The largest number of Buddhists is found in

Answer: (c) Maharashtra

Maharashtra has the most Buddhists (Navayana, after Ambedkar’s 1956 conversion).

The idea

The place where a religion began need not contain the greatest number of its followers. Later conversion movements and settlement patterns can shift the population centre. Distinguish a pilgrimage or historical site from the residence of a religious population.

A religion spreads beyond its founding region → Later social movements encourage conversion → Large communities form in another State → Census counts residents by religion → Population concentration differs from pilgrimage geography

Why the others are wrong

(a) Bihar has Bodh Gaya but few Buddhists.

The trap

Bihar’s Buddhist sites mislead.

Also know

Bodh Gaya marks the Buddha’s enlightenment; Sarnath his first sermon; Kushinagar his final passing. Ambedkar’s 1956 conversion at Nagpur helped spread Navayana Buddhism. Buddhist traditions also have long histories in Ladakh, Sikkim and Himalayan regions, even where their absolute populations are smaller.