For the first time there is significant fall in the growth rate of population in the country. As per the provisional 2011 Census report released today in New Delhi, the growth rate has declined to 17.64 percent from 21.15 percent in the 2001 census.Releasing the provisional report today, Registrar General of India and Census Commissioner Dr. C. Chandramauli said there is significant decline in population growth in the states of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar , Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, and Odisha after decades of stagnation.He said the percent decadal growth rates of the six most populous states namely Uttar Pradesh, Maharasthra, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have all fallen during 2001-2012 compared to 1991 -2001. The lowest fall is 3.5 per cent points in Andhra Pradesh and the highest fall of 6.7 per cent points is in Maharashtra.Mr. Chandramauli said India's population is now estimated at 1,210.2 million including 623.7 million male and 586.5 million female. Population has also increased 181 million in the last 10 years.He said the sex ratio of the country has risen by 7 points to 940 which is highest since 1971. It was 933 in the Census 2001. However, the fall in child sex ratio remains unabated and declined to reach an all time low of 914. It was 927 in census 2001. Mr Chandamauli said child sex ratio in 2011 is 914 female against 1,000 male–the lowest since Independence.He said India's population is now bigger than the combined population of USA, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Japan. The census report says, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state and the combined population of UP and Maharashtra is bigger than USA.He said Delhi's north-east district has the highest population density as 37,346 persons live per square kilo metre while the lowest is in Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh with only one person per square kilo metre.Mr Chandramouli said post enumeration summary will be started soon and the final data is expected to be available next year and any error can be detected only then.The Census 2011 is the 15th census of India since 1872 and covered all 35 states and UTs and cost 2,200 crore rupees.India's literacy level has increased by 9.21 per cent in the past 10 years to reach 74.04 per cent. According to provisional data of the 2011 census released in New Delhi today, literates constitute 74 per cent of the total population aged seven and above and illiterates form 26 per cent.Females literacy level saw a significant jump as compared to males between 2001-2011. While female literacy in 2001 stood at 53.67 per cent, it has gone up to 65.46 per cent in 2011. The male literacy in comparison rose from 75.26 to 82.14 per cent.Kerala with 93.91 per cent continues to occupy the top position among states in the field of literacy. Mizoram's Serchhip (98.76 per cent) and Aizawl (98.50 per cent) recorded highest literacy rates among districts.