Which of the following Indian states had the highest percentage of Buddhist population, compared to its total population, according to Census 2011?

1. A

   Bihar

2. B

   Maharashtra

3. C

   Sikkim

4. D

   Uttaranchal

Appeared in: DSSSB 13 August 2024

Explanation

• Based on the 2011 Census data, Sikkim is the state with the highest proportion of its population identifying as Buddhist.
• In Sikkim, Buddhists make up approximately 27.39% of the state's total population.
• This makes it the correct answer for the state with the highest percentage, which is different from the state with the highest absolute number.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: Although Bihar is the historical birthplace of Buddhism, its current Buddhist population is very small, accounting for less than 0.1% of the state's total population according to the 2011 census.
• Option B: Maharashtra has the largest Buddhist population in India in terms of absolute numbers. However, due to the state's large total population, Buddhists only constitute about 5.81% of it. The question specifically asks for the highest percentage.
• Option D: The Buddhist population in Uttarakhand (formerly Uttaranchal) is negligible, making up less than 0.2% of the state's total population.

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Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Demographics of religious communities in India as per the 2011 Census as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
• This question tests the critical skill of carefully reading and interpreting statistical qualifiers, which is essential for analyzing data in any field, including healthcare research.
• A common error in data analysis is confusing absolute values (e.g., number of patients) with relative values (e.g., percentage of patients with a condition). This question serves as a practical example of that distinction.
• What if? If the question had asked for the state with the highest absolute number of Buddhists, the correct answer would have been Maharashtra, not Sikkim. This highlights the importance of focusing on the precise wording of a question.

How to Approach the Question

• First, identify the key components of the question: 'Indian state', 'Buddhist population', and 'Census 2011'.
• Next, focus on the crucial qualifier: 'highest percentage'. This is the most important part of the question as it directs you to look for a proportion, not a raw number.
• Mentally review or recall the demographics of the options. Recognize that some states may have a large number of a particular group but not the highest percentage.
• Consider the options: Maharashtra is known for having a large Buddhist population (in numbers), but Sikkim is a Himalayan state with a strong historical and cultural connection to Buddhism.
• Differentiate between the concepts of 'highest absolute number' (which would be Maharashtra) and 'highest percentage' (which is Sikkim).
• Select Sikkim as it has the highest proportion of Buddhists relative to its own state population.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Demographics of religious communities in India as per the 2011 Census.
• Stem keywords: Indian states, highest percentage, Buddhist population, Census 2011
• Lead-in keywords: highest percentage

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QBzrrIStpHFnwALkBEC7r6

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