Gujarat GK is important for all the competitive exams of centre and states. Gujarat is a state with iconic Rann of Kutch and Asiatic Lion is 1100 km away from our capital. It consists of 4.99% population of our country. It is historically significant and also rich in culture. Gujarati cuisine is another tourist attraction here for sure.
Must read to crack the competition : GK for competitive Exams
| Topic | Data/Facts |
| 1 History | 1.1 After Indian independence and the partition of India in 1947, the new Indian government grouped the former princely states of Gujarat into three larger units. The units are Saurashtra, which included the former princely states on the Kathiawar peninsula, Kutch, and Bombay state, which included the former British districts of Bombay Presidency together with most of Baroda State and the other former princely states of eastern Gujarat. 1.2 Bombay state was enlarged to include Kutch, Saurashtra (Kathiawar) and parts of Hyderabad state and Madhya Pradesh in central India. 1.3 It was founded on 1st May, 1960 when the former Bombay state was divided between Maharashtra and Gujarat on the basis of language. |
| 2 Geography | 2.1 Climate: 2.1.1 The climate of Gujarat involves diverse conditions. The plains of Gujarat are very hot and dry in summer and cold and dry in winter. 2.1.2 Summer is milder in the hilly regions and the coast. The average daytime temperature during winter is around 29 °C (84 °F) and in nights is around 12 °C (54 °F) with 100 percent sunny days and clear nights. 2.1.3 The monsoon season lasts from June to September. Most of Gujarat receives scanty rainfall. Southern Gujarat and the hilly regions receive heavy rainfall during the monsoons with high humidity which makes the air feel hotter. 2.2 Agriculture: 2.2.1 Gujarat is the largest producer of major cash crop like cotton, groundnut, tobacco, cumin, sesame etc. in India. 2.2.2 Other major crops produced are Rice, Wheat, Jowar, Bajra, Maize,Tur, and Gram. 2.2.3 Gujarat is the largest processor of milk in India. 2.2.4 Among livestock raised are buffalo and other cattle, sheep, and goats. 2.2.5 Gujarat also contributes inputs to industries like textiles, oil and soap. 2.3 Natural Resources: 2.3.1 Gujarat is rich in minerals, including limestone, manganese, gypsum, calcite, and bauxite. 2.3.2 The state also has deposits of lignite, quartz sand, agate, and feldspar. 2.3.3 The fine building stones of Porbandar, on the Kathiawar Peninsula, are among Gujarat’s most valuable products, and the state’s output of soda ash and salt amounts to a significant portion of the national yield. 2.3.4 Gujarat produces petroleum and natural gas. 2.4 Major Rivers: Rivers drain into Arabian Sea: Sabarmati, Narmada, Mahi, Tapi, Hirni and Ojhat. Rivers drain into Runn of Kutch: Machchu (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK) Some Important facts of Rivers The famous city Surat is located on the bank of river Tapi. 2.5 Animals: 2.5.1 In Gujarat, one can find as many as 500 varieties of mammals, more than 2000 species of birds, a wide range of insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, etc. 2.5.2 Some of the important mammals found in Gujarat are black bucks, nilgai, chitals, wild boar, four horned antelope, hyenas, rusty spotted cats, etc. 2.5.3 Many kinds of birds are found here, such as peacock, parrots, pheasants, geese ducks, cranes, etc. 2.6 Neighbouring States: Rajasthan – North-East Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu – South Maharashtra – South-East Madhya Pradesh – East Pakistan and Arabian Sea – West (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK)) 2.7 Capital city: Gandhinagar 2.8 Total Land Area: (i) Total area is 196,024 sq. km. (ii) 5th largest state in India 2.9 Other Important Facts: Ahmedabad is the largest city. |
