Rajasthan

Rajasthan (/rɑːdʒəˈstɑːn/; Hindi: [raːdʒəsˈtʰaːn] ; lit. 'Land of Kings')[12] is a state in northwestern

India.[13][14][15] It covers 342,239 square kilometres (132,139 sq mi) or 10.4 per cent of India's total
geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on
India's northwestern side, where it comprises most of the wide and inhospitable Thar Desert (also
known as the Great Indian Desert) and shares a border with the Pakistani provinces of Punjab to the
northwest and Sindh to the west, along the Sutlej-Indus River valley. It is bordered by five other
Indian states: Punjab to the north; Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to the northeast; Madhya Pradesh to
the southeast; and Gujarat to the southwest. Its geographical location is 23°.3' to 30°.12' North
latitude and 69°.30' to 78°.17' East longitude, with the Tropic of Cancer passing through its
southernmost tip.

Its major features include the ruins of the Indus Valley civilisation at Kalibangan and Balathal, the
Dilwara Temples, a Jain pilgrimage site at Rajasthan's only hill station, Mount Abu, in the ancient
Aravalli mountain range and eastern Rajasthan, the Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur, a World
Heritage Site[16] known for its bird life. Rajasthan is also home to three national tiger reserves, the
Ranthambore National Park in Sawai Madhopur, Sariska Tiger Reserve in Alwar and the Mukundra
Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota.

The State of Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949 when the states of the Rajputana Agency of
the erstwhile British Empire in India were merged into the new Indian Union. Its capital and largest
city is Jaipur. Other important cities are Jodhpur, Kota, Bikaner, Ajmer, Bharatpur and Udaipur. The
economy of Rajasthan is the seventh-largest state economy in India with ₹10.20 lakh crore
(US$120 billion) in gross domestic product and a per capita GDP of ₹118,000 (US$1,400).[17]
Rajasthan ranks 22nd among Indian states in human development index.[8]

Etymology

Rajasthan means "The Land of Kings" and is a portmanteau of Sanskrit "Rājā" ('King') and Sanskrit
"Sthāna" ('Land') or Persian "St(h)ān", with the same meaning.[12] The oldest reference to Rajasthan
is found in a stone inscription dated back to 625 CE.[18] The first printed mention of the name
Rajasthan appears in the 1829 publication Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan or the Central and
Western Rajpoot States of India, while the earliest known record of Rajputana as a name for the
region is in George Thomas's 1800 memoir Military Memories.[19] John Keay, in his book India: A
History, stated that Rajputana was coined by the British in 1829, John Briggs, translating Ferishta's
history of early Islamic India, used the phrase
Rajasthan
"Rajpoot (Rajput) princes" rather than "Indian
princes".[20] State

State of Rajasthan
History

Ancient times

Parts of what is now Rajasthan were partly part

of the Vedic Civilisation and the Indus Valley
civilisation. Kalibangan, in Hanumangarh district,
was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley
Thar desert
Civilisation.[21] Topsfield[22] writes that the
Rajputs first entered India from the north west in
the first millennium A.D. They established
kingdoms in western India in the region that is Mehrangarh City Palace, Udaipur
[22]
now known as Rajasthan.

A archaeological excavation at the Balathal site in

Udaipur district shows a settlement
contemporary with the Harrapan civilisation Ghateshwar Temple Kumbhalgarh

dating back to 3000–1500 BCE. Stone Age tools

dating from 5,000 to 200,000 years were found in
Bundi and Bhilwara districts of the state.[23]

Mahi Bajaj Sagar Garadia Mahadev

Dam Temples in Kota

The Minor Rock Edict 3 of Ashoka,

found on the platform in front of the
Bairat Temple of Viratnagar,
Rajasthan.[24]

The Matsya kingdom of the Vedic civilisation of

India is said to roughly corresponded to the Amer Fort

former state of Jaipur in Rajasthan and included

the whole of Alwar with portions of
Bharatpur.[25][26] The capital of Matsya was at
Viratanagar (modern Bairat), which is said to have
been named after its founder King Virata.[27]

Bhargava[28] identifies the two districts of

Jhunjhunu and Sikar and parts of Jaipur district
along with Haryana districts of Mahendragarh
and Rewari as part of Vedic state of Brahmavarta.
Bhargava also locates the present day Sahibi
River as the Vedic Drishadwati River, which along Emblem of Rajasthan
with Saraswati River formed the borders of the
Etymology: Land of Kings
[29]
Vedic state of Brahmavarta. Manu and Bhrigu
Motto(s): Satyameva Jayate
narrated the Manusmriti to a congregation of (Truth alone triumphs)
seers in this area. The ashrams of Vedic seers
Bhrigu and his son Chayvan Rishi, for whom
Chyawanprash was formulated, were near Dhosi
Hill, part of which lies in Dhosi village of
Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan and part of which
lies in Mahendragarh district of Haryana.[30]

The Western Kshatrapas (405–35 BCE), the Saka

rulers of the western part of India, were
successors to the Indo-Scythians and were
contemporaneous with the Kushans, who ruled
the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. The
Indo-Scythians invaded the area of Ujjain and
established the Saka era (with their calendar),
marking the beginning of the long-lived Saka Location of Rajasthan in India

Western Satraps state.[31] Coordinates: 26.6°N 73.8°E (https://geohack.t

oolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Rajasth
an&params=26.6_N_73.8_E_region:IN-RJ_type:
adm1st)

Country India

Region North India

Before was Rajputana Agency

Formation 30 March 1949

Capital Jaipur
and largest city
 Districts 50 (10 divisions)[1]
Classical era
Government
Gurjara-Pratihara
• Body Government of
Rajasthan

• Governor Haribhau Kisanrao

Bagde[2]

• Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma

(BJP)

