Rajasthan is a state in northwestern India with a population of over 64 million. Historically, Rajasthan was ruled by various Rajput clans from the 8th to 12th centuries, and later came under Muslim rule centered in cities like Jaipur and Ajmer. British rule over the region began in the early 19th century. After independence in 1947, Rajasthan was formed from numerous princely states and chiefships. It underwent integration and became a single state in 1956, comprising 33 districts today. Agriculture, tourism, mining and textiles are important industries in the state.
Rajasthan is a state in northwestern India with a population of over 64 million. Historically, Rajasthan was ruled by various Rajput clans from the 8th to 12th centuries, and later came under Muslim rule centered in cities like Jaipur and Ajmer. British rule over the region began in the early 19th century. After independence in 1947, Rajasthan was formed from numerous princely states and chiefships. It underwent integration and became a single state in 1956, comprising 33 districts today. Agriculture, tourism, mining and textiles are important industries in the state.
Rajasthan is a state in northwestern India with a population of over 64 million. Historically, Rajasthan was ruled by various Rajput clans from the 8th to 12th centuries, and later came under Muslim rule centered in cities like Jaipur and Ajmer. British rule over the region began in the early 19th century. After independence in 1947, Rajasthan was formed from numerous princely states and chiefships. It underwent integration and became a single state in 1956, comprising 33 districts today. Agriculture, tourism, mining and textiles are important industries in the state.
State (pop., 2008 est.: 64,641,000), northwestern India.
Ancient Period, upto 1200 AD Rajput clans eer!ed and held their swa" o#er di$erent parts o% Rajasthan %ro a&out '00 (). *e%ore that, Rajasthan was a part o% se#eral repu&lics. It was a part o% the +aur"an ,pire. -ther ajor repu&lics that doinated this re!ion include the +ala#as, (rjun"as, .audh"as, /ushans, Sa0a Satraps, 1uptas and 2unas. 3he Rajput clans ascendanc" in Indian histor" was durin! the period %ro the ei!hth to the twel%th centur" (). 3he 4ratihars ruled Rajasthan and ost o% northern India durin! '5061000 (). *etween 100061200 (), Rajasthan witnessed the stru!!le %or supreac" &etween 7halu0"as, 4arars and 7hauhans. Medieval Period, 1201 - 1707 (round 1200 () a part o% Rajasthan cae under +usli rulers. 3he principal centers o% their powers were 8a!aur and (jer. Ranthan&hor was also under their su9eraint". (t the &e!innin! o% the 1:th centur" (), the ost proinent and power%ul state o% Rajasthan was +ewar. Modern Period, 1707 - 1947 Rajasthan had ne#er &een united politicall" until its doination &" +u!hal ,peror 6 (0&ar. (0&ar created a uni;ed pro#ince o% Rajasthan. +u!hal power started to decline a%ter 1'0'. 3he political disinte!ration o% Rajasthan was caused &" the dise&erent o% the +u!hal ,pire. 3he +arathas penetrated Rajasthan upon the decline o% the +u!hal ,pire. In 1'55 the" occupied (jer. 3he &e!innin! o% the 1<th 7entur" was ar0ed &" the onslau!ht o% the 4indaris. In 181'618 the *ritish 1o#ernent concluded treaties o% alliance with alost all the states o% Rajputana. 3hus &e!an the *ritish rule o#er Rajasthan, then called Rajputana. Post Independence 3he erstwhile Rajputana coprised 1< princel" states and two chie%ships o% =a#a and /ushal!arh and a *ritish adinistered territor" o% (jer6+erwara. Rajasthan State was hetero!eneous con!loeration o% separate political entities with di$erent adinistrati#e s"stes pre#ailin! in di$erent places. 3he present State o% Rajasthan was %ored a%ter a lon! process o% inte!ration which &e!an on +arch 1', 1<48 and ended on 8o#e&er 1, 1<56. *e%ore inte!ration it was called Rajputana> a%ter inte!ration it cae to &e 0nown as Rajasthan. (t present there are :: districts (includin! the new district o% 4ratap!arh) in the State. !" # Ite$ %ear &nit Particulars 1 Area 7ensus 2001 S?./. :422:< 2 Population 7ensus 2001 8o. 5650'188 (i) @r&an A A 1:214:'5
(ii) Rural A A 4:2<281:
(iii) SeB Ratio (8o. o% Ceale per 1000 o% +ales) A 8o perD000 <21
