RAS question
Which of the following districts has the largest area under the Thar Desert?
Correct answer: (A) Jaisalmer.
Jaisalmer has the largest area under the Thar Desert among the listed Rajasthan districts.
Explanation
Jaisalmer is the right answer because the Rajasthan Foundation, Government of Rajasthan district profile places it in the arid Thar Desert and records its geographical area as 38,401 sq km, or 11.22% of Rajasthan's total area. The profile ranks Jaisalmer first among Rajasthan districts by area and describes the district as part of the Great Indian Thar Desert, with sandy, dry and scorched terrain, famous sand dunes, rocky stretches and barren undulating land. Jaisalmer also has extremely low rainfall, sand dunes and rocky terrain. Taken together, the district's first rank in area and its desert setting explain why Jaisalmer, not the other western Rajasthan districts listed, has the maximum coverage under the Thar Desert.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Barmer is a large western Rajasthan district, but the Rajasthan Foundation district profile ranks Jaisalmer first in Rajasthan by area, so Barmer cannot have the largest listed desert coverage.
- (C) Bikaner is extensive, but it is still smaller than Jaisalmer, which the official profile identifies as Rajasthan's largest district by area.
- (D) Jodhpur is not the largest option because Jaisalmer has the larger district area and stronger Thar Desert coverage.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan physical geography through the link between the Thar Desert and district-wise area. It recurs in RAS because western Rajasthan's desert districts are a standard map-based and factual comparison area.