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CHAPTER - 2 STATES AND UNION TERRITORIES

ANDHRA PRADESH Area : 2,75,069 sq km Population : 8.32 crores as on 1.3.09 Capital : Hyderabad Principal Languages : Telugu and Urdu

HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY per cent of the people in Andhra Pradesh. Rice is a major food crop and staple food of the State The earliest mention of the Andhras is said to contributing about 77 per cent of the food grain be Aitereya Brahmana (2000BC). It indicates that production. Other important crops are juwar, bajra, the Andhras, originally an Aryan race living in north migrated to south of the Vindhyas and maize, ragi small millets, pulses, castor, tobacco, later mixed with non-Aryans. Regular history of cotton and sugarcane. Forests cover 23 per cent of Andhra Desa, according to historians, begins with the State’s area. Important forest products are 236 BC, the year of Ashoka’s death. During the teak, eucalyptus, cashew, casurina, bamboo, following centuries, Satavahanas, Sakas, softwood, etc. Ikshvakus, Eastern Chalukyas, and Kakatiyas The Government is working with a mission of ruled the Telugu country. Other dynasties that “Sustainable Agriculture Production with ruled over the area in succession were the minimum cost of cultivation, eventually encancing kingdoms of Vijayanagar and Qutub Shahi followed the return on income to the farmer. “ In the process by Mir Qumruddin and his successors, known as of making the mission a reality, the Government the Nizams. Gradually, from the 17th century is implementing schemes for the welfare of onwards, the British annexed territories of the farmers like 9 hours free power supply, subsidized Nizam and constituted the single province of interest rate on crop loans, subsidized and quality Madras. After Independence, Telugu-speaking agricultural inputs etc. Andhra Pradesh occupies areas were separated from the composite Madras the first position in respect of agricultural loans Presidency and a new Andhra State came into being from commercial and cooperative banks. on 1 October 1953. with the passing of the States The debt waiver scheme of central government Reorganisation Act, 1956, there was a merger of Hyderabad State and Andhra State, and and the incentive scheme of the State consequently Andhra Pradesh came into being on Government have helped about one crore farmers 1 November 1956. in the state to the tune of Rs. 16,000 crore. The government of Andhra Pradesh is also keen on Andhra Pradesh is historically called the Rice introducing cooperative farming to set up farm Bowl of India. The state has a larger river system yields. which supplements the rainfall in the state. It is one of the few states in the country blessed with IRRIGATION riverine geography. A total of 86 projects (44 Major+30 Medium+4 Andhra Pradesh is bounded on the north by Flood Banks+8 Modernisation) have been taken up Orissa and Chhattisgarh, on the west by under alayagnam programme, with the aim of Maharashtra and Karnataka, on the south by Tamil completing the ongoing and new projects in a Nadu and on the east by the Bay of Bengal with a record time to provide immediate irrigation to coastline of 974 km. water starved areas on top priority by mobilizing funds from all possible sources. Till now, 12 projects AGRICULTURE were completed and water released for 19 more Agriculture is the main occupation of about 62 projects creating partial irrigation potential and

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Assam is the sentinel of north-east India and POWER gateway to the North-Eastern States. The State is The major power stations are Chandrapur close to India’s international borders with Thermal Project, Namrup Thermal Project and few Bangladesh and Bhutan. Mobile Gas Turbine Units along with a mini hydro- Assam is surrounded by Bhutan and Arunachal electric project. Revitalishing the Thermal Power Pradesh on the north, Manipur, Nagaland and Station of Bongaigaon and the on-going the Karbi- Arunachal Pradesh on the east and Meghalaya, Langpi Project will boost the power supply in the Tripura and Mizoram on the south. State. The Lakuwa Waste Heat Recovery Project was expected to be commissioned in 2008-09. AGRICULTURE TRANSPORT Assam is an agricultural State. Agriculture occupies an important place in the economy of the Roads : the total length of roads in the State is State. The principal food crop is rice. The cash crops 37,515 km which includes 2,836 kms of