General Questions

The correct answer is Heera Lal Shastri.

• Heera Lal Shastri was the first Chief Minister of Rajasthan.

Key Points

• Chief Minister is the head of the state government.
• According to Article 164 in the Indian Constitution, Governor appoints Chief Minister.
• However, the Governor cannot appoint any random person as the Chief Minister but has to follow a provision.
• The present state of Rajasthan was created on 30 January 1949 by merging the earlier state of Rajputana and a number of princely states.
• The latter were further regrouped in 1956.
• Hiralal Shastri, a prominent politician, and educationist, the serving ‘Prime Minister’ of the princely Jaipur State.
• He was appointed as the 1st Chief Minister of this state. (General election in India came into effect in 1952).
• About Rajasthan (as of Sep 2021)
  • ​Current Governor: Kalraj Mishra
  • Capital: Jaipur (Executive Branch)
  • Current Chief minister: Ashok Gehlot
  • Rajya Sabha Seats: 10
  • Lok Sabha Seats: 25

Additional Information

The correct answer is Kachhwaha.

• Hawa Mahal was built by the Kachhwaha Rajput Clan of Rajasthan.

Key Points

• The renowned 'Palace Of The Winds', or Hawa Mahal, is one of the prominent tourist attractions in Jaipur city.
• Located in the heart of Jaipur, this beautiful five-storey palace was constructed in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh, who belonged to the Kachhwaha Rajput dynasty.
• The main architect of this palace was built of red and pink sandstone and the palace is believed to have been constructed in the form of the crown of Krishna, the Hindu god.
• Considered as an embodiment of Rajputana architecture.
• The main highlight of Hawa Mahal is its pyramid shape and its 953 windows or 'Jharokhas' which are decorated with intricate designs.
• The main intention behind the construction of the Mahal was to facilitate the royal women and provide them with a view of everyday life through the windows, as they never appeared in public.

Additional Information

• The Kachwaha are a Rajput clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states such as Alwar, Maihar, and Talcher in India.
• The Sisodias Suryavanshi Rajputs were also known as the Ranas of Mewar, old Ranas states are to be found in many parts of India, and Nepal.
• Chouhan or Chohan is a clan that ruled parts of northern India in the medieval period.
  • Prithviraj Chauhan, the last Hindu king of Delhi, was a member of this community.
• Rathores are a Suryavanshi Rajput clan.
  • The clan traces its lineage back to Rama, the mythical hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana.

The correct answer is Udai Singh II.

Important Points

• Udai Singh II (1540-1572):
  • Belong to the Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar.
  • 1562: He gave refuge to Baz Bahadur of Malwa.
    • Due to this, Akbar attacked Mewar in October 1563.
    • Rao Jaimal and Patta fought with valour, Akbar got impressed and erected a statue at Fatehpur Sikri.
  • Founded the city of Udaipur (1559) and made the capital of Mewar.

Additional Information

• Maharana Pratap (1540-1597):
  • Belong to the Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar.
  • Title: Leonidas of Rajasthan.
  • Battle of Haldighati (1576)
• Amar Singh I (1597-1620):
  • Belong to the Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar.
  • Battle of Dewar (1606):
    • The Battle of Dewar was fought between Amar Singh I of Mewar and the Mughal army under Parviz and Asaf Khan IV. 
    • Result: Rajput Victory
  • Made peace with Jahangir and the treaty negotiated by Shah Jahan.
• Jagat Singh I (1628-1652):
  • Belong to the Sisodia Dynasty of Mewar.
  • Built Jag temple in Lake Pichola.

The correct answer is Jodhpur.

• According to the Rajasthan Budget 2021, Think tank center will be opened in Jodhpur for Rs 400 crore.
  • It was announced to open the country's second and Rajasthan's first digital university in Jodhpur.
  • The first Ayurveda University of Rajasthan is located in Jodhpur.

Additional Information

Gross State Domestic Product estimates are projected at both current and constant prices.

Important Points

• Sectoral Contribution of GVA at Current Prices by
  • Agriculture: 29.77%
  • Industry: 24.80%
  • Services: 45.43%
• Per Capita Income at
  • Constant (2011-12) Prices: Rs. 72,297
  • Current Prices: Rs. 1,09,386

The correct answer is Rawatbhata.

