Pragnya IAS · Map 25 · People & economy
Population density of India (Census 2011) map study
Read the density map as a joint product of land quality, water, history and economy.
STUDY NOTE 1
The crowded north
Bihar and West Bengal record the highest state densities, with the Ganga plain’s alluvium and water supporting intensive settlement. Delhi and Chandigarh top the UT list.
STUDY NOTE 2
The sparse rim
Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim and Ladakh have the lowest densities — mountains, forests and difficult terrain limit settlement.
STUDY NOTE 3
Density is not population
Uttar Pradesh has the largest population but not the highest density. Density divides people by area, so small fertile states rank highest.
Map reading task
Rank five states by density from memory, then explain each rank with one physical and one economic reason.
What does this population density of india (census 2011) lesson explain?
Bihar and West Bengal record the highest state densities, with the Ganga plain’s alluvium and water supporting intensive settlement. Delhi and Chandigarh top the UT list.
UPSC map practice & Geography Optional connection
For UPSC Prelims, pair the location with its state, neighbouring relief and relevant geographic process. For GS I and Geography Optional Indian geography revision, use a simple labelled sketch to explain the relationship rather than replacing the answer with place names. These are Pragnya-authored exercises, not official UPSC previous-year questions.
References & map credits
Pragnya IAS explanations and practice are independently authored. The uploaded geography compilation informed topic selection only; its pages, illustrations, advertisements and personal watermarks are not republished. Licensed base data retain their original attribution. These lessons are educational references, not navigation, legal boundary or live hazard maps.