Which of the following districts of Uttar Pradesh has the lowest female literacy rate as per 2011 census?

The answer is C) Shrawasti. Shrawasti was among the least literate districts in Uttar Pradesh in Census 2011, and its female literacy was the lowest of the four options, in the high-30s per cent range. Verify the exact figure against the district census tables before you memorise it.

• Balrampur (B) is also in the backward Terai-Awadh belt, with female literacy above Shrawasti's.
• Bahraich (D) is the parent district from which Shrawasti was carved out in 1997, and its female literacy is higher than Shrawasti's.
• Rampur (A) has a relatively better literacy profile, with a larger urban base and better access to schooling, so it is well above the bottom group.

The core concept is district-level human development indicators: literacy gaps, especially female literacy, track poverty, distance to schools, and social norms. This links to the Mains theme of inclusive growth and the role of Samagra Shiksha and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Remember that Shrawasti and Balrampur were created as new districts in 1997, so their 2011 data is for relatively young administrative units.

Trap: Aspirants pick Balrampur or Bahraich because they are famously backward, but judge by the district-wise female literacy figure, not by general reputation.