According to the Census of India 2001, what was the population density of India in persons per square kilometre?

Introduction / Context:
Population density is a basic demographic indicator that shows how many people live per unit area of land. In India, the census calculates this as the number of persons per square kilometre. For exam preparation, it is important to know the density reported in different census years, especially 2001 and 2011. This question asks specifically for the population density of India according to the 2001 Census.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The reference year is the Census of India 2001.
• Population density is expressed as persons per square kilometre.
• Options offered are 304, 324, 344 and 364 persons per square kilometre.
• The known official figure for 2001 is 324 persons per square kilometre.
• We ignore later census revisions or projections and focus only on the 2001 result.

Concept / Approach:
Population density is calculated by dividing the total population by the total land area. The census department has already done this calculation and published the figure. For 2001, this value is widely quoted in textbooks and exam material as 324 persons per square kilometre. Therefore, the task here is to recall this specific number and distinguish it from close looking distractor values such as 304 or 344 which may correspond to earlier or hypothetical figures.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that India's population in 2001 was about 1.028 billion people. Step 2: Remember from demographic summaries that this translated to a population density of 324 persons per square kilometre. Step 3: Look at the four options and identify which one matches this known figure. Step 4: Observe that option b, which states 324, is exactly the density quoted for the 2001 census. Step 5: Select 324 as the correct answer and reject the other numerical values.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative verification uses trend awareness. In 1991 the density was lower and in 2011 it increased further to 382 persons per square kilometre. Therefore the 2001 value must lie between these two, closer to the 2011 value but not as high. Among the provided options, 324 is the only number that fits this known pattern of steady but moderate growth. The numbers 304 and 344 either fall too low or too high, and 364 is even closer to the 2011 value than to 1991, which makes it unlikely for 2001.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
304: This might tempt students who know that density has been increasing but not by how much. However, 304 is lower than the actual 2001 density and does not match official data. 344: This value is higher than the documented 2001 density and may correspond to a later projection rather than the census figure. 364: This number is too high for 2001 and would suit a later period closer to the 2011 figure, so it is inconsistent with the question year. Any blank option: It cannot represent a numerical density and is irrelevant.

Common Pitfalls:
The most common mistake is mixing up density figures from different census years because all of them are in the range of 300 to 400 persons per square kilometre. Candidates sometimes rely on vague memory and pick the closest looking number rather than revising the exact figures. To avoid this, it is helpful to remember at least three anchor values: 267 for 1981, 324 for 2001 and 382 for 2011. Connecting these numbers with the general story of increasing crowding in India makes them easier to recall correctly in exams.

Final Answer:
According to the Census of India 2001, the population density of the country was 324 persons per square kilometre.