(i#) )ensit" (4er s?. /.) A A 165 ' (ities ) *o+ns 7ensus 2001 8o. 222 4 ,illa-es 7ensus 2001 A 41:5: . "et area so+n 200'608 2ect. 1'0<56'2 / Area so+n $ore than once A A 511261< 7 0ross area irri-ated 1P2 A A 8088455 3 Irri-ated Area o4 (i) Cood!rains 200'608 A :8208<8
(ii) -il seeds A A 25'54:<
(iii) 7otton A A :5:812
(i#) Su!arcane A A 100:5 9 Production (i) Cood!rains 200'608 +.3onnes 160844:5
(ii) -il seeds A A 422<:46
(iii) 7otton (=int) A A 1465'6
(i#) Su!arcane A A 5<4056 10 5ivestoc6 1P2 200660' D 000 8o. 4<1:6 (4) 11 (o-operative ocieties 200660' (4) 8o 26:04 12 Me$7ership o4 (o-operative ocieties 200660' (4) D 000 8o. <':881< 1' ale value o4 $inerals 8 200660' la0hs 1:8865.:<5 14 Re-istered I &nits 200860< =ac 8o. :.2 1. *otal 9ner-: availa7le 200'608 1P2 +@ :6'16.'12 1/ Roads 200'608 /s. 182460 17 9ducational Institutions 200860< 8o. 11<'<0 13 0ovt! Medical Institutions
1i2 Modern Medicines
2ospitals 200860< 8o. 12'
727 A A :6' )ispensaries A A 1<<
(id 4ost A A 1:
+7E 7entres A A 118
4riar" 2ealth 7entres
Rural 427 A A 150:
@r&an 427 A A :'
Cail" Eel%are 7entres A A 2<:
Su&67entres A A 10<51
1ii2 A:urvedic;&nani;<o$eopath ic and Pra6riti6 Institution
(ii) (t current prices A A 14''14 2' Revenue Receipts 1R92 200860< 7r Rs. 4:6::.<< 24 Revenue 9?penditure 1R92 200860< 7r Rs. :4666.2 2. 9leventh @ive %ear Plan #utla: 12007-122 Aud-eted 2007-12 200'612 7r Rs. '1':1.<8 (4) 4ro#isional R, Re#ised ,stiates H Huic0 ,Btiates Source o% in%oration : )irectorate o% ,conoics I Statistics <is 9?cellenc: *he 0overnor h! hivraj Patil <onB7le (hie4 Minister h! Asho6 0ehlot (a7inet (hie4 Minister !" "a$e Depart$ent o! 1 Sh. (sho0 1ehlot )epartents o% Cinance and 3aBation, 4lannin!, 4olic" 4lannin!, 4ersonnel, (dinistrati#e Re%ors and 7oordination, 4arliaentar" Secretariat, Rajasthan State In#esti!ation *ureau, 7i#il (#iation, Social Justice and ,powerent, /hadi and 1raod"o!, 1eneral (dinistration )epartent 7a&inet +inisters !" o! "a$e Depart$ent 1 Sh. (iaduddin (had K)uru +i"anK +edical I 2ealth, Cail" Eel%are, ("ur#eda, +edical ,ducation. 2 St. *eena /a0 3ouris, (rt, 7ulture and (rcheolo!", Eoen and 7hild )e#elopent, 4rintin! and Stationer". ' Sh. *harat Sin!h Rural )e#elopent and 4ancha"ati Raj. 4 Sh. *rij0ishore Shara 3ransport, Sans0rit ,ducation, =an!ua!e and =in!uistic +inorities and )e#asthan ((dditional 7har!e ) . Sh. 2arji Ra *urda0 (!riculture, (nial 2us&andr", Cisheries. / Sh. 2ea Ra 7haudhar" Re#enue, 7olonisation, Saini0 /al"an. 7 )r. Jitendra Sin!h ,ner!" I 8on 7on#entional ,ner!" Source, In%oration 3echnolo!" I 7ounication, 2i!her ,ducation ((dditional 7har!e). 3 Sh. +ahendrajeet Sin!h +al#i"a 3ri&al (rea )e#elopent, 4u&lic 1rie#ances Redressal, 3echnical and ,n!ineerin! ,ducation ((dditional 7har!e). 9 Sh. +ahipal +aderna Eater Resources, Indira 1andhi 7anal 4roject, 4u&lic 2ealth and ,n!ineerin!, 1round Eater, 7oand (rea )e#elopent. 10 Sh. +aster *hanwar =al +e!hwal =a&our and ,plo"ent, 4riar" ,ducation, Secondar" ,ducation. 11 Sh. 4arsadi =al +eena 7ooperati#es, Sall Sa#in!s and State =otteries. 12 Sh. Rajendra 4aree0 Industries, 8on Resident Indians (8RI), ,conoics I Statistics and ,Bcise ((dditional 7har!e),4u&lic ,nterprises. 1' Sh. Shanti /uar )hariwal 2oe, 2oe 1uard I 7i#il )e%ence, =aw and Justice, 4arliaentar" ($airs, @r&an )e#elopent I 2ousin!, =ocal Sel% *odies. State +inisters !" o! "a$e Depart$ent 1 Sh (in /han Ea?% (Independent), Rural )e#elopent I 4ancha"ati Raj. 2 Sh. (sho0 *airwa In%orationKs I 4u&lic Relation (Independent), State Insurance (Independent), ,lection (Independent), 3raFc, Sans0rit ,ducation, =an!ua!e I =in!uistic +inorities, )e#asthan. ' Sh. *a&ulal 8a!ar Cood and 7i#il Supplies, )air". 4 Sh. *harosi =al Jata# ,state (Independent), +otor 1ara!e (Independent), (!riculture, (nial 2us&andr", Cisheries . Sh. *rijendra Sin!h -la )isaster +ana!eent I Relie% (Independent), 7ooperati#e / St. 1ola )e#i /hadi and 1raod"o!, 2oe 1uard I 7i#il )e%ence 7 Sh 1ureet Sin!h /unnar (!riculture +ar0etin! (Independent), Eater Resources, Indira 1andhi 7anal 4roject, 42,), 1round Eater, 7oand (rea )e#elopent 3 Sh. +an!i =al 1arasia .outh a$airs I Sports (Independent), 4riar" ,ducation, Secondar" ,ducation, =a&our I ,plo"ent 9 Sh.