UPSC Prelims 2001 Q24: Geography – Population & Demography
The largest number of Buddhists is found in
- (a) Bihar
- (b) Karnataka
- (c) Maharashtra
- (d) Uttar Pradesh
Answer: (c) Maharashtra
Explanation
State with the largest number of Buddhists
| State | Buddhist population (Census 2001) |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | About 58 lakh — about three-quarters of India's Buddhists |
| Karnataka | About 4 lakh |
| Uttar Pradesh | About 3 lakh |
| Bihar | Under 20,000 |
Most of India's Buddhists live in Maharashtra, the result of the mass conversion led by B. R. Ambedkar at Nagpur in October 1956. Bihar has the great Buddhist sites but very few Buddhists today.
Answer: (c) Maharashtra.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Bihar has Bodh Gaya but a very small Buddhist population.
- (b) Incorrect. Karnataka has Tibetan settlements but far fewer Buddhists than Maharashtra.
- (c) CORRECT. Maharashtra has the largest Buddhist population.
- (d) Incorrect. Uttar Pradesh has Sarnath and Kushinagar but far fewer Buddhists.
Key point
Ambedkar's conversion: Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur, 14 October 1956. Highest Buddhist share of population: Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh.
Remember
Most Buddhists by number = Maharashtra.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Bihar because of Bodh Gaya.
- Confusing largest number with largest share (Sikkim).
- Forgetting the neo-Buddhist movement of 1956.
Exam tip
'Largest number' and 'largest share' are different questions; read which one is asked.
Sources
- Census of India 2001 — Religion data (Office of the Registrar General)
- Census of India 2011 — C-1 Population by Religious Community