| 3 Forestry | 3.1 Forest: (i) Forest Cover: 14,857.33 sq. km. (ii) Very Dense Forest: 377.90 sq. km. (iii) Moderately Dense Forest: 5,092.00 sq. km. (iv) Open Forest: 9,387.43 sq. km. (Data as per ISFR 2019 assessment) 3.2 National Parks: (i) Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar (ii) Gir Forest National Park, Talala Gir (iii) Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch (iv) Vansda National Park, Navsari 3.3 Wild Life Sanctuary: (i) Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch (ii) Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Banaskantha (iii) Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Porbandar (iv) Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Dahod (v) Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary, Satpura Range (vi) Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Kutch (vii) Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary, Devbhumi Dwarka (viii) Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary, Banaskantha (ix) Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, Tapi (x) Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary, Jambughoda (xi) Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, Kutch (xii) Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhavnagar 3.4 Birds Sanctuary: (i) Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Ahmedabad (ii) Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary, Jamnagar (iii) Thol Bird Sanctuary, Mehsana (iv) Porbandar Bird Sanctuary, Porbandar (v) Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Abdasa |
| 4 Economy | 4.1 Major Economic Data: (i) GDP Growth: 11% (2017–18) (ii) GDP: ₹18.05 lakh crore (US$250 billion) (2019–20) (iii) GDP Rank: 5th (iv) Per Capita Income: ₹252,447 (US$3,500) (2018–19) 4.2 Industries: Major industries are as under: – (i) One of India’s most industrialized states, Gujarat maintains a variety of industries, the principal ones being general and electrical engineering and the manufacture of textiles, vegetable oils, chemicals, soda ash, and cement. (ii) New industries include the production of fertilizers and petrochemicals. (iii) Gujarat produces about 91% of India’s required amount of soda ash and gives the country about 66% of its national requirement of salt. (iv) Chemical Industries in Gujarat count for more than 35% of Indian Chemicals production. (v) Gujarat has gained a prominent place in India’s automobile industry, with several automobile plants being setup in the state – Suzuki Motor Gujarat in Hansalpur near Ahmedabad, Tata Motors and Ford India in Sanand, MG Motor, Hero Motocorp, JCB in Halol, Honda Motors and Scooters India in Vithalapur, etc. (vi) Dhuvaran has a thermal power station, which uses coal, oil and gas. The Tarapur nuclear station in Maharashtra supplies the remaining power. Also on the Gulf of Khambat, 50 kilometers southeast of Bhavnagar, is the Alang Ship Recycling Yard (the world’s largest). (vii) Surat, a city by the Gulf of Khambat, is a hub of the global diamond trade. (viii) Rajkot city is the hub of engineering manufacturing and has many companies manufacturing auto components, auto engines, CNC machines, forging & casting parts, etc. (ix) It is also known as “Growth Engine of India“. |
| 5 Transportation | 5.1 Air, Sea, Road and Railway are major mode of transport in Gujarat. It also has Ro-Ro Ferry Service. 5.2 Other Important facts: (i) Gujarat State has the longest sea coast of 1214 km in India. (ii) This State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) is the primary body responsible for providing the bus services within the state of Gujarat and also with the neighboring states. (iii) Auto rickshaws are common mode of transport in Gujarat. The Government of Gujarat is promoting bicycles to reduce pollution by the way of initiative taken by free cycle rides for commuters. (iv) Gujarat comes under the Western Railway Zone of the Indian Railways. Ahmedabad Railway Station is most important, centrally located and biggest railway station in Gujarat which connects to all important cities of Gujarat and India. (v) Vadodara Railway Station is also the busiest railway station in Gujarat and the ninth busiest railway station in India. 