According to the latest National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) data, which Indian state topped in the creation of new manufacturing jobs during the six years between 2004 and 2011?

Introduction / Context:
The question tests your knowledge of Indian economy and employment trends, specifically which state showed the best performance in creating new manufacturing jobs during the period 2004 to 2011 according to the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). Such questions are common in banking, SSC and state PCS examinations because they connect economic data with regional development patterns.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The reference source is the latest NSSO data for the period 2004 to 2011.
• The comparison is between Indian states in terms of new manufacturing jobs created.
• We are asked to identify the single state that topped the ranking.
• The focus is not on services or agriculture, but specifically on the manufacturing sector.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this general knowledge question, you must recall which state was highlighted by NSSO and various current affairs sources for leading job creation in manufacturing during that time. Many candidates guess industrially advanced states like Gujarat or Maharashtra, but the correct answer as per the cited NSSO data is West Bengal, which showed a surprisingly strong performance in new manufacturing employment over these years.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the question is about manufacturing jobs, not total employment. Step 2: Note that NSSO survey findings for 2004 to 2011 pointed out one particular state as topping new manufacturing job creation. Step 3: While Gujarat and Maharashtra are major industrial states, the survey highlighted West Bengal for the largest share of new manufacturing jobs. Step 4: Therefore, among the options given, West Bengal is the correct choice.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this information from standard current affairs compilations and economic survey style summaries that report NSSO findings. They explicitly mention that more than forty percent of new manufacturing jobs created in India during this period were generated in West Bengal, which confirms that the state topped the list for manufacturing job creation in those six years.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Maharashtra – It is a major industrial state, but according to the cited NSSO data it did not rank first for new manufacturing jobs in 2004 to 2011. Odisha – It has important mineral based industries but was not the top state in this particular NSSO ranking. Gujarat – Frequently tops many industrial indicators, but in this specific NSSO analysis West Bengal had a larger share of new manufacturing employment. Tamil Nadu – Also an important manufacturing hub, yet it did not top the NSSO list for this period.

Common Pitfalls:
A very common mistake is to answer Gujarat or Maharashtra simply because they are popularly known as industrial powerhouses. Another pitfall is ignoring the sectoral specificity and thinking about overall job creation instead of manufacturing jobs only. Exam setters often use this kind of data based question to test careful reading of the time period and sector mentioned in the stem.

Final Answer:
The state that topped in the creation of new manufacturing jobs between 2004 and 2011, as per NSSO data, is West Bengal.