+urari =al +eena 3echnical ,ducation ( (!riculture) (Independent), Re#enue, 7oloni9ation, Saini0 /al"an 10 Sh.4raod Jain K*ha"aK 4u&lic Eor0s )epartent. 11 Sh. Raj /uar Shara Science I 3echnolo!" (Independent), +edical I 2ealth, Cail" Eel%are, ("ur#eda, +edical ,ducation. 12 Sh. Rajendra Sin!h 1uda 4lannin! (+an 4ower)(Independent), 3ouris, (rt, 7ulture and (rcheolo!", 4rintin! and Stationer". 1' Sh. Ra0ishore Saini Social Justice and ,powerent, Jail (Independent). 14 Sh. Ra =al Jat Corest I ,n#ironent, +ines ((dditional 7har!e) 4arliaent Secretar" !" o! "a$e 1 Sh.*rahade# /uawat 2 Sh. )ilip 7haudhar" ' Sh. 1iriraj Sin!h +ilin!a 4 Sh. 8analal 8inaa . Sh. Raesh 7hand +eena / Sh. Ra0esh +eena *ordered &" 4a0istan and the states o% 4unja&, 2ar"ana, @ttar 4radesh, +adh"a 4radesh, and 1ujarat, it co#ers an area o% 1:2,1:< s? i (:42,2:< s? 0)> its capital is Jaipur. (rchaeolo!ical e#idence shows continuous huan ha&itation %or a&out 100,000 "ears. In the 'thL11th centuries ce, se#eral Rajput d"nasties arose, reachin! their hei!ht in the 16th centur". 3he eperor (0&ar &rou!ht the Rajput states into the +u!hal ,pire. In the 1<th centur", the *ritish cae into control o% the re!ion. (%ter Indian independence (1<4'), the area was or!ani9ed as the @nion o% Rajasthan, then reor!ani9ed in 1<56. It is doinated &" the (ra#alli Ran!e and the 3har )esert. 4redoinantl" an a!ricultural and pastoral state, it is one o% the lar!est producers o% wool in India. It is located in the northwestern part o% the su&continent. It is &ounded to the north and northeast &" the states o% 4unja& and 2ar"ana, to the east and southeast &" the states o% @ttar 4radesh and +adh"a 4radesh, to the southwest &" the state o% 1ujarat, and to the west and northwest &" 4a0istan. 3he capital cit" is Jaipur, in the east6central part o% the state. Rajasthan, eanin! M3he (&ode o% the Rajas,N was %orerl" called Rajputana, M3he 7ountr" o% the RajputsN (sons o% rajas OprincesP). *e%ore 1<4', when India achie#ed independence %ro *ritish rule, it coprised soe two do9en princel" states and chie%ships, the sall *ritish6adinistered pro#ince o% (jer6+erwara, and a %ew poc0ets o% territor" outside the ain &oundaries. (%ter 1<4' the princel" states and chie%ships were inte!rated into India in sta!es, and the state too0 the nae Rajasthan. It assued its present %or on 8o#. 1, 1<56, when the States Reor!ani9ation (ct cae into %orce. (rea 1:2,1:< s?uare iles (:42,2:< s?uare 0). 4op. (2008 est.) 64,641,000. 5and 3he (ra#alli ((ra#ali) Ran!e %ors a line across the state runnin! rou!hl" %ro 1uru 4ea0 (a&out 5,650 %eet O1,'22 etresP), near the town o% (&u (+ount (&u) in the southwest, to the town o% /hetri in the northeast. (&out three6;%ths o% the state lies northwest o% this line, lea#in! two6;%ths in the southeast. 3hese are the two natural di#isions o% Rajasthan. 3he northwestern tract is !enerall" arid and unproducti#e, althou!h its character shi%ts !raduall" %ro desert in the %ar west and northwest to coparati#el" %ertile and ha&ita&le land toward the east. 3he area includes the 3har (1reat Indian) )esert. 3he southeastern area lies at a soewhat hi!her ele#ation (::0 to 1,150 %eet O100 to :50 etresP) than its northwestern counterpart> it also is ore %ertile and has a ore di#erse topo!raph". 3he hill" tract o% +ewar lies in the southern re!ion, while a &road plateau stretches across the southeast. In the northeast a ru!!ed &adlands re!ion %ollows the line o% the 7ha&al Ri#er. Carther north the countr" le#els out into Qat plains that are part o% the allu#ial &asin o% the .auna Ri#er. 3he (ra#allis %or RajasthanDs ost iportant watershed. 3o the east o% this ran!e, the 7ha&al Ri#erRthe onl" lar!e and perennial ri#er in the stateRand other waterwa"s !enerall" drain toward the northeast. 3he principal tri&utar" o% the 7ha&al, the *anas, rises in the (ra#allis near the !reat /u&hal!arh %ort and collects all the draina!e o% the +ewar plateau. Carther north, the *an!an!a, a%ter risin! near Jaipur, Qows east toward the .auna &e%ore disappearin!. 3he =uni is the onl" si!ni;cant ri#er west o% the (ra#allis. It rises near the cit" o% (jer in central Rajasthan and Qows 200 iles (:20 0) west6southwest into the Rann o% /achchh in the state o% 1ujarat. 