5.2 Major Railway Stations (i) Ahmedabad (ii) Vadodara (iii) Surat (iv) Bhavnagar (v) Rajkot (vi) Sabarmati (vii) Valsad (viii) Gandhidham (ix) Gandhinagar (x) Anand (xi) Godhra 5.3 Major Sea Ports: (i) Kandla (ii) Navlakhi (iii) Magdalla (iv) Pipavav (v) Bedi Port (vi) Porbandar (vii) Veraval (viii) Mundra 5.3 Major Bus Routes: (i) Mofussil Services – connects major cities, smaller towns and villages within Gujarat. (ii) Intercity Bus Services – connects major cities – Ahmedabad, Surat, Veraval, Vapi, Vadodara (Baroda) and Rajkot. (iii) Interstate Bus Services – connects various cities of Gujarat with the neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. (iv) City Services – GSRTC provides city bus services at Surat, Vadodara, Vapi, Gandhinagar and Ahmedabad, within the state of Gujarat. (v) Parcel Services – service used for transporting goods. (vi) There are also city buses in cities like Ahmedabad (AMTS and Ahmedabad BRTS), Surat (Surat BRTS), Bhavnagar (BMC CITY BUS)) Vadodara (Vinayak Logistics), Gandhinagar (VTCOS), Rajkot (RMTS and Rajkot BRTS), Anand (VTCOS) etc. 5.5 Major Air Ports: International Airports: (i) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad (ii) Surat Airport (iii) Rajkot Greenfield Airport Domestic Airports: (i) Bhavnagar Airport (ii) Jamnagar Airport (iii) Kandla Airport (iv) Porbandar Airport (v) Keshod Airport (vi) Amreli Airport (vii) Ankleshwar Airport Indian Air Force Stations: (i) Vadodara Airport (ii) Bhuj Airport 5.6 Special Trains: The Royal Orient Train is an Indian luxury tourism train that runs between Gujarat and Rajasthan, covering important tourist locations in the two states. |
| 6 Infrastructures | 6.1 Power installed Capacity: (i) Total Power: 36981.71 MW (ii) Thermal: 23207.86 MW (iii) Nuclear: 559.00 MW (iv) Hydro: 772.00 MW (v) Renewable Energy Source: 12442.85 MW (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK)) |
| 7 Census and Demography | 7.1 Demographic Data: (i) Population: 60,439,692 (6.04 Crores) (ii) Male: 31,491,260 (iii) Female: 28,948,432 (iv) Gender Ratio: 919 females per 1000 males (v) Population Growth: 19.28% (vi) Percentage of total population of the country: 4.99% (vii) Density: 308/sq. km. (viii) Rural Population: 34,694,609 (57.40%) (ix) Urban Population: 25,745,083 (42.60%) (x) 10th most populous state in India (Based on 2011 census) (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK)) 7.2 Major Religion followers: (i) Hinduism: 53,533,988 (88.57%) (ii) Christianity: 316,178 (0.52%) (iii) Islam: 5,846,761 (9.67%) (iv) Jainism: 579,654 (0.96%) (v) Buddhism: 30,483 (0.05%) (vi) Sikhism: 58,246 (0.10%) (Based on 2011 census) |
| 8 Culture | 8.1 Literature: 8.1.1 Gujarati literature’s history may be traced to 1000 CE. 8.1.2 Gujarat Vidhya Sabha, Gujarat Sahitya Sabha, and Gujarati Sahitya Parishad are Ahmedabad based literary institutions promoting the spread of Gujarati literature. 8.1.3 Saraswatichandra is a landmark novel by Govardhanram Tripathi. 8.2 Major Poets & Authors: (i) Well-known laureates of Gujarati literature are Hemchandracharya, Narsinh Mehta, Mirabai, Akho, Premanand Bhatt, Shamal Bhatt, Dayaram, Dalpatram, Narmad, Govardhanram Tripathi, Mahatma Gandhi, K. M. Munshi, Umashankar Joshi, Suresh Joshi, Swaminarayan, Pannalal Patel and Rajendra Shah. (ii) Kavi Kant, Zaverchand Meghani and Kalapi are famous Gujarati poets. (iii) Writers like Aanand Shankar Dhruv, Ashvini Bhatt, Balwantray Thakore, Bhaven Kachhi, Bhagwatikumar Sharma, Chandrakant Bakshi, Gunvant Shah, Harindra Dave, Harkisan Mehta, Jay Vasavada, Jyotindra Dave, Kanti Bhatt, Kavi Nanalal, Khabardar, Sundaram, Makarand Dave, Ramesh Parekh, Suresh Dalal, Tarak Mehta, Vinod Bhatt, Dhruv Bhatt and Varsha Adalja have influenced Gujarati thinkers. (iv) A notable contribution to Gujarati language literature came from the Swaminarayan paramhanso, like Bramhanand, Premanand, with prose like Vachanamrut and poetry in the form of bhajans. 