Haryana-Specific General Knowledge
Haryana-specific GK carries the state paper's decisive marks. It covers the state's history and formation, culture, physical and economic geography, administration, and welfare schemes. Questions are factual and often test the exact Act, date, district or scheme name.
Formation and administration
- Haryana was carved out of Punjab by the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, with effect from 1 November 1966.
- Chandigarh is the shared capital and a Union Territory; it is not part of Haryana. The Punjab and Haryana High Court sits there.
- The state has 22 districts and six divisions: Ambala, Hisar, Gurugram, Rohtak, Karnal and Faridabad.
- First Chief Minister: Bhagwat Dayal Sharma.
Geography and culture
- Yamuna forms much of the eastern boundary; the Ghaggar is seasonal; the Aravalli hills lie in the south and the Shivaliks in the north-east.
- State symbols: blackbuck (animal), black francolin (bird), peepal (tree), lotus (flower).
- Folk forms include Saang, Ragini and Haryanvi folk dance; the Surajkund International Crafts Mela is held in Faridabad.
Welfare and governance
- Parivar Pehchan Patra gives each family a digital ID used for scheme eligibility.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao was launched nationally from Panipat on 22 January 2015.
- Saksham Yuva, Ladli Social Security Allowance and Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam are state employment and social-security instruments.
Worked example
Question: Haryana was created by which Act and from which state? Reasoning: The Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966 divided Punjab; Haryana became a state on 1 November 1966. Chandigarh was made a UT, so it is not a Haryana district. Answer: Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966; from Punjab.
Traps
- Saying Chandigarh is part of Haryana.
- Mixing the formation year with the Act's passage year.
- Confusing state animal and bird.
- Using old district or division counts.