RAS question
Which tropic passes through Rajasthan?
Correct answer: (A) Tropic of Cancer.
The Tropic of Cancer passes through southern Rajasthan, south of Banswara town.
Explanation
The relevant tropic is the Tropic of Cancer, the 23.5°N latitude line. It lies in southern Rajasthan, specifically in Banswara district. The Government of Rajasthan Forest Department describes Rajasthan's latitudinal extent and states that the Tropic of Cancer passes south of Banswara town. That matters because Rajasthan lies in north-western India, and only the northern tropic can cross this part of India. The other listed lines are either outside India's latitude belt or belong to a different hemisphere or polar region, so they cannot describe Rajasthan's location.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) The Equator does not pass through India, so it cannot pass through Rajasthan.
- (C) The Tropic of Capricorn is in the Southern Hemisphere, whereas Rajasthan is in north-western India.
- (D) The Arctic Circle is a far northern polar latitude and has no connection with Rajasthan's location.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan's absolute location and major latitude references, a recurring RAS geography area because Banswara and the Tropic of Cancer are standard map-based facts. It also checks whether the candidate can separate India's northern-latitude position from equatorial, southern-hemisphere and polar lines.