8.3 Major Festivals: (i) Bhavai (ii) Raas-Garba (iii)Navratri (iv) Makar Sankranti (v) Diwali (vi) Holi (vii) Eid (viii) Tazia (ix) Paryushana (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK)) 8.4 Folk Dance: (i) Garba (ii) Danditya Raas (iii) Tippani (iv) Padhar (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK)) 8.5 Major Religious Places: 8.5.1 Gujarat – Home to multitude devotional centres and temples with famous religious centers like (i) Dwarka (ii) Dakor (iii) Ambaji (iv) Palitana (v) Mahudi (vi) Shankheshwar (vii) Hutheesing Jain Temple (viii) Somnath (ix) Girnar (x) Shamlaji (xi) Bahucharaji (xii) Pavagadh (xiii) Kabirvad (xiv) Sun Temple (xv) Modhera (xvi) Akshardham (Gandhinagar) (xvii) Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (xviii) Ahmedabad (xix) Vasai Jain Temple (xx) Jain Temples (xxi) Hindu Temples and Sudama Mandir (xxii) Ashapura Mataji Madh- Kutch (xxiii) Swaminarayan Mandir – Bhuj (xxiv) Narayan Sarovar (xxv) Tulsi Shyam (xxvi) Sattadhar (xxvii) Lojpur (xxviii) Junagadh Buddhist Cave Group 8.5.2 The Palitana temples of Jainism on Mount Shatrunjaya, Palitana are considered the holiest of all pilgrimage places by the Svetambara Jain community. Palitana is the world’s only mountain with more than 900 temples. 8.5.3 Gujarat is also known for world-famous shrine of Shehenshah e Gujarat Hazrat Syed Ali Meera Datar and it comes under government heritage site. |
| 9 Education | 9.1 State Literacy Data: (i) Total: 41,093,358 (78.03%) (ii) Male: 23,474,873 (85.75%) (iii) Female: 17,618,485 (69.68%) (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK)) 9.2 Major Universities: (i) Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad (ii) Nirma University, Ahmedabad (iii) The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara (iv) Gujarat University, Ahmedabad (v) Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat (vi) Saurashtra University, Rajkot (vii) Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar (viii) Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar (ix) Maharaja Krishnakumarsinhji Bhavnagar University, Bhavnagar (x) Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Gandhinagar (xi) Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad (xii) Anand Agricultural University, Anand (xiii) Ganpat University, Mehsana (xiv) Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari (xv) Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan (xvi) Uka Tarsadia University, Bardoli (xvii) Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh (xviii) Marwadi University, Rajkot (xix) Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar (xx) Gujarat Ayurved University, Jamnagar (xxi) Swarnim Gujarat Sports University, Gandhinagar (xxii) Gujarat Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar (xxiii) Sabarmati University, Ahmedabad 9.3 Major Institutions: (i) IIT Gandhinagar (ii) IIM Ahmedabad (iii) National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (iv) Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology, Gandhinagar (v) Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat (vi) National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Ahmedabad (vii) Indian Institute of Information Technology, Vadodara (viii) Institute of Infrastructure, Technology, Research and Management, Ahmedabad (ix) Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar (x) Institute of Advanced Research, Gandhinagar |
