As per Census 2001, among the following hill states of India, which one recorded the highest literacy rate?

Introduction / Context:
Literacy rate is a key indicator of human development and is frequently tested in questions about Indian demography. Hill states in India often face special challenges in providing education due to geography and dispersed populations, yet some have achieved impressive literacy levels. This question asks which hill state among the given options had the highest literacy rate according to the 2001 Census.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The reference is the 2001 Census of India.
• The hill states listed are Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Uttarakhand.
• We are comparing overall literacy rates, not only male or female literacy.
• We assume standard census definitions of literacy.

Concept / Approach:
Census 2001 data show that Himachal Pradesh had a relatively high literacy rate compared to many other states, including other hill states. The literacy rate in Himachal Pradesh was above three quarters of the population, while states like Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim had lower values and were still improving from a lower base. Uttarakhand also improved but did not surpass Himachal Pradesh in overall literacy rate in 2001. Therefore, among the states listed, Himachal Pradesh had the highest literacy rate according to Census 2001.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall approximate literacy rates from Census 2001 for the given hill states.Step 2: Arunachal Pradesh had one of the lower literacy rates among hill states, due to difficult terrain and scattered settlements.Step 3: Himachal Pradesh had made significant progress in primary education and adult literacy programmes and recorded a high overall literacy rate.Step 4: Sikkim, while improving, had a literacy rate lower than Himachal Pradesh in 2001.Step 5: Uttarakhand was recently formed at that time and its literacy was high but still below that of Himachal Pradesh.Step 6: On comparison, Himachal Pradesh stands out as the hill state with the highest literacy rate among the options in the 2001 Census.

Verification / Alternative check:
Demographic tables from Census 2001, reproduced in many exam oriented books, list literacy rates by state. In those tables, Himachal Pradesh appears in the group of states with high literacy, often above seventy five percent, while Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim remain lower. Uttarakhand improves significantly in later years but does not overtake Himachal Pradesh in 2001. This confirms that Himachal Pradesh is the correct choice for that census year.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Arunachal Pradesh: Had a much lower literacy rate than Himachal Pradesh in 2001, so it cannot be the highest among the given states.

Sikkim: Achieved moderate literacy gains, but its overall rate did not exceed that of Himachal Pradesh at that time.

Uttarakhand: Although it showed a good literacy level, it was still behind Himachal Pradesh according to the 2001 Census figures.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes assume that smaller hill states automatically have higher literacy rates or that more recent performance in later censuses applies to earlier ones. Another source of confusion is mixing up rankings across different census years. A good study habit is to associate specific statistics with specific census years, especially for frequently asked figures like literacy rates in notable states.

Final Answer:
According to Census 2001, Himachal Pradesh had the highest literacy rate among the hill states listed.