National are jute, tea, cotton, oilseeds, sugarcane, potato, Highways. The construction of 160 km of barbed etc. Noteworthy horticulture items are orange, wire fencing and 27 kms of the border road along the Indo-Bangladesh International Border have banana, pineapple, arecanut, coconut, guava, been completed. mango, jackfruit and citrus fruits. The State has an estimated 39.83 lakh hectare gross cropped Railways : The length of railways tract in Assam area of which net area sown is about 27.24 lakh is 2,284.28 kms comprising 1,227.16 kms under hectare. broad-gauge and 1,057.12 km under metre-gauge lines. FORESTS Aviation : The regular civil air service operate Assam is known for her rich forest wealth from Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport which constitutes 26.22 per cent of the total forest (Guwahati), Salonibari (Tezpur), Mohanbari area. (Dibrugarh), Kumbhirgram (Silchar), Rawriah WILD LIFE (Jorhat) and Silonibari (North Lakhimpur). The State has five National Parks and eleven FESTIVALS wildlife sanctuaries. The Kaziranga National Park Assam has an exclusive range of colourful and the Manas Tiger Project (National Park) are festivals. Bihu is the chief festival celebrated on internationally famous for the one horned Rhino three occasions. Rongali Bihu or Bohag Bihu marks and Royal Bengal Tiger respectively. the advent of the cropping season and it also ushers INDUSTRY in the Assamese New Year. Bhogali Bihu or Magh Bihu is the harvest festival and Kati Bihu or Of agriculture-based industries, tea occupies Kongali Bihu coming in autumn is a simple affair. and important place. There are six industrial Religion accounts for a large variety of festivals. growth centres in the State and two such centres Vaishnavites observe the birth and death are being set up at Balipara and Matia. Presently anniversaries of prominent Vaishnava saints four oil refineries have been working in the State through day-long singing of hymns and staging of including the one and Digboi. Construction of the Bhaonas (theatrical performance in traditional Export Promotion Industrial Park (EPIP) at style). Ambubachi in Kamakhya shrine, Sivaratri Amingaon near Guwahati is nearing completion. Mela at Umananda and other places near Siva A Software Technology Park will be constructed at temples, Durga Puja, Diwali, Dol-Jatra, Id, Borjhar near Guwahati. A Central Institute for Christmas, Ashokastami Mela, and Rash Mela, Plastic Engineering Technology (CIPET) has been Parsuram Mela are other religious festivals. established ant Amingaon near Guwahati. Assam has always enjoyed the highest reputation for her TOURISM arts and crafts associated with her cottage Important places of tourism in and around industries. Cottage industries include handloom, Guwahati are Kamakhya temple, Umananda sericulture, came and bamboo articles, carpentry (Peacock Island), Navagraha (temple of nine brass and bell-metal crafts. Assam produced planets), Basistha Ashram Dolgobinda, Gandhi varieties of silk, Endi, Muga, Tassar, etc. Muga silk Mandap, State Zoo, State Museum, Sukreswar is produced only in Assam in the world. temple, Gita Mandir, Madan Kamdev temple, a

Click Here to Buy Full Study Kit in Hard Copy © WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/study-kit-for-ias-pre-gs-paper-1-2012 Click Here For Integrated Guidance Programme http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/integrated-free-guidance-programme Geography magnificent archaeological place of interest, and hectare, which is 6.65 per cent of its geographical Saraighat bridge. area. Other places of tourist interest in the State INDUSTRIES are : Kaziranga National Park (famous for the one Major Industries are : Railway Wagon Plants of horned rhino), Manas Tigar Project, Pobi-tora and Bharat Wagon Limited at Muzaffarpur and Orang (wildlife sanctuaries), Sibsagar (Shiv Mokamah; Oil Refinery of Indian Oil Corporation Temple-Rangghar-Karengghar), Tezpur (Bhairavi at Barauni; Fertilizer Manufacturing Plant of temple and scenic beauty), Bhalukpung (Angling), Hindustan Fertilizer Corporation Limited (HPCL) Haflong (health resort with Jatinga hills), Majuli at Barauni and Pyrites Phosphates & Chemicals (largest river island in the world), Chandubi lake Limited (PPCL) at Amjhor; Cotton Spinning Mills (picnic spot), Hajo (meeting point of Buddhism, at Siwan, Pandaul, Bhagalpur, Mokamah and Gaya; Hinduism and Islam), Batadrava (birth place of 13 sugar mills in the private sector and 15 in the great