According to the Census of India 2001, which Indian state recorded the highest decadal population growth rate during 1991 to 2001?

Introduction / Context:
Decadal growth rate of population measures the percentage increase in population over a ten year period, which in India usually corresponds to the gap between two censuses. For the decade 1991 to 2001, some states experienced much faster population growth than others. This question asks which state recorded the highest decadal growth rate during that period according to the 2001 census, so it tests detailed knowledge of demographic patterns across Indian states.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The decade considered is from 1991 to 2001.
• The source of data is the Census of India 2001.
• The states in the options are Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Sikkim.
• We need to identify which of these states had the highest percentage growth in population over that decade.
• We rely on standard demographic tables used in exam preparation which report these figures.

Concept / Approach:
Decadal growth rate is calculated as population in the later census minus population in the earlier census, divided by the earlier population and multiplied by 100. However, for this exam question we do not need to compute the rate by hand; the census has already done that. The important fact is that Nagaland recorded a very high decadal growth rate in the 1991 to 2001 period, significantly higher than the other states listed. Therefore, the approach is to recall that Nagaland topped the list of states in terms of decadal population growth during that decade.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall from census based tables that Nagaland showed exceptionally high population growth between 1991 and 2001. Step 2: Compare this memory with the other states in the options, which had lower growth rates during the same decade. Step 3: Recognise that Manipur, Meghalaya and Sikkim did experience growth but did not surpass Nagaland in percentage terms. Step 4: Use this knowledge to narrow down the answer to Nagaland. Step 5: Mark Nagaland as the correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
A cross check can be performed using typical exam preparation tables that list states by decadal growth rate. These tables usually highlight Nagaland as having one of the highest or the highest growth rates for 1991 to 2001. In contrast, states like Sikkim and Manipur, although growing, are not at the top of these lists. Even without the exact percentage figure, simply remembering that Nagaland stood out for its high reported growth confirms that Nagaland is the appropriate answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Manipur: This state did record population growth but not at the maximum level among all Indian states in that decade. Meghalaya: Meghalaya also grew but is not cited as the top state in terms of decadal growth rate for 1991 to 2001. Sikkim: With its small population base, Sikkim shows interesting demographic changes but did not outpace Nagaland in percentage growth for that period. Any blank option: Not relevant, because the census data clearly identifies specific states and Nagaland is among the given choices.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the highest decadal growth states from different census decades, mixing up data from 1971 to 1981, 1981 to 1991 and 1991 to 2001. Others may assume that states with generally higher fertility rates in the plains must always top this list, overlooking smaller northeastern states like Nagaland that occasionally show very high recorded growth. To avoid such confusion, it is helpful to remember a few standout facts, such as Nagaland's very high decadal growth between 1991 and 2001, especially when preparing for geography and population questions.

Final Answer:
According to the Census of India 2001, the state with the highest decadal population growth rate during 1991 to 2001 was Nagaland.