UPSC Prelims 2009 · General Studies
Question 47: Geography
Which one among the following South Asian countries has the highest population density ?
AnswerThe answer is (a).
India has the highest population density of these four countries: about 382 persons per sq km at the 2011 Census, and a steadily rising figure since. Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal all have lower densities because they have more sparsely populated land, mountain areas or deserts relative to their people. Within South Asia, Bangladesh and the Maldives are denser still, but are not options here.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: India is the densest of the four.
- (b) Nepal's mountainous terrain gives a much lower density.
- (c) Pakistan's density is lower than India's.
- (d) Sri Lanka is dense for an island, but still below India.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2009, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.