Vaishnava saint Sankaradeva) and public sector located in south and north Bihar with Sualkuchi (famous for silk industry). a total crushing capacity of 45,000 Tonne. In BIHAR addition, distilleries at Gopalganj, West Area : 94,163 sq km Population :8,28,78,796 Champaran, Bhagalpur and Riga (in Sitamarhi Capital: Patna Principal Language :Hindi district); finished leather industry in West Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Barauni; jute mills HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY and Katihar and Samastipur; medicine Bihar finds mention in the Vedas, Puranas, manufacturing unit in Hajipur; food processing epics, etc., and was the main scene of activities of units as also vanaspati manufacturing units at Buddha and the 24 Jain Tirthankars. Great rulers Aurangabad and Patna; besides Kalyanpur Cement of the State before the Christian era were Limited at Banjari, are notable on the industrial Bimbisar, Udayin, who founded the city of map of Bihar. Patiliputra. Chandragupta Maurya and Emperor IRRIGATION Ashoka and Maurya dynasty, the Sungs and the Kanvas. Then came the Kushan rulers followed by Bihar has an irrigation potential of 28.73 lakh Chandragupta Vikramaditya of the Gupta dynasty. hectare. It is created through major and medium Muslim rulers made in roads into the territory irrigation schemes and 49.35 lakh hectare through during the medieval period. The first conqueror of minor irrigation schemes. Bihar was Mohammed-bin-Bakhtiar Khalji. The TRANSPORT Tughluqs and then the Mughals followed the Khaljis. Roads : Bihar has 46107.00 km of pucca roads including 3734.34 km of national highways, 3989 One of the major states of the Indian Union, km of state highways, 8156 km of major District Bihar is bounded on the north by Nepal, on the Roads, 3818 km of other District Roads and 27400 east by West Bengal, on the west by Uttar Pradesh km of Rural Roads. and on the south by Jharkhand. Bihar has a number of rivers, the most important of which is Railways : Bihar has a fairly good railway the Ganga. The other rivers are the Sone, network. There is a railway bridge at Mokamah in Poonpoon, Falgu, Karmanasa, Durgawati, Kosi, north Bihar. A few railway routes connecting Gandak, Ghaghara, etc. important places like Muzaffarpur-Samastipur- Barauni-Katihar and Muzaffarpur-Chapra-Siwan AGRICULTURE have been converted into broad gauge. The main Bihar has a total geographical area of about rail junctions are at Patna, Gaya, Muzaffarpur, 93.60 lakh hectare, out of which only 55.65 lakh Katihar and Samastipur. hectare is the net cultivated area with a gross Aviation : There is an international airport in cultivated area of 77.19 lakh hectare. About 34.62 Patna, besides landing grounds in all major districts lakh hectare net area and 46.46 lakh hectare gross of the State. area receive irrigation from different sources. Principal food crops are paddy, wheat, maize and TOURIST CENTRES pulses. Main cash crops are sugarcane, potato, Important places of tourist interest are Rajgir, tobacco, oilseeds, onion, chillies, jute and mesta. Nalanda, Vaishali, Pawapuri (where Lord Mahavira Bihar has a notified forest area of 6.22 lakh breathed his last and attained Nirvana), Bodh Gaya,

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Vikramshila (ruins of Buddhist University of higher irrigation capacity was 13.28 lakh hectares which learning), Gaya, Patna (ancient city of Pataliputra), has now increased to 16.81 lakh hectare. Major Sasaram (tomb of Shershah Suri) and Madhubani completed projects are Tandula, Kodar ad Pairy. (known for its famous Madhubani Paintings). The total capacity of the State Electricity Board Mundeshwari Mandir (Kaimur), Rohtras Garh is 1,681.05 MW, out of this the thermal power Fort (Rohtas), Jain Pilgrim Place, Kundalpur share is 1,260 MW and the rest is hydel power. (Nalanda), Bihar School of Yoga (Munger), The electricity board is investing in modernization, Manersharif Patna, Rural Tourist Place Nepura strengthening transmission and distribution (Nalanda), Kesaria Stupa (West Champaran), networks and creating more generating capacities. Barabar Hills (Jehanabad) and Lauria Nandangarh The Board itself is adding 500 MW installed are also important tourist places. generating capacity with 2 X 250 MW units in CHHATTISGARH Korba. The private sector has been encouraged to set up generating capacities and to make third Area : 1,36,034 sq km Population : 2,07,95,956 (Census 2001) party sales outside the state. Around 