RAS question
Consider the following statements about Rajasthan livestock: 1. Rajasthan has the largest livestock population among all Indian states. 2. Rajasthan ranks first in India in both wool and camel population. 3. The Jodhpur-Bikaner belt is the primary zone for camel rearing in Rajasthan. 4. Rajasthan also ranks first in India in milk production. Which of the statements given above are correct?
Correct answer: (B) 2 and 3 only.
Rajasthan ranks first in India in wool production and camel population, and the Jodhpur-Bikaner belt is Rajasthan's primary camel-rearing zone; it is not India's largest livestock state or top milk-producing state.
Explanation
Rajasthan's genuine livestock strengths lie in wool production, camels and desert-region animal husbandry, not in every national livestock indicator. The DAHD Lok Sabha answer on the 20th Livestock Census shows Rajasthan with 5.68 crore livestock in 2019, while Uttar Pradesh had 6.80 crore, so Rajasthan was not India's largest livestock state. Rajasthan's first rank in wool is supported by the PIB release on Basic Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024, which places Rajasthan as the largest contributor to national wool production. Rajasthan also ranks first in camel population, and the Jodhpur-Bikaner belt is the main camel-rearing zone. Uttar Pradesh, not Rajasthan, was the top milk-producing state according to the same PIB release.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Rajasthan is not India's largest livestock state because Uttar Pradesh had a higher total livestock population in the 20th Livestock Census.
- (C) Uttar Pradesh leads milk production, so Rajasthan cannot be treated as India's top milk-producing state.
- (D) Rajasthan ranks first in both wool production and camel population.
Concept
Rajasthan's economic geography is shaped by livestock distribution, state rankings and regional specialisation. Ranking-based RAS themes often connect census data, animal husbandry and desert-region livelihoods.