Census 2011 Highlights

• History of Census in India:
  • First census: 1872, under Viceroy Lord Mayo.
  • First decennial (scientific basis) census: 1881, under Viceroy Lord Ripon (decided census every 10 years).
  • First Census Commissioner of India: W.C. Plowden.
• 2011 Census Overview:
  • 15th census overall.
  • 14th decennial census.
  • 7th census since India's independence (from 1951).
  • Census Commissioner: C. Chandramouli.
  • Motto: "Our Census, Our Future."
  • Total population: 121.09 crore (second globally after China at the time of census).
• Demographic Trends (2001-2011):
  • Decadal population growth rate: 17.7%.
  • Male population: 51.47%.
  • Female population: 48.53%.
  • "Great Divide" year: 1921 (1911-1921 decade saw population decrease due to famines and epidemics).
• Population by Area (2011):
  • States by Area:
    • Largest: Rajasthan (became largest after Chhattisgarh separated from Madhya Pradesh in 2000).
    • Smallest: Goa.
  • Union Territories by Area:
    • Largest: Ladakh.
    • Smallest: Lakshadweep.
• Population Distribution (2011):
  • Most Populous States:
    1. Uttar Pradesh (16.51% of India's population)
    2. Maharashtra (9.28%)
    3. Bihar (8.6%)
    4. West Bengal (7.54%)
  • Least Populous States:
    1. Sikkim (0.05%)
    2. Mizoram (0.09%)
    3. Arunachal Pradesh (0.11%)
    4. Goa (0.12%)
• Decadal Growth Rate (2001-2011):
  • Highest growth: Meghalaya (27.9%).
  • Lowest (negative) growth: Nagaland (-0.6%).
• Population Density (2011):
  • India's average density: 382 persons per sq. km.
  • Highest Population Density:
    • State: Bihar (1106 persons per sq. km.).
    • Union Territory: Delhi (highest in India overall).
  • Lowest Population Density:
    • State: Arunachal Pradesh (17 persons per sq. km.).
• Sex Ratio (2011):
  • India's average sex ratio: 943 females per 1000 males.
  • Highest Sex Ratio:
    • State: Kerala (1084 females per 1000 males, only state with ratio >1000).
  • Lowest Sex Ratio:
    • State: Haryana (879 females per 1000 males).
  • Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years):
    • Highest: Arunachal Pradesh (972).
    • Lowest: Haryana (834).
• Literacy Rate (2011):
  • India's average literacy rate: 73%.
  • Male literacy: 80.09%.
  • Female literacy: 64.60%.
  • Highest Literacy:
    • State: Kerala (94%).
  • Lowest Literacy:
    • State: Bihar (61.80%).
• Rural and Urban Population (2011):
  • Highest Rural Population (percentage): Himachal Pradesh (90%).
  • Highest Urban Population (percentage): Goa (62.2%).
  • Highest Urban Population (absolute numbers): Maharashtra (5.08 crore).
• Scheduled Castes (SC) Population (2011):
  • Highest SC Population (absolute numbers): Uttar Pradesh.
  • Highest SC Population (percentage): Punjab (31.9%).
• Scheduled Tribes (ST) Population (2011):
  • Highest ST Population (absolute numbers): Madhya Pradesh.
  • Highest ST Population (percentage): Mizoram (94%).

Current Affairs (July 2025)

International Indices

• Henley Passport Index 2025:
  • India's rank: 77th (up 8 places from 85th in 2024).
  • Indian passport holders can travel visa-free to 59 countries.
  • Top rank: Singapore (193 visa-free destinations).
  • Bottom rank: Afghanistan (106th).
  • Pakistan: 103rd.
• India's Ranks in Other Indices:
  • Gender Gap Index: 131st
  • Press Freedom Index: 151st
  • Happiness Index: 118th
  • Peace Index: 115th
  • Corruption Perception Index: 96th
  • Human Development Index (HDI): 130th
  • Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): 99th (India's first time in top 100)