• Deputy chief Diya Kumari (BJP)

minister Prem Chand Bairwa
(BJP)
Ghateshwara Mahadeva temple at the
Baroli Temple Complex. The temples
were built between the 10th and 11th State Legislature Unicameral
centuries CE by the Gurjara-Pratihara
dynasty.
• Assembly Rajasthan Legislative
Assembly (200
The Pratiharas ruled for many dynasties in this seats)

part of the country; the region was known as National Parliament Parliament of India

Gurjaratra.[32] Up to the 10th century CE, almost all • Rajya Sabha 10 seats
of North India acknowledged the supremacy of
• Lok Sabha 25 seats
the Imperial Pratiharas, with their seat of power at
High Court Rajasthan High Court
Kannauj.[33]
Area
The Gurjara Pratihar Empire acted as a barrier for
• Total 342,239 km2
Arab invaders from the 8th to the 11th century. (132,139 sq mi)
The chief accomplishment of the Gurjara-
• Rank 1st
Pratihara Empire lies in its successful resistance
Dimensions
to foreign invasions from the west, starting in the
days of Junaid. Historian R. C. Majumdar says • Length 826 km (513 mi)

that this was openly acknowledged by the Arab • Width 869 km (540 mi)
writers. He further notes that historians of India Elevation[3] 225 m (738 ft)
have wondered at the slow progress of Muslim
Highest elevation 1,722 m (5,650 ft)
invaders in India, as compared with their rapid (Guru Shikhar[4])
advance in other parts of the world. Now there
Lowest elevation 100 m (300 ft)
seems little doubt that it was the power of the (Bhim block)
Pratihara army that effectively barred the
Population (2011)[5]
progress of the Arabs beyond the confines of
• Total 68,548,437
Sindh, their only conquest for nearly 300 years.[34]
• Rank 7th
 • Density 200/km2 (500/sq mi)
Medieval and early modern eras
• Urban 24.87%
South Asia
1525 CE • Rural 75.13%
KABUL
SHAH MIR
(Babur)
SULTANATE

LANGAH
KANGRA
PHAGMODRUPAS
Demonym Rajasthani
SULTANATE SHEKHAWAT DELHI
BIKANER MEWAT
SULTANATE
JAISALMER AMBER
(LODIS) CHEROS AHOM
Language
KALMAT ARGHUNS MARWAR KARAULI
KAMATAS
AMARKOT BUNDI DIMASA
SIROHI MEWAR

Hindi[6]
TRIPWA
• Official
MALWA
GUJARAT VAGAD BENGAL
SULTANATE
SULTANATE Tribal SULTANATE
KHANDESH BERAR states
SULTANATE SULTANATE GAJAPATI
AHMADNAGAR BIDAR
SULTANATE SULTANATE
EMPIRE
• Additional official English[6]
BIJAPUR GOLKONDA
SULTANATE SULTANATE

• Official script Devanagari script

VIJAYANAGARA
EMPIRE
[7]
GDP

◁ • Total (2023-24) ₹15.28 lakh crore

(equivalent to
Rajputana territory (brown), and main South Asian ₹16 trillion or
polities c. 1525 CE, on the eve of the US$190 billion in
establishment of the Mughal Empire.[35][36] 2023)

The Ghurids had made an attempt to invade India • Rank 7th

through southern Rajasthan, however they were • Per capita ₹167,964

defeated in the Battle of Kasahrada on 1178 by a (equivalent to
₹180,000 or
confederacy of Rajputs under Mularaja II of the US$2,100 in 2023)
(22nd)
Kingdom of Gujarat.[37] Prithviraj Chauhan led a
confederacy of Rajput clans and defeated the Time zone UTC+05:30 (IST)
invading Ghruids under Muhammad Ghori in the ISO 3166 code IN-RJ
First Battle of Tarain in 1191. In 1192 CE,
Vehicle registration RJ
Muhammad Ghori decisively defeated Prithviraj at
HDI (2018) 0.629 Medium[8]
the Second Battle of Tarain. After the defeat of (22nd)
Chauhan in 1192 CE, a part of Rajasthan came
Literacy (2011) 66.11%[9] (33rd)
under Muslim rulers. The principal centers of their
powers were Nagaur and Ajmer. Ranthambhore Sex ratio (2021) 1009♀/1000 ♂[10]
(30th)
was also under their suzerainty. At the beginning
Website rajasthan.gov.in (htt
of the 13th century, the most prominent and p://Rajasthan.gov.i
powerful state of Rajasthan was Mewar. Since n)
the invasion of the Muslim Turks from the 13th
century onwards, the Rajputs resisted the Muslim Symbols of Rajasthan

incursions into India, and preserved Hindu culture

at their courts.[22]
The Rajputs put up resistance to the Islamic
invasions with their warfare and chivalry for
centuries. The Ranas of Mewar led other
kingdoms in their resistance to outside rule. Rana
Hammir Singh defeated the Tughlaq dynasty and
recovered a large portion of Rajasthan. The
indomitable Rana Kumbha defeated the Sultans Emblem of Rajasthan
of Malwa, Nagaur and Gujarat and made Mewar
the most powerful Rajput Kingdom in India. The Bird Godawan

ambitious Rana Sanga united the various Rajput Flower Rohida

clans, including the Muslim Khanzadas of Mewat Mammal Camel and
under Raja Hasan Khan Mewati, and fought Chinkara[11]
against the foreign powers in India. Rana Sanga Tree Khejri
defeated the Afghan Lodi Empire of Delhi and
State highway mark
crushed the Turkic Sultanates of Malwa and
Gujarat. Rana Sanga then tried to create an Indian
empire but was defeated by the first Mughal
Emperor Babur at Khanwa. The defeat was due to
betrayal by the Tomar King Silhadi of Raisen.
After Rana Sanga's death, Marwar rose as a
State highway of Rajasthan
power center in Rajasthan under Rao Maldeo
RJ SH1 -RJ SH138
Rathore. He conquered Jaisalmer, parts of
List of Indian state symbols
Gujarat, Jalore, Nagaur, Ajmer, Sanchore, Bhinmal,
Radhanpur, Bayana, Tonk, Toda and Nabhara. He
expanded the territories of Marwar up to Sindh-Cholistan in west and his northern boundary was
just fifty kilometres from Delhi.[38][39] After defeating Humayun, Sher Shah came towards Rajputana.
He defeated Chiefs of Rathore army by trickery in Battle of Sammel and captured some territory of
Marwar but it was recovered by Rathores in 1545.[40]

Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, the Hindu emperor,[41][42] was born in the village of Machheri in Alwar
District in 1501. He won 22 battles against Afghans, from Punjab to Bengal including the states of
Ajmer and Alwar in Rajasthan, and defeated Akbar's forces twice, first at Agra and then at Delhi in
1556 at Battle of Delhi[43] before acceding to the throne of Delhi and establishing the "Hindu Raj" in
North India, albeit for a short duration, from Purana Qila in Delhi. Hem Chandra was killed in the
battlefield at Second Battle of Panipat fighting against Mughals on 5 November 1556.
 Akbar shoots the Rajput
commander Jaimal using a
matchlock, during the Siege
of Chittor (1567–1568).

During Akbar's reign most of the Rajput kings accepted Mughal suzerainty, but the rulers of Mewar
(Rana Udai Singh II) and Marwar (Rao Chandrasen Rathore) refused to have any form of alliance
with the Mughals. To teach the Rajputs a lesson Akbar attacked Udai Singh and killed Rajput
commander Jaimal of Chitor and the citizens of Mewar in large numbers. Akbar killed 20,000–
25,000 unarmed citizens in Chittor on the grounds that they had actively helped in the resistance.[44]

Maharana Pratap took an oath to avenge the citizens of Chittor; he fought the Mughal empire till his
death and liberated most of Mewar apart from Chittor itself. Maharana Pratap soon became the
most celebrated warrior of Rajasthan and became famous all over India for his sporadic warfare
and noble actions. According to Satish Chandra, "Rana Pratap's defiance of the mighty Mughal
empire, almost alone and unaided by the other Rajput states, constitutes a glorious saga of Rajput
valor and the spirit of self-sacrifice for cherished principles. Rana Pratap's methods of sporadic
warfare were later elaborated further by Malik Ambar, the Deccani general, and by Shivaji".[45]

Rana Amar Singh I continued his ancestor's war against the Mughals under Jehangir, he repelled the
Mughal armies at Dewar. Later an expedition was again sent under the leadership of Prince
Khurram, which caused much damage to life and property of Mewar. Many temples were destroyed,
several villages were put on fire and women and children were captured and tortured to make Amar
Singh accept surrender.[46]

During Aurangzeb's rule Rana Raj Singh I and Veer Durgadas Rathore were chief among those who
defied the intolerant emperor of Delhi. They took advantage of the Aravalli hills and caused heavy
damage to the Mughal armies that were trying to occupy Rajasthan.[47][48]
After Aurangzeb's death Bahadur Shah I tried to subjugate Rajasthan like his ancestors but his plan
backfired when the three Rajput Rajas of Amber, Udaipur, and Jodhpur made a joint resistance to the
Mughals. The Rajputs first expelled the commandants of Jodhpur and Bayana and recovered Amer
by a night attack. They next killed Sayyid Hussain Khan Barha, the commandant of Mewat and many
other Mughal officers. Bahadur Shah I, then in the Deccan was forced to patch up a truce with the
Rajput Rajas.[49] The Jats, under Suraj Mal, overran the Mughal garrison at Agra and plundered the
city taking with them the two great silver doors of the entrance of the famous Taj Mahal which were
then melted down by Suraj Mal in 1763.[50]

Over the years, the Mughals began to have internal disputes which greatly distracted them at times.
The Mughal Empire continued to weaken, and with the decline of the Mughal Empire in the late 18th
century, Rajputana came under the influence of the Marathas. The Maratha Empire, which had
replaced the Mughal Empire as the overlord of the subcontinent, was finally replaced by the British
Empire in 1818.[51]

In the 19th century, the Rajput kingdoms were exhausted, they had been drained financially and in
manpower after continuous wars and due to heavy tributes exacted by the Maratha Empire. To save
their kingdoms from instability, rebellions and banditry the Rajput kings concluded treaties with the
British in the early 19th century, accepting British suzerainty and control over their external affairs in
return for internal autonomy.[52]
Rana Kumbha was The emperor Hemu, Durgadas Rathore, a Rathore Rajput
the vanguard of who rose from warrior of Jodhpur who played an
the fifteenth obscurity and important role in protecting the Rathore
century Rajput briefly established dynasty of Marwar and for his rebellion
resurgence.[53] himself as ruler in against Aurangzeb.
northern India, from
Punjab to Bengal, in
defiance of the
warring Sur and
Mughal Empires.
 Maharana Pratap Suraj Mal was ruler
Singh, sixteenth- of Bharatpur. Some
century Rajput contemporary
ruler of Mewar, historians
known for his described him as
defence of his "the Plato of the
realm against Jat people" and by
Mughal invasion. a modern writer as
the "Jat Odysseus",
because of his
political sagacity,
steady intellect and
clear vision.[54]

Modern era

The State of Rajasthan was formed on 30 March 1949 when the states of the Rajputana Agency[55]
of the erstwhile British Empire in India were merged into the new Indian Union. Modern Rajasthan
includes most of Rajputana, which comprises the erstwhile nineteen princely states, three
chiefships, and the British district of Ajmer-Merwara.[56] Jaisalmer, Marwar (Jodhpur), Bikaner,
Mewar (Chittorgarh), Alwar and Dhundhar (Jaipur) were some of the main Rajput princely states.
Bharatpur and Dholpur were Jat princely states whereas Tonk was a princely state under Pathans.
The three chiefships were Lawa, Neemrana and Kushalgarh.[57]

Geography

The geographic features of Rajasthan are the Thar Desert and the Aravalli Range, which runs
through the state from southwest to northeast, almost from one end to the other, for more than 850
kilometres (530 mi).[58] Mount Abu lies at the southwestern end of the range, separated from the
main ranges by the West Banas River.[59] Although a series of broken ridges continues into Haryana
in the direction of Delhi where it can be seen as outcrops in the form of the Raisina Hill and the
ridges farther north. About three-fifths of Rajasthan lies northwest of the Aravallis, leaving two-fifths
on the east and south direction.

