According to 2011 census, which of the following states has the largest rural population?

Uttar Pradesh is the correct answer. In Census 2011, UP had a total population of about 19.98 crore, of which roughly 15.5 crore (about 77.7%) lived in rural areas. That is the largest rural population of any state or Union Territory, simply because UP is the most populous state.

Check the others. Maharashtra had about 6.2 crore rural people, Madhya Pradesh about 5.3 crore, and Punjab only about 1.7 crore. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are large states, but neither comes close to UP's rural base. Punjab has a high rural share but a small absolute population.

Core concept: absolute rural population versus rural percentage. The question asks for the number, not the proportion. Himachal Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha have very high rural shares but do not have the largest rural population. For Mains, this links to rural development schemes such as PMAY-G and to why UP's rural infrastructure gaps matter so much for national targets.

Trap: candidates pick Maharashtra because it is a big, urbanised state, or pick a high rural-share state. Read whether the question asks for the count or the proportion.