1911-1921 decade did record negative growth, the term 'Great Demographic Divide' refers to 1921 marking the transition point from a period of fluctuating growth to one of sustained, high population growth, not just the negative growth event itself.

Question 13

Consider the following pairs regarding the decadal population growth rate from 2001-2011: Row 1: High Growth (20-25%) : Uttar Pradesh; Row 2: Moderate Growth (15-20%) : Gujarat; Row 3: Low Growth (10-15%) : Odisha; Row 4: Highest Growth (>25%) : Jharkhand. In how many of the above rows is the state correctly matched with its population growth category?

Accepted Answer

Only three rows. Let's evaluate each row based on the provided spatial data. Row 1 is correctly matched. Uttar Pradesh falls in the 'High Growth (20-25%)' category. Row 2 is correctly matched. Gujarat falls in the 'Moderate Growth (15-20%)' category. Row 3 is correctly matched. Odisha falls in the 'Low Growth (10-15%)' category. Row 4 is incorrectly matched. Jharkhand falls in the 'High Growth (20-25%)' category, not the 'Highest Growth (>25%)' category. Therefore, only three of the four rows are correctly matched.

Question 14

Consider the following statements regarding language families in India: Statement I: The geographical distribution of language families in India demonstrates that they are not always confined to single, contiguous regions. Statement II: The Mon-Khmer branch of the Austric language family is spoken in the geographically separate areas of Meghalaya and the Nicobar Islands. Statement III: The Dravidian language family includes a 'North Dravidian' branch with speakers found in states such as Bihar and West Bengal, far from the main Dravidian-speaking region in the south. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statements II and III are correct and they provide the correct explanation for Statement I.. Statement I makes a general assertion about the non-contiguous nature of language family distribution in India. Statement II provides a specific example of this phenomenon, noting that the Austric (Mon-Khmer) language is spoken in two disconnected areas: Meghalaya in the northeast and the Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. Statement III provides another strong example, highlighting the presence of Dravidian language speakers in Northern and Eastern India (Bihar, West Bengal), far from the Dravidian heartland in the South. Both Statements II and III are factually correct based on the provided data and serve as direct evidence and explanation for the generalization made in Statement I. Therefore, Statements II and III are correct and they provide the correct explanation for Statement I.

Question 15

Consider the following statements regarding the rural-urban composition of India's population as per the 2011 Census: 1. States such as Goa and Mizoram have more than two-thirds of their total population residing in villages. 2. Among the Union Territories, Dadra and Nagar Haveli is an exception where the majority of the population is rural. 3. The degree of urbanisation has remained consistently high in the agriculturally stagnant parts of the middle and lower Ganga Plains. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The provided text states that Goa and Mizoram have 'only little over half of their total population residing in villages.' 'Little over half' is approximately 50-55%, which is significantly less than 'more than two-thirds' (over 66.7%). Statement 2 is correct. The text notes that Union Territories generally have a smaller proportion of rural population, but explicitly mentions 'except Dadra and Nagar Haveli (53.38 per cent)'. A rural population of 53.38% constitutes a majority. Statement 3 is incorrect. The text explicitly states that in the 'agriculturally stagnant parts of the middle and lower Ganga Plains... the degree of urbanisation has remained low.' The statement incorrectly claims it is high, which is a factual reversal. Therefore, only one statement (Statement 2) is correct.

Question 16

Consider the following rows regarding India's demographic composition: Row 1: Adolescent Population - Defined as persons in the age group of 15–29 years. Row 2: National Youth Policy (NYP–2014) - Aims to empower persons in the age group of 10-19 years. Row 3: Rural Population (2011) - Constitutes approximately 31.16 per cent of the total population. In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

None of the rows. Row 1 is incorrectly matched. The text defines the adolescent population as being in the age group of 10-19 years. The 15–29 years age group is the definition of 'youth' according to the National Youth Policy (NYP–2014). Row 2 is incorrectly matched. The NYP–2014 defines 'youth' as persons in the age group of 15–29 years, not 10-19 years. The policy targets the 'youth', not the 'adolescent' age group as defined separately in the text. Row 3 is incorrectly matched. The text states that the urban population is 31.16 per cent. The rural population is about 68.8 per cent. This row incorrectly assigns the urban population percentage to the rural population. Therefore, none of the rows are correctly matched.

Question 17

Consider the following rows regarding the classification of modern Indian languages. 
Row 1: Family: Austric (Nishada) -> Branch/Group: Mon–Khmer -> Speech Area: Meghalaya, Nicobar Islands
Row 2: Family: Dravidian (Dravida) -> Branch/Group: South-Dravidian -> Speech Area: Chotanagpur plateau areas in Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh
Row 3: Family: Sino-Tibetan (Kirata) -> Sub-Family: Tibeto-Myanmari -> Speech Area: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim
In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only two rows. Statement-by-statement analysis: 
Row 1 is correctly matched. The Austric family's Mon-Khmer branch is spoken in Meghalaya and the Nicobar Islands, as per the table.
Row 2 is incorrectly matched. The speech areas mentioned (Chotanagpur plateau in Bihar, Odisha, etc.) correspond to the North-Dravidian group, not the South-Dravidian group. The South-Dravidian group's speech areas are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, etc. This is a spatial swap.
Row 3 is correctly matched. The Tibeto-Myanmari sub-family of the Sino-Tibetan family is spoken in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Sikkim, among other Himalayan regions.
Therefore, only two rows (Row 1 and Row 3) are correctly matched.