Mount Abu.

The Aravalli Range runs across the state from the southwest peak Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu), which
is 1,722 metres (5,650 ft) in height, to Khetri in the northeast.[60] This range divides the state into
60% in the northwest of the range and 40% in the southeast. The northwest tract is sandy and
unproductive with little water but improves gradually from desert land in the far west and northwest
to comparatively fertile and habitable land towards the east. The south-eastern area, higher in
elevation (100 to 350 m above sea level) and more fertile, has a very diversified topography. In the
south lies the hilly tract of Mewar. In the southeast, a large area within the districts of Kota and
Bundi forms a tableland.[60] To the northeast of these districts is a rugged region (badlands)
following the line of the Chambal River. Farther north the country levels out; the flat plains of the
northeastern Bharatpur district are part of an alluvial basin. Merta City lies in the geographical
center of Rajasthan.[60]

The Aravalli Range and the lands to the east and southeast of the range are generally more fertile
and better watered. This region is home to the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion, with
tropical dry broadleaf forests that include teak, Acacia, and other trees. The hilly Vagad region, home
to the cities of Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, and Banswara lies in southernmost Rajasthan, on the border
with Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. With the exception of Mount Abu, Vagad is the wettest region in
Rajasthan, and the most heavily forested. North of Vagad lies the Mewar region, home to the cities
of Udaipur and Chittaurgarh. The Hadoti region lies to the southeast, on the border with Madhya
Pradesh. North of Hadoti and Mewar lies the Dhundhar region, home to the state capital of Jaipur.
Mewat, the easternmost region of Rajasthan, borders Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Eastern and
southeastern Rajasthan is drained by the Banas and Chambal rivers, tributaries of the Ganges.

The northwestern portion of Rajasthan is generally sandy and dry. Most of this region is covered by
the Thar Desert which extends into adjoining portions of Pakistan. The Aravalli Range does not
intercept the moisture-giving southwest monsoon winds off the Arabian Sea, as it lies in a direction
parallel to that of the coming monsoon winds, leaving the northwestern region in a rain shadow. The
Thar Desert is thinly populated; the City of Jodhpur is the largest city in the desert and a major
metropolitan area of India which is known as the gateway of the Thar desert. The desert has some
major districts like Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, and Nagaur. This area is also important
from a defence point of view. Jodhpur airbase is one of the largest airbases in India, BSF and
Military bases are also situated here. Currently four civil airports are located here: Jodhpur,
Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Nagaur, of which Jodhpur is the major civil airport, being the 44th busiest
airport in India and one of the oldest air strips of India, being built in the 1920s.

The Northwestern thorn scrub forests lie in a band around the Thar Desert, between the desert and
the Aravallis. This region receives less than 400 mm of rain annually. Temperatures can sometimes
exceed 45 °C in the summer months and drop below freezing point in the winter. The Godwar,
Marwar, and Shekhawati regions lie in the thorn scrub forest zone, along with the city of Jodhpur.
The Luni River and its tributaries are the major river system of Godwar and Marwar regions, draining
the western slopes of the Aravallis and emptying southwest into the great Rann of Kutch wetland in
neighbouring Gujarat. This river is saline in the lower reaches and remains potable only up to
Balotara in Barmer district. The Ghaggar River, which originates in Haryana, is an intermittent stream
that disappears into the sands of the Thar Desert in the northern corner of the state and is seen as a
remnant of the primitive Sarasvati river.
 Mount Abu is a popular hill station in The Thar Desert near Jaisalmer.
Rajasthan.

Aerial view Udaipur and Aravali hills.

Flora and fauna

State symbols of Rajasthan

Formation
1 November
day

State Chinkara[61] and

animal camel[62]

Godavan (great
State bird Indian
bustard)[61]

The great Indian bustard has State

Rohida[61]
been classed as critically flower
endangered since 2011
State tree

The Desert National Park in Jaisalmer, spread over an area of 3,162

square kilometres (1,221 sq mi), is an excellent example of the ecosystem of the Thar Desert and its
diverse fauna.[63] Seashells and massive fossilised tree trunks in this park record the geological
history of the desert. The region is a haven for migratory and resident birds of the desert. One can
see many eagles, harriers, falcons, buzzards, kestrels and vultures. Short-toed snake eagles
(Circaetus gallicus), tawny eagles (Aquila rapax), spotted eagles (Aquila clanga), laggar falcons
(Falco jugger) and kestrels are some of the raptor species seen in Desert National Park. Road traffic
inside the Park is, however, a threat to several wild species of the park with several species of
amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals reported to have died as roadkill.[64]

The Ranthambore National Park located in Sawai Madhopur,[65] one of the well known tiger reserves
in the country, became a part of Project Tiger in 1973.

Tal Chhapar Sanctuary is a very small sanctuary in Sujangarh, Churu District, 210 kilometres
(130 mi) from Jaipur in the Shekhawati region. This sanctuary is home to a large population of
blackbuck. Desert foxes and the caracal, an apex predator, also known as the desert lynx, can also
be spotted, along with birds such as the partridge, harriers, eastern imperial eagle, pale harrier,
marsh harrier, short-toed eagle, tawny eagle, sparrow hawk, crested lark, demoiselle crane, skylarks,
green bee-eater, brown dove, black ibis, and sand grouse.[66] The great Indian bustard, known locally
as the godavan, and which is a state bird, has been classed as critically endangered since 2011.[67]

Wildlife protection

Reclining tiger, Ranthambore National

Park

Rajasthan is also noted for its national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. There are four national parks
and wildlife sanctuaries: Keoladeo National Park of Bharatpur, Sariska Tiger Reserve of Alwar,
Ranthambore National Park of Sawai Madhopur, and Desert National Park of Jaisalmer. A national-
level institute, Arid Forest Research Institute (AFRI) an autonomous institute of the ministry of
forestry is situated in Jodhpur and continuously works on desert flora and their conservation.

