RAS question
Jodhpur city gets its 'Blue City' tag because:
Correct answer: (C) Brahmin houses painted blue (originally).
Jodhpur is called the Blue City because many houses in the old city near Mehrangarh Fort are painted blue. This tradition is believed to have been originally associated with Brahmin homes.
Explanation
Jodhpur is called the Blue City not because of the sky, a lake or an industry, but because of the blue-painted houses visible around Mehrangarh Fort in the old city. The areas with more such houses were generally inhabited by Brahmins. The practice is believed to have begun with Brahmin homes and later spread to other houses. Blue paint was also considered useful for repelling insects and keeping homes cooler in Jodhpur's harsh summer. The nickname therefore reflects the city's settlement pattern, visual character and social tradition, not a natural feature or craft industry.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) The tag is not about the colour of the sky; it refers to blue-painted houses in the old city.
- (B) Blue pottery does not explain Jodhpur's nickname; that association belongs to Jaipur.
- (D) The nickname does not come from blue lake water; it refers to the blue-painted exteriors of houses, not a water body.
Concept
This question links Rajasthan's urban cultural geography with a city's nickname. Jodhpur's visual character, caste-linked tradition and local climate together explain that identity. RAS often tests such identifiers because they connect places with heritage, settlement patterns and tourism geography.