General Knowledge and Current Affairs
This section mixes static Maharashtra GK, Indian polity, history, geography, economy, science and recent current affairs.
Static Maharashtra
- 36 districts and 6 revenue divisions: Konkan, Nashik, Pune, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Amravati, Nagpur.
- Formed on 1 May 1960 (Maharashtra Day); first Chief Minister Yashwantrao Chavan.
- Legislature: Vidhan Sabha 288 seats, Vidhan Parishad 78 seats.
- State symbols: animal - Indian giant squirrel (शेकरू); bird - green pigeon (हरियाल); tree - mango; flower - jarul (जास्वंद).
- Highest peak Kalsubai (about 1,646 m); longest river Godavari.
Polity and economy
Fundamental rights (Articles 14, 19, 21), 73rd/74th Amendments for local bodies, President vs Governor, RBI functions, GST introduced in 2017, NITI Aayog.
Worked example
"Which is the state animal of Maharashtra?" Options: tiger, Indian giant squirrel, elephant, leopard. The tiger is the national animal - a near-miss distractor. The state animal is the Indian giant squirrel (Shekru). Reasoning: always separate national symbols from state symbols before choosing.
Traps that cost marks
- National vs state symbols, and 'first in India' vs 'first in Maharashtra'.
- Current affairs older than the exam's cut-off date being treated as current - check the notification date and revise events from the preceding 6–12 months.
- Confusing districts with divisions, or peaks with hill ranges.