Correct Option
The correct option is Maharashtra
Explanation
During the decade 1991-2001, the spatial pattern of population growth in India exhibited a distinct regional divide. Demographers identified a "continuous belt" of states extending from the west to the east across North-West, North, and North-Central India that recorded relatively high growth rates, typically ranging between 20% and 25%.
Analysis of Options
- Kerala, Tamil These states belong to the group of southern and coastal states that achieved a low growth rate of population (below 20%) during this period. Kerala registered the lowest growth rate in the country (9.4%), followed closely by Tamil Nadu (11.7%) and Goa (15.2%).
- Maharashtra: This state falls within the continuous belt of high growth. During 1991-2001, Maharashtra recorded a decadal growth rate of approximately 22.7%, placing it squarely in the 20-25% category alongside states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
Key Takeaway: The decade 1991-2001 is characterized by a clear demographic divide where southern states (plus Goa) stabilized population growth below 20%, while a continuous northern and central belt (including Maharashtra) maintained high growth rates between 20% and 25%.