Rajasthan General Knowledge and Current Affairs
What this domain tests
Rajasthan GK checks geography, rivers and desert, history and culture, forts, fairs, protected areas, and state institutions, with a current-affairs layer of recent schemes and appointments.
Geography and rivers
Rajasthan is the largest state by area at about 342,239 square kilometres, with Jaipur as capital. The Aravalli is one of the world's oldest fold mountain systems and divides the state; the Thar desert lies to the west. The Banas is the only river flowing entirely within Rajasthan; the Chambal is perennial; the Luni is the river of the Thar, turning saline past Balotra. The Indira Gandhi Canal starts at the Harike barrage in Punjab. Sambhar is the largest inland salt lake.
History and culture
Excavated sites include Kalibangan in Hanumangarh, Ahar, Ganeshwar and Balathal. Greater Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949, now observed as Rajasthan Day. Folk deities include Pabuji, Tejaji, Gogaji and Ramdevji; the Pushkar fair and the Ramdev cattle fair at Nagaur are major events. The Brahma temple at Pushkar, the Dilwara and Ranakpur Jain temples, Kumbhalgarh and Chittorgarh forts are frequently asked. Protected areas include Keoladeo Ghana, Ranthambore, Sariska and the Desert National Park, home to the Great Indian Bustard.
Institutions
RPSC and the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board are based at Ajmer; the Rajasthan High Court sits at Jodhpur with a bench at Jaipur; the Legislative Assembly has 200 seats.
Traps that cost marks
- Mixing up the Banas and the Luni, or calling Luni perennial.
- Quoting a district count without checking the latest notification, since the number has repeatedly changed through reorganisations.
- Mapping a folk deity to the wrong region or fair.
- Missing that current affairs questions favour the last twelve months, so revise a dated monthly digest rather than old notes.