India: Population, States and Capitals, and Transport
India: Population, States and Capitals, and Transport
Human geography in NTPC uses Census 2011 figures (the latest full census until Census 2027 is published), the list of states and Union Territories, and India's transport network, with special attention to railways. Learn the headline Census numbers and the "first, largest, longest" facts of transport.
1. Census 2011: Headline Figures
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Population | 121.09 crore (about 1.21 billion) |
| Urban population | About 31.1% (rural about 68.9%) |
| Sex ratio | 943 females per 1,000 males; highest Kerala (1,084), lowest Haryana (879) |
| Literacy | 74.04%; highest Kerala, lowest Bihar |
| Density | 382 persons per sq km; highest Bihar |
| Most populous state | Uttar Pradesh |
| Least populous state | Sikkim |
| Decadal growth (2001-11) | 17.7% |
2. States and Union Territories
| Item | Facts |
|---|---|
| Count | 28 states and 8 Union Territories (after 2019 and 2020 changes) |
| Largest state by area | Rajasthan; smallest Goa |
| Newest state | Telangana (2 June 2014) |
| UTs created in 2019 | Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh |
| UT merged in 2020 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu |
| Shared capital | Chandigarh (Punjab and Haryana) |
3. Transport Network
| Mode | Facts |
|---|---|
| Railways | First passenger train Bombay-Thane, 16 April 1853; the Railway Board sits in New Delhi |
| Longest platform | Shri Siddharoodha Swamiji station, Hubballi (Karnataka) |
| Highest rail bridge | Chenab bridge, Jammu and Kashmir |
| Roads | Golden Quadrilateral links Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata; North-South corridor Srinagar to Kanyakumari; East-West corridor Silchar to Porbandar |
| Old NH-1 | Delhi to Amritsar (towards Attari, the Pakistan border) |
| Longest national highway | NH-44 (Srinagar to Kanyakumari) |
| Waterways | National Waterway 1: Ganga (Prayagraj to Haldia) |
| Ports | Mumbai (largest natural port), Kandla (Deendayal), Visakhapatnam (deepest landlocked) |
✗ India's urban population in 2011 was about 41% | ✓ It was about 31%; rural about 69%
✗ The lowest sex ratio in 2011 was in Bihar | ✓ Haryana had the lowest (879)
हिंदी नोट: जनगणना 2011: जनसंख्या 121.09 करोड़, शहरी आबादी लगभग 31%, लिंगानुपात 943, साक्षरता 74.04%। केरल में लिंगानुपात और साक्षरता सबसे अधिक; हरियाणा में लिंगानुपात सबसे कम। भारत में 28 राज्य और 8 केंद्र शासित प्रदेश हैं। पुराना राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग 1 दिल्ली से अमृतसर तक था।
Exam Pointer: Verified NTPC patterns: the urban population share from Census 2011 (June 2025 Graduate CBT-1) and the places linked by old National Highway 1 (March 2021 CBT-1). State-count and railway-record questions are tagged syllabus-based.
Pariksha Pattern: Every Way NTPC Asks This Topic
Pattern 1: Census figures
[PYQ: NTPC Graduate CBT-1 10-Jun-2025 Shift-3]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. According to Census 2011, what percentage of India's population lives in urban areas?
About 31%.
Answer: About 31%
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Which state had the highest and which the lowest sex ratio in 2011, and what was India's sex ratio?
Kerala highest (1,084) and Haryana lowest (879); India 943.
Answer: Kerala, Haryana; 943
Pattern 2: Roads and highways
[PYQ: NTPC CBT-1 11-Mar-2021 Shift-1]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Which cities did the old National Highway 1 link?
Delhi and Amritsar (continuing to Attari on the Pakistan border).
Answer: Delhi and Amritsar
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Which is India's longest national highway, and which four cities does the Golden Quadrilateral link?
NH-44 (Srinagar to Kanyakumari). The Golden Quadrilateral links Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
Answer: NH-44; Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata
Pattern 3: States and Union Territories
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Which is the newest state of India, and when was it formed?
Telangana, on 2 June 2014.
Answer: Telangana, 2 June 2014
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. How many states and Union Territories does India have, and which two UTs were merged in 2020?
28 states and 8 UTs. Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were merged.
Answer: 28 and 8; Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu
Pattern 4: Railways and waterways
[Pattern: syllabus-based, PYQ-style]
EXAM LEVEL
Q. Where is India's longest railway platform?
Shri Siddharoodha Swamiji station, Hubballi, Karnataka.
Answer: Hubballi
EXAMATLAS LEVEL
Q. Where is the world's highest railway bridge in India, and which river is National Waterway 1?
The Chenab bridge in Jammu and Kashmir; National Waterway 1 is on the Ganga (Prayagraj to Haldia).
Answer: Chenab bridge; Ganga
60-Second Revision
- Census 2011: 121.09 crore, urban about 31%, sex ratio 943, literacy 74.04%.
- Kerala highest sex ratio and literacy; Haryana lowest sex ratio; UP most populous.
- 28 states, 8 UTs; Telangana newest (2014).
- Old NH-1 Delhi-Amritsar; NH-44 longest; NW-1 Ganga.
- Longest platform Hubballi; Chenab bridge highest.