93 per cent Capital:Raipur Principal Language : Hindi of 19,720 inhabited villages of Chhattisgarh have been electrified. HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY MINERAL RESOURCES Chhattisgarh, carved out of Madhya Pradesh came into being on 1 November 2000 as the 26th Chhattisgarh hosts a wide variety of minerals State of the Union. It fulfils the long-cherished found in igneous, sedmentary and metamorphic demand of the people. In ancient times the region terrains. Large deposits of coal, iron ore, limestone, was known as Dakshin-Kausal. This finds mention bauxite, dolomite and tin ore are located in several in Ramayana and Mahabharata also. Between the parts of the state. Lately diamonditerous sixth and twelfth centuries Sarabhpurias, kimberlites identified in Raipur district are likely Panduavanshi, Somvanshi, Kalchuri and to yield substantial quantity of diamonds. There Nagvanshi rulers dominated this region. Kalchuris are also present medium to small deposits of gold ruled in Chhattisgarh from 980 to 1791 AD. With and base metals. Satite furn corundum, graphite the advent of the British in 1845, Raipur gained of workable size are likely to graduate to the prominence instead of capital Ratanpur. In the category of large deposits after prospecting. Twenty 1904 Sambalpur was transferred to Orissa and per cent of the country’s steel and cement is estates of Saguja were transferred from Bengal to produced in the state. It is the only tin ore Chhattisgarh. producing state in the country. The mineral resources have immense potential for large Chhattisgarh is bounded by southern investments in mining, setting of mineral based Jharkhand and Orissa in the east, Madhya Pradesh industries and generating employment. and Maharashtra in the west, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh nestles atop the world’s largest western Jharkhand in the north and Andhra kimberlite area. Eight blocks have been Pradesh in the south. Areawise Chhattisgarh is demarcated for diamond exporation. the ninth largest state and population-wise it is seventeenth populous state of the nation. Apart from diamond, four blocks of gold exploration and five blocks for base metal AGRICULTURE investigations have also been demarcated. Agriculture and allied activities account for INDUSTRY nearly 80 per cent of the workforce in the state. Out of the geographical area 13,790 thousand Chhattisgarh is generously bestowed with hectare, gross cropped area is about 35 per cent. natural resources like forests, minerals and Kharif is the main cropping season. Rice is the surface water. The State has undergone a radical predominant crop of the state; other important and is thriving with industrial activities now. crops are maize, wheat, niger, groundnut and Chhattisgarh produces 15 per cent of the steel pulses. The state has one of the biggest collections made in the country. Many Government of India of rice germplasm. Horticulture crops are grown Undertaking like Bhilai Steel Plant, National in an area of about 303.57 thousand hectare. Mineral Development Corporation, South-Eastern Coal Field Limited, NTPC and a number of large IRRIGATION AND POWER cement plant by groups like ACC, Gujrat Ambuja, When the state came into being, the total Giasim, CCI and La-farge of Framce and 53 steel

Click Here to Buy Full Study Kit in Hard Copy © WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/study-kit-for-ias-pre-gs-paper-1-2012 Click Here For Integrated Guidance Programme http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/integrated-free-guidance-programme Geography projects (sponge iron/pig iron route) in private Two north-south and four east-west road sector are also under different stages of corridors are being constructed in the state for implementation. There are approximately 133 steel better connectivity having a total length of 3106.75 re-rolling mills and a number of mini steel plants. km. The state also boasts of 11 ferro-alloy units, steel/ RAILWAYS: Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, cast iron casting units, engineering and Rajnandgaon, Raigarh and Korba are important fabrication units apart from large number of agro- railway stations. based and food processing, chemical, plastic, construction material, forest produce based units. TOURIST CENTRES Strategically located in central India, Chhattisgarh situated in the heart of India, is Chhattisgarh is able to supply power to units for endowed with a rich cultural-heritage and all