Population & Human Settlements – NDA Geography PYQs

NDA 2019-I

Q. 1. The Shompens are the vulnerable tribal group of:

(a) Jharkhand

(b) Odisha

(c) West Bengal

(d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Answer: (d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Explanation: The Shompen are one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of the Great Nicobar Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. They are one of India’s most isolated tribal communities. Other vulnerable tribes of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands include the Sentinelese, Jarawa, Andamanese, and Onge. The Shompen, Jarawa, Sentinelese, Andamanese, and Onge are all classified as PVTGs of the island group. Concept Tested: Shompen tribe: isolated PVTG of Great Nicobar Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

★ JOVIK Exam Insight Isolated and vulnerable tribes of India’s islands (frequently tested in NDA): Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Sentinelese (most isolated), Jarawa, Shompen (Great Nicobar), Andamanese, Onge. Lakshadweep: not home to any isolated tribal groups (populated by Muslim fishing communities). Todas: Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu. Jarawas: South Andaman and Middle Andaman (threatened by contact with outsiders).

NDA 2018-II

Q. 2. Which one of the following is the correct descending order of Indian States in terms of sex ratio as per Census 2011?

(a) Mizoram – Manipur – Tripura – Meghalaya

(b) Tripura – Manipur – Meghalaya – Mizoram

(c) Meghalaya – Manipur – Mizoram – Tripura

(d) Manipur – Meghalaya – Tripura – Mizoram

Answer: (c) Meghalaya – Manipur – Mizoram – Tripura

Explanation: Sex ratio is measured as number of females per 1,000 males. Census 2011 sex ratio for northeastern states: Meghalaya (986) > Manipur (985) > Mizoram (975) > Tripura (961). Descending order: Meghalaya → Manipur → Mizoram → Tripura = option (c). For reference: Kerala (1,084) is the highest in India. The national average was 943 in 2011. Concept Tested: Sex ratio ranking (Census 2011): Meghalaya > Manipur > Mizoram > Tripura among NE states

Q. 3. Which one of the following Indian States has recorded negative growth of population as per Census 2011?

(a) Manipur

(b) Mizoram

(c) Tripura

(d) Nagaland

Answer: (d) Nagaland

Explanation: Nagaland recorded negative population growth (-0.58%) during the 2001–2011 decade: the only state in India to do so in Census 2011. This was a reversal from the exceptionally high growth recorded in 1991–2001. The negative growth is attributed to out-migration and corrections of earlier census anomalies. All other northeastern states: Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura: recorded positive population growth in Census 2011. Concept Tested: Nagaland: only Indian state with negative population growth in Census 2011

NDA 2017-II

Q. 4. Which one of the following tribal groups is dominantly found in the ‘Blue Mountains’?

(a) Lambadas

(b) Gonds

(c) Jarawas

(d) Todas

Answer: (d) Todas

Explanation: “Blue Mountains” is the English translation of “Nilgiri” (Neel = Blue, Giri = Mountains): the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Todas (Toda) are an indigenous pastoral tribal community that has lived in the Nilgiri Hills for centuries. They are known for their unique semi-circular barrel-shaped houses and the rearing of buffaloes. Lambadas are a nomadic tribe of Andhra Pradesh. Gonds are the largest tribal group in central India. Jarawas are an isolated tribe of the Andaman Islands. Concept Tested: Todas: indigenous tribe of the Nilgiri Hills (“Blue Mountains”), Tamil Nadu/Kerala

NDA 2017-I

Q. 5. Which one of the following pairs of Tribe and State is NOT correctly matched?

(a) Tharu : Madhya Pradesh

(b) Adi : Arunachal Pradesh

(c) Irula : Kerala

(d) Shaharia : Rajasthan

Answer: (a) Tharu : Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: Option (a) is NOT correctly matched. The Tharu tribe is primarily found in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh (and extends into Nepal), NOT Madhya Pradesh. They are an indigenous community of the sub-Himalayan foothills. (b) Adi → Arunachal Pradesh . The Adi (Abor) are a major tribal group of Arunachal Pradesh. (c) Irula → Kerala . The Irula (also found in Tamil Nadu) are a tribal group in southern India, including Kerala. (d) Shaharia → Rajasthan . The Saharia/Shaharia are a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) found in Rajasthan (and MP). Concept Tested: Tharu tribe: found in Terai of Uttar Pradesh, NOT Madhya Pradesh

NDA 2016-I

Q. 6. Statement I: India has wide variation in population density.

Statement II: Factors like agricultural productivity and history of settlements have greatly influenced the population density pattern in India.

(a) Both the Statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I

(b) Both the Statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I

(c) Statement I is true but Statement II is false

(d) Statement I is false but Statement II is true

Answer: (a) Both the Statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I

Explanation: Statement I: Correct. India has extreme variation in population density, from West Bengal (~1,000/km²) and Bihar to Arunachal Pradesh (~17/km²) and Ladakh (among the lowest in the world). Statement II: Correct. Population density in India is heavily influenced by agricultural productivity (fertile Gangetic plain supports dense populations) and historical settlement patterns (ancient civilisations settled along rivers and plains). Statement II correctly explains Statement I: the agricultural and historical factors are the primary drivers of the observed density variation. Concept Tested: India’s population density variation: explained by agricultural productivity and historical settlement patterns