Ranthambore National Park is 7 km from Sawai Madhopur Railway Station. It is known worldwide
for its tiger population and is considered by both wilderness lovers and photographers as one of the
best places in India to spot tigers. At one point, due to poaching and negligence, tigers became
extinct at Sariska, but five tigers have been relocated there.[68] Prominent among the wildlife
sanctuaries are Mount Abu Sanctuary, Bhensrod Garh Sanctuary, Darrah Sanctuary, Jaisamand
Sanctuary, Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Jawahar Sagar Sanctuary, and Sita Mata Wildlife
Sanctuary.

Governance and administration

Rajasthan Legislative Assembly

The state is governed by a parliamentary system of representative democracy. The governor serves
as the state's constitutional leader, whereas the chief minister assumes the role of both the head of
the government and the head of the council of ministers. The Legislative Assembly consists of 200
members who are elected for five-year terms. The state contributes 25 seats to Lok Sabha, the
lower house of the Indian Parliament, and 10 seats to Rajya Sabha, the upper house.[69][70]

The Government of Rajasthan is a democratically elected body in India with the governor as its
constitutional head. Governor is appointed by the President of India for a five-year term. The leader
of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the chief
minister by the governor, and the council of ministers are appointed by the governor on the advice of
the chief minister. The governor remains a ceremonial head of the state, while the chief minister and
his council are responsible for day-to-day government functions. The council of ministers consists
of Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (MoS) and Deputy Ministers. The Secretariat headed by the
Chief Secretary assists the council of ministers. The Chief Secretary is also the administrative head
of the government. Each government department is headed by a minister, who is assisted by an
Additional Chief Secretary or a Principal Secretary, who is usually an officer of Indian Administrative
Service (IAS), the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary serve as the administrative head of
the department they are assigned to. Each department also has officers of the rank of Secretary,
Special Secretary, Joint Secretary etc. assisting the Minister and the Additional Chief
Secretary/Principal Secretary.

For the administration purpose, the state is divided into 10 divisions and 50 districts. Divisional
Commissioner, is the head of administration on the divisional level.[71] The administration in each
district is headed by a District Magistrate/District Collector, who is also an IAS officer, and is
assisted by a number of officers belonging to Rajasthan Administrative Services. In Rajasthan, the
police force is led by an IPS officer holding the position of Director General of Police. Each district is
supervised by a Superintendent of Police, also an IPS officer, who is supported by officers from the
Rajasthan Police Services. Their primary responsibility involves maintaining law and order and
addressing relevant issues within their respective districts. The management of forests,
environment, and wildlife in the district is overseen by the Divisional Forest Officer, who is a member
of the Indian Forest Service. This responsibility is carried out with the assistance of officers from
the Rajasthan Forest Service and Rajasthan Subordinate Service.

Rajasthan High Court

Rajasthan has its High court Jodhpur which has its principal seat at Jodhpur and a bench at Jaipur,
with district courts and session courts in each district or Sessions Division, and lower courts at the
tehsil level.[72] The president of India appoints the chief justice of the High Court of Rajasthan
judiciary on the advice of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India as well as the governor of
Rajasthan. In Rajasthan, the Subordinate Judicial Service is an essential component of the state's
judiciary, and it is divided into two categories: the Rajasthan Civil Judicial Services and the
Rajasthan Higher Judicial Service.[73] The former includes Civil Judges (Junior Division)/Judicial
Magistrates and Civil Judges (Senior Division)/Chief Judicial Magistrate. On the other hand, the
latter consists of Civil and Sessions Judges. The District Judge has control over the Subordinate
Judicial Service in Rajasthan.

The politics of Rajasthan has mainly been dominated mainly by the Bharatiya Janata Party and the
Indian National Congress.

Chief Secretary Of Rajasthan is Usha Sharma[74] and Director General of Police or DGP of Rajasthan
is Umesh Mishra.[75]
Divisions, districts and cities

Districts of Rajasthan

Lake Palace and Jag Mandir from a

distance, Lake Pichola, Udaipur.

Modern Jodhpur skyline

Rajasthan is composed of the following geographical regions:

1. Ajmer State

2. Bagar

3. Hadoti

4. Dhundhar

5. Gorwar

6. Shekhawati

7. Mewar

8. Marwar

9. Vagad

10. Mewat
Rajasthan is divided into 50 districts within Ten divisions:

Division Districts

Jaipur Jaipur · Jaipur Gramin · Alwar · Khairtal · Dausa · Dudu · Kotputli-Bahroad

Jodhpur Barmer · Jaisalmer · Phalodi · Jodhpur · Jodhpur Gramin · Balotara

Ajmer Ajmer · Beawar · Nagaur · Tonk · Shahpura · Kekadi · Deedwana-Kuchaman

Udaipur Udaipur · Salumbar · Chittorgarh · Bhilwara · Rajsamand

Bikaner Bikaner · Anupgarh · Sri Ganganagar · Hanumangarh

Kota Baran · Bundi · Jhalawar · Kota

Bharatpur Bharatpur · Dholpur · Karauli · Sawai Madhopur · Deeg · Gangapur

Sikar Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Neem ka thana, Churu

Pali Pali, Sirohi, Jalore, Sanchore

Banswara Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh

A district collector or district magistrate, who is appointed by either the Indian Administrative
Service or the Rajasthan Public Service Commission, governs each district. Subdivisions (Tehsils)
are responsible for governing districts and are overseen by sub-divisional magistrates. Additionally,
districts are further divided into blocks. A block consists of panchayats (village councils) and town
municipalities. Tehsils are intermediate level panchayat between the Zilla Parishad (district
councils) at the district level and gram panchayat (village councils) at the lower level. Rajasthan has
5 cities with over one million population. The absolute urban population of the state is 17.4 million,
which constitutes 24.87% of the total urban population of the state. There are 10 municipal
corporations, 34 municipal councils and 172 municipal boards or nagar pachayats in the state.
Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Kota have two municipal corporations each since October 2019, as their
populations have exceeded 1 million.[76]

