Direction (Q46. to Q50.) Read the given passage carefully and answer following five questions:India has 640,867 villages according to the Census 2011 out of which 597,608 (93.2 per cent) are inhabited villages. However, the distribution of rural population is not uniform throughout the country. You might have noted that the states, like Bihar and Sikkim have very high percentage of rural population. The states of Goa and Maharashtra have only little over half of their total population residing in villages. The Union Territories, on the other hand, have smaller proportion of rural population, except Dadra and Nagar Haveli (53.38 per cent).The size of villages also varies considerably. It is less than 200 persons in the hill states of north-eastern India, Western Rajasthan and Rann of Kachchh and as high as 17 thousand persons in the states of Kerala and in parts of Maharashtra. A thorough examination of the pattern of distribution of rural population of India reveals that both at intra-State and inter-State levels, the relative degree of urbanization and extent of rural-urban migration regulate the concentration of rural population.You have noted that contrary to rural population, the proportion of urban population (31.16 per cent) in India is quite low but it is showing a much faster rate of growth over the decades. The growth rate of urban population has accelerated due to enhanced economic development and improvement in health and hygienic conditions. The distribution of urban population too, as in the case of total population, has a wide variation throughout the country.Which one of these states have high percentage of rural population according to Census 2011?

Question

Prepp Team · Accepted Answer

Analyzing Rural Population Distribution in India (Census 2011)

The question asks us to identify which state, among the given options, has a high percentage of rural population according to the Census 2011 data provided in the passage.

The passage discusses the distribution of rural population across India based on the Census 2011. It mentions that India has a large number of inhabited villages and notes that the distribution of the rural population is not uniform.

Examining the Passage for Rural Population Data

Let's look at the specific sentences in the passage that talk about states with high or low percentages of rural population:

The passage states: "You might have noted that the states, like Bihar and Sikkim have very high percentage of rural population."
It also mentions: "The states of Goa and Maharashtra have only little over half of their total population residing in villages."

These statements directly compare the percentage of rural population in different states mentioned in the passage.

Comparing Passage Information with Options

The options provided are:

Maharashtra
Goa
Bihar
Kerala

Based on the passage:

Bihar is mentioned as having a "very high percentage of rural population".
Maharashtra and Goa are mentioned as having "only little over half of their total population residing in villages", implying a lower percentage compared to states like Bihar.
Kerala is mentioned in the context of village size (village population as high as 17 thousand persons), but not explicitly regarding its percentage of rural population compared to the national average or other states listed as having high percentages.

Conclusion based on the Passage

The passage explicitly identifies Bihar as a state with a very high percentage of rural population according to the Census 2011 data. Comparing this with the options, Bihar is present in the options.

Therefore, based directly on the information provided in the passage, Bihar is the state among the choices that is stated to have a high percentage of rural population.

Revision Table: Key Facts from Passage (Census 2011)

Aspect	Information from Passage (Census 2011)
Total Villages in India	640,867
Inhabited Villages (%)	597,608 (93.2%)
States with Very High Rural Pop %	Bihar, Sikkim
States with Lower Rural Pop % (around half)	Goa, Maharashtra
Union Territories Rural Pop %	Smaller proportion (except Dadra & Nagar Haveli - 53.38%)
Village Size Variation	< 200 (North-East hill states, Western Rajasthan, Rann of Kachchh) > 17,000 (Kerala, parts of Maharashtra)
Urban Population % (India)	31.16% (low but growing faster)
Urban Population Growth Factors	Enhanced economic development, improved health/hygiene

Additional Information: Rural-Urban Population Dynamics

Understanding the distribution of rural and urban populations is crucial for demographic studies and planning. The Census provides valuable snapshots of these patterns.

Rural Population: Refers to people living in villages. Their primary occupation might be agriculture or related activities, although this is changing.
Urban Population: Refers to people living in towns and cities. These areas typically have higher population density, more diverse economic activities (industry, services), and different infrastructure compared to rural areas.
Urbanization: The process of increase in the proportion of people living in urban areas. This often happens due to migration from rural to urban areas (rural-urban migration) and the natural growth of existing urban populations.
Factors Influencing Distribution: The passage mentions that the relative degree of urbanization and the extent of rural-urban migration regulate the concentration of rural population. This means areas with more urbanization or higher out-migration to cities tend to have a lower percentage of rural population, while areas with less urbanization or lower out-migration maintain a higher rural population percentage. Economic opportunities and infrastructure development often drive these patterns.
Census Data: The Census of India is a key source for detailed demographic data, including population distribution by rural and urban areas, state-wise breakdowns, population growth rates, and migration trends.

The variations noted in the passage, such as the difference between Bihar and Goa/Maharashtra, illustrate these dynamic demographic processes at play across the country.