Rajasthan
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The source of this article
INDIA 2012
A REFERENCE ANNUAL
Compiled by
RESEARCH, REFERENCE AND TRAINING DIVISION
PUBLICATIONS DIVISION
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
Rajasthan
Area : 3,42,239 sq km
Population : 6,86,21,012 (Provisional, as per Census 2011)
Capital : Jaipur
Principal Languages : Hindi and Rajasthani
HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY
Rajasthan, area-wise the largest State in India prior to Independence was known as Rajputana. The Rajputs, a martial community, ruled over this area for centuries. States and Union Territories
The history of Rajasthan dates back to the pre-historic times. Around 3,000 and 1,000 BC, it had a culture akin to that of the Indus Valley civilisation. The Chauhans dominated Rajput affairs from seventh century and by 12th century they had become an imperial power. After the Chauhans, the Guhilots of Mewar controlled the destiny of the warring tribes. Besides Mewar, the other historically prominent States were Marwar, Jaipur, Bundi, Kota, Bharatpur and Alwar. Other States were only offshoots of these. All these states accepted the British Treaty of Subordinate Alliance in 1818 protecting the interests of the princes. This naturally left the people discontented.
After the revolt of 1857, the people united themselves under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi to contribute to the freedom movement. With the introduction of provincial autonomy in 1935 in British India, an agitation for civil liberties and political rights became stronger in Rajasthan. The process of uniting scattered States commenced from 1948 to 1956 when the States Reorganisation Act was promulgated.
First came Matsya Union (1948) consisting of a fraction of States, then, slowly and gradually other States merged with this Union. By 1949, major States like Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer joined this Union making it the United State of Greater Rajasthan. Ultimately in 1958, the present State of Rajasthan formally came into being, with Ajmer state, the Abu Road Taluka and Sunel Tappa joining it.
The entire western flank of the State borders with Pakistan, while Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh bound Rajasthan in north-east, south– east respective by and Gujarat in south-west.
Agriculture
Total cultivable area in the State was 219.46 lakh hectare and estimated food grain production was 123.59 lakh tonnes in the year 2009-10. Estimated total cultivated area in the State was 245.38 lakh hectares and estimated food grain production was 201.45 lakh tonnes in the year 2010-11. Principal crops cultivated in the State are rice, barley, jowar, millet, maize, gram, wheat, oilseeds, pulses and cotton. Cultivation of vegetable and citrus fruits such as orange and malta has also picked up over last few years. Red chillies, mustard, cumin seeds, methi and hing are commercial crops of the State.
Industry and Minerals
Endowed with a rich culture, Rajasthan is also rich in minerals and is fast emerging on the industrial scenario of the country. Some of the important Central undertakings are Hindustan Zinc Smelter Plant at Devari (Udaipur), Chanderia (Chittorgarh), Hindustan Copper Plant at Khetri Nagar (Jhunjhunu), Hindustan Salt Ltd. Sambhar (Jaipur), HMT Ltd. Ajmer, and Precision Instrument Factory at Kota. Small-scale industrial units numbering 3.49 lakh with a capital investment of Rs. 12552.50 crore provide employment to about 14.90 lakh persons in the State as in March 2011.
Major industries are textiles and woolens, engineering goods, Electronic items, Automobile, Food Processing, Gems and Jewellery, Cement, Marble slabs and tiles, glass, Oxygen, Zinc, fertilizers, railway wagons, ball bearings, water and electricity meters, sulphuric acid, handicraft items, television sets, synthetic yarn, Ceramic, Insulator, Stainless steel, Re-rolling, Steel Foundry and insulating bricks. Besides, precious and semi-precious stones, caustic soda, calcium carbide, nylon and tyres, etc. are other important industrial units.
Rajasthan has rich deposits of zinc concentrates, emerald, garnet, gypsum, silver, asbestos, felspar and mica. The State also abounds in Export Promotion Industrial Park of country has been established and made operational at Sitapura (Jaipur), Boranada (Jodhpur) and Nimrana (Alwar). Inland Container Depots have established in Jaipur. Bhilwara, Jodhpur, and Bhiwadi (Alwar) to promote the exporters. Special Economic Zone for Gems and Jewellery at Sitapura (Jaipur) and Special Economic Zone for Handicraft at Boranada (Jodhpur) have been established, and Multipurpose special Economic Zone "Mahendra World City" has been established in PPP model at Jaipur.
