RAS question
Jaipur is globally renowned for the cutting and polishing of which type of gemstones?
Correct answer: (C) Emeralds and coloured gemstones.
Jaipur is globally renowned for cutting and polishing emeralds and other coloured gemstones.
Explanation
Jaipur's reputation is not limited to a single stone: it is one of the world's largest centres for cutting and polishing emeralds and other coloured gemstones. Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) describes Jaipur as the global hub for cutting and polishing coloured gemstones and says it processes more than 300 varieties of precious and semi-precious gemstones, including emerald. This supports option C because emeralds are part of a broader coloured-gemstone ecosystem in Jaipur, not an isolated category. Nearly 90% of the world's emerald cutting is handled in Jaipur, and the gem and jewellery sector is a major foreign-exchange earner for Rajasthan.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Pearls only is wrong because Jaipur is identified with emeralds and coloured gemstones, while pearl processing is centred in Hyderabad.
- (B) Diamonds only is wrong because Surat, not Jaipur, dominates diamond cutting, and the Jaipur specialisation here is coloured gemstones.
- (D) Sapphires only is wrong because Jaipur handles a broad coloured-gemstone trade, not just one coloured stone.
Concept
This tests industrial geography in the Economy of Rajasthan syllabus: linking Jaipur with the gem and jewellery sector. It recurs in RAS because such questions connect city-based specialisation with Rajasthan's export-oriented economy.