RAS question
Which of the following is a gypsum-bearing district in Rajasthan?
Correct answer: (B) Nagaur.
Nagaur is a gypsum-bearing district in Rajasthan.
Explanation
Nagaur is the right choice because the Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Rajasthan, lists Nagaur among the districts where gypsum is found. Nagaur is Rajasthan's largest gypsum producer, with other gypsum-producing areas including Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Barmer. This fits the broader mineral pattern: Rajasthan is the dominant gypsum state in India, and the Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Rajasthan says the state accounts for 82% of the country's gypsum resources and contributes 99% of total output. So, among the four options, Nagaur is the district that matches Rajasthan's gypsum belt.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Jaipur is not named as a major gypsum-producing district, and the official gypsum list does not include Jaipur.
- (C) Udaipur is associated in the question data with zinc and rock phosphate, while the official gypsum list does not include Udaipur.
- (D) Bhilwara is associated in the question data with lead-zinc at Rampura-Agucha, and the official gypsum list does not include Bhilwara.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan's mineral-resource geography, especially the district-wise distribution of non-metallic minerals. It recurs in RAS because one-line district-mineral matches are a standard way to check factual command over Rajasthan's economic geography.