Module 3: Distribution of Population

📖 Chapter 17 of 17 🧩 Module 3 of 17 ⏱️ ~4 min read 💡 20 MCQs

Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 3.1: Most and Least Populous Districts

The most populous district is Patna, followed by East Champaran and Muzaffarpur.
The least populous district is Sheikhpura, followed by Sheohar and Arwal.
Top five: Patna 58,38,465; East Champaran 50,99,473 (district table: 50,99,371); Muzaffarpur 48,01,062; Madhubani 44,87,379; Gaya 43,91,418.
Bottom five: Sheikhpura 6,36,342; Sheohar 6,56,246; Arwal 7,00,843; Lakhisarai 10,00,912; Jehanabad 11,25,313.

Figure: Most and least populous districts of Bihar (Census 2011)

Figure: Population of the five most and five least populous districts

⭐ Key Points

Answer (a) Patna.
Answer (b) Patna.
Answer (d) Sheikhpura.
Correct answer (c) Sheikhpura (6,36,342). The source book's key prints (b) Sheohar, which is the second least populous (6,56,246).
Answer (d): Sheikhpura < Sheohar < Arwal < Lakhisarai.
Answer (c): Patna > E. Champaran > Madhubani > Gaya.
Patna, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur are 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Muzaffarpur (48,01,062).
Sheikhpura, Sheohar, Arwal, Lakhisarai, Jehanabad (smallest first).
58,38,465. (16,83,200 is Patna town.)
Jehanabad (11,25,313) is 5th least; Munger 13.68 lakh.
Madhubani 4th (44,87,379); Gaya 5th.

📌 One-line Q&A

Question: Which district has the highest population as per Census 2011? [BPSC PYQ] Answer: Patna.
Question: Which is the most populous district? [Objective set] Answer: Patna.
Question: The least populous district of Bihar is: [BPSC PYQ] Answer: Sheikhpura.
Question: Which is the least populous district? [Objective set] Answer: Sheikhpura.
Question: Arrange by least population (smallest first): 1. Lakhisarai 2. Sheohar 3. Arwal 4. Sheikhpura [Objective set] Answer: 4, 2, 3 and 1.
Question: Arrange by highest population: 1. Patna 2. Madhubani 3. Gaya 4. East Champaran [Objective set] Answer: 1, 4, 2 and 3.
Question: Which district is second in population? Answer: East Champaran.
Question: Which district ranks third in population? Answer: Muzaffarpur.
Question: Which district is the 3rd least populous? Answer: Arwal.
Question: Patna district's population (2011) is: Answer: 58,38,465.
Question: Which of these is among the five least populous districts? Answer: Jehanabad.
Question: Madhubani's rank among the most populous districts is: Answer: 4th.

Topic

Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: Which district has the highest population as per Census 2011? [BPSC PYQ]

Answer (a) Patna.

Question 2: Which is the most populous district? [Objective set]

Answer (b) Patna.

Question 3: The least populous district of Bihar is: [BPSC PYQ]

Answer (d) Sheikhpura.

Question 4: Which is the least populous district? [Objective set]

Correct answer (c) Sheikhpura (6,36,342). The source book's key prints (b) Sheohar, which is the second least populous (6,56,246).

Question 5: Arrange by least population (smallest first): 1. Lakhisarai 2. Sheohar 3. Arwal 4. Sheikhpura [Objective set]

Answer (d): Sheikhpura < Sheohar < Arwal < Lakhisarai.

Question 6: Arrange by highest population: 1. Patna 2. Madhubani 3. Gaya 4. East Champaran [Objective set]

Answer (c): Patna > E. Champaran > Madhubani > Gaya.

Question 7: Which district is second in population?

Patna, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur are 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Question 8: Which district ranks third in population?

Muzaffarpur (48,01,062).

Question 9: Which district is the 3rd least populous?

Sheikhpura, Sheohar, Arwal, Lakhisarai, Jehanabad (smallest first).

Question 10: Patna district's population (2011) is:

58,38,465. (16,83,200 is Patna town.)

Question 11: Which of these is among the five least populous districts?

Jehanabad (11,25,313) is 5th least; Munger 13.68 lakh.

Question 12: Madhubani's rank among the most populous districts is:

Madhubani 4th (44,87,379); Gaya 5th.

Question 1 of 12

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Which district has the highest population as per Census 2011? [BPSC PYQ]

Patna.

Which is the most populous district? [Objective set]

Patna.

The least populous district of Bihar is: [BPSC PYQ]

Sheikhpura.

Which is the least populous district? [Objective set]

Sheikhpura.

Arrange by least population (smallest first): 1. Lakhisarai 2. Sheohar 3. Arwal 4. Sheikhpura [Objective set]

4, 2, 3 and 1.

Arrange by highest population: 1. Patna 2. Madhubani 3. Gaya 4. East Champaran [Objective set]

1, 4, 2 and 3.

Which district is second in population?

East Champaran.

Which district ranks third in population?

Muzaffarpur.

Which district is the 3rd least populous?

Arwal.

Patna district's population (2011) is:

58,38,465.

Which of these is among the five least populous districts?

Jehanabad.

Madhubani's rank among the most populous districts is:

4th.

Question 1 of 12

Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 3.2: Why Population Is Uneven

The state's population is highest in the fertile plains, and lowest in the Terai and the districts next to the Jharkhand plateau.
The northern foothill region and the southern region bordering Jharkhand are sparser than the plains.
Such districts include Araria, Purnia, Saharsa, Katihar, Vaishali, West Champaran, Kaimur and Rohtas, where hills and small plateaus prevent proper farming.

