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UPSC Prelims 2005 · Indian Geography · People and Settlements
Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Area wise, Chhattisgarh is larger than West Bengal.
- According to the Population 2001 Census, population of West Bengal is larger than that of Chhattisgarh.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Statement by statement
1. ✓ CORRECT Chhattisgarh (~1.35 lakh sq km) is larger than West Bengal (~88,750 sq km).
2. ✓ CORRECT West Bengal (~8 crore) had far more people than Chhattisgarh (~2.1 crore).
The idea
Area and population are independent measures. A larger territory can have fewer residents if its average density is lower. Since density equals population divided by area, the two statements together also imply a density contrast.
Compare each territory’s area → Compare its population at the same census date → Divide population by area → Larger area with fewer people gives lower density → Smaller area with more people gives higher density
Why the others are wrong
(a) West Bengal is also more populous.
(b) Chhattisgarh is also larger.
Also know
Chhattisgarh was created from Madhya Pradesh in 2000, just before Census 2001. West Bengal includes parts of the Ganga delta, a densely settled alluvial region. State averages combine cities, farmland, forests and uplands, so they do not describe every district.
🔒 West Bengal: very high density (~1,000/sq km); Chhattisgarh: low (~190).
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