IRRIGATION
By the end of March 2011 irrigation potential of 37.51 lakh hectare was created in the State through various major, medium and minor irrigation projects. During the year 2010-11 (upto March, 2011) additional irrigation potential of 38,444 hectares (including IGNP) was created.
POWER
The installed power capacity in the State has become 9188.22 MW upto March, 2011 of which 4097.35 MW is produced from State owned projects, 972.94 MW from collaboration projects, 2240.23 MW from the allocation from Central power generating stations, 1607.70 MW from Wind, Solar and Biomass Projects and 270 MW from Private Sector Projects.
MAHATMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME
In first phase Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was initiated on 2.2.06 in 6 districts (Banswara, Dungarpur, Jhalawar, Karuoli, Sirohi and Udaipur) of the State. In second phase this scheme was initiated on 2.5.07 in other 6 districts (Barmer, Chittorgarh, Jaiselmer, Jalore, Sawai Madhopur and Tonk) of the State. In third phase this scheme was initiated on 1.4.08 in rest districts of the State.
During the financial year 2010-11 Rs. 3300.33 crores has been spend for employed to 58.24 lakh families. And 3026.65 lakh mandays have been created under the scheme.
TRANSPORT
Roads : The total length of roads was 1,88,534 km as in March, 2011.
Railways: Jodhpur, Jaipur, Bikaner, Kota, Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Bharatpur and
Udaipur are main Railway junctions of State. Total length of Railway line is 5683.01
KM. in the State as on March, 2008.
Aviation: All eminent cities are connected with Jaipur air port under domestic air services in which Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangaluru, Pune and Guwahati are important domestic air services. International air services are also available for Dubai, Mascutt and Sharjah from Jaipur air port.
FESTIVALS
Rajasthan is a land of festivals and fairs, besides national festivals of Holi, Deepawali, Vijayadashmi, Christmas, etc., auspices days related to deities, saintly figures, folk heroes and heroines are celebrated. Important fairs are Teej, Gangaur (Jaipur), annual Urs of Ajmer Sharif and Galiakot, tribal Kumbh of Beneshwar (Dungarpur), Mahaveer fair at Shrimahavirji in Karoli, Ramdeora fair (Jaisalmer), Jambheswar fair (Nokha-Bikaner), Kartik Poornima and Cattle Fair (Pushkar-Ajmer) and Khatu Shyamji Fair (Khatu-Sikar) etc.
TOURIST CENTRES
Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner, Mount Abu (Sirohi), Ranthambhore National Park (Tiger Reserve) in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Sanctuary in Alwar, Keoladeo National Park at Bharatpur, Ajmer, Jaisalmer, Pali, Chittorgarh, Bundi, Kota, Jhalawar and Shekhawati are important places of tourists interests in the State.
GOVERNMENT
Governor : Shri Shivraj V. Patil
Chief Secretary : Shri Salauddin Ahmed (2012)/ C.K. Matthew
Chief Minister : Shri Ashok Gehlot
Jurisdiction of High Court
- Rajasthan
DISTRICTWISE POPULATION OF THE STATE
S. No. Name of the District Population (Prov. 2011 Census)
1. Ajmer 25,84,913
2. Alwar 36,71,999
3. Banswara 17,98,194
4. Baran 12,23,921
5. Barmer 26,04,453
6. Bharatpur 25,49,121
7. Bhilwara 24,10,459
8. Bikaner 23,67,745
9. Bundi 11,13,725
10. Chittorgarh 15,44,392
11. Churu 20,41,172
12. Dausa 16,37,226
13. Dholpur 12,07,293
14. Dungarpur 13,88,906
15. Ganganagar 19,69,520
16. Hanumangarh 17,79,650
17. Jaipur 66,63,971
18. Jaisalmer 6,72,008
19. Jalore 18,30,151
20. Jhalawar 14,11,327
21. Jhunjhunu 21,39,658
22. Jodhpur 36,85,681
23. Karauli 14,58,459
24. Kota 19,50,491
25. Nagaur 33,09,234
26. Pali 20,38,533
27. Rajsamand 11,58,283
28. S. Madhopur 13,38,114
29. Sikar 26,77,737
30. Sirohi 10,37,185
31. Tonk 14,21,711
32. Udaipur 30,67,549
33. Pratapgarh 8,68,231
Total 6,86,21,012
- Population data have been taken from website of Census department "Census-2011"
