RAS question
How many bank branches are operational in Rajasthan up to September 2024?
Correct answer: (C) 8,531.
Up to September 2024, Rajasthan had 8,531 operational bank branches.
Explanation
Rajasthan Economic Review 2024-25 states that the banking sector had 8,531 bank branches operational in the state up to September 2024. The figure is not a rounded estimate: it is supported by the category-wise break-up of 4,271 public sector bank branches, 1,593 regional rural bank branches, 2,093 private sector bank branches, 564 small finance bank branches, 7 foreign bank branches and 3 payment bank branches. These categories add up to 8,531, which is why option C is the only answer consistent with the official Economic Review table and summary text.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 6,531 is too low because the official total is 8,531, and public sector banks alone account for 4,271 branches before the other categories are added.
- (B) 7,531 understates the official total by 1,000 branches and does not match the category-wise sum given in the Economic Review.
- (D) 10,531 is too high because the official total of all listed categories is 8,531 branches, not a five-digit figure above 10,000.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan economy data from the banking and financial infrastructure section. Such figures recur in RAS because they connect official state economic surveys with inclusive growth, credit access and public finance themes.