Rajasthan is one of the border states of India, sharing India's frontier with Pakistan on the west and northwest. Punjab bounds it on the north, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh on the north-east and east, Madhya Pradesh on the south and south-east and Gujarat on the south-west.
Physiography:
Rajasthan is one of the few states of India that show great contrast from one area to another. This disparity is noticeable in respect of climate, soil, vegetation, mineral resources, etc.
The state may be divided into 6 regions.
(1) Western arid region,
(2) Semi-arid region,
(3) South eastern region,
(4) Chambal ravines,
(5) Aravalli region and
(6) Eastern region.
History:
The State of Rajasthan is an amalgam mainly made up of the old princely
states of Rajasthan. It took some eight years for the state to come into its
present shape. The first step towards the formation of this state was taken on
March 17, 1948 with the formation of the Matsya Union, a Union of four princely
states, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur and Karauli.
The second step came with the formation of Rajasthan, a Union of 9 states-Banswara, Bundi, Dungarpur, Jhalawar, Kishangarh, Kota, Pratapgarh, Shahpura and Tonk on March 25, 1948. The state of Udaipur joined this union on April 18, 1948, thus transforming the Union into the United States of Rajasthan.In March, 1949, the four large princely states of Bikaner, Jaipur, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur joined the United States of Rajasthan. In April the Matsya Union joined up. The new union was known as the United States of Greater Rajasthan. The state of Sirohi acceded to it in Jan. 1950. The final step was taken when the state of Ajmer, the tehsil of Abu and the area of Sunel Tuppa were integrated with Greater Rajasthan on Nov.1, 1956, to be known simply as ajasthan.
Administration: The legislature is unicameral—the Legislative Assembly.
The state is divided into 32 districts, 87 sub-districts and 211 tehsils. The High
Court is at Jodhpur with a bench at Jaipur
Districts
- Ajmer
- AjmerAlwar
- AlwarBanswara
- BanswaraBarmer
- BarmerBharatpur
- BharatpurBhilwara
- BhilwaraBikaner
- BikanerBundi
- BundiChittorgarh
- ChittorgarhChuru
- ChuruDungarpur
- DungarpurGanganagar
- GanganagarJaipur
- JaipurJaisalmer
- JaisalmerJalore
- JaloreJhalawar
- JhalawarJhunjhunu
- JhunjhunuJodhpur
- JodhpurKota
- KotaNagaur
- NagaurPali
- PaliS. Madhopur
- S.MadhopurSikar
- SikarSirohi
- SirohiTonk
- TonkUdaipur
- UdaipurDholpur
- DholpurBaran
- BaranDausa
- DausaRajsamand
- Rajsamand
- Hanumangarh
Karoli
Economy:
Total cultivable area is 274.71 lakh hectare and irrigated area 53.50
lakh hectare.The principal crops are jowar, bajra, maize, wheat, grams,
oil-seeds, cotton, sugarcane and tobacco. A deficit state in foodgrains in the
pre-independence years, the state achieved an all-time high in farm yield in
1967-68 (66 lakh tonnes). This abundance was followed by two years of want and
unprecedented scarcity which shattered the economy of the state. Estimated
agricultural production was 130.03 lakh tonnes in 1994-95.Textiles, rugged and woollen goods, sugar, cement, glass, sodium, oxygen and acetylene units, pesticides, insecticides and dyes are some of the major industries. Other enterprises include the manufacture of caustic soda, calcium carbide and nylon tyre cord and copper smelting. 1.70 lakh small scale industrial nits (capital investment: Rs. 1423.33 cr.) give employment to about 6.51lakh People. Rajasthan handicrafts are famous all over the world. Marble work, woollen carpets, jewellery, embroidery, articles of leather, pottery and brass embossing.
Total railway length is 6228 km. In 1991, two of every five Rajasthanis were literate, as against one of every five in 1971. The world's first integrated solar combined cycle power project, to generate 140 MW by utilising solar and wind energy, is being set up at Jodhpur. A State Planning Board is being set up in Rajasthan. On Oct. 2, '99, the first phase of DPEP was launched in 10 districts. A Minorities Commission has been appointed in Rajasthan.
Universities:
- Agriculture University, Udaipur, Pin: 313 001; Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, Pin: 304 022;
- Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Pin: 333 031;
- Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Pin: 500 007;
- Jain Vishva Bharati Institute, Ladnun, Pin: 342 001; Kota Open University, Kota, Pin: 324 010;
- Maharishi Dayananda Saraswati University, Ajmer, Pin: 124 001;
- Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Pin: 313 001;
- Rajasthan Agricultural University, Jaipur (Bikaner), Pin: 334 002;
- Rajasthan Vidyapeeth, Udaipur, Pin: 313 001;
University of Rajasthan, jaipur, Pin: 302 004.
Ajmer is the first fully literate district in North India.
Tourist Centres:
Rajasthan has several sights to offer the tourist, especially in ancient and medieval architecture. Places of interest are :
Mount Abu, Ajmer, Alwar (Sariska tiger sanctury), Bharatpur (Keoladeo bird sanctury), Bikaner, Jaipur (thePink city), Jodhpur, Udaipur, Pali, Jaisalmer and Chittorgarh.
Tourism was given Industry status in 1992. The Ranthambore national park is to be renamed after Rajiv Gandhi.
Labels: Rajasthan