RAS question
Sacred groves in Rajasthan are called:
Correct answer: (D) Oran.
Sacred groves in Rajasthan are called Oran, and are community-protected patches traditionally associated with local deities.
Explanation
In Rajasthan, sacred groves are known as Oran, along with related local names such as Devabani, Kakerbani and Baag. The Rajasthan Forest Department source describes these groves as distinct vegetation patches consecrated in the name of local deities or ancestral spirits, where removal of living material is traditionally taboo. Oran is the best answer because the term is not just a label for a forest patch, but for a customary conservation institution. Orans are community-protected, deity-linked groves that help conserve biodiversity in Rajasthan's dry landscapes. This is why they matter in environment questions, especially when the exam tests traditional ecological knowledge rather than only formal protected-area categories.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Sarna is associated with Jharkhand's sacred-grove tradition, so it is not Rajasthan's sacred-grove term.
- (B) Kavu is the Kerala term for sacred groves, whereas Rajasthan uses Oran.
- (C) Devvan is linked to Himachal's sacred-grove terminology, not Rajasthan's sacred-grove usage.
Concept
This tests the Environment and Ecology theme of community-based conservation and traditional biodiversity refuges. It recurs in RAS because Rajasthan's arid ecology makes local institutions such as Orans important examples of conservation outside formal protected areas.