The Central Arid Zone Research Institute, the national centre for research on desert soils and dry farming, is located at
- A.Bikaner
- B.Jodhpur
- C.Jaipur
- D.Udaipur
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Jodhpur. The Central Arid Zone Research Institute was set up at Jodhpur in 1959 and works on sand dune stabilisation, shelter belts, dry farming, desert pasture and the spread of the desert, which is why it is the institute named in questions on the Thar. Option A, Bikaner, has the state agricultural university of the arid region and a camel research centre, so it is the most tempting distractor. Option C, Jaipur, is the state capital and has the state administrative and planning offices, not this institute. Option D, Udaipur, lies in the southern Aravalli where rainfall is higher and hosts an agricultural university of its own. Learn the pair: Jodhpur for arid zone research, Bikaner for camel research. The institute also keeps a long record of the spread of the desert eastwards, which is the basis of the Desert Development Programme in the western districts.
Read the full article: Climate and Soils of Rajasthan: Rainfall, Loo and Mawath
Practice Questions
View allWhich district of Rajasthan receives the lowest average annual rainfall?
- A.Churu
- B.Jaisalmer
- C.Bikaner
- D.Nagaur
Show answer
It lies in the extreme west of the state, farthest from both branches of the south-west monsoon, and parts of the district record under 200 millimetres a year, which is why the sand dunes there are the largest and the most mobile in Rajasthan.
Read the full explanation →The light winter rainfall caused by western disturbances in Rajasthan is locally known as
- A.Loo
- B.Andhi
- C.Mawath
- D.Sem
Show answer
These are the showers of December to February, brought by western disturbances that travel from the Mediterranean across Iran and Pakistan into north-western India, and they are valued because they water the standing rabi crops of wheat, gram, barley and mustard without any cost to the farmer.
Read the full explanation →The Tropic of Cancer passes through which district of Rajasthan?
- A.Banswara
- B.Jhalawar
- C.Dungarpur
- D.Udaipur
Show answer
The Tropic of Cancer crosses the southern part of Banswara, the southernmost district of Rajasthan, so the whole of the state except that small corner lies north of the tropic, in the subtropical belt.
Read the full explanation →Medium black soil in Rajasthan is found mainly in which region?
- A.Shekhawati
- B.Hadoti
- C.Marwar
- D.Mewat
Show answer
The soil there is formed from the weathering of the basalt of the Deccan trap, so it is clayey, holds moisture well and cracks in summer, and it carries the state's soybean, cotton and wheat.
Read the full explanation →Which soil covers the largest area of Rajasthan?
- A.Alluvial soil
- B.Red and yellow soil
- C.Sandy or desert soil
- D.Medium black soil
Show answer
The Thar desert and the arid plains west of the Aravalli take up the greater part of Rajasthan, and their soil is overwhelmingly sand, low in nitrogen and organic matter, porous so that water sinks away quickly, but often well supplied with lime and phosphate.
Read the full explanation →