Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: 27.80
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
India is a large and diverse country where population is distributed between rural villages and rapidly growing towns and cities. Examinations often ask about key census facts, because these numbers are used for planning development schemes and measuring the level of urbanisation. This question focuses on the percentage of the total population that lived in urban areas according to the 2001 Census of India, so it tests memory of a specific factual statistic as well as basic understanding of what urban population share means.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
To answer this question correctly, one needs to know the definition of urban population and the official percentage reported by the 2001 census. Urban population share is calculated as urban population divided by total population, multiplied by 100. Competitive exams in India frequently test these benchmark numbers, so candidates are expected to recall that the 2001 Census reported an urban share of about 27.8 percent. The task is therefore not to compute anything from raw data but to recognise the correct census figure among close looking distractors that are lower values from earlier periods or approximate values which seem plausible but are not accurate for 2001.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Census of India is conducted every ten years and gives official figures on population and urbanisation.
Step 2: For the year 2001, the total population was a little over one billion and the share living in urban areas was slightly more than one quarter of this total.
Step 3: The exact reported share of urban population in 2001 was about 27.8 percent.
Step 4: Compare this remembered value with the options. Among the options, 27.80 is the only one that matches this rounded census figure.
Step 5: Conclude that 27.80 percent is the correct percentage of urban population out of the total population in India according to the 2001 Census.
Verification / Alternative check:
A simple way to verify is to recall that in 1991 the urban share was close to 26 percent and in 2011 it moved closer to 31 percent. The figure for 2001 should lie between these two values and closer to the 1991 share. Among the options, 27.80 fits neatly between the approximate 26 and 31 percent marks and is known from standard census tables, whereas the other values are either too low or not commonly cited in reference books. This cross check with trends in urbanisation over time supports that 27.80 percent is the correct answer.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
20.28: This value is far too low and would correspond to an era when India was much less urbanised, not the 2001 census period.
22.52: This number is also lower than the known 2001 figure and does not match any standard census benchmark widely quoted in textbooks.
25.72: This value looks closer but still underestimates the 2001 urban share and does not align with the official 27.8 percent statistic.
Any empty or missing option: It cannot be correct because the question is based on a specific numerical census result which is provided explicitly as 27.80 among the options.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse data from different census years, mixing up figures from 1991, 2001 and 2011. Another mistake is to choose a value that feels safe in the middle of the list without actually recalling the exact figure, which can lead to selection of 25.72 instead of 27.80. Some candidates may also think urbanisation was below one quarter in 2001, which is not correct because cities had already expanded quite a lot by that time. It is important to revise standard census tables so that numbers like population, density and urban share for 2001 and 2011 are clear in memory.
Final Answer:
The percentage of urban population to total population in India according to the 2001 Census was 27.80 percent.
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