Communication

Major internet service provider (ISP) and telecom companies are present in Rajasthan including
Vodafone Idea, BSNL, Airtel, Jio, Data Infosys Limited, RailTel Corporation of India, Software
Technology Parks of India (STPI). Data Infosys was the first ISP to bring the internet to Rajasthan in
April 1999[77] and OASIS was the first private mobile telephone company.
Economy

Timeline of the Bhadla Solar Park

(India) development, the World's
largest photovoltaic power plants
cluster in 2020

Rajasthan's economy is primarily agricultural and pastoral. Wheat and barley are cultivated over
large areas, as are pulses, sugarcane, and oilseeds. Cotton and tobacco are the state's cash crops.
Rajasthan is among the largest producers of edible oils in India and the second-largest producer of
oilseeds. Rajasthan is also the biggest wool-producing state in India and the main opium producer
and consumer. There are mainly two crop seasons. The water for irrigation comes from wells and
tanks. The Indira Gandhi Canal irrigates northwestern Rajasthan.

Wind turbines near Bada Bagh,

Rajasthan.

The main industries are mineral based, agriculture-based, and textile based. Rajasthan is the
second-largest producer of polyester fibre in India. Several prominent chemical and engineering
companies are located in the city of Kota, in southern Rajasthan. Rajasthan is pre-eminent in
quarrying and mining in India. The Taj Mahal was built from white marble which was mined from a
town called Makrana. The state is the second-largest source of cement in India. It has rich salt
deposits at Sambhar, copper mines at Khetri, Jhunjhunu, and zinc mines at Dariba, Zawar mines and
Rampura Agucha (opencast) near Bhilwara. Dimensional stone mining is also undertaken in
Rajasthan. Jodhpur sandstone is mostly used in monuments, important buildings, and residential
buildings. This stone is termed as Chittar Patthar. Jodhpur leads in the handicraft and guar gum
industries. Rajasthan is also a part of the Mumbai-Delhi Industrial corridor set to benefit
economically. The state gets 39% of the DMIC, with major districts of Jaipur, Alwar, Kota and
Bhilwara benefiting.[78]

Rajasthan also has reserves of low-silica limestone.[79]

Rajasthan connected 100% of its population to electricity power in 2019 (raising the rate of
electricity access from 71% of the population in 2015).[80] The renewable energy sector plays the
most important role in the increase of generation capacities, with the main focus on solar energy. In
2020, Bhadla Solar Park was recognised as the largest cluster of photovoltaic power plants in a
single region in the world, with the installed power exceeding the 2.2 gigawatt peak.

Transportation

Jaipur International Airport (JAI) in Jaipur, is the state's largest, busiest and only international
airport. Jaipur International Airport offers international service to Dubai, Bangkok, Sharjah and
Muscat. There are five civilian airports in Rajasthan including Jodhpur Airport, Udaipur Airport,
Ajmer Airport, Bikaner Airport and Jaisalmer Airport.[81] Domestic airports are operated by the
Airports Authority of India (AAI) and shares its airside with the Indian Air Force. These airports
connect Rajasthan with the major cities of India such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and
Bangalore.

Railways length in the state constitute 8.66 per cent of all India route length. Jaipur Junction is the
headquarters of the North Western Railway.[82] Jaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner are the busiest railway
stations in the state. Kota is the only electrified section served by three Rajdhani Expresses and
trains to all major cities of India. Jaipur Superfast Express, fastest train under Superfast category of
trains; connects the finance capital of India Mumbai to Jaipur. Luxury tourist train Maharajas'
Express runs across North-West and Central India, mainly centered on Rajasthan. There is also an
international railway, the Thar Express from Jodhpur (India) to Karachi (Pakistan). However, this is
not open to foreign nationals. Jaipur Metro is the metro rail system in the city of Jaipur. It is the only
metro rail system in Rajasthan and has been operational since 3 June 2015. It is the first metro in
India to run on triple-storey elevated road and metro track.
The state is served by a substantial road network, providing links between urban centers,
agricultural market-places and rural areas. There are 33 national highways (NH) in the state,
covering a total distance of 10,004.14 km (6,216.28 mi).[83] The state has a total road length of
269,028 km (167,166 mi). The Department of Public Works is responsible for maintaining and
expanding the state highways system and major district roads. Jaipur–Kishangarh Expressway
forms a segment of the NH-8 which is a part of the Golden Quadrilateral project. Rajasthan State
Road Transport Corporation (RSRTC) was established in 1964 to provide economical and reliable
passenger road transport service in the state with connecting services to adjoining states.[84] For
travelling locally, the state, like most of the country, has auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws.
Average speed on state highways varies between 50 and 60 kilometres per hour (31–37 mph) due
to the heavy presence of vehicles; in villages and towns, speeds are as low as 25–30 km/h (16–
19 mph).[85]

Jaipur International Airport Maharajah's Express dining saloon

The Jaipur Metro is an important urban NH 8 between Udaipur and

transportation link Ahmedabad

Demographics
 Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a.