8ortheast o% the =uni &asin is an area o% internal draina!e characteri9ed &" salt la0es, the lar!est o% which is Sa&har Salt =a0e. Carther to the west lies the true +arusthali (M=and o% the )eadN), the &arren wastelands and areas o% sand dunes that %or the heart o% the 3har )esert. oils In the #ast sand" northwestern re!ion, soils are predoinantl" saline or al0aline. Eater is scarce &ut is %ound at a depth o% 100 to 200 %eet (:0 to 60 etres). 3he soil and sand are calcareous (chal0"). 8itrates in the soil increase its %ertilit", and culti#ation is o%ten possi&le where ade?uate water supplies are ade a#aila&le. 3he soils in central Rajasthan are sand"> cla" content #aries &etween : and < percent. In the east, soils #ar" %ro sand" loa to loa" sand. In the southeast, the" are in !eneral &lac0 and deep and are well drained. In the south6central re!ion, the tendenc" is toward a iBture o% red and &lac0 soils in the east and a ran!e o% red to "ellow soils in the west. (li$ate Rajasthan has a wide ran!e o% cliate #ar"in! %ro eBtreel" arid to huid. 3he huid 9one spans the southeast and east. ,Bcept in the hills, the heat durin! the suer is !reat e#er"where, with teperatures in JuneRthe warest onthR t"picall" risin! %ro the id680s C (a&out :0 S7) to nearl" 110 SC (low 40s 7) dail". 2ot winds and dust stors occur in the suer, especiall" in the desert tract. In Januar"Rthe coolest o% the winter onthsRdail" aBiu teperatures ran!e %ro the upper 60s to the id6'0s C (low to id620s 7), while iniu teperatures are !enerall" in the id640s C (a&out ' S7). 3he western desert has little rain, a#era!in! a&out 4 inches (100 ) annuall". In the southeast, howe#er, soe areas a" recei#e alost 20 inches (500 ). Southeastern Rajasthan &ene;ts %ro &oth the (ra&ian Sea and *a" o% *en!al &ranches o% the southwest (suer) onsoon winds, which &rin! the &ul0 o% the annual rain%all. Plant and ani$al li4e 3he predoinant #e!etation o% Rajasthan is scru& jun!le. 3oward the west there are t"pical arid69one plants, such as taaris0 (!enus 3aariB) and %alse taaris0 (!enus +"ricaria). 3rees are scarce, liited ostl" to sall, scattered %orest areas in the (ra#allis and in the eastern part o% the state. =ess than 10 percent o% Rajasthan is under %orest co#er. ( nu&er o% nota&le lar!e aals are re!ular residents o% Rajasthan. 3i!ers are %ound priaril" in the (ra#allis. =eopards, sloth &ears, Indian sa&ar (dar0 &rown Indian deer), and chital (spotted deer) occur in the hills and %orests. 8il!ais (&lue&uc0s> lar!e antelope) are also %ound in parts, and &lac0&uc0s are nuerous in the plains. 7oon &irds include snipes, ?uail, partrid!es, and wild duc0s> the" occur e#er"where eBcept in the desert. 3he northwest is well 0nown %or se#eral species o% sand!rouse. 8uerous sanctuaries and wildli%e par0s ha#e &een esta&lished in the state. (on! the ost iportant o% these are the Saris0a 8ational 4ar0 (esta&lished in 1<55), near (lwar in the northeast, and the )esert 8ational 4ar0 (esta&lished in 1<80), near Jaisaler in western Rajasthan. Population co$position +ost o% RajasthanDs population consist o% Indians o% #arious social, occupational, and reli!ious &ac0!rounds. 3he Rajputs (#arious clans o% landownin! rulers and their descendants), thou!h representin! onl" a sall percenta!e o% RajasthanDs residents, are perhaps the ost nota&le section o% the population> indeed, the state draws its nae %ro this counit". In ters o% caste structure, the *rahans (hi!hest caste) are su&di#ided into an" !otras (linea!es), while the +ahajans (tradin! caste) are su&di#ided into a &ewilderin! nu&er o% !roups. In the north and west the Jats (peasant caste) and 1ujars (herdin! caste) are aon! the lar!est a!ricultural counities. (&ori!inal (tri&al) peoples constitute ore than one6tenth o% the population o% Rajasthan. In the eastern part o% the state, these !roups include the +ina (and the related +eo), ost o% who are %arers> the *anjara, who ha#e &een 0nown as tra#elin! tradesen and artisans> and the 1adia =ohar, another historicall" itinerant tri&e, who traditionall" ha#e ade and repaired a!ricultural and household ipleents. 3he *hil, one o% the oldest counities in India, !enerall" inha&it southern Rajasthan and ha#e a histor" o% possessin! !reat s0ill in archer". 