Maharashtra General Knowledge and Culture
This domain tests Maharashtra’s geography, history, culture, institutions and state symbols. Expect district and division mapping, saints and festivals, forts, dances, crops and state-level ‘firsts’.
Core rules
- Maharashtra has 36 districts grouped into six divisions: Konkan, Pune, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Amravati and Nagpur.
- State symbols: Indian giant squirrel (animal), yellow-footed green pigeon (bird), jarul (flower), mango (tree).
- Bhakti tradition: Dnyaneshwar (Apegaon; samadhi at Alandi), Namdev, Eknath, Tukaram (Dehu); Varkari pilgrimage to Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadashi.
- Forts: Raigad (Shivaji’s capital), Pratapgad, Shivneri (birthplace of Shivaji), Sinhagad, Rajgad.
- Performing arts: Lavani, Tamasha, Koli dance, Dhangari; instruments such as dholki and tasha.
- Heritage: Ajanta and Ellora caves, Elephanta caves, Karla and Bhaja.
Worked example
Question: “Dnyaneshwar’s samadhi is at which place?” Reason: he was born at Apegaon near Paithan and took samadhi at Alandi near Pune; his work is the Dnyaneshwari, a Marathi commentary on the Bhagavad Gita. The birthplace and samadhi are different, so the pair must be kept separate.
Traps
- Mixing saints’ birthplaces with their samadhi places.
- Using old district names after renaming; write both if the option allows.
- Confusing division headquarters with district headquarters.
- Swapping state symbols, especially animal and bird.
- Assigning a dance or instrument to the wrong region or community.