the time. About 17 per cent of the country’s coal attractive natural diversity. The State is full of reserves in the state, offering cheap pithead power ancient monuments, rare wildlife species, carved generation opportunities with the potential to temples, Buddhist sites, palaces, water falls, caves, produce up to 50,000 MW of power. NTPC is now rock paintings and hill plateaus. Bastar, with its installing a new power generation unit, the largest unique cultural and ecological identity, Chitrakote ever by it in Bilaspur district. NTPC has started Falls, a spot where the river Indravati has an abrupt construction on its 2,640 MW Super Thermal plant fall of 96 ft; Tirathgarh Falls, the picturesque in Sipat and another 600 MW plant in Korba. waterfall of Kanger river from a height of 100 ft in Several other states ate also interested in the from of steps; Keshkal vally; Kangerghati installing plants here. Private sector MoUs for more National Park; Kailash caves; Sita Bongara and than 25,000 MW and more projects are in the Kutumbsar caves are rich in natural beauty. pipeline. Chhattisgarh State Industrial Mahamaya temple at Ratanpur, Bambleshwari Devi Development Corp. Ltd., Raipur has developed, Temple at Dongargarh, Danteshwari Devi Temple maintained and is managing approximately an at Dantewada, Sirpur and important centre of area of 3,500 hectare of industrial land. More than Buddhism from 6-10 century, Champaran, the birth 925 industries with investments of more than Rs. place of Mahaprabhu Vallahacharya, Khutaghat 18.000 million providing direct employment to waterfall, Dindneswari Devi temple of Malhar and 80,000 persons have already been set up on the the Achanakmar sanctuary, Udanti sanctuary land developed by this corporation. near Raipur, Pali and Kendai waterfall of Korba district are important places of tourist interest. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The Sabari temple of Kharod Janjgir-Champa; Nar E-Governance in Chhattisgarh is oriented Narayan temple of Sheorinarayan; Vishnu Temple towards ensuring people’s access to government, of Janjgir are important religious places. The state and this makes the government even more has set up a State Tourism Promoting Board as responsive and transparent. Chips (Chhattisgarh the nodal agency for the sustained development of Infotech and Biotech Promotion Society) was set interrelated sectors in tourism. up with a high powered governing council under the Chief Minister’s chairpersonship, to act as a prime mover for IT and Biotechnology in the state. Area :3,702 sq km Population :13,47,668 (2001 Census) All citizen service of e-governance are under one Capital : Principal Language :Konkani and Marathi umbrella project called CHOICE (Chhattisgarh On- HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY line Information for Citizens Empowerment). Goa, known in the bygone days as Gomanchala, Chhattisgarh got the United Nations Gopakapattam, Gopakapuri, Govapuri, Gomantak, Development Programme (UNDP) Award 2007 for etc., abounds in a rich historical heritage. Early its Human Development Report using Information history of Goa is obscure. In the first century of Technology for the betterment of citizens. the Christian era, Goa was a part of the Satavahana TRANSPORT empire, followed by the Kadamba, the Rastrakutas ROADS: The total length of the roads in the of Malked, the Chalukyas and the Silharas. The State in 34,930 km. The length of the national empire of the Yadavas by the end of the 14th highways is 2,225 km, state highways 3,213.50 century was displaced by the Khiljis of Delhi and km, district roads 4,814 km and rural roads is thus Muslim rule came to Goa. After the discovery 27,001 km. of the sea route to India by Vasco-da-Gama in 1498,

Click Here to Buy Full Study Kit in Hard Copy © WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/study-kit-for-ias-pre-gs-paper-1-2012 Click Here For Integrated Guidance Programme http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/integrated-free-guidance-programme Geography many Portuguese expeditions came to India in cent per cent coverage. Completed 11 KV 1510, Alfonso de Albuquerque with the help of the underground cabling system in various parts of emperor of Vijaynagar attacked and captured Goa. coastal areas of North Goa and 33 KV cabling from With the arrival of the Jesuit priest Francis Xavier Bhuipal to Vasco, Kadamba sub-stations and in 1542 proselytisation began in Goa. However, the Benaulim to Velim via