Question 18

With reference to the linguistic composition of India, consider the following statements:
1. According to the Linguistic Survey of India (1903-1928), there were 22 scheduled languages and 544 dialects in the country.
2. Among the scheduled languages, the speakers of Sanskrit, Bodo, and Manipuri constitute the smallest language groups as per the 2011 data.
3. The major Indian languages belong to four language families, and their corresponding linguistic regions possess sharp and distinct boundaries.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. Grierson's Linguistic Survey of India (1903-1928) identified 179 languages and 544 dialects. The figure of 22 scheduled languages is a feature of modern India's linguistic classification, not the historical survey mentioned. Statement 2 is correct. Based on 2011 data, the speakers of Sanskrit, Bodo, and Manipuri represent the smallest linguistic groups among the scheduled languages. Statement 3 is incorrect. Linguistic regions in India do not have sharp and distinct boundaries; they are characterized by frontier zones where they gradually merge and overlap with neighboring regions. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 19

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The boundaries of linguistic regions in India are generally indistinct and not sharply demarcated.
Statement II: The speakers of major Indian languages in India are classified into four distinct language families.
Statement III: Linguistic regions in India gradually merge and overlap in their respective frontier zones.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement I, Statement II and Statement III are correct and Statement III is the correct explanation for Statement I.. Statement I is correct as linguistic regions in India lack sharp, distinct boundaries. Statement II is also correct; major Indian languages are grouped into four families (Indo-European, Dravidian, Austric, and Sino-Tibetan). Statement III is also correct, describing the nature of these boundaries as zones of gradual merging and overlap. Statement III provides the direct reason for the phenomenon described in Statement I, making it the correct explanation for why the boundaries are indistinct. Therefore, all three statements are correct, and Statement III is the correct explanation for Statement I.

Question 20

Consider the following statements regarding the occupational structure of India's workforce as per the 2011 Census: 1. States with a high proportion of 'Cultivators' are predominantly located in the central and eastern plains, such as Bihar and West Bengal. 2. An inverse relationship is often observed, where states with a high share of agricultural labourers, like Bihar, tend to have a relatively lower share of cultivators. 3. Highly urbanized areas like Delhi and Chandigarh, along with states like Kerala, show a dominant proportion of workers in the 'Agricultural Labourers' category due to intensive farming. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. States with the highest proportion of 'Cultivators' are predominantly in the Himalayan region (e.g., Himachal Pradesh, Nagaland), not the central and eastern plains. The central and eastern plains are characterized by a high proportion of 'Agricultural Labourers'. Statement 2 is correct. The provided analysis notes an inverse relationship: states with a high share of cultivators (like Himachal Pradesh) have a low share of agricultural labourers, and vice-versa for states like Bihar. Statement 3 is incorrect. Highly urbanized areas like Delhi and Chandigarh, and states like Kerala, have a dominant share of 'Other Workers' (representing secondary and tertiary sectors), not 'Agricultural Labourers'. This is due to limited farming land and high levels of urbanization and industrialization. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 21

Consider the following rows regarding the sectoral composition of India's workforce in 2011: Row 1: [Sector: Primary] - [Characteristic: Female workers constitute more than half of the total workforce in this sector.] Row 2: [Sector: Secondary (Household Industry)] - [Characteristic: Exhibits the most significant gender gap, with male workers outnumbering female workers by a ratio of more than 3.5 to 1.] Row 3: [Sector: Tertiary (Other Workers)] - [Characteristic: Accounts for approximately 41.6% of the total working population.] In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Row 1 is incorrectly matched. In the Primary sector, female workers (9.75 crore) constitute approximately 37% of the total workers in that sector (26.3 crore), which is less than half. Row 2 is incorrectly matched. The most significant gender gap is in the Tertiary sector, where male workers (15.66 crore) outnumber female workers (4.37 crore) by a ratio of approximately 3.6 to 1. The Secondary (Household Industry) sector has the narrowest gender gap. Row 3 is correctly matched. The 'Other Workers' category, which corresponds to the Tertiary sector in the provided table's context, accounts for 41.6% of the total working population. Therefore, only one row is correctly matched.

Question 22

Consider the following statements regarding the composition of India's working population as per the 2011 Census data: 1. A 'Marginal Worker' is a person who works for 183 days or more in a year. 2. The combined proportion of workers engaged in the secondary and tertiary sectors is less than the proportion of workers in the primary sector. 3. The proportion of non-workers in India is approximately 40 percent. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. A 'Marginal Worker' is a person who works for less than 183 days in a year. A 'Main Worker' works for at least 183 days. Statement 2 is correct. The primary sector accounts for 54.6% of the total working population. The secondary sector (household industries) accounts for 3.8% and the tertiary sector ('other workers') accounts for 41.6%. Their combined proportion is 3.8% + 41.6% = 45.4%. Thus, 45.4% is less than 54.6%. Statement 3 is incorrect. The proportion of workers (both main and marginal) is 39.8%. Consequently, the proportion of non-workers is 100% - 39.8% = 60.2%, not 40%. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 23

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: States such as Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have a very high proportion of cultivators in their workforce. Statement-II: In the context of India, a high work participation rate is often indicative of lower levels of economic development. Statement-III: The necessity for a large number of manual workers to perform subsistence economic activities drives up the work participation rate. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement-I, Statement-II and Statement-III are all correct, and Statement-III is the correct explanation for Statement-II.. All three statements are factually correct based on an analysis of India's occupational structure. Statement-I notes that states like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have high work participation rates, which is explicitly mentioned. Statement-II presents a general principle that high work participation rates are often linked to lower economic development in India. Statement-III provides the underlying cause for the principle in Statement-II; it explains that the economic structure of less developed areas, being reliant on subsistence activities, requires more manual labor, thereby increasing the work participation rate. Therefore, Statement-III correctly explains the phenomenon described in Statement-II. Statement-I serves as a specific example of the general principle outlined in Statement-II.

Population In India Distribution Density Growth And Composition

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