As per the 2011 Population Census of India, which group of three territories has the highest literacy rates in descending order?

Introduction / Context:

Literacy rate is an important social indicator used to measure the educational status of a population. The 2011 Population Census of India provides detailed data on literacy rates for all states and union territories. This question asks which group of three places occupies the top positions in literacy according to that census, which is a commonly tested fact in social and economic geography for competitive exams.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options present different combinations of states and a union territory: Kerala, Goa, West Bengal, Chandigarh, Lakshadweep, Mizoram, and Tripura.
• We are focusing on the entities with the highest literacy rates in the 2011 Census data.
• Kerala has long been recognised for having the highest literacy rate among Indian states.
• Lakshadweep and Mizoram also have very high literacy rates, often ranking near the top.

Concept / Approach:

The concept is to recall the ranking of literacy rates from the 2011 Census. Kerala is generally at the top, followed closely by the union territory of Lakshadweep and the state of Mizoram. While Goa, Chandigarh, and Tripura also have high literacy rates, they do not surpass the combination of Kerala, Lakshadweep, and Mizoram in that census. Therefore, the group Kerala, Lakshadweep, Mizoram is the correct combination occupying the top positions in literacy statistics.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Verification can be done by looking at the official 2011 Census data tables for literacy rates by state and union territory. These tables list Kerala at the top, followed by Lakshadweep and Mizoram among the next highest. Goa, Chandigarh, and Tripura, although performing well, rank below this top trio. Exam focused summaries and charts in standard books also usually highlight Kerala, Lakshadweep, and Mizoram as occupying the top three literacy positions, confirming that option C is correct.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Common Pitfalls:

Students may remember only that Kerala is first and then guess other states with high literacy like Goa or Chandigarh without recalling the exact rankings. Another mistake is to overlook union territories such as Lakshadweep when thinking about literacy rates. To avoid errors, it is helpful to memorise the trio of Kerala, Lakshadweep, and Mizoram as the top literacy performers according to the 2011 Census data.

Final Answer:

According to the 2011 Population Census, the top three in literacy are Kerala, Lakshadweep, Mizoram in that order.