According to recent Census data used in examinations, what is the rank of Bihar among Indian states in terms of total population size?

Introduction / Context:
Questions about the relative population size of Indian states are common in competitive exams. Bihar is one of the most populous states in India, and candidates are often asked to recall whether it stands second, third, or at some other position when states are ranked by total population. This question specifically asks for the rank of Bihar by population size among Indian states according to recent Census data frequently used for general knowledge tests.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The ranking is based on total population of states, not on area or density.
• Union Territories are usually considered separately, so the focus is on full states.
• The reference is to the standard ranking from the 2011 Census, which many exam syllabi still use.
• The options suggest that Bihar might be 3rd, 4th, 5th, 11th, or 6th in population ranking.

Concept / Approach:
According to the 2011 Census, the most populous state in India is Uttar Pradesh, followed by Maharashtra. Bihar stands after these two and therefore occupies the third position in the list of states when they are ranked by total population. West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh follow after Bihar in that ranking. Thus, the correct conceptual understanding is that Bihar is the third most populous state in India by total population size.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the basic ranking of Indian states by population according to the 2011 Census.Step 2: Remember that Uttar Pradesh occupies the first position as the most populous state.Step 3: Note that Maharashtra comes second in terms of population size.Step 4: Recognise that Bihar follows next and therefore is placed at the third position among Indian states.Step 5: Compare this recall with the options given and choose 3rd as the correct rank.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard general knowledge and Indian geography books that summarise Census 2011 data state clearly that Bihar is the third most populous state in India after Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Many exam oriented tables list the top five states by population and place Bihar in the third position in that list. Cross checking multiple such references confirms the accuracy of the third rank for Bihar.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
If Bihar were ranked fourth or fifth, it would be placed after states like West Bengal or Andhra Pradesh, which is not the case in the 2011 Census rankings. The rank of eleventh and sixth are much lower than the actual position and are inconsistent with Bihar status as one of the most populous states. These incorrect options are included to test whether candidates know the correct relative position of Bihar among the largest states by population.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes confuse rankings based on area, density, or literacy with rankings based on population. For example, some states that are large in area or dense in population may not necessarily have a higher total population than Bihar. Another common error is to remember that Bihar is very highly populated but to misplace it as second instead of third. To avoid such mistakes, it helps to memorise the ordered list of top states for each major indicator separately.

Final Answer:
Bihar ranks 3rd among Indian states in terms of total population size according to the Census data used in exams.