RAS question
Bhakha is a local term for:
Correct answer: (B) Rocky wasteland/hill.
Bhakhar or Bhaker is a local Rajasthan term for rocky hilly outcrops or elevated rocky wasteland, not for an oasis, salt flat, or sand dune.
Explanation
Bhakhar, also written Bhaker, refers to rocky hilly outcrops or elevated rocky wasteland in the Thar Desert landscape, especially where older geological formations appear near the surface. The official Sirohi district survey supports this sense through its physiography section: it describes the tract known as Bhakar, east of the Abu hills across the Banas valley, as consisting of successive ranges of steep and rugged hills. That is why the option “rocky wasteland/hill” fits the local geomorphological term. The word points to a stony, raised, rugged landform, not to water availability, salt accumulation, or wind-built sand features.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) An oasis is a water-based feature in an arid area, whereas Bhakhar denotes rocky, rugged hill terrain.
- (C) A salt flat is represented by terms such as rann, while Bhakhar refers to steep or rocky hill ranges and wasteland.
- (D) A sand dune is a wind-deposited sandy landform, locally distinguished as dhora, not the rocky hilly terrain meant by Bhakhar.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan’s local geomorphological vocabulary, a recurring RAS theme because desert landforms are often named through regional terms. Knowing these terms helps distinguish rocky uplands from dunes, salt flats, and water-linked desert features.