RAS question
Rajasthan ranks first in India in production of which oilseed?
Correct answer: (A) Mustard (Rapeseed).
Rajasthan ranks first in India in the production of mustard, officially grouped as rapeseed and mustard.
Explanation
Rajasthan's rank is linked to the rabi oilseed category of rapeseed and mustard. The Government of Rajasthan's Economic Review 2025-26 lists oilseeds by season and includes rapeseed and mustard among rabi oilseeds; it then states that, in 2022-23, Rajasthan secured first position in the production of rapeseed and mustard as well as total oilseeds. This matches the standard Rajasthan Geography fact that mustard is the State's leading oilseed identity, with Bharatpur, Alwar and Sawai Madhopur as major producing districts. The answer is therefore not just a crop-memory item: it connects Rajasthan's rabi agriculture, oilseed economy and national crop-ranking profile.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Sesame is listed among kharif oilseeds, but Rajasthan has only moderate sesame production and the Government of Rajasthan, Economic Review 2025-26 does not give Rajasthan first rank for it.
- (C) Groundnut is an oilseed, but the Government of Rajasthan, Economic Review 2025-26 places Rajasthan second in groundnut production, while Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh are the main groundnut areas.
- (D) Soybean is included among kharif oilseeds, but the Government of Rajasthan, Economic Review 2025-26 places Rajasthan third in soybean production and Madhya Pradesh is the main soybean state.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan's crop geography, especially the link between rabi oilseeds and regional agricultural specialisation. It recurs in RAS because crop ranks, producing belts and seasonal classification are compact facts that connect geography, economy and current official data.