MPPSC 2020 Prelims Paper-I · Question 61 of 100

Correct — B, Nagaland. In the 2011 Census, Nagaland was the only State in India to record a negative decadal (2001-2011) growth rate — its population actually fell by about 0.6%. That is why it has the lowest decadal growth of the four States listed. The unusual dip is generally attributed to an over-count in the 2001 Census being corrected in 2011, but the recorded figure — the lowest (indeed negative) among States — is what the question tests.

• (a)Arunachal Pradesh — Arunachal Pradesh grew strongly in 2001-2011 (around 26%), well above the national average — one of the higher growth rates, not the lowest.
• (c)Madhya Pradesh — Madhya Pradesh grew by roughly 20% in the decade — above the national average of about 17.7%, so clearly not the lowest.
• (d)Punjab — Punjab's decadal growth (about 14%) was below the national average, but it was still positive — higher than Nagaland's negative figure.

Decadal growth rate is the percentage change in a population between two successive censuses (a 10-year gap). India's 2001-2011 decadal growth was about 17.7%. Growth varied widely by State — from high rates in some north-eastern and northern States to very low rates in the south. Nagaland stood out as the only State with a negative decadal growth in 2011, a striking anomaly usually explained by correction of an inflated 2001 count.

The trap is to assume a small or remote State must be growing fast. Here the answer hinges on one well-known fact: Nagaland was the sole State to record a population decline in 2011. If you remember that single anomaly, the odd-one-out is obvious.

• India's 2001-2011 decadal population growth was about 17.7%.
• Nagaland was the only State to record a NEGATIVE decadal growth (about -0.6%) in 2011.
• Kerala had the lowest growth among the larger/major States (around 4.9%).
• Decadal growth is measured over the 10-year interval between two censuses.

• Assuming a small north-eastern State must have the highest growth — Nagaland actually declined.
• Confusing 'lowest among all States' (Nagaland, negative) with 'lowest among major States' (Kerala).

MPPSC and UPSC ask this as 'which State had the highest/lowest decadal growth (or density, literacy, sex ratio) per Census 2011'. Anchor the extremes: Nagaland (only negative growth), Meghalaya (highest growth), Kerala (lowest among major States).

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The only Indian State to record a negative decadal population growth rate in the 2001-2011 Census was:

  • (a)Kerala
  • (b)Goa
  • (c)Nagaland
  • (d)Sikkim

  Answer(c) Nagaland — its population fell by about 0.6% over the decade.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  The decadal growth rate of population is measured over a period of:

  • (a)5 years
  • (b)10 years
  • (c)7 years
  • (d)15 years

  Answer(b) 10 years — the gap between two successive censuses.