1901 10,294,090 —
1911 10,983,509 +0.65%
1921 10,292,648 −0.65%
1931 11,747,974 +1.33%
Religion in Rajasthan
(2011)[87] 1941 13,863,859 +1.67%

Hinduism (88.49%) 1951 15,970,774 +1.42%

Islam (9.07%) 1961 20,155,602 +2.35%
Sikhism (1.27%)
1971 25,765,806 +2.49%
Jainism (0.91%)
Christianity (0.14%) 1981 34,261,862 +2.89%
Buddhism (0.02%)
1991 44,005,990 +2.53%
Other religions (0.01%)
Not stated (0.10%) 2001 56,507,188 +2.53%
2011 68,548,437 +1.95%
According to the 2011 Census of India, Rajasthan has a total
source:[86]
population of 68,548,437.[5] The state contributes to 5.66% of
India's population. The population density is 201 people per
square kilometre. The sex ratio in 2011, at 928 women to 1000 men, was lower than the national
figure of 943. The native Rajasthani people make up the majority of the state's population. The state
of Rajasthan is also populated by Sindhis, who came to Rajasthan from Sindh province (now in
Pakistan) during the India-Pakistan separation in 1947. As for religion, Rajasthan's residents are
mainly Hindus, who account for 88.49% of the population. Muslims make up 9.07%, Sikhs 1.27% and
Jains 0.91% of the population.[88]

Brahmins, according to Outlook constituted 8% to 10% of the population of Rajasthan as per a 2003
report, but only 7% in a 2007 report.[89][90] According to a 2007 DNA India report, 12.5% of the state
are Brahmins.[91] According to a report by Moneycontrol.com at the time of 2018 Rajasthan
Legislative Assembly election, the Scheduled Caste (SC) population was 18%, Scheduled Tribe (ST)
was 13%, Jats 12%, Gurjars and Rajputs 9% each, Brahmins and Meenas 7% each.[92] A Hindustan
Times report from 2019 also agrees to the total ST population of 13%, of which Meenas constitute
the biggest group at 7%.[93] According to a Deutsche Welle report, the Jats constitute 12–15% of the
population of Rajasthan, followed by Meenas with 10% and Gurjars with 6%.[94] While as per a 2007
BBC Hindi report, Meenas were 14% and Gurjars were 4% of the state's population.[95]
 Largest cities of Rajasthan by population

City Population

Jaipur 3,073,349
Jodhpur 1,138,300
Kota 1,001,694
Bikaner 647,804
Ajmer 551,101
Udaipur 474,531
Bhilwara 360,009
Alwar 341,422
Bharatpur 252,838
Sri Ganganagar 249,914

Language

Languages of Rajasthan
(2011)[96]
Rajasthani (36.88%)
Hindi (27.34%)
Marwari (9.05%)
Mewari (6.1%)
Wagdi (5.54%)
Hadauti (4.29%)
Dhundari (2.15%)
Punjabi (1.68%)
Braj Bhasha (1.19%)
Bagri (1.03%)
Others (4.75%)

Hindi is the official language of the state, while English is the additional official language.[15]
The languages of Rajasthan primarily belong to the Rajasthani group of Indo-Aryan languages,
which most people regard as their own language. In the north are dialects of Punjabi and Bagri,
which is a transition between Rajasthani and Punjabi. In the northeast Shekhawati and Dhundari are
spoken which gradually merge with Haryanvi. In the east Mewati is spoken in the Mewat region,
while in the far east Braj is spoken.[97] To the southeast Haryanvi is spoken. To the west in the heart
of the Thar Desert Marwari is spoken, which merges to Gujarati in the southwest. In the south, in the
Mewar region, Mewari is spoken, while in the hills of Wagad, Wagdi, a Bhil language, is spoken.
Many speakers of Rajasthani languages refer to their language as Hindi, and Standard Hindi is the
medium of education and is common in cities. Urdu is also common in cities although the vast
majority of Muslims speak one of the Rajasthani languages as their first language. Sindhi is also
common in the cities and along the border with Sindh in Pakistan where Dhatki, a transition between
Marwari and Sindhi, is the main dialect on both sides of the border.

The languages taught under the three-language formula are:[98]

First language: Hindi

Second language: English

Third language: Gujarati, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi or Urdu

Culture

Food

Rajasthani food

Rajasthani cooking was influenced by both the war-like lifestyles of its inhabitants and the
availability of ingredients in this arid region. Food that could last for several days and could be eaten
without heating was preferred. Thus, pickles of Rajasthan are quite famous for their tangy and spicy
flavour. The Panchkuta delicacy is also a famous one – meaning 5 vegetables – a dish that lasts for
several days, and is made out of certain weed plants that only grow in the wild desert. The scarcity
of water and fresh green vegetables have all had their effect on cooking. It is known for its snacks
like Bikaneri Bhujia.[99] Other famous dishes include bajre ki roti (millet bread) and lahsun ki chutney
(hot garlic paste), mawa kachori Mirchi Bada, Pyaaj Kachori and ghevar from Jodhpur, Alwar ka
Mawa (milk cake),[100] Kadhi kachori from Ajmer, Malpua from Pushkar, Daal kachori (Kota kachori)
from Kota and rassgullas from Bikaner.[101] Originating from the Marwar region of the state is the
concept of Marwari Bhojnalaya or vegetarian restaurants, today found in many parts of India, which
offer vegetarian food popular among Marwari people. Ghee is an essential ingredient in most
Rajasthani cuisines, and dollops of ghee are poured over food as a welcoming gesture for guests.

Dal Bati Choorma, a traditional

Rajasthani Dish

Dal-baati-churma is very popular in Rajasthan. The traditional way to serve it is to first coarsely
mash the baati, and then pour pure ghee on top of it. It is served with daal (lentils) and spicy garlic
chutney; it is also served with besan (gram flour) ki kadi. It is commonly served at all festivities,
including religious occasions, wedding ceremonies, and birthday parties in Rajasthan.[102]

Music and dance

The Ghoomar dance from Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Kalbelia of the Kalbelia tribe has gained international
recognition.[103] Folk music is a large part of the Rajasthani culture. The Manganiyar, Meena and
Langa communities from Rajasthan are notable for their folk music. Kathputli, Bhopa, Chang,
Teratali, Ghindr, Gair dance, Kachchhi Ghori, and Tejaji are examples of traditional Rajasthani
culture.[104] Folk songs are commonly ballads that relate heroic deeds and love stories; and religious
or devotional songs known as bhajans and banis which are often accompanied by musical
instruments like dholak, sitar, and sarangi are also sung.

