Correct answer: (c) II, IV, I, III
Explanation
- A
III, II, I, IV
Option (a) claims the descending order of population is Agra, Kanpur, Ghaziabad, and Lucknow. This sequence incorrectly places Agra ahead of major population hubs like Kanpur and Lucknow, making it an incorrect choice for the ranking.
- B
II, I, IV, III
Option (b) starts the sequence with Kanpur, followed by Ghaziabad, Lucknow, and Agra. While Kanpur has a very high population, placing Ghaziabad before Lucknow fails to match the precise official census data hierarchy.
- C
II, IV, I, III
Option (c) arranges the cities as Kanpur, Lucknow, Ghaziabad, and Agra, which correctly reflects their descending population order according to the official census figures. Kanpur and Lucknow lead the state's major urban agglomerations, followed closely by Ghaziabad and then Agra, making this the accurate option.
- D
I, II, III, IV
Option (D) lists Ghaziabad first, followed by Kanpur, Agra, and Lucknow. This sequence wrongly elevates Ghaziabad to the top position ahead of Kanpur and disrupts the proper census-based descending hierarchy.
Summary. Official key is (c) representing the correct descending order of population for the given Uttar Pradesh cities. According to census data, Kanpur holds the highest population among these four, followed by Lucknow, Ghaziabad, and Agra. Aspirants often confuse the rapid urban growth of Ghaziabad with the absolute population scale of Lucknow and Kanpur. Carefully verifying the official demographic rankings prevents common sequencing errors in urban geography questions. Thus, option (c) is the only correct answer.