According to the 2011 Census, which of the following states has the highest concentration of Jains in India?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Maharashtra
Option (1) Gujarat — Incorrect. Gujarat has a Jain share of nearly 1 per cent. That is high, but below the 1.3% of Maharashtra.
Option (2) Rajasthan — Incorrect. Rajasthan does not appear among the areas with the highest Jain concentration. The top three are Maharashtra, Delhi and Gujarat.
Option (3) Maharashtra — Correct. Maharashtra has the highest concentration of Jains, about 1.3% of its population. Concentration here means the Jain share of the state's people.
Option (4) Karnataka — Incorrect. Karnataka is not one of the top areas for Jain concentration. Maharashtra leads, followed by Delhi and Gujarat at nearly 1 per cent each.
NCERT (2026-27): “Minority Rights and Nation Building … “… There are also several other small religious groups – Buddhists (8 million, 0.7%), Jains (4.5 million, 0.4%), and ‘Other Religions and Persuasions’ (under 8 million, 0.7%). The highest proportion of Buddhists is found in Sikkim (27%) and Arunachal Pradesh (12%), while among the larger states Maharashtra has the highest share of Buddhists at 6%. The highest concentrations of Jains are found in Maharashtra (1.3%), Delhi and Gujarat nearly 1 per cent each.” |