Abstract: Maharashtra is the third largest urbanized state in India after Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The growth in urban population rose by 23.7 per cent during the last decade. The trends of urbanization show that there has been a steady increase in urban population in Maharashtra State since the year 1901 and there has been a rapid increase during the last decade. This paper attempts to study the trends of urban population in districts of Maharashtra during the last century with the help of Geographical Information System (GIS). A study of the level of urbanization also gives an insight into the varying trends of population growth. An attempt is also made to study the trends in urban literacy and urban sex ratio in districts of Maharashtra state. The study of the patterns of male and female literacy and the resultant gender gap in literacy is also explored. It is alarming to note that child sex ratio has decreased in some districts....
Keywords: GIS, Level of Urbanisation, trends in urban population
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