Rajasthan General Knowledge
Rajasthan GK tests physical features, drainage, Harappan and medieval history, integration, tribal composition and current state administration. Precision of names, places and directions earns the marks.
Relief and drainage
- Aravalli: among the world's oldest fold mountains; highest peak Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) in Mount Abu, Sirohi district. It divides the desert west from the eastern plains.
- Thar: Marusthali with shifting dunes. Luni is the main inland-drainage river, rising near the Naga hills, Ajmer, and ending in the Rann of Kachchh.
- Chambal: the only perennial river, rising at Janapav (Madhya Pradesh) and cutting the Hadoti gorge. Banas flows wholly within Rajasthan and joins the Chambal.
- Sambhar: largest inland saline lake (Jaipur–Nagaur). Keoladeo, Bharatpur, is a Ramsar and UNESCO wetland. Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, protects the Great Indian Bustard.
History, integration and tribes
- Harappan sites: Kalibangan (Hanumangarh - ploughed field, fire altars), Ahar (Udaipur), Ganeshwar (Sikar, copper).
- Movements: Bijolia peasant movement, Eki movement under Motilal Tejawat, Bhil movements.
- Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949 in stages; Kota served as the early capital and Jaipur became capital in 1956. First Chief Minister: Heera Lal Shastri.
- Mina is the largest tribal group by population, Bhil second; Sahariya (Baran) is the state's only Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group.
Worked example
Why does the Luni not reach the sea? Check origin, direction and outlet. It rises near Ajmer, flows south-west along the Aravalli's western flank, crosses a belt of low rainfall and high evaporation, and terminates in the Rann of Kachchh. It is therefore an inland-drainage river, like the Ghaggar. The deciding evidence is the outlet, not the river's length.
Traps that cost marks
- Saying the Chambal rises in Rajasthan; it rises in Madhya Pradesh.
- Writing Guru Shikhar as 1,722 feet instead of metres.
- Claiming Bhil is the largest tribal group by population; Mina is.