| 10 Tourism | 10.1.1 Gujarat offers scenic beauty from Great Rann of Kutch to the hills of Saputara. Gujarat is the one and only place to view pure Asiatic lions in the world. 10.1.2 During the Sultanate reign, Hindu craftsmanship mixed with Islamic architecture, giving rise to the Indo-Saracenic style. Many structures in the state are built in this fashion. It is also the birthplace of Shrimad Rajchandra, Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, iconic figures of India’s independence movement. 10.1.3 In recent years Statue Of Unity has emerged as the major tourist spot of Gujarat. It is the tallest statue in the world. 10.2 Major Tourist Spots: (i) Statue of Unity, Narmada (ii) Wilson Hills (iii) Saputara (iv) Pavagadh Hills (v) Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara (vi) Dwarka (vii) Somnath Temple, Veraval (viii) Gir National Park, Sasan Gir |
| 11 Sport | 11.1.1 Some of the popular sports played in Gujarats are cricket, kho-kho, badminton, football, kabaddi and Table-Tennis. 11.1.2 Beach Khel Mahakumbh refers to the beach-sports fest, a spinoff of the Khel Mahakumbh. This fest was held to promote the feasibility of beach-sports and garner new attractions towards the different beaches of Gujarat State. 11.2 Major Stadium: (i) Narendra Modi Stadium (Motera Stadium), Ahmedabad (ii) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad (iii) CB Patel International Cricket Stadium, Surat (iv) Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot (v) The Arena, Ahmedabad (vi) Moti Bagh Stadium, Vadodara (vii) IPCL Sports Complex Ground, Vadodara (viii) Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground, Rajkot (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK)) 11.3 International Players from the state: Cricket: (i) Cheteshwar Pujara (ii) Jasprit Bumrah (iii) Yusuf Pathan (iv) Irfan Pathan (v) Nayan Mongia (vi) Axar Patel (vii) Ravindra Jadeja (viii) Hardik Pandya (ix) Krunal Pandya (x) Parthiv Patel Tennis: Ankita Raina Table Tennis: (i) Harmeet Desai (ii) Pathik Mehta Rifle Shooting: Lajja Goswami Badminton: (i) Ami Ghia (ii) Tasnim Mir Chess: (i) Tejas Bakre (ii) Ankit Rajpare |
| 12 Governance & Administrative Divisions | 12.1 Administrative divisions: (i) Number of Districts: 33 (ii) Number of Tehsils: 251 (iii) Number of Urban Towns: 31 (iv) Number of Villages: 18,544 12.2 Official Languages: (i) Gujarati (ii) Hindi (Additional Official Language) (Based on census-2011) 12.3 Constituent Facts: (i) Number of Assembly seats: 182 (ii) Number of Parliament seats: 26 (iii) Number of Rajyasabha seats: 11 (iv) Number of Gram Panchayat: 14,257 Legislature: Unicameral (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK)) 12.4 Chief Minister: Bhupendra Patel (17th Chief Minister) From 12 December, 2022 (15th Election, 2022) 12.4.1 1st Chief Minister : Jivraj Narayan Mehta ( 01/05/1960 to 19/09/1963) 12.5 Governor: Acharya Dev Vrat 12.5.1 1st Governor: Mehdi Nawaz Jung (01/05/1960 to 01/08/1965) 12.6 Judiciary: 12.6.1 The Gujarat High Court is the High Court of the state of Gujarat. 12.6.2 It was established on 1 May 1960 under the Bombay Re-organization Act, 1960 after the state of Gujarat split from Bombay State. (i) Number of Judges: 52 (ii) (Permanent: 39 Addl:13) (iii) Judge Retirement Age: 62 |
| 13 Other Important facts | 13.1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: (i) Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (ii) Dholavira: A Harappan City (iii) Rani ki vav (The Queen’s Stepwell), Patan (iv) Historic City of Ahmadabad (v) Archaeological remains of Lothal (Proposed) (vi) Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch (Proposed) (Facts/ data are important for competition point of view for (Gujarat GK)) 13.2 GI Tags: (i) Sankheda furniture (ii) Agates of Cambay (iii) Kutch Embroidery (iv) Tangaliya Shawl (v) Surat Zari Craft (vi) Kachchh shawl (vii) Gir Kesar Mango (viii) Bhalia wheat (ix) Jamnagari Bandhani (x) Patan Patola 13.3 Other Important Facts: State Animal: Asiatic Lion State Bird: Greater Flamingo State Flower: Marigold State Fruit: Mango State Tree: Banyan |
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