According to Census of India, 2011, which one among the following is the least populated state in India?
- (a)Maharashtra
- (b)Madhya Pradesh
- (c)Odisha
- (d)Punjab
Correct — D, Punjab. Among the four states listed, Punjab had the smallest population in the 2011 Census — about 2.77 crore (27.7 million). Odisha (about 4.2 crore), Madhya Pradesh (about 7.26 crore) and Maharashtra (about 11.24 crore) were all substantially larger, so Punjab is the least populated of this group.
- (a)Maharashtra — Maharashtra was India's second most populous state in 2011 (about 11.24 crore) — the largest, not the smallest, of these four.
- (b)Madhya Pradesh — Madhya Pradesh had about 7.26 crore people in 2011, far more than Punjab.
- (c)Odisha — Odisha's 2011 population was about 4.2 crore — larger than Punjab's 2.77 crore.
The 2011 Census ranked Uttar Pradesh as India's most populous state and Sikkim as the least populous. Among mid-sized states, population varies widely, so comparing a set of states means recalling their rough population bands — here Maharashtra > Madhya Pradesh > Odisha > Punjab.
The question restricts the comparison to the four options — Punjab is 'least populated' only relative to Maharashtra, MP and Odisha, not among all Indian states (where Sikkim is smallest). Rank the four by memory.
- Punjab had about 2.77 crore people in the 2011 Census — the least of the four listed.
- Odisha stood at about 4.2 crore and Madhya Pradesh at about 7.26 crore.
- Maharashtra had about 11.24 crore, India's second most populous state in 2011.
- Overall in 2011, Uttar Pradesh was the most populous state and Sikkim the least populous.
Punjab has the smallest population among the four listed states, so option (d).
- Confusing 'least populated among these four' with 'least populated in India' (which is Sikkim).
- Mixing up population rank with area rank.
Census questions ask for the most/least populous or densest state — remember Uttar Pradesh (most populous), Sikkim (least) and rough population bands.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
According to the 2011 Census, which is the most populous state of India?
- (a)Maharashtra
- (b)Uttar Pradesh
- (c)Bihar
- (d)West Bengal
Answer(b) Uttar Pradesh — about 19.98 crore, India's most populous state.
- practice — not a real PYQ
According to the 2011 Census, which is the least populous state of India?
- (a)Goa
- (b)Sikkim
- (c)Mizoram
- (d)Nagaland
Answer(b) Sikkim — about 6.1 lakh, India's least populous state.