RAS question
The Thar Desert in Rajasthan is also known as:
Correct answer: (D) Great Indian Desert.
The Thar Desert in Rajasthan is also known as the Great Indian Desert.
Explanation
The answer is Great Indian Desert because the official Rajasthan geographic profile describes the Thar Desert as also known as the Rajasthan Desert and the Great Indian Desert. The MCQ asks for the alternate name used for the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, and among the four options only Great Indian Desert matches that official description. The Thar covers about 70% of Rajasthan, which is why this name is central to Rajasthan geography questions. The point being tested is not a world-desert comparison; it is the recognised alternate name of Rajasthan's Thar Desert.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Saharan Desert is wrong because the verified Rajasthan profile names the Thar as the Rajasthan Desert and Great Indian Desert, not as the Saharan Desert.
- (B) Karakum Desert is wrong because it is not listed in the official Rajasthan profile as an alternate name for the Thar Desert.
- (C) Gobi Desert is wrong because the alternate name for Rajasthan's Thar Desert is Great Indian Desert, not Gobi Desert.
Concept
This tests basic nomenclature in Rajasthan physical geography, especially the desert region that dominates the state's map. RAS repeatedly asks such terms because they anchor location, relief and regional geography questions.