3he 1rasia and /athodi also lar!el" li#e in the south, ostl" in the +ewar re!ion. Sahari"a counities are %ound in the southeast, and the Ra&ari, who traditionall" are cattle &reeders, li#e to the west o% the (ra#allis in west6central Rajasthan. 2indi is the oFcial lan!ua!e o% the state, and to soe de!ree it has o#ershadowed the local lan!ua!es o% Rajasthan. +uch o% the stateDs population, howe#er, continues to spea0 Rajasthani lan!ua!es, which coprise a !roup o% Indo6(r"an lan!ua!es and dialects deri#ed %ro )in!al, a ton!ue in which &ards once san! o% the !lories o% their asters. 3he %our ain Rajasthani lan!ua!e !roups are +arwari in western Rajasthan, Jaipuri or )hundhari in the east and southeast, +al#i in the southeast, and, in the northeast, +ewati, which shades o$ into *raj *hasa (a 2indi dialect) toward the &order with @ttar 4radesh. 2induis, the reli!ion o% the #ast ajorit" o% the population, is !enerall" practiced throu!h the worship o% *raha, Shi#a, Sha0ti, Gishnu, and other !ods and !oddesses. 3he town o% 8athdwara, in southern Rajasthan, is an iportant reli!ious centre %or the Galla&hachar"a school o% /rishna worshippers. 3here are also %ollowers o% (r"a Saaj, a t"pe o% re%ored 2induis that stes %ro the late 1<th centur". Isla, the stateDs second lar!est reli!ious counit", eBpanded in Rajasthan with the con?uest o% the cit" o% (jer and the surroundin! area &" +usli in#aders in the late 12th centur". /hwTjah +uUn al6)Un 7hishtU, the +usli issionar" and "stic, had his head?uarters at (jer, and +usli traders, cra%tsen, and soldiers settled there. Jainis is also iportant> it has not &een the reli!ion o% the rulers o% Rajasthan &ut has %ollowers aon! the tradin! class and the wealth" section o% societ". 3he towns and teples o% +aha#irji, Rana0pur, )hule#, and /arera are the chie% centres o% Jaina pil!ria!e. (nother iportant reli!ious counit" is %ored &" the )adupanthis, the %ollowers o% the 16th6centur" saint )adu, who preached the e?ualit" o% all en, strict #e!etarianis, total a&stinence %ro intoBicatin! li?uor, and li%elon! celi&ac". 3he stateDs population o% 7hristians and Si0hs is sall. ettle$ent patterns Rajasthan is one o% the least densel" populated states in India, with rou!hl" three6 %ourths o% its residents li#in! in rural settleents. 3raditional rural houses are huts with ud walls and roo%s thatched with straw. 3he" ha#e a sin!le door &ut no windows or #entilators. 3he houses o% ore6aVuent %arers and artisans in lar!er #illa!es ha#e ore than one roo. 3he" are roo%ed with tiles and ha#e a #eranda and lar!e court"ard, whose ain door will adit a loaded &ull cart. 3he earthen Qoors are coated with ud and dun!. 3he stateDs ur&an population has &een !rowin! %aster than the rural population since the late 20th centur". Jaipur is &" %ar the lar!est cit" o% Rajasthan. -ther ajor ur&an centres include Jodhpur, /ota, *i0aner, (jer, and @daipur. Eith the eBception o% Jodhpur and *i0aner, all lie to the east o% the (ra#alli Ran!e. A-riculture 3he a!ricultural sector is the ainsta" o% RajasthanDs econo", eplo"in! a&out two6thirds o% the stateDs wor0in! population. )espite scant and scattered rain%all, nearl" all t"pes o% crops are !rown, includin! pearl illet in the desert area, sor!hu around /ota, and ainl" corn (ai9e) around @daipur. Eheat and &arle" are %airl" well distri&uted (eBcept in the desert area), as are pulses (such as peas, &eans, and lentils), su!arcane, and oilseeds. Rice is !rown in the irri!ated areas o% &oth the southeast and the northwest. 7otton and to&acco are iportant cash crops. Rajasthan has a lar!e li#estoc0 population and is a ajor wool6producin! state. It also is a source o% caels and dra%t anials o% #arious &reeds. Rajasthan needs eBtensi#e irri!ation to &e a!riculturall" producti#e. 3he state recei#es uch water %ro the ri#ers o% 4unja&, %ro the Eestern .auna 7anal in 2ar"ana and the (!ra 7anal in @ttar 4radesh, and %ro the Sa&arati and 8arada Sa!ar projects in 1ujarat and +adh"a 4radesh, respecti#el". )esert land in northwestern and western Rajasthan is irri!ated &" the Indira 1andhi 7anal (%orerl" called the Rajasthan 7anal), which carries water soe 400 iles (640 0) %ro the *eas and Sutlej ri#ers in 4unja&. Rajasthan shares the *ha0ra 8an!al project with 4unja& and 2ar"ana and the 7ha&al Galle" project with +adh"a 4radesh> &oth are used to suppl" water %or irri!ation and %or drin0in! purposes. Resources and po+er Rajasthan is an iportant producer o% lead and 9inc concentrates, eeralds, and !arnets. ( ajor portion o% the countr"Ds !"psu and sil#er ore also are produced in Rajasthan. ,lectricit" supplies are o&tained ostl" %ro nei!h&ourin! states and %ro the 7ha&al Galle" project. 