Cavelossim. Completed the Portuguese continued to rule over the territory work of erection of 33/11 KV, .3 MVA substations except for an interlude during the lather half of at Shiroda, Campal and Ponda. More such the 17th century when Shivaji conquered a few substation commissioned in Poinguinim, Sanguem areas in and around Goa. Even after India’s and Cavelossim. independence, Goa continued to be in the hands INDUSTRIES of the Portuguese. However, they could not fulfil the aspirations of the Goan people and ultimaterly The State has over 7110 small-scale industrial on 19 December 1961, Goa was liberated and made units and 20 industrial estates. Initiated the a composite union territory with Daman and Diu. process of setting up a Bio-incubator with the help On 30 May 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and of Goa University to promote Goa as Bio Tech Daman and Diu was made a separate union destination. Disbursed Rs. 593 lakhs to the EDC territory. under Chief Minister’s Rojagar Yojana. Streamlined the procedure for registration of Goa is situated on the western coast of the micro, small and medium industries. Indian Peninsula. On its north runs the which separates Goa from Maharashtra and FISHRIES on the sout lies North Canara district of Karnataka. Fish assumes special significance fot the State On the east lie the Western Ghats and in the west as 90% of the people are fish dietarian. Fisheries the Arabian Sea. Panaji, Margao, Vasco, Mapusa is an important industry in the state providing and Ponda are the main towns of Goa. employment and livelihood to around 1.00 lakh AGRICULTURE people. Financial assistance provided to about 200 beneficiaries for purchase of outboard motors, sea- Rice is the main food crop. Pulses, ragi and gill nets, wooden FRP craft etc. 5500 persons other food crops are also growm. Main cash crops covered under group Accident scheme and another are coconut, cashewnut, arecanut, sugarcane and 4500 under General Insurance scheme. fruits like pineapple, mango and banana. A support price of Rs. 5000 per ton on sale of paddy crop to ART AND CULTURE designated agencies was provided. Irrigation The State has the distinction to have achieved facilities to 700 farmers under state and central the ISO 9001-2000 certification through the sector for opening of wells, installation of pump sets, Directorate of Art and Culture. State Cultural Policy sprinkler system, drop irrigation etc. were farmed. Set up Tiatr Academy of Goa. Various launched. “Jalkund” a special project for rainwater schemes such as Kala Sanman, Kalakar harvesting was also launched. Kritadnyata Nidhi are being implemented to assist WATER RESOURCES artists and promote culture activities. Grants With the commissioning of dams like Salaulim released to 139 institutions working in the field of and Anjunem and othe minor irrigation projects, Art & Culture. Instituted the prestigious Gomant the area under irrigation is rising steadily. The Vibhushan” Award for Goan personalities with total irrigation potential created by these projects global recognition. State-of-the-Art District Library is 43,000 hectare. Released water from Tillari at Margao ready for inauguration. Upgradation work Project to Chandel and Assonara water treatment Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir at Ponda is being taken plants. Deployed anti-sea erosion measures along up. New auditoriums and dance drama school to the beachside for a length of 7.33 kms. Constructed come up. The Ravindra Bhavan projects at Sakhali 128 bandharas for water storage. Construction work and Vasco nearing completion. of 29 bandhars is in progress. Introduced Roof-top TRANSPORT rainwater harvesting scheme. Initiated the work Pension scheme for motorcycle riders has been of Hydrology project with the help of Uninon prepared. Financial assistance is proposed to be Ministry of Water Resources. provided to such riders, who are in the age group POWER of 40-60 to improve their living condition. Over 7.27 All villages have been electrified leading to lakh vehicles registered in Goa, including