International Relations & Organizations

• UN Security Council Resolution 2788:
  • Passed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
  • Purpose: Peaceful resolution of conflicts worldwide, from Ukraine to Gaza.
  • UNSC structure: 15 members (5 permanent with Veto power, 10 non-permanent with 2-year terms).
• USA's Withdrawals:
  • Announced withdrawal from UNESCO, effective December 2026.
  • Previously withdrew from WHO.
  • Previously exited the Paris Agreement (COP21, 2015).
• UNESCO World Heritage:
  • Headquarters: Paris.
  • Head: Audrey Azoulay.
  • 47th World Heritage Committee meeting in Paris.
  • India's 44th World Heritage Site: Maratha Military Landscape (includes 12 forts, 11 in Maharashtra, 1 in Tamil Nadu - Gingee Fort).

Defense and Maritime

• GRSE ASW Shallow Water Craft:
  • GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited) in Kolkata launched the 8th and final Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Shallow Water Craft.
  • Name of 8th craft: INS Ajay (also known as Yard 3034).
  • India's first ASW craft: INS Arnala (named after Arnala Fort in Maharashtra).
• Indian Air Force MiG-21 Retirement:
  • IAF to retire all MiG-21 fighter jets by September 2025.
  • Reason for retirement: Aging fleet, high accident rate (referred to as "flying coffin").
  • Replacement: Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
  • Currently, 23 squadrons of MiG-21 (called 'Panthers') are active.
  • MiG-21 (Mikoyan-Gurevich) was inducted into IAF in 1963.
  • Played key roles in 1965, 1971, and Kargil (1999) wars.
  • Associated with Wing Commander Abhinandan and the Balakot Airstrike.

Energy and Environment

• India's First Indigenous Geothermal Plant:
  • Location: Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Capacity: 50 kilowatt (kW).
  • Utilizes Earth's internal heat (68°C temperature detected).
  • Benefit: Clean energy.
  • Existing notable geothermal project in India: 1 Megawatt (MW) plant in Puga Valley, Ladakh.
  • World leader in geothermal energy: USA.

Governance and Policy

• National Broadcasting Day:
  • Celebrated on July 23.
  • Commemorates the first radio broadcast in India by the Indian Broadcasting Company from Bombay Station on July 23, 1927.
  • Indian Broadcasting Company was renamed All India Radio (AIR) in 1936.
  • AIR was renamed Akashvani in 1956.
  • Currently, Akashvani and AIR operate under Prasar Bharati.
• Delhi Government Sports Awards:
  • Announced cash awards for Olympic and Paralympic medalists:
    • Gold: Rs 7 crore + Grade A government job.
    • Silver: Rs 5 crore + Grade A government job.
    • Bronze: Rs 3 crore + Grade B government job.
• National Cooperative Policy 2025:
  • To be unveiled by Union Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on July 24, 2025.
  • Will replace the National Cooperative Policy 2002.
  • Policy duration: 20 years (2025-2045).
  • Committee formed for the new policy: 48 members, chaired by former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu.
  • Objectives: Make cooperative institutions inclusive, improve management, increase employment opportunities.
  • Significance: 2025 is the International Year of Cooperatives; Amit Shah is India's first Cooperation Minister.
• National Sports Administrator Bill 2025:
  • Introduced in Parliament during the Monsoon Session.
  • Objective: Bring the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

Other Notable Current Affairs

• Suhani Shah wins Magicians' Oscar:
  • First Indian woman to win the 'Magicians' Oscar' (FISM 2025 award) at the FISM event in Italy.
  • The award was established in 1948 and is presented every three years.
  • Suhani Shah hails from Rajasthan.
• India's First Mining Tourism Project:
  • Announced by the Jharkhand government (Chief Minister Hemant Soren).
  • Aims to convert defunct mining sites into tourist destinations.
  • First project location: Ramgarh, Jharkhand.
  • Jharkhand is part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau, known as the "Mineral House" of India, possessing 40% of India's minerals.
• SBI Report on GST Taxpayers:
  • Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of active GST taxpayers (13.2%).
  • Other states: Maharashtra (12.1%), Gujarat (8.4%), Tamil Nadu (7.7%), Karnataka (6.9%).