4ower is !enerated priaril" %ro h"droelectric stations and !as6;red theral plants. 3he state also draws a portion o% its ener!" %ro wind %ars and %ro a nuclear power plant at Rawat&hata, near /ota. Manu4acturin- 3eBtiles, #e!eta&le oil, wool, inerals, and cheicals are aon! the ajor anu%actures o% Rajasthan. 2owe#er, handicra%ts, such as leather !oods, ar&le wor0, jewelr", potter", and e&ossed &rass, ha#e earned uch %orei!n eBchan!e. /ota, which is the industrial capital o% the state, has a n"lon %actor" and a precision6 instruents %actor", as well as plants %or the anu%acture o% calciu car&ide, caustic soda, and ra"on tire cord. 3here is a 9inc selter plant near @daipur. (onstitutional 4ra$e+or6 3he structure o% RajasthanDs !o#ernent, li0e that o% ost other states in India, is deterined &" the national constitution o% 1<50. 3he chie% eBecuti#e is the !o#ernor, who is appointed &" the president o% India %or a ;#e6"ear ter. 3he !o#ernor has adinistrati#e, le!islati#e, ;nancial, and judicial powers. Rajasthan has a unicaeral =e!islati#e (sse&l" (Gidhan Sa&ha)> e&ers are elected &" uni#ersal adult %ranchise, althou!h soe seats are reser#ed %or representati#es o% tri&al !roups and other traditionall" disad#anta!ed counities. 3he state is di#ided into ore than :0 districts. In each district the collector, who is also the district a!istrate, is the principal representati#e o% the adinistration. 3he collector %unctions in close cooperation with the superintendent o% police to aintain law and order in the district and also ser#es as the principal re#enue oFcer. Cor adinistrati#e purposes, each district is split into a %ew su&di#isions, which are di#ided into saller units called tehsils, which, in turn, contain a nu&er o% #illa!es. Rajasthan was the ;rst state to eBperient at the #illa!e le#el with pancha"at raj (rule &" pancha"at, or #illa!e council), ha#in! enacted in 1<5< the le!islation necessar" to ipleent this &old eBperient in deocratic decentrali9ation. 3he s"ste, e&racin! 1andhian concepts o% the iportance o% traditional #illa!e institutions in Indian societ", created three le#els o% local !o#ernent within the state &ased on elected #illa!e pancha"ats. Gilla!es were !rouped into adinistrati#e units called counit" de#elopent &loc0s, each ha#in! a pancha"at saiti (&loc0 council) coposed o% the chairen o% the pancha"ats, appointees, and eB oFcio e&ers. 3here were also district6le#el councils (9ila parishads), coposed o% the chairen o% the pancha"at saitis, alon! with representati#es o% special6interest !roups (such as woen and disad#anta!ed social classes) and local e&ers o% the state and national le!islatures. 3he 0e" le#el in this or!ani9ation was the counit" de#elopent &loc0, which was assi!ned the responsi&ilit" o% plannin! and ipleentin! a wide ran!e o% counit" and de#elopent pro!ras. 4ancha"at raj initiall" achie#ed a considera&le easure o% success, &ut, with increasin! politici9ation o% the s"ste and conQictin! interests with state6le#el de#elopent a!encies, the s"ste has &ecoe less e$ecti#e. <ealth and education Rajasthan has an" hospitals and dispensaries speciali9in! in allopathic (Eestern) edicine, as well as nuerous institutions o$erin! ("ur#edic (traditional Indian), @nanU (a edicinal s"ste usin! prescri&ed her&s and shru&s), and hoeopathic treatent. 3he state participates in the ajor national health pro!ras to control tu&erculosis, #arious #ector6&orne diseases, lepros", iodine de;cienc", and &lindness. 3here are a nu&er o% institutions o% hi!her education in Rajasthan. State uni#ersities are located in Jaipur, @daipur, Jodhpur, *i0aner, and (jer. -ther proinent tertiar" institutions include the -pen @ni#ersit" in /ota and the *irla Institute o% 3echnolo!" and Science in 4ilani. *he arts and 5iterature Rajasthan has a rich tradition o% &oth oral narrati#e and written literature. 