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Glossary Terms
| Term (EN) | Definition | Exam Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Kharif Crops | Sown at monsoon onset (June-July); harvested Oct-Nov; Bajra, Guar, Jowar, Cotton, Groundnut | Most Rajasthan farmers depend on kharif |
| Rabi Crops | Sown Oct-Nov; harvested March-April; Wheat, Mustard, Gram, Barley; need Western Disturbances | Dominant in irrigated eastern Rajasthan |
| Guar (Cluster Bean) | Cyamopsis tetragonoloba; drought-resistant; ~90% of India's production from Rajasthan; guar gum used in oil drilling, food | India's #1; ~80% of global supply |
| Bajra (Pearl Millet) | Pennisetum glaucum; arid-zone staple; Rajasthan #1 in India (~44.66%); Barmer, Jodhpur, Nagaur | Key PYQ answer for major kharif crop |
| Mustard (Rapeseed) | Brassica juncea; Rajasthan #1 (~46.13% of India); Alwar, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Sikar, Churu | Largest rabi cash crop |
| Agro-Climatic Zone | Region with uniform climate, soil, and crop pattern; Rajasthan has 10; defined by Planning Commission/ICAR | 10 zones important for cropping pattern questions |
| IGNP (Indira Gandhi Canal) | 649 km canal from Harike; transformed Thar Desert agriculture; ~7.9 lakh ha; green revolution for Bikaner-Jaisalmer | Agriculture geography transformation story |
| Mathania Chilli | Famous dark red chilli from Mathania (Jodhpur); GI tag; aromatic; lower pungency than Rajasthani average | Horticultural specialty |
| Kinnow Orange | Mandarin variety; Sri Ganganagar belt; Punjab Kinnow heartland extends into IGNP command area | Horticultural geography question |
| MSP (Minimum Support Price) | Government-guaranteed floor price for notified crops; CACI/CACP recommendation | Agricultural policy; Swaminathan formula link |
| Drip/Micro-Irrigation | Water-efficient irrigation delivering water near plant roots; Rajasthan target: 11 lakh additional ha by 2027 | Rajasthan Agriculture Policy 2023 |
| Tharparkar Cow | Dual-purpose (milk + draught) cattle breed; originates from Thar Desert; heat-tolerant | Livestock geography — state animal link |
| Carbon Credit (Agriculture) | Tradable unit for carbon sequestration by farmers; Rajasthan pilot (March 2026) in Alwar, Dausa, Tonk | Current affairs 2026; climate-agriculture nexus |
| Bharat-VISTAAR | AI-based voice advisory platform for farmers; helpline 155261; launched Jaipur Feb 18, 2026 | Current affairs tech in agriculture |
| PMFBY | Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana; crop insurance; crucial buffer for Rajasthan's drought-prone agriculture | Risk mitigation for farmers |
| Kharif Season | Monsoon crop season (June–November); crops sown at rain onset; includes Bajra, Guar, Jowar, Cotton, Groundnut; dependent on SW Monsoon | Seasonal framework for Rajasthan agriculture |
| Rabi Season | Winter crop season (October–March); relies on soil moisture and Western Disturbances; Wheat, Mustard, Gram are key crops | Dominant season in irrigated eastern Rajasthan |
| Zaid Season | Short summer season between Rabi harvest and Kharif sowing (March–June); watermelon, cucumber, green vegetables; limited in arid Rajasthan | Third cropping season; irrigated belt only |
| Crop Intensity | Ratio of total cropped area to net sown area × 100; higher value indicates multiple cropping; Rajasthan ~127% vs national ~142% | Indicator of agricultural land use efficiency |
| Green Revolution | Technology package (HYV seeds, fertilizers, irrigation) transforming Indian agriculture from 1960s; benefited wheat in eastern Rajasthan | Historical turning point in Indian agriculture |
| Drip Irrigation | Micro-irrigation delivering water drop-by-drop near roots; 90%+ water-use efficiency; Rajasthan has highest drip-irrigated area in India | Water conservation priority in arid state |
| Watershed Management | Integrated treatment of a catchment area to conserve soil and water; check dams, bunding, vegetation; central scheme with ₹1.5 lakh/ha | Soil-water-agriculture convergence topic |
Topic 87 of 138 | Paper II, Unit 3 — Earth Science / Geography | Generated: 2026-04-06