UPSC Prelims 2008 Q97: Geography – Population & Demography
Which of the following are among the million - plus cities in India on the basis of data of the
Census, 2001?
1. Ludhiana
2. Kochi
3. Surat
4. Nagpur
Select the correct answer
using the code given below:
- (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
- (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
- (c) 1 and 4 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Checking which cities were million-plus (2001 Census)
Among these four Indian cities, we need to verify which had crossed the one-million population mark by the 2001 Census.
| City | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Ludhiana | Correct | Ludhiana had crossed the million-plus population mark by 2001 |
| 2. Kochi | Correct | Kochi's urban agglomeration had also crossed the million-plus mark by 2001 |
| 3. Surat | Correct | Surat was also a million-plus city by 2001 |
| 4. Nagpur | Correct | Nagpur was also a million-plus city by 2001 |
Million-plus cities (2001 Census) among these four:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| All four | Ludhiana, Kochi, Surat, Nagpur had crossed one million population |
| Basis | Census, 2001 |
Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. City 4 (Nagpur) was also a million-plus city, so '1, 2 and 3 only' is incomplete.
- (b) Incorrect. City 1 (Ludhiana) was also a million-plus city, so '2, 3 and 4 only' wrongly excludes it.
- (c) Incorrect. Cities 2 and 3 (Kochi, Surat) were also million-plus cities, so '1 and 4 only' is too narrow.
- (d) CORRECT. All four cities — Ludhiana, Kochi, Surat, and Nagpur — were million-plus cities by the 2001 Census.
Key point
Ludhiana, Kochi, Surat, AND Nagpur were all million-plus cities (urban agglomerations) per the 2001 Census.
Remember
Ludhiana, Kochi, Surat, and Nagpur were all million-plus cities as per the 2001 Census.
Common mistakes
- Underestimating Kochi's urban agglomeration population, assuming it was too small to be million-plus.
- Not knowing Ludhiana's industrial-city population growth by 2001.
- Assuming only one or two of four plausible cities can be million-plus.
Exam tip
All four — Ludhiana, Kochi, Surat, Nagpur — were genuinely million-plus cities by the 2001 Census.
Sources
- Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India — Census of India 2001: Provisional Population Totals
- Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India — Census of India 2001: Cities with Population of One Million and Above