Key Points

• Rana Pratap Sagar Dam is built on Chambal river.
• It is a gravity masonry dam located in the Rawatbhata district of Rajasthan.
• The height of the dam is 53.8 meters (177 ft)
• Other Important Dams in Rajasthan
  • Bilaspur Dam
  • Mahi Bajaj Sagar Dam
  • Meja Dam
  • Jawai Dam

Additional Information

• Chambal River:
  • It rises in the Vindhya Range just south of Mhow, western Madhya Pradesh state.
  • Chambal is the chief tributary of the Yamuna River 
  • Banas, Kali Sindh, Sipra, and Parbati are its chief tributaries of the Chambal river.

The correct answer is Jaisalmer.

• In the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan is the Tanot Devi Temple located.

Key Points

• The Tanot Mata Temple is situated in the Tanot village of district Jaisalmer.
• It is a major attraction for those visiting the Thar Desert in Rajasthan.
• The heritage site is preserved and maintained by the Border Security Force (BSF) of India since the Indo-Pakistan war in 1971.
• Localities have immense faith in the temple’s austerity and pay regular visits to the Tanot Mata.
• She is believed to be an apparition of the Hinglaj Mata Goddess.
• Tanot is in close proximity with Longewala, a critical India-Pakistan border that forbids access to any individual without permission of Indian Government authorities.

Additional Information

• About Rajasthan
  • ​Governor: Kalraj Mishra
  • Capital: Jaipur (Executive Branch)
  • Chief Minister: Ashok Gehlot
  • Rajya Sabha: Seats 10
  • Lok Sabha Seats: 25
  • Flower: Rohida
  • Dance: Ghoomar

The correct answer is Ajmer.

• Rajasthan Seva Sangh:
  • This institution was established to spread political awareness among the masses.
  • It was established in 1919 in Ajmer.
  • It was established by Arjun Lal Sethi, Thakur Kesari Singh Barahath, Vijay Singh Pathik, Ram Narayan Choudhary, and Hari Bhai Kinkar, in consultation with Mahatma Gandhi.
  • The main functions of Rajasthan Seva Sangh are to listen to the common man's problems, ban the begar pratha, boycott foreign goods, and promote khadi goods.

Key Points

•  This sangha started 'Navin Rajasthan' newspaper but it was later banned by the British government.
• In 1928, this sangha came to an end due to a dispute between Ram Narayan Choudhary and Vijay Singh Pathik. 

The correct answer is Mumbai.

• The central office was initially established in Calcutta but was permanently moved to Mumbai in 1937.

Key Points

• About RBI: (as of June 2021) 
  • The Reserve Bank of India was established on 1st April 1935.
    • Was established on the recommendation of the Hilton Young Commission.
    • The RBI was nationalized with effect from 1st January 1949.
    • Four local boards of RBI are located in four regions of the country Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Kolkata.
    • RBI is headed by the Governor, current Governor of RBI is Shri Shaktikanta Das (25th Governor)
    • The first Indian Governor of RBI was CD Deshmukh.
    • Functions of RBI:
    1. ​Issue currency,
    2. Control credit,
    3. Acts as National Clearinghouse.
    • Also known as Banker's bank, Banker to the government.
• Raghuram Rajan (23rd) and Urjit Patel (24th) former Governors of RBI.

The correct answer is Jaipur.

Key Points

• Rajasthan is famous for domestic architecture in different stones like yellow and pink limestone and white marble.
• Jaipur is the center of marble carvings in Rajasthan.
• Jaipur also produces stone figurines and marble statues.
• For centuries artisans in Jaipur have carved marble sculptures of deity with religious iconography developed into fine arts.
• Craftsmen apart from creating figures of deity also makes household items.
• Most temples in Jaipur have deities sculpture made up of marble.

The correct answer is Wool.

Key Points

• Currently, Rajasthan is the largest wool-producing state in India.
• India ranks 6th amongst clean wool producer countries and 9th amongst greasy wool producers.
• Indian wool is almost exclusively of broader micron and used in the manufacturing of carpets and rugs.
• India has the 3rd largest sheep population in the world, having 6.15 crores of sheep, producing 45 million kg.
• Bikaner, Nagaur, Jaisalmer and Churu districts of Rajasthan, produces different breeds of sheep.
• Jaisalmeri sheep in Rajasthan are found in the district of Jaimalmer.
• Jaisalmeri is the largest wool-giving sheep in Rajasthan.
• The longest wool in Rajasthan is also that of the Jaisalmeri sheep.

Additional Information

• Central sheep and wool research institute:
  • The institution was established in the year 1962 at Avikanagar, Malpura in Tonk district of Rajasthan.