Click Here to Buy Full Study Kit in Hard Copy © WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/study-kit-for-ias-pre-gs-paper-1-2012 Click Here For Integrated Guidance Programme http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/integrated-free-guidance-programme Geography motorcycles, mini-buses, auto rickshaws and patients in 2009. 10 involving an amount of Rs. Government vehicles. Spacious “Transport 16.41 crore. In order to provide dental care at Bhavan” in Panaji planned. Smart Card Driving doorsteps of the people Mobile Dental Van procured. Licenses have been issued. A Prosthetic Laboratory upgraded. Roads : Of the motorable roads, national GUJARAT highway constitutes 224 km, state highways 232 Area :1,96,024 sq km Population :5,06,71,017 km and district roads 815 km. Capital :Gandhinagar Principal Language :Gujarati Railways : Goa is linked with Mumbai, Mangalore and Thiruvananthpuram through the HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY Konkan Railway, which has introduced several fast The history of Gujarat goes back to 2000 BC. It trains on these lines. Vasco da Gama is connected is believed that Lord Krishna left Mathura to settle with Bengaluru and Belgaum on the South Central on the west coast of Saurashtra which later came Railway, presently for goods traffic only. to be known as Dwarka, the gateway. Later it saw Aviation : Mumbai, Delhi, Thiruvananthpuram, various kingdoms : Mauryas, Guptas, Pratiharas Cochin, Chennai, Agati and Bengaluru are linked and others. It was during the rule of Chalukyas with Dabolim through regular Airlines services. (Solankis) that Gujarati witnessed progress and prosperity. I spite of the plunderings of Mahmud Ports : Mormugao is the major port in the State. Ghazani, the Chalukyan kings were able to Mormugao handles cargo vessels. Minor ports are maintain general prosperity and well-being of the located at Panaji, Tiracol, Chapora Betul and State. After this glorious respite, Gujarat faced Talpona, out of which Panaji is the main operative troubled times under the Muslims, Marathas and port. One off-shore berth at Panaji has also been the British rule. Before Independence, the present commissioned. territories of Gujarat used to be in two parts – the TOURIST CENTRES British and the Princely territories. With the re- Important tourist centres are Colva, Calagute, organisation of the States, the Union of the States Vagator, Baga, Harmal, Anjuna and Miramar of Saurshtra and the Union Teritory of Kachchh beaches; Basilica of Bom Jesus and Se Cathedral along with the former British Gujarat, beame a churches at Old Goa; Kavlem, Mardol, Mangeshi, part of the biggest bilingual State of Bombay. The Bandora temples; Aguada, Terekhol, Chapora and present State of Gujarat came into being on 1 May Cabo de Rama Forts; Dudhsagar and Harvalem 1960. It is situated on the west coast of India. The waterfalls and Mayem lade resort. The state has state is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west, rich wildlife sanctuaries, viz., Bondla, Cotigao, Pakistan and Rajasthan in the north-east Molem and Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary at Chorao respectively, Madhya Pradesh in the south-east and covering an area of 354 sq km. Maharashtra in the south. FOREST AGRICULTURE Goa bagged the Indira Priyadarshani Vriksha Gujarat is the main producer o cotton Mitra Award along with Kerala. Three fountains groundnut and tobacco in the country and provides installed at Vasco. Master Plan for Bonda Zoo inputs for important industries like textiles, oil and expansion in line with National Standards with soap. Other important cash crops, are isabgol, and outlay of Rs. 20 crores to be prepared. paddy, wheat and bajra. Forest species available in Gujarat are sadad, haldariyo and manual HEALTH bamboos. Constructed new “Yatri Niwas” for relatives of INDUSTRY patients admitted to Goa Medical College. Provided new medical block in GMC with 450 beds. Launched The number of registered working factories in a new Diabetes control programme besides the State was 23,942 (Provisional) at the end of providing insulin to diabetic patients free of cost. 2008 with the average daily employment of 11.75 Started Neuro Rehabilitation Centre in GMC for lakh. The number of small-scale industrial units treatment of specially abled children. Introduced in the State was 3.56 lakh at the end of September Mobile Mammography units for speedy detection 2009. of breast Cancer. Registered about 14 Rogi Kalyan Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation Samitis. Extended Mediclaim benefit to 1405 (GIDC) has been assigned the role of developing