Figure: Districts with relatively sparse population: northern foothills and the south next to Jharkhand

⭐ Key Points

Fertile plains carry the most people.
Terai and plateau-fringe districts are sparser.
Darbhanga is one of the densest (1,728).
Hills and plateau limit farming.

📌 One-line Q&A

Question: Where is Bihar's population the highest? Answer: Fertile plains.
Question: Which pair of regions has relatively low population? Answer: Terai and districts next to the Jharkhand plateau.
Question: Which of these is NOT named among the sparser districts? Answer: Darbhanga.
Question: Why is agriculture not done properly in the sparse southern districts? Answer: Hills and small plateau areas.

Topic

Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: Where is Bihar's population the highest?

Fertile plains carry the most people.

Question 2: Which pair of regions has relatively low population?

Terai and plateau-fringe districts are sparser.

Question 3: Which of these is NOT named among the sparser districts?

Darbhanga is one of the densest (1,728).

Question 4: Why is agriculture not done properly in the sparse southern districts?

Hills and plateau limit farming.

Question 1 of 4

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Where is Bihar's population the highest?

Fertile plains.

Which pair of regions has relatively low population?

Terai and districts next to the Jharkhand plateau.

Which of these is NOT named among the sparser districts?

Darbhanga.

Why is agriculture not done properly in the sparse southern districts?

Hills and small plateau areas.

Question 1 of 4

Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 3.3: District-wise Population Data

The table gives each district's population, area, density, sex ratio and literacy (Census 2011).
Largest district by area is West Champaran (5,228 km²), then Gaya (4,976 km²); the smallest is Sheohar (349 km²), then Arwal (637 km²).
The passage gives East Champaran as 50,99,473 but its district table shows 50,99,371 (the census figure).

District	Population	Area (km²)	Density	Sex ratio	Literacy %
Patna	58,38,465	3202	1823	897	70.68
Nalanda	28,77,653	2355	1222	922	64.43
Rohtas	29,59,918	3851	763	918	73.37
Bhojpur	27,28,407	2395	1139	907	70.47
Kaimur	16,26,384	3362	488	920	69.34
Buxar	17,06,352	1703	1002	922	70.14
Gaya	43,91,418	4976	883	937	63.67
Jehanabad	11,25,313	932	1209	922	66.80
Aurangabad	25,40,073	3389.2	768	926	70.32
Nawada	22,19,146	2494	890	939	59.76
Muzaffarpur	48,01,062	3172	1514	900	63.43
Sitamarhi	34,23,574	2294	1492	899	52.05
Vaishali	34,95,021	2036	1717	895	66.60
East Champaran	50,99,371	3968	1285	902	55.79
West Champaran	39,35,042	5228	753	909	55.70
Sheohar	6,56,246	349	1880	893	53.78
Saran	39,51,862	2641	1496	954	65.96
Siwan	33,30,464	2219	1501	988	69.45
Gopalganj	25,62,012	2033	1260	1021	65.47
Darbhanga	39,37,385	2279	1728	911	56.56
Madhubani	44,87,379	3501	1282	926	58.62
Samastipur	42,61,566	2904	1467	911	61.86
Begusarai	29,70,541	1918	1549	895	63.87
Khagaria	16,66,886	1486	1122	886	57.92
Munger	13,67,765	1419	964	876	70.46
Sheikhpura	6,36,342	689	924	930	63.86
Jamui	17,60,405	3098	568	922	59.79
Lakhisarai	10,00,912	1228	815	902	62.42
Madhepura	20,01,762	1788	1120	911	52.25
Saharsa	19,00,661	1687	1127	906	53.20
Supaul	22,29,076	2425	919	929	57.67
Purnia	32,64,619	3229	1011	921	51.08
Kishanganj	16,90,400	1884	897	950	55.46
Araria	28,11,569	2830	993	921	53.53
Katihar	30,71,029	3057	1005	919	52.24
Bhagalpur	30,37,766	2569	1182	880	63.14
Banka	20,34,763	3020	674	907	58.17
Arwal	7,00,843	637	1098	928	67.43

⭐ Key Points

West Champaran 5,228 km²; Gaya 4,976 km².
Sheohar 349 km²; Arwal 637; Sheikhpura 689.
Patna 3,202 km² (Nalanda 2,355, Rohtas 3,851, Gaya 4,976).
Gaya 43,91,418 (5th most populous). 4,63,454 is Gaya town.

📌 One-line Q&A

Question: Which district of Bihar has the largest area (district table)? Answer: West Champaran.
Question: Which is the smallest district by area? Answer: Sheohar.
Question: Patna district's area in the district table is: Answer: 3,202 km².
Question: Gaya district's population (2011) is: Answer: 43,91,418.

Topic

Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: Which district of Bihar has the largest area (district table)?

West Champaran 5,228 km²; Gaya 4,976 km².

Question 2: Which is the smallest district by area?

Sheohar 349 km²; Arwal 637; Sheikhpura 689.

Question 3: Patna district's area in the district table is:

Patna 3,202 km² (Nalanda 2,355, Rohtas 3,851, Gaya 4,976).

Question 4: Gaya district's population (2011) is:

Gaya 43,91,418 (5th most populous). 4,63,454 is Gaya town.

Question 1 of 4

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Which district of Bihar has the largest area (district table)?

West Champaran.

Which is the smallest district by area?

Sheohar.

Patna district's area in the district table is:

3,202 km².

Gaya district's population (2011) is:

43,91,418.

Question 1 of 4