Punjab
Punjab state is around 380 km away from our capital and consists of 2.29% population of India. It has a rich culture and remarkable contribution to the economy of the country. It is called the ‘Bread Basket of India’ because of its high yield of wheat.
| Topic | Data/Facts |
| 1 History | 1.1 The word Punjab is a compound of the words panj (five) and āb (waters), which are derived from common Indo-Iranaian roots of pancha and ap, respectively. 1.2 The five rivers are the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jehlum (also spelled Jhelum). 1.3 Punjab was formed in 1947 after Independence of India. |
| 2 Geography | 2.1 Climate: 2.1.1 Punjab experiences three main seasons. 2.1.2 Punjab starts experiencing mildly hot temperatures in February. The actual summer season commences in mid-April and the heat continues till the end of August. 2.1.3 The rainy season begins in the first week of July as monsoon currents generated in the Bay of Bengal bring rain to the region. The monsoon lasts up to mid-September. 2.1.4 Temperature variation is minimal in January. 2.2 Agriculture: (i) The rabi or the spring harvest consists of wheat, gram, barley, potatoes and winter vegetables. (ii) The kharif or the autumn harvest consists of rice, maize, sugarcane, cotton and pulses. (iii) Punjab is known as “India’s Bread basket” because of high production rate of wheat. (iv) The largest grown crop is wheat. Other important crops are rice, cotton, sugarcane, pearl millet, finger millet, sorghum, maize, barley and fruits. Among the fodder crops are bajra and jowar. In the category of fruits, it produces abundant stock of kinnow. 2.3 Natural Resources: Lacking fossil fuels, Punjab draws its energy primarily from thermal plants fired with imported coal. 2.4 Major rivers: The major rivers in this state are Beas, Satluj, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum. 2.5 Animals: (i) A few of the rivers in Punjab have crocodiles. (ii) The extraction of silk from silkworms is another industry that flourishes in the state. Production of bee honey is done in some parts of Punjab. (iii) The southern plains are desert land; hence, camels can be seen. Buffaloes graze around the banks of rivers. The northeastern part is home to animals like horses. (iv) Wildlife sanctuaries have many more species of wild animals like the otter, wild boar, wildcat, fruit bat, hog deer, flying fox, squirrel, and mongoose. 2.6 Neighbouring States: Himachal Pradesh – North and North-East Haryana – South and South-East Rajasthan – South-West Chandigarh – East Jammu and Kashmir – North Pakistan – West 2.7 Capital city: Chandigarh 2.8 Total Land Area: (i) Total area is 50,362 sq. km. (ii) 19th largest state in India. 2.9 Other Important Facts: The largest city is Ludhiana |
| 3 Forestry | 3.1 Forest: (i) Forest Cover: 1,848.63 sq. km. (ii) Very Dense Forest: 8.00 sq. km. (iii) Moderately Dense Forest: 800.97 sq. km. (iv) Open Forest: 1,039.66 sq. km. (Data as per ISFR 2019 assessment) 3.2 Wild Life Sanctuary: (i) Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, Fazilika (ii) Bir Aishvan Wildlife, Sangrur (iii) Bir Bhadson Wildlife Sanctuary, Bhadson (iv) Bir Bunerheri Wildlife Sanctuary, Patiala (v) Dosanjh WLSWildlife Sanctuary, Patiala (vi) Bir Gurdialpura Wildlife Sanctuary, Gurdial (vii) Bir Mehaswala Wildlife Sanctuary, Patiala (viii) Bir Motibagh Wildlife Sanctuary, Moti Bagh (ix) Harike Lake Wildlife Sanctuary, Ferozepur (x) Jhajjar Bacholi Wildlife Sanctuary, Bacholi (xi) Kathlaur Kushlian Wildlife Sanctuary, Pathankot (xii) Takhni-Rehampur Wildlife Sanctuary, Hoshiarpur (xiii) Nangal Wildlife Sanctuary, Nangal |
| 4 Economy | 4.1 Major Economic Data: (i) GDP Growth: -2.8% (2019–20) (ii) GDP: ₹5.29 lakh crore (US$74 billion) (2020–21) (iii) GDP Rank: 16th (iv) Per Capita Income: US$2,090 (2020–21) 4.2 Industries: Major industries are as under: – (i) The major industries include financial services, the manufacturing of scientific instruments, agricultural goods, electrical goods, machine tools, textiles, sewing machines, sports goods, starch, fertilisers, bicycles, garments, and the processing of pine oil and sugar. (ii) Minerals and energy resources also contribute to Punjab’s economy to a much lesser extent. Punjab has the largest number of steel rolling mill plants in India. (iii) The state’s bustling tourism, music, culinary, and film industries contribute to the state’s economy as well. |
| 5 Transportation | 5.1 Air, Rail and Road are the major modes of transportation in Punjab. 5.2 Other Important facts: Punjab Government has signed a Memorendum of Understanding (MoU) with Virgin Hyperloop One to explore the feasibility of running a hyperloop between Amritsar and Chandigarh which could decrease the distance between 2 cities from five hours by road to less than 30 minutes. It will have stops in Ludhiana and Jalandhar. 5.3 Major Railway Stations (i) Ludhiana Junction (ii) Jalandhar City Junction (iii) Amritsar Junction (iv) Jalandhar Cantonment Junction (v) Beas Junction (vi) Pathankot Cantt (vii) Phagwara Junction (viii) Bathinda Junction (ix) Firozpur Cantonment Junction (x) Rajpura Junction (xi) Sirhind Junction (xii) Abohar Junction (xiii) Patiala (xiv) Dhuri Junction (xv) Phillaur Junction (xvi) Khanna (xvii) Dasuya (xviii) Sangrur (xix) Mekerian 5.4 Major Air Ports: International Airports: Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar Domestic Airports: (i) Bathinda Airport (ii) Adampur Airport (iii) Sahnewal Airport, Ludhiana (iv) Pathankot Airport Indian Air Force Stations: Halwara Air Force Station |
