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As per Census 2011, which state has the lowest population density in India?
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Answer: Option A — Arunachal Pradesh
Detailed Solution
Population density is the number of persons living per square kilometre of area. According to Census 2011, the population density of India as a whole was 382 persons per square kilometre, up from 325 in 2001.
Arunachal Pradesh had the lowest population density among Indian states, with only 17 persons per square kilometre. The main reasons are its mountainous and rugged terrain in the eastern Himalaya, dense forests, heavy rainfall, difficult transport and communication, and limited land suitable for farming. It is the largest state of north-eastern India by area (about 83,743 square kilometres) but had a population of only about 13.8 lakh in 2011.
Other states and UTs with low density (Census 2011):
- Mizoram: 52 persons per sq km.
- Sikkim: 86 persons per sq km.
- Among Union Territories, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands had the lowest density (46).
- Ladakh, now a separate Union Territory, has an even lower density (about 3 persons per sq km), but it was part of Jammu and Kashmir in 2011.
States with the highest density (Census 2011):
- Bihar: 1,106 persons per sq km, the highest among states.
- West Bengal: 1,028.
- Kerala: 860.
- Uttar Pradesh: 829.
- Among Union Territories, the National Capital Territory of Delhi had the highest density (11,320), the highest in India overall.
The Census of India is conducted every ten years by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The 2011 Census was the 15th national census and the 7th after Independence. The next census, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, is being conducted in 2026-27, with 1 March 2027 as the reference date (1 October 2026 for snow-bound areas such as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand). It will be India's first digital census and will also count castes.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Sikkim is the least populous state, but its density (86) is higher than Arunachal's.
- ✗Mizoram had a density of 52.
- ✗Himachal Pradesh had a density of 123.
Quick tip
Remember: Census 2011 density = India 382; lowest state Arunachal Pradesh (17); highest state Bihar (1,106); highest overall Delhi (11,320); next census reference date 1 March 2027.
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Population & Census — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Population & Census, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's population and the Census: population size and growth, density, sex ratio, literacy rate, urbanisation, and the most and least populous states, based on the Census of 2011, along with the basics of world population. Questions usually ask which state has the highest or lowest population, density, sex ratio or literacy, based on Census 2011. For example, Kerala had the highest literacy rate and sex ratio, and Bihar had the highest population density. The Census is conducted every ten years, so check whether newer data has been released before your exam. Practise the population and census questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.