The following table shows the number of candidates from five states who had appeared for an interview for the post of a PO in the State Bank of India.

States Years	Bihar	U.P.	M.P.	Punjab	Kerala
2012	410	300	250	280	440
2013	500	400	280	320	400
2014	450	450	240	260	350
2015	320	500	400	400	380
2016	500	430	540	350	420

Which of the given State recorded the lowest percentage increase of candidates from 2012 to 2016?

Correct option is B

Given:

The table shows the number of candidates appearing for an interview in different states from 2012 to 2016. We need to find the state with the lowest percentage increase in candidates from 2012 to 2016.

Concept Used:

The percentage increase in candidates from 2012 to 2016 is calculated using the formula:

​$$\text{Percentage Increase} = \left( \frac{\text{Candidates in 2016} - \text{Candidates in 2012}}{\text{Candidates in 2012}} \right) \times 100$$​​

Solution:

Bihar:

​$$\left( \frac{500 - 410}{410} \right) \times 100 = \left( \frac{90}{410} \right) \times 100 = 21.95\%$$​

U.P.:

$$\left( \frac{430 - 300}{300} \right) \times 100 = \left( \frac{130}{300} \right) \times 100 = 43.33\%$$​

M.P.:

​$$\left( \frac{540 - 250}{250} \right) \times 100 = \left( \frac{290}{250} \right) \times 100 = 116\%$$​

Punjab:

$$\left( \frac{350 - 280}{280} \right) \times 100 = \left( \frac{70}{280} \right) \times 100 = 25\%$$​

Kerala:

​$$\left( \frac{420 - 440}{440} \right) \times 100 = \left( \frac{-20}{440} \right) \times 100 = -4.55\%$$​​

by the option , we see that, Bihar is lowest candidate percentage increase of candidates from 2012 to 2016.​