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UPSC Prelims 2006 · Indian Geography · India’s Land and Borders
Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Sikkim has the minimum area among the 28 Indian States (Delhi and Pondicherry not included).
- Chandigarh has the highest literacy rate among Pondicherry, NCT of Delhi and other Union Territories.
- Maharashtra has the highest population after Uttar Pradesh among 28 Indian States (Delhi and Pondicherry not included).
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 1 only
- (d) 3 only
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (d) 3 only
Only the population statement is right.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG Goa (3,702 sq km) is the smallest State; Sikkim (7,096 sq km) is second smallest.
2. ✗ WRONG Lakshadweep had the highest literacy among UTs (Census 2001), ahead of Chandigarh.
3. ✓ CORRECT Maharashtra is the second most populous State after Uttar Pradesh.
The idea
Area, population and literacy describe different features of a State or Union Territory. Population and literacy comparisons must use a named census, while administrative changes can alter the units compared. In this 2006 question, Census 2001 is the relevant completed census.
Why the others are wrong
(a) Accepts Sikkim and Chandigarh.
(b) Accepts Chandigarh.
(c) Sikkim is not the smallest.
The trap
Sikkim is the smallest by POPULATION, Goa by AREA.
Elimination technique
Goa’s area is smaller than Sikkim’s in the 2006 map, so statement 1 fails. Among these codes, only (b) and (d) remain; the Census 2001 literacy comparison resolves them.
Also know
Literacy in the Census is calculated for people aged seven and above. Population density means population per square kilometre. Small area does not imply small population, and high literacy does not imply high density. State and Union Territory rankings must be kept separate.
🔒 Smallest State: Goa (area), Sikkim (population). Most populous: UP, then Maharashtra, then Bihar.
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