Population
India, the second-most populous country in the world, exhibits significant variation in population across its states and districts. As per the 2011 Census, India's population stood at over 1.21 billion, distributed unevenly among its states and union territories. Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state, accounted for over 16% of the national population, followed by Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal. In contrast, smaller states like Sikkim and union territories like Lakshadweep have populations under a million. The demographic density also varies widely, with states like Bihar and West Bengal having over 1,000 people per square kilometer, while Arunachal Pradesh and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have fewer than 20 people per square kilometer.
At the district level, population disparities are even more pronounced. Districts like North 24 Parganas in West Bengal and Thane in Maharashtra have populations exceeding several smaller states, while sparsely populated districts like Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh have fewer than 10,000 residents. Urban districts, especially in metropolitan areas, are experiencing rapid population growth due to migration and urbanization, whereas rural districts in less developed states continue to grapple with high fertility rates and slower development. These patterns highlight the complex demographic diversity of India, necessitating region-specific policies for equitable development and resource allocation.
Economic disparity in Indian states
India exhibits significant economic disparity among its states and union territories (UTs), both in terms of GDP (total economic output) and GDP per capita (economic output per individual), reflecting uneven development across regions. While urbanized and industrialized states excel in GDP and GDP per capita, populous states in the Hindi Belt and the tribal-dominated regions struggle with poverty and underdevelopment.
According RBI data on Indian Economy 2021-22, states and UTs like Delhi (₹389,529), Goa (₹472,070), and Telangana (₹270,839) lead in GDP per capita, reflecting high levels of urbanization, industrialization, and infrastructure development. Maharashtra (₹31.08 lakh crores), Tamil Nadu (₹20.71 lakh crores), and Gujarat (₹19.37 lakh crores) dominate in total GDP, owing to their diverse economies, including manufacturing, services, and agriculture.
States in the Hindi Belt (e.g., Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand) have low GDP per capita (e.g., Bihar at ₹47,498, and Uttar Pradesh at ₹73,048), indicating widespread poverty and underdevelopment despite large populations. Many of these states are classified as "poorest" in terms of income group, with agriculture as a dominant yet underperforming sector.
Languages
Languages and language diversity
India is one of the most linguistically diverse countries globally, ranking 4th in the number of languages spoken, according to the Ethnologue Language Catalogue. Census 2011 reported 19,569 mother tongues, later grouped into 270 mother tongues and 121 languages, including 22 Scheduled languages listed in the Constitution and 99 non-Scheduled ones. Linguistic diversity is measured using Greenberg’s Diversity Index (LDI), which ranges from 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse). India’s most linguistically diverse states are Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, followed by tribal areas and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Smaller states with distinct tribal and ethnic groups exhibit higher linguistic diversity, while larger states like Uttar Pradesh and Kerala show lower diversity due to cultural homogenization over time.
The gap between linguistic diversity measured by languages (LDI-language) and mother tongues (LDI-mother tongues) is stark in Hindi-belt states of north, central, and western India, where multiple mother tongues are grouped under the umbrella of 'Hindi.' For instance, Uttar Pradesh, with 94% of its population speaking Hindi and Urdu at 5.4%, has a low LDI of 0.11. However, the state also has significant speakers of mother tongues classified under Hindi, such as Bhojpuri (10.8%), Awadhi (1.9%), Bundeli (0.65%), and Brajbhasha (0.36%). Including these mother tongues raises UP’s LDI threefold to 0.34, highlighting the underrepresentation of linguistic diversity when mother tongues are subsumed under broader language categories.
State Representation in Lok Sabha
Current allocation of Lok Sabha
Total Seats: 543 elected seats in the Lok Sabha.
State Distribution: Seats are allocated to states and union territories in proportion to their population as per the 1971 Census. States like Uttar Pradesh (80), Maharashtra (48), West Bengal (42), and Bihar (40) have the highest number of seats.
Representation Disparities: States with lower population growth, particularly in the south, have fewer seats relative to their current population share compared to northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Freezing of delimitation (1976 Act)
Based on the 1971 Census: The Delimitation Act, 1972, and subsequent orders were based on the 1971 Census to ensure proportional representation.
Freezing Boundaries in 1976: Through the 42nd Amendment of the Constitution (1976), the delimitation of constituencies was frozen until the first Census after 2000. This decision was influenced by the need to encourage population control, ensuring that states that had successfully reduced their population growth were not penalized with fewer parliamentary seats.
Extension to 2026: The 84th Constitutional Amendment (2001) extended the freeze on delimitation to 2026, maintaining the 1971 Census population figures as the basis for Lok Sabha seat allocation.
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