| 6 Infrastructures | 6.1 Power installed Capacity: (i) Total Power: 14376.29 MW (ii) Thermal: 8765.51 MW (iii) Nuclear: 196.81 MW (iv) Hydro: 3809.12 MW (v) Renewable Energy Source: 1604.85 MW |
| 7 Census and Demography | 7.1 Demographic Data: (i) Population: 27,743,338 (2.77 Crores) (ii) Male: 14,639,465 (iii) Female: 13,103,873 (iv) Gender Ratio: 895 females per 1000 males (v) Population Growth: 13.89% (vi) Percentage of total population of the country: 2.29% (vii) Density: 551/sq. km. (viii) Rural Population: 17,344,192 (62.52%) (ix) Urban Population: 10,399,146 (37.48%) (x) 16th most populous state in India (Based on 2011 census) 7.2 Major Religion followers: (i) Hinduism: 10,678,138 (38.49%) (ii) Christianity: 348,230 (1.26%) (iii) Islam: 535,489 (1.93%) (iv) Jainism: 45,040 (0.16%) (v) Buddhism: 33,237 (0.12%) (vi) Sikhism: 16,004,754 (57.69%) (Based on 2011 census) |
| 8 Culture | 8.1 Literature: Literary work is majorly found under categories: (i) Punjabi (ii) Gurumukhi (iii) Shahmukhi 8.2 Major Poets & Authors: (i) Partap Singh (ii) Bhagat Puran Singh (iii) Mohan Singh (iv) Sujan Singh (v) Gurbachan Singh Talib (vi) Gurdas Ram Alam (vii) Balraj Sahni (viii) Harcharan Singh (ix) Sharif Kunjahi (x) Balwant Gargi (xi) Kartar Singh Duggal (xii) Amrita Pritam (xiii) Jaswant Singh Kanwal (xiv) Harbhajan Singh (xv) Santokh Singh Dhir (xvi) Kulwant Singh Virk (xvii) Ajit Saini (xviii) Sukhbir (xix) Alam Lohar (xx) Jaswant Singh Rahi (xxi) Buta Singh (xxii) Giani Sant Singh Maskeen 8.3 Major Festivals: (i) Bandi Chhor Divas (Diwali) (ii) Mela Maghi (iii) Hola Mohalla (iv) Rakhri (v) Vaisakhi (vi) Lohri (vii) Gurpurb (viii) Guru Ravidass Jayanti (ix) Teeyan (x) Basant Kite Festival 8.4 Folk Dance: (i) Bhangra (ii) Giddha (iii) Kikkli 8.5 Major Religious Places: (i) Golden Temple (ii) Durgiana Temple (iii) Qila Mubarak |
| 9 Education | 9.1 State Literacy Data: (i) Total: 18,707,137 (75.84%) (ii) Male: 10,436,056 (80.44%) (iii) Female: 8,271,081 (70.73%) 9.2 Major Universities: (i) Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (ii) Chandigarh University, Mohali (iii) Chitkara University (iv) Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar (v) Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot (vi) Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (vii) Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala (viii) Punjabi University, Patiala (ix) Central University of Punjab, Bathinda (x) Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda (xi) Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana (xii) Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala (xiii) DAV University, Jalandhar (xiv) Rayat-Bahra University, Kharar (xv) RIMT University , Mandi Gobindgarh (xvi) Desh Bhagat University, Mandi Gobindgarh (xvii) Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib (xviii) GNA University, Phagwara (xix) Guru Ravidas Ayurved University, Hoshiarpur (xx) Adesh University, Bathinda (xxi) Guru Kashi University, Talwandi Sabo (xxii) Akal University, Bathinda (xxiii) Sant Baba Bhag Singh University, Jalandhar (xxiv) Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences, Qila Jiwan Singh 9.3 Major Institutions: (i) IIT Ropar (ii) IISER Mohali (iii) Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar (iv) Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, (v) Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, (vi) National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Mohali (vii) Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology, Sangrur |
| 10 Tourism | 10.1 The state of Punjab is renowned for its cuisine, culture and history. Punjab has a vast public transportation and communication network. Some of the main cities in Punjab are Amritsar, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Mohali, Bathinda, Firozpur and Pathankot. Patiala is known for its historical forts. Punjab also has a rich Sikh religious history. 10.2 Major Tourist Spots: (i) Wagah Border (ii) Golden Temple (iii) Virasat-e-Khalsa (iv) Gobindgarh Fort (v) Khatkar Kalan (vi) Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial (vii) Durgiana Temple (viii) Qila Mubarak (ix) Harike Wetland (x) Jallianwala Bagh |
| 11 Sports | 11.1 State Game: Punjabis play a wide variety of sports and games, ranging from modern games such as hockey and cricket, to the more traditional games such as Kabaddi, Kushtian (wrestling) and Khuddo khoondi (similar to hockey). There are over 100 traditional games and sports of Punjab 11.2 Major Stadium: (i) Sector 42 Stadium, Chandigarh (ii) War Heroes Stadium, Sangrur (iii) Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali (iv) Guru Gobind Singh Stadium, Jalandhar (v) Lajwanti Stadium, Hoshiarpur (vi) Guru Nanak Stadium, Ludhiana (