Art

Rajasthan is known for its traditional, colourful art. The block prints, tie and dye prints, gota patti
(main), Bagaru prints, Sanganer prints, and Zari embroidery are major export products from
Rajasthan. Handicraft items like wooden furniture and crafts, carpets, and blue pottery are
commonly found here.[105] Shopping reflects the colourful culture, Rajasthani clothes have a lot of
mirror work and embroidery. Traditional Rajasthani dress for females consists of an ankle-length
skirt and a short top, known as chaniya choli.[106] A piece of cloth is used to cover the head, both for
protection from heat and maintenance of modesty. Rajasthani dresses are usually designed in
bright colours such as blue, yellow, and orange.

Education

NIIT University in Neemrana,

Rajasthan

In recent years, Rajasthan has worked on improving education. The state government has been
making sustained efforts to raise the education standard.

Schools in the state are either managed by the government or by private trusts. The medium of
instruction in most of the schools is mainly English, or Hindi. Under the 10+2+3 plan, after
completing secondary school, students typically enroll for two years in a junior college, also known
as pre-university, or in schools with a higher secondary facility affiliated with the Board of Secondary
Education or any central board. Students choose from one of three streams, namely liberal arts,
commerce, or science. Upon completing the required coursework, students may enrol in general or
professional degree programs. The secondary schools are affiliated with the Council for the Indian
School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), and the
National Institute of Open School (NIOS).

Rajasthan has 52 universities, 26 state funded public universities, 7 deemed universities, an IIT in
Jodhpur, an IIM in Udaipur, an NIT in Jaipur, a National Law University in Jodhpur, and one central
and state-run university.[107][108] Kota, is renowned for being a hub for training students in various
national-level competitive exams that are necessary for securing admission to engineering and
medical colleges across the country. In order to promote a reading culture among the rural
population, the state has established new libraries up to the panchayat level and computerised all
public libraries throughout the state, providing modern amenities to readers and subscriber.[109]
Literacy

In recent decades the literacy rate of Rajasthan has increased significantly. In 1991, the state's
literacy rate was only 38.55% (54.99% male and 20.44% female). In 2001, the literacy rate increased
to 60.41% (75.70% male and 43.85% female). This was the highest leap in the percentage of literacy
recorded in India (the rise in female literacy being 23%).[110] At the Census 2011, Rajasthan had a
literacy rate of 67.06% (80.51% male and 52.66% female). Although Rajasthan's literacy rate is below
the national average of 74.04% and although its female literacy rate is the lowest in the country, the
state has been praised for its efforts and achievements in raising literacy rates.[111][112]

In rural areas of Rajasthan, the literacy rate is 76.16% for males and 45.8% for females. This has
been debated across all the party levels, when the governor of Rajasthan set a minimum
educational qualification for the village panchayat elections.[113][114][115]

Tourism

Man in Rajasthan, India.

Rajasthan attracted a total of 45.9 million domestic and 1.6 million foreign tourists in 2017, which is
the tenth highest in terms of domestic visitors and fifth highest in foreign tourists.[116] The tourism
industry in Rajasthan is growing effectively each year and is becoming one of the major income
sources for the state government.[117] Rajasthan is home to many attractions for domestic and
foreign travellers, including the forts and palaces of Jaipur, the lakes of Udaipur, the temples of
Rajsamand and Pali, sand dunes of Jaisalmer and Bikaner, Havelis of Mandawa and Fatehpur, the
wildlife of Sawai Madhopur, the scenery of Mount Abu, the tribes of Dungarpur and Banswara, and
the cattle fair of Pushkar.

Rajasthan is known for its customs, culture, colours, majestic forts, and palaces, folk dances and
music, local festivals, local food, sand dunes, carved temples and Havelis. Rajasthan's Jaipur Jantar
Mantar, Mehrangarh Fort and Stepwell of Jodhpur, Dilwara Temples, Chittor Fort, Lake Palace,
miniature paintings in Bundi, and numerous city palaces and Havelis are part of the architectural
heritage of India. Jaipur, the Pink City, is noted for the ancient houses made of a type of sandstone
dominated by a pink hue. In Jodhpur, most houses are painted blue.[118] At Ajmer, there is white
marble Bara-dari on the Anasagar lake and Soniji Ki Nasiyan. Jain Temples dot Rajasthan from north
to south and east to west. Dilwara Temples of Mount Abu, Shrinathji Temple of Nathdwara,
Ranakpur Jain temple dedicated to Lord Adinath in Pali District, Jain temples in the fort complexes
of Chittor, Jaisalmer and Kumbhalgarh, Lodurva Jain temples, Mirpur Jain Temple of Sirohi, Sarun
Mata Temple at Kotputli, Bhandasar and Karni Mata Temple of Bikaner and Mandore of Jodhpur are
some of the best examples.[119] Keoladeo National Park, Ranthambore National Park, Sariska Tiger
Reserve, Tal Chhapar Sanctuary, are wildlife attractions of Rajasthan. Mewar festival of Udaipur, Teej
festival and Gangaur festival in Jaipur, Desert festival of Jodhpur, Brij Holi of Bharatpur, Matsya
festival of Alwar, Kite festival of Jodhpur, Kolayat fair in Bikaner are some of the most popular fairs
and festivals of Rajasthan.

Camel rides in Thar desert Pushkar Lake and Ghat Kalbelia, a folk dance
popular in Rajasthan

Demoiselle cranes in Khichan Hawa Mahal, Jaipur Amber Fort as seen

near Bikaner from the bank of
Maotha Lake,
Jaigarh Fort on the
hills in the
background
 Nakki Lake, Mount Abu Mehrangarh Fort Delicate marble carving
at Dilwara Temples

Lake Palace, Udaipur Kirti Stambha Tiger at

of Chittor Fort Ranthambore
National Park

Jal Mahal, Jaipur

See also

Jatan Sansthan (2001)

India portal

List of people from Rajasthan Asia portal

Outline of Rajasthan

References

1. Bureau, The Hindu (17 March 2023). "Ahead of Assembly polls, Gehlot announces formation of