UPSC Prelims 2006 · General Studies
Question 10: Geography
Consider the following statements:
- 1.Sikkim has the minimum area among the 28 Indian States (Delhi and Pondicherry not included).
- 2.Chandigarh has the highest literacy rate among Pondicherry, NCT of Delhi and other Union Territories.
- 3.Maharashtra has the highest population after Uttar Pradesh among the 28 Indian States (Delhi and Pondicherry not included).
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerThe answer is (d).
Goa, not Sikkim, is India's smallest state by area, so statement 1 is wrong. In the 2001 Census Lakshadweep, not Chandigarh, had the highest literacy rate among the Union Territories, so statement 2 is wrong. Maharashtra was the second most populous state after Uttar Pradesh, with Bihar third, so statement 3 is right. Remember the order: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar.
- 1. Goa has the smallest area among the states.
- 2. Lakshadweep had the highest literacy rate in 2001.
- 3. Maharashtra is second to Uttar Pradesh in population.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (c) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Goa has the smallest area among the states.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is not correct, (b) goes: it includes 2.
What you needed to know: Lakshadweep had the highest literacy rate in 2001.
Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statement 3.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Statements 1 and 2 are both false.
- (b) Statement 2 is false, since Lakshadweep led among Union Territories.
- (c) Statement 1 is false: Goa is smaller than Sikkim.
- (d) Correct: only statement 3 holds.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2006, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.