Click Here to Buy Full Study Kit in Hard Copy © WWW.UPSCPORTAL.COM http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/study-kit-for-ias-pre-gs-paper-1-2012 Click Here For Integrated Guidance Programme http://upscportal.com/civilservices/online-course/integrated-free-guidance-programme Geography industrial estates with infrastructure facilities. At Shamlaji, Taranga, andGirnar; Porbandar the the end of year 2008-2009 GIDC had set up 257 birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi; places of industrial estates. memorable monuments of architectural and IRRIGATION AND POWER archaeological wonders like Pathan, Siddhpur, Ghurnli, Dabhoi, Vadnagar, Madhera, Lothal and The total irrigation potential through surface Ahmedabad; Beaches like Ahmedpur-Mandvi, water as well as ground water has been assessed Chorvad, Ubharat, and Thital; the Hill station- at 64.88 lakh hectare including 17.92 lakh hectare Saputara; Lion sanctuary of Gir forest and wild life through Sardar Sarover (Narmada) Project. The sanctuary in Katchchh area are major tourist total irrigation potential created up to June 2009 attractions in the State. is worked out to 30.99 lakh hectare. The maximum utilization has been estimated at 23.79 lakh HARYANA hectare up to June 2009. Area :44,212 sq km Population : 2,11,44,564 ELECTRICITY Capital :Chandigarh Principal Language : Hindi The total installed capacity for the state HISTORY AND GEOGRAPHY including central sector project has increased to 11636 MW as on 31 March 2009. All the villages Haryana has a proud history dating back to the have been covered under the scheme. Jyoti Gram Vedic Age. The State was home to the legendary Yojana of Gujarat State Government. Bharata dynasty, after which the country was named Bharat. The land of Haryana has been the TRANSPORT cradle of Indian culture and civilization. Roads : The total length of roads (except Non- Archaeological investigations done by Guy E. plan, Community, Urban and Project roads) was Pilgrim in 1915 established that 15 million years 74,038 km by the end of 2005-06. ago, the early man lived in the Haryana Shivaliks. Aviation : The main airport of Gujarat at Yamana Purana states that King Kuru ploughed Ahmedabad is connected with Mumbai, Delhi and the field of Kurukshetra with a golden plough, other cities by daily services. Ahmedabad airport drawn by the Nandi of Lord Shiva, and reclaimed has now got the status of an International Airport. an area of seven ‘kosas’. Other domestic airports are Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Replete with myths, legends and Vedic Bhuj, Jamnagar, Rajkot and Surat. refrences, Haryana’s past is steeped in glory. It was Ports : Gujarat has 41 minor and intermediate on the soil of Haryana that saint Ved Vyas wrote ports and one major port is Kandla port handled Mahabharata. It was here that Lord Krishna cargo of 512.52 lakh tonne during 2009-10 (April- preached the gospel of duty to Arjuna about 5,000 November 2009). years ago. It was here that the epic battle of Mahabharata was fought. Being the gateway to FESTIVALS north India, the region has been the battleground Tarnetar fair is held at village Tarnetar in the of many a war. The Huns, the Turks and the honour of Lord Shiva on the 4th , 5th, and 6th days Tughlaqs invaded India and decisive battles were of the bright half of of the month of Bhadrapada fought on this land. At the end of the 14th, century. (August/September). Madhavrai fair at Madhavpur Tamur led an army through this area to Delhi. near Porbandar is held to celebrate the marriage Later, the Mughals defeated the Lodhis in the by elopement of Lord Krishna and Rukmani, on the historic battle of Panipat in 1526. Another decisive ninth day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra battle was fought in 1556 at this very site, (March/April). Ambaji fair dedicated to Amba- establishing the supremacy of the Mughals up to mother godess is held in Banaskantha district. The the advent of the British rule, and the rise of Delhi biggest annual fair and Janamashtami the as the imperial capital of India. birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated at Dwarka and Dakor with great enthusiasm. Other festivals Bold in spirit and action, the people of Haryana are Makar-Sankranti, Navratri, Dangi Darbar, have always fromed a bulward work against the Shamlaji fair and Bhavnath fair. forces of aggression and anti-nationalism. In fact, the history of Haryana reads like the saga of the TOURIST CENTRES struggle of a righteous, forthright and proud people Religious centres like Dwarka, Somnath, of the state, known for their traits of bravery and Palitana, Pavagadh, Ambaji, Bhadreshwar, valour.

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