General Knowledge of Rajasthan: Geography, History, Culture, Polity, Economy
Rajasthan GK is usually the highest-yield block in Paper I because it is finite and factual. Weight clusters around physical features, rivers, medieval and modern history, folk culture, state polity and mineral economy, often phrased as which district, which river or which year.
Geography
- Aravalli, among the oldest fold mountains; Guru Shikhar (1,722 m, Sirohi) is the highest peak.
- Thar in the west; Sambhar is the largest inland salt lake.
- Chambal rises at Janapav (Madhya Pradesh) and is the state's perennial river; Mahi also rises outside the state.
- Luni flows entirely within Rajasthan and turns saline below Balotra; Banas also lies wholly within the state and joins the Chambal.
History and culture
- Haldighati, 1576, Maharana Pratap against the Mughal army; Khanwa, 1527; 1857 centres include Nasirabad, Auwa and Kota.
- Dances: Ghoomar, Kalbeliya (UNESCO intangible heritage, 2010), Terah Taali, Kachhi Ghodi.
- Fairs: Pushkar, Gangaur, Teej. Crafts: blue pottery (Jaipur), Molela terracotta, Bandhej.
Polity and economy
200 Assembly seats, 25 Lok Sabha and 10 Rajya Sabha seats; High Court at Jodhpur; Greater Rajasthan commemorated on 30 March 1949. Minerals and energy: Khetri copper, Zawar zinc, Makrana marble, Mangala oilfield in Barmer, Indira Gandhi Canal for irrigation.
Worked example
Which Rajasthan river lies wholly within the state and drains into the Chambal? Banas. Reasoning: Luni is also wholly within Rajasthan but ends in the Rann of Kachchh; Chambal and Mahi originate in Madhya Pradesh; the Banas rises near Kumbhalgarh and meets the Chambal at Rameshwar Ghat in Sawai Madhopur.
Traps that cost marks
- Naming Mount Abu as the highest peak; Abu is the hill station, Guru Shikhar the peak.
- Swapping Banas and Luni.
- Mixing 30 March 1949 with 1 November 1956, the linguistic reorganisation of states.
- Claiming UNESCO status for Ghoomar instead of Kalbeliya.