The country has achieved an all-time high production of foodgrains, estimated at 235.88 million tonnes in 2010-11, said Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday. This came on the strength of a record output of wheat and pulses. The highest output of foodgrains, so far, has been the 234.47 million tonnes produced in 2008-09. Speaking at the National Conference on Kharif Strategies, Mr. Pawar said: “The third advance estimate figures [for the...

The 2011 census strengthens fears that Punjab may no more be a land of opportunities, recording the lowest population growth among major north Indian states, at 1.3% per annum. Despite this, Punjab has been able to arrest total fertility rate at 1.91, down from 2, as per the national family health survey 2007. Yet, it may also show that Punjab is not attracting migrants, indicating trouble for both farm and industry sectors....

Census 2011 has brought glad tidings on the literacy front. Delhi's literacy rate - recorded as 86.34% - has gone up by 4.67% in comparison to Census 2001, which recorded a literacy rate of 81.67%. One of the significant developments is the narrowing of the gap between male and female literacy rate - a drop of 2.53% - which is also the highest dip recorded so far. The difference between...

The provisional data of Census 2011 for the state shows the districts of Churu and Barmer with negative growth in literacy. While Churu's literacy rate has fallen from 67.59% to 67.46%, Barmer reported a much higher drop from 58.99% to 57.49%. Director, Census Operations, Rajasthan Shubra Singh pointed out that in the Census 2001, none of the districts had reported negative growth. The state also holds the dubious distinction of having...

The provisional census 2011 has recorded the population of Arunachal Pradesh at 13,82,611, comprising 7,20,232 males and 6,62,379 females. According to to the latest census, the state has registered an overall growth of 25.92% during 2001-2011. The Growth Rate is higher than the national average of 17.64%. The state has added 2,84,643 persons in the decade. Papum Pare came up as the most populous district with 1,76,385 population followed by Changlang...