As per the Census of 2001, which one of the following was the least urbanised state of India in terms of percentage of population living in urban areas?

Introduction / Context:
Urbanisation refers to the proportion of people living in urban areas as opposed to rural areas. The level of urbanisation varies greatly across different states in India. Some states have large metropolitan areas and high urban shares, while others remain predominantly rural. This question asks which state among the given options was the least urbanised according to the 2001 Census.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The reference is the Census of 2001.
• The states listed are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.
• The least urbanised state is the one with the smallest percentage of its population living in areas classified as urban.
• We assume standard census definitions for urban areas.

Concept / Approach:
Census 2001 data show that Himachal Pradesh had one of the lowest levels of urbanisation among Indian states, with less than ten percent of its population living in urban areas. In contrast, states like Uttar Pradesh, while having a large rural population, still had a larger urban share compared to Himachal Pradesh. Arunachal Pradesh and Assam also had higher levels of urbanisation than Himachal Pradesh. Therefore, among the given options, Himachal Pradesh was the least urbanised state in 2001.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider Uttar Pradesh. It has several big cities such as Lucknow, Kanpur, and Varanasi, and its urban share is higher than ten percent.Step 2: Consider Assam. It has cities like Guwahati and other towns, giving it a moderate level of urbanisation, above that of Himachal Pradesh.Step 3: Consider Arunachal Pradesh. It is a sparsely populated hill state, but its urban share is still not the lowest when compared to Himachal Pradesh.Step 4: Consider Himachal Pradesh. Census data indicate that only a small fraction of its population lived in urban areas in 2001, making it one of the most rural states.Step 5: From this comparison, Himachal Pradesh emerges as the least urbanised state among the four options for the 2001 Census.

Verification / Alternative check:
Tables in exam preparation books that summarise urbanisation levels show Himachal Pradesh near the bottom of the list for 2001, with an urban population share below ten percent. The corresponding figures for Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh are higher. This pattern is consistent across multiple sources and confirm that Himachal Pradesh was the least urbanised state among those listed.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Arunachal Pradesh: It is relatively less urbanised, but its urban share is not as low as that of Himachal Pradesh according to 2001 data.

Assam: Has several towns and cities, giving it a higher urban percentage than Himachal Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh: Despite being largely rural, it has a significant urban population in many cities and therefore a higher urbanisation level than Himachal Pradesh.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students assume that the largest or poorest states are automatically the least urbanised, without checking actual percentages. Others may think that hill states with small populations are always more urban. The correct approach is to remember specific census findings: Himachal Pradesh is often cited as the least urbanised state in earlier census years, including 2001.

Final Answer:
As per the 2001 Census, Himachal Pradesh was the least urbanised state among the options given.