3he ost %aous son! is /urja, which tells the stor" o% a woan who wishes to send a essa!e to her a&sent hus&and &" a 0urja (a t"pe o% &ird), who is proised a priceless reward %or his ser#ice. In the literar" tradition 7hand *ardaiDs epic poe 4rith#iraj Raso (or 7hand Raisa), the earliest anuscript o% which dates to the 12th centur", is particularl" nota&le. Dance 3he t"pical dance o% Rajasthan is the !hooar, which is per%ored on %esti#e occasions onl" &" woen. -ther well60nown dances include the !eer, which is per%ored &" en and woen> the panihari, a !race%ul dance %or woen> and the 0acchi !hori, in which ale dancers ride du" horses. 4er%orances o% 0h"al, a t"pe o% dance6draa coposed in #erse with cele&rator", historical, or roantic thees, also is widel" popular. Arts and architecture Rajasthan a&ounds in o&jects o% anti?uarian interest. ,arl" *uddhist roc0 inscriptions and car#in!s are %ound in ca#es in the southeastern district o% Jhalawar> the area around (jer has a nu&er o% +usli os?ues and to&s, the oldest o% which dates to the end o% the 12th centur"> and *i0aner, in the northwest, has a spectacular 15th6centur" Jaina teple. Splendid princel" palaces, an" ela&oratel" decorated with wall paintin!s, are scattered throu!hout the state. @estivals 7ultural li%e in Rajasthan is characteri9ed &" nuerous reli!ious %esti#als. (on! the ost popular o% these cele&rations is the 1an!or %esti#al, durin! which cla" ia!es o% +ahade#i and 4ar#ati (representin! the &ene#olent aspects o% the 2indu other !oddess) are worshipped &" woen o% all castes %or 15 da"s and are then ta0en out to &e iersed in water. (nother iportant %esti#al, held at 4ush0ar near (jer, ta0es the %or o% a iBed reli!ious %esti#al and li#estoc0 %air> 2indu pil!ris coe see0in! sal#ation durin! the cele&ration, while %arers %ro all corners o% the state &rin! their caels and cattle to show and sell. 3he to& o% the WX%U "stic /hwTjah +uUn al6)Un 7hishtU at (jer is one o% the ost sacred +usli shrines in India. 2undreds o% thousands o% pil!ris, an" %ro %orei!n countries, #isit the shrine on the occasion o% the saintDs urs (death anni#ersar"). <istor: (rchaeolo!ical e#idence indicates that earl" huans li#ed alon! the &an0s o% the *anas Ri#er and its tri&utaries soe 100,000 "ears a!o. 3he Indus (2arappan) and post6Indus ci#ili9ations (:rdL2nd illenniu &ce) are tracea&le at /ali&an!an in northern Rajasthan, as well as at (har and 1ilund, &oth near the cit" o% @daipur in the south. 4otter" %ra!ents at /ali&an!an date to 2'00 &ce. 3he disco#er" near *airat (in north6central Rajasthan) o% two roc0 inscriptions %ro the :rd centur" &ce indicate that the area was at that tie under the rule o% (sho0a, the last !reat eperor o% the +aur"an d"nast" o% India. 3he whole or parts o% present6da" Rajasthan were ruled &" *actrian (Indo61ree0) 0in!s in the 2nd centur" &ce, the Sha0a satraps (Sc"thians) %ro the 2nd to the 4th centur" ce, the 1upta d"nast" %ro the earl" 4th to the late 6th centur", the 2ephthalites (2unas) in the 6th centur", and 2arsha (2arsha#ardhana), a Rajput ruler, in the earl" 'th centur". Se#eral Rajput d"nasties arose &etween the 'th and 11th centuries, includin! that o% the 1urjara64ratiharas, who 0ept the (ra& in#aders o% the Sindh area (now in southeastern 4a0istan) at &a". @nder *hoja I (or +ihira *hoja> 8:6L885), the territor" o% the 1urjara64ratiharas stretched %ro the %oothills o% the 2iala"as southward to the 8arada Ri#er and %ro the lower 1an!es (1an!a) Ri#er #alle" westward to Sindh. Eith the disinte!ration o% this epire &" the late 10th centur", se#eral ri#al Rajput clans cae to power in Rajasthan. 3he 1uhilas, %eudal lords o% the 4ratiharas, asserted their independence in <40 and esta&lished control o% the re!ion around +ewar (present6da" @daipur). *" the 11th centur" the 7hauhans (7hahaanas), with their capital at (jer and later at )elhi, had eer!ed as the ajor power in the eastern re!ion. In the %ollowin! centuries other clans, such as the /achwahas, *hattis, and Rathors, succeeded in esta&lishin! independent 0in!dos in the area. 3he second o% a series o% encounters 0nown as the *attles o% 3araori (3arain), %ou!ht near )elhi in 11<2, initiated a new period in RajasthanDs histor". +uYaad 1hXrUDs #ictor" o#er a Rajput ar" under 4rith#iraja III not onl" led to the destruction o% Rajput power in the Indo61an!etic plain &ut also ;rl" esta&lished the +usli presence in northern India. (s +usli %orces pushed south and then west alon! the traditional routes to the /athiawar 4eninsula (Saurashtra> now part o% the state o% 1ujarat), the Rajput 0in!dos o% what is now Rajasthan were encircled. 