RAS question
How many smart cities were selected in Rajasthan?
Correct answer: (D) 4.
Rajasthan had four cities selected for development as Smart Cities: Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota and Ajmer.
Explanation
The Rajasthan Economic Review states that, under the Smart City Mission, four Rajasthan cities were selected for development as Smart Cities: Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota and Ajmer. That makes option D the precise count. The source also explains the nature of the mission: it is aimed at cities with core infrastructure, quality of life, a clean and sustainable environment, and smart solutions for urban development. Its financial progress confirms that this is an implementation fact, not just a memorised list: up to December 2024, Rs. 3,740.30 crore had been spent against a provision of Rs. 3,820 crore. For RAS, the key is to connect the number with the named cities.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 8 is too high because the official Rajasthan list names only Jaipur, Udaipur, Kota and Ajmer under Smart Cities.
- (B) 2 is too low because the source includes Kota and Ajmer in addition to Jaipur and Udaipur.
- (C) 6 is not supported because the Economic Review gives a four-city list, not an expanded six-city selection.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan economy and urban infrastructure schemes, especially state-level implementation of national missions. It recurs in RAS because such questions combine a count, named cities and expenditure progress.