NDA 2008-I

Q. 7. Among the following, which state has highest level of literacy?

(a) Mizoram

(b) West Bengal

(c) Gujarat

(d) Punjab

Answer: (a) Mizoram

Explanation: Among the four states given, Mizoram has the highest literacy rate. As per Census 2001 (the relevant census at the time of NDA 2008-I), Mizoram had a literacy rate of approximately 88.5%: second only to Kerala nationally. West Bengal, Gujarat, and Punjab all had lower literacy rates than Mizoram at the time. In Census 2011, Mizoram’s literacy was ~91.3%. Kerala remained highest at ~94%. Concept Tested: Mizoram: highest literacy rate among the given states; second nationally after Kerala

NDA 2007-II

Q. 8. Among the following, which one has recorded the highest population growth rate during 1991–2001?

(a) Arunachal Pradesh

(b) Manipur

(c) Nagaland

(d) Sikkim

Answer: (c) Nagaland

Explanation: During the 1991–2001 decade, Nagaland recorded one of the highest population growth rates in India: approximately 64%. This exceptionally high growth was partly attributed to large-scale in-migration and possibly census data anomalies. For context: the national average decadal growth rate was about 21.5% during 1991–2001. In subsequent censuses, Nagaland actually recorded negative growth (Census 2011), suggesting the earlier high figures involved some data irregularities. Concept Tested: Population growth rate 1991–2001: Nagaland recorded the highest rate (~64%) among the given options

★ JOVIK Exam Insight Nagaland’s population data has been particularly volatile in NDA questions: 1991–2001: Highest growth rate among northeastern states (~64%). 2011 Census: Nagaland recorded NEGATIVE population growth: the only state in India to do so (Q. 10 in this chapter). Both these facts: highest growth in 2001 and negative growth in 2011: have been directly tested by NDA.

NDA 2007-I

Q. 9. Which one among the following states has more population than the other three?

(a) Gujarat

(b) Madhya Pradesh

(c) Orissa

(d) Rajasthan

Answer: (b) Madhya Pradesh

Explanation: Census 2001 population (approximate): Madhya Pradesh ~60 million, Rajasthan ~56 million, Gujarat ~50 million, Orissa (Odisha) ~36 million. Madhya Pradesh was the most populous among these four states in 2001. Note: MP and Rajasthan are among the larger states by area in India; Rajasthan is the largest by area. However, by population (2001), MP exceeded Rajasthan. Concept Tested: Census 2001 population comparison: MP (~60M) > Rajasthan > Gujarat > Orissa

NDA 2006-II

Q. 10. In the map given, what is the population density in the region represented by the shaded area?

[Note: This is a map-based question. The source map is not available for independent verification. The source records no confirmed answer. Students should verify against the official NDA 2006-II paper and its associated map.]

(a) Below 100 persons per sq. km

(b) 100 to 300 persons per sq. km

(c) 300 to 500 persons per sq. km

(d) Above 500 persons per sq. km

Answer: Source flagged: map-dependent; verify against official NDA 2006-II key.

Explanation: India’s population density as per Census 2001: National average ~325 persons per sq. km. High density (>500): West Bengal (~903), Bihar (~880), Kerala (~819), UP (~690). Moderate density (300–500): TN, Haryana, Goa, Punjab, Jharkhand, Odisha. Low density (<100): Arunachal Pradesh (~13), Mizoram (~42), Sikkim (~76), Jammu & Kashmir (~99). The shaded region on the original map determines the answer. Concept Tested: Population density categories in India: high density states vs. low density states

Q. 11. Consider the following statements on the basis of Census 2001:

1. In Kerala, the sex ratio is in favour of females.

2. Next to Kerala, Mizoram has the highest literacy rate in India.

[Note: The source options for this question reference items 3 and 4 that are not listed in the source document. The question appears incomplete or corrupted in the source. Only Statements 1 and 2 are available. Students should verify this question against the official NDA 2006-II paper for the complete question text and answer.]

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3

(b) Only 2 and 4

(c) 1, 2 and 4

(d) 3 and 4

Answer: Source flagged: question appears incomplete; verify against official NDA 2006-II key.

Explanation: Statement 1 (Kerala sex ratio in favour of females): Correct. Kerala has consistently had a sex ratio above 1,000 females per 1,000 males, making it one of the very few states in India where the sex ratio is in favour of females. Statement 2 (Mizoram has highest literacy after Kerala): Correct as per Census 2001. Mizoram had the second highest literacy rate in India after Kerala in 2001. (Note: In Census 2011, Goa moved above Mizoram.) The additional statements referenced in the options (3 and 4) are not present in the source document. Verify the full question against the official paper. Concept Tested: Census 2001: Kerala: female-favourable sex ratio; Mizoram: second-highest literacy after Kerala

NDA 2006-I

Q. 12. As per the Census of 2001, which one of the following is the correct sequence of states in decreasing order of their population?

(a) Andhra Pradesh – Karnataka – Tamil Nadu

(b) Andhra Pradesh – Tamil Nadu – Karnataka

(c) Karnataka – Tamil Nadu – Andhra Pradesh

(d) Tamil Nadu – Andhra Pradesh – Karnataka

Answer: (b) Andhra Pradesh – Tamil Nadu – Karnataka

Explanation: Census 2001 population (approximate): Andhra Pradesh ~76 million, Tamil Nadu ~62 million, Karnataka ~52 million. Andhra Pradesh was the fifth most populous state in India in 2001 (before Telangana’s separation in 2014). Descending order among the three: Andhra Pradesh → Tamil Nadu → Karnataka. Concept Tested: Census 2001 population ranking of South Indian states: AP > TN > Karnataka

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