3he neBt %our centuries saw repeated, thou!h unsuccess%ul, attepts &" the central power &ased in )elhi to su&due the Rajput states o% the re!ion. 3he Rajputs, howe#er, despite coon historical and cultural traditions, were ne#er a&le to unite to inQict a decisi#e de%eat on their opponents. Rajput stren!th reached its 9enith at the &e!innin! o% the 16th centur" under Rana San!a (Rana San!ra Sin!h) o% +ewar, &ut he was de%eated in a ;erce &attle &" the +u!hal in#ader *T&ur, and the &rie% splendour o% a united Rajput polit" waned rapidl". It is lar!el" %ro this period o% RajasthanDs histor" that the roantic #iew o% the Rajput as a #aliant warrior is deri#ed. 3oward the end o% the 16th centur", the +u!hal eperor (0&ar was a&le to achie#e, throu!h diploac" and ilitar" action, what his predecessors had &een una&le to accoplish &" %orce alone. +ilitar" capai!ns were still underta0en &" iperial +u!hal %orces, and Rajput stron!holds, such as Rantha&hor and 7hittaur!arh (7hitor), were &esie!ed and destro"ed (156'L68), &ut (0&ar also entered into a series o% alliances with nuerous Rajput rulin! houses, arran!in! arria!es with Rajput princesses %or hisel% and %or his heirs. (0&arDs son and successor, JahTn!Ur (ruled 1605L2'), as well as JahTn!UrDs third son and &uilder o% the 3aj +ahal, Shah JahTn (ruled 1628L58), were &oth &orn o% Rajput others. +u!hal6Rajput arria!es continued until the earl" 18th centur", &rin!in! an" Rajput states (alon! with their not insu&stantial ilitar" resources) into the iperial %old without costl" ilitar" su&ju!ation. Curtherore, soe Rajput rulers, such as +an Sin!h o% (&er (Jaipur) and Jaswant Sin!h o% +arwar (Jodhpur), ser#ed with lo"alt" and distinction in the iperial +u!hal %orces. @nder (0&ar, the Rajput states o% the re!ion were !rouped to!ether under the Su&a o% (jer, an adinistrati#e unit o% the +u!hal ,pire. (%ter the death o% the eperor (uran!9e& in 1'0', the Rajput state o% *haratpur was de#eloped &" a Jat (peasant caste) con?ueror, &ut &" 180: ost o% the surroundin! states paid tri&ute to the +aratha d"nasties o% west6central India. =ater in the 1<th centur" the *ritish su&dued the +arathas and, ha#in! esta&lished paraountc" in the re!ion, or!ani9ed the Rajput states into Rajputana pro#ince. 3he !o#ernent o% India was represented in Rajputana &" a political oFcer, with the title o% a!ent to the !o#ernor6!eneral, who was also chie% coissioner o% the sall *ritish pro#ince o% (jer6+erwara. @nder hi were residents and political a!ents who were accredited to the #arious states. It was durin! this period that the idea o% Indian nationalis was &orn. In @daipur, )a"ananda Saras#ati wrote his Sat"arath 4ra0ash> intended to restore 2induis to its pristine purit", the wor0 created a %erent in Rajputana. Iportant o#eents o% thou!ht also occurred aon! the Jaina sadhus (hol" en) and scholars. (jer was the centre o% political acti#it", and nationalist leaders included (rjun =al Sethi, +ani0 =al Gara, 1opal Sin!h, and Jai 8arain G"as. (%ter India &ecae independent in 1<4', the princel" states and chie%ships o% Rajputana were inte!rated &" sta!es into a sin!le entit". 3he" were ;rst !rouped into sall unions, such as the +ats"a @nion and the Rajasthan @nion, which were er!ed with the reainin! Rajput states to create 1reater Rajasthan in 1<4<. Ehen the new constitution o% India cae into %orce in 1<50, the state o% Rajasthan &ecae an inte!ral part o% India. 3he Rajput princesRthou!h retainin! a reco!nition o% their ori!inal title, soe special pri#ile!es, and a pri#" purseRsurrendered their political powers to the central !o#ernent. Ehen the States Reor!ani9ation (ct was ipleented in 1<56, Rajasthan ac?uired the shape that it has toda". 3he pri#ile!ed status !i#en to rulers o% the %orer princel" states was discontinued in 1<'0. ZZZZZ