1. Basic Facts
| Topic | Important Fact |
|---|---|
| First Census in India | 1872 |
| First complete/regular Census | 1881 |
| Census conducted every | 10 years |
| Census 2011 | 15th Census of India |
| Census 2011 | 7th Census after Independence |
| Census 2021 | Postponed |
| Census Authority | Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |
| Ministry | Ministry of Home Affairs |
| Census Act | Census Act, 1948 |
| Latest completed Census | 2011 Census |
| Next Census | Census 2027 |
Important Exam Point
The 1872 Census was the first attempt to conduct a census simultaneously throughout different parts of India, but it was not conducted simultaneously everywhere. The first synchronous/complete Census was conducted in 1881.
2. Census of India – Historical Timeline
| Census | Year | Important Point |
|---|---|---|
| First Census attempt | 1872 | Conducted non-synchronously |
| First complete Census | 1881 | First synchronous Census |
| 10th Census | 1951 | First Census after Independence |
| 11th Census | 1961 | — |
| 12th Census | 1971 | — |
| 13th Census | 1981 | — |
| 14th Census | 1991 | — |
| 15th Census | 2001 | — |
| 16th Census | 2011 | Latest completed Census |
| 17th Census | 2027 | Next Census |
3. Census 2011 – Important Facts
The 2011 Census was conducted in two phases:
- House Listing & Housing Census
- Population Enumeration
The population enumeration was conducted from 9–28 February 2011, with a revisional round from 1–5 March 2011.
Census 2011 Population
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Population | 121.09 crore |
| Male Population | 62.32 crore |
| Female Population | 58.76 crore |
| Decadal Growth Rate | 17.64% |
| Population Density | 382 persons/km² |
| Sex Ratio | 943 females/1000 males |
| Child Sex Ratio | 919 females/1000 males |
| Literacy Rate | 74.04% |
| Male Literacy | 82.14% |
| Female Literacy | 65.46% |
4. Most Populous States – Census 2011
| Rank | State | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uttar Pradesh | ~19.98 crore |
| 2 | Maharashtra | ~11.24 crore |
| 3 | Bihar | ~10.41 crore |
| 4 | West Bengal | ~9.13 crore |
| 5 | Madhya Pradesh | ~7.26 crore |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu | ~7.21 crore |
| 7 | Rajasthan | ~6.85 crore |
| 8 | Karnataka | ~6.11 crore |
| 9 | Gujarat | ~6.04 crore |
| 10 | Andhra Pradesh* | ~4.96 crore |
Remember
Most Populous State → Uttar Pradesh
5. Least Populous States – Census 2011
| Rank | State | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sikkim | ~6.11 lakh |
| 2 | Mizoram | ~10.97 lakh |
| 3 | Arunachal Pradesh | ~13.84 lakh |
| 4 | Goa | ~14.59 lakh |
| 5 | Nagaland | ~19.79 lakh |
Remember
Least Populous State → Sikkim
6. Highest & Lowest Population Density
Highest Population Density
Bihar → 1,102 persons/km²
Lowest Population Density
Arunachal Pradesh → 17 persons/km²
Among Union Territories
Delhi → 11,297 persons/km²
7. Sex Ratio
Highest Sex Ratio among States
Kerala → 1,084 females per 1,000 males
Lowest Sex Ratio among States
Haryana → 879 females per 1,000 males
Highest Sex Ratio among Union Territories
Puducherry → 1,037
Lowest Sex Ratio among Union Territories
Daman & Diu → 618
Exam Trap: Chandigarh’s sex ratio was 818, but the lowest among UTs in Census 2011 was Daman & Diu.
8. Literacy Rate
Highest Literacy Rate
Kerala → 93.91%
Lowest Literacy Rate
Bihar → 61.80%
Highest Male Literacy
Kerala → 96.02%
Highest Female Literacy
Kerala → 91.98%
Lowest Male Literacy
Bihar → 71.20%
Lowest Female Literacy
Bihar → 51.50%
9. Child Sex Ratio
Child Sex Ratio refers to the number of females per 1,000 males in the age group 0–6 years.
| Category | State | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | Arunachal Pradesh | 972 |
| Lowest | Haryana | 834 |
Important
India’s Child Sex Ratio in 2011 → 919
10. Decadal Population Growth
India’s population increased by 17.64% between 2001 and 2011.
Highest Growth Rate among States
Meghalaya → 27.82%
Lowest Growth Rate among States
Nagaland → -0.58%
Important Exam Point
Nagaland was the only state with a negative population growth rate during 2001–2011.
11. Rural and Urban Population
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Rural Population | 68.84% |
| Urban Population | 31.16% |
Important
For Census 2011:
Rural > Urban
India remained predominantly rural, although urbanisation had increased substantially compared with earlier censuses.
12. Largest & Smallest Districts by Population
Largest District by Population
Thane, Maharashtra – around 1.10 crore in Census 2011.
Smallest District by Population
Dibang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh – around 8,000 people.
District boundaries have changed after 2011, so these figures are specifically based on the 2011 Census administrative structure.
13. Most Populous City – Census 2011
Most Populous Urban Agglomeration
Mumbai
Most Populous City Proper
Mumbai
Other major highly populated urban centres included:
- Delhi
- Bengaluru
- Hyderabad
- Ahmedabad
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Surat
- Pune
14. Census 2011 – State Rankings
| Parameter | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|
| Population | Uttar Pradesh | Sikkim |
| Population Density | Bihar | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Literacy | Kerala | Bihar |
| Sex Ratio | Kerala | Haryana |
| Child Sex Ratio | Arunachal Pradesh | Haryana |
| Decadal Growth | Meghalaya | Nagaland |
| Urbanisation | Goa | Himachal Pradesh |
15. Census 2011 – Important Tags
Census 2011 Theme
The 2011 Census used the slogan:
“Our Census, Our Future”
Census 2011 Commissioner
C. Chandramouli served as the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India during Census 2011.
16. Census & Constitution
The Census is conducted under the Census Act, 1948.
Constitutional Provision
Article 246 and the Seventh Schedule place the census under the Union List.
Important Exam Point
Census is a Union subject.
17. Census 2021
The 2021 Census was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Therefore:
2011 → Latest completed Census
There was no completed Census in 2021.
18. Census 2027
India’s next population Census is scheduled as Census 2027.
Important features announced for the upcoming Census include:
- Digital Census
- Use of a mobile application
- Self-enumeration facility
- House-listing followed by population enumeration
- Collection of caste-related information as part of the announced exercise
Important Exam Point
Census 2027 → 17th Census of India
19. Census of India – Important Firsts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| First Census attempt in India | 1872 |
| First synchronous Census | 1881 |
| First Census after Independence | 1951 |
| First Census under Census Act, 1948 | 1951 |
| Latest completed Census | 2011 |
| Next Census | 2027 |
| Census conducted every | 10 years |
| Census subject | Union List |
| Census Act | 1948 |
| Census authority | Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |
20. Super Important One-Liners
- First Census in India → 1872
- First complete/synchronous Census → 1881
- First Census after Independence → 1951
- Latest completed Census → 2011
- 2011 Census → 15th Census
- 2011 Census → 7th Census after Independence
- Next Census → 2027
- 2027 Census → 17th Census
- India’s population in 2011 → 121.09 crore
- Population density → 382/km²
- Sex ratio → 943
- Child sex ratio → 919
- Literacy rate → 74.04%
- Most populous state → Uttar Pradesh
- Least populous state → Sikkim
- Highest literacy → Kerala
- Lowest literacy → Bihar
- Highest sex ratio → Kerala
- Lowest sex ratio → Haryana
- Highest population density → Bihar
- Lowest population density → Arunachal Pradesh
- Highest decadal growth → Meghalaya
- Negative population growth → Nagaland
- Census Act → 1948
- Census → Union List
- Census 2011 Commissioner → C. Chandramouli
- Census 2011 slogan → Our Census, Our Future