Which of the following states have small population shares despite their large…

A state's share of India's population and its share of India's geographical area are two separate measures. When a state's population share is much smaller than its area share, the state has a low population density and is described as having a small population share despite a large geographical area.

Applying Census 2011 figures (the standard basis for this comparison) to the states named in each option:

1. Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand together span about 6.8% + 2.5% + 1.6%, that is, approximately 11% of India's total geographical area.

2. The same three states together account for only about 1.04% + 0.11% + 0.83%, that is, approximately 2% of India's total population.

3. An area share of roughly 11% paired with a population share of only about 2% is the widest area-population gap among the four option groups, matching a small population share despite a large geographical area.

Comparing all four option groups on the same two measures (Census 2011) shows why the other groupings do not fit:

Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar hold the largest population shares of any grouping, well above their area share. Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat have population and area shares that closely track each other. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan have a population share somewhat above their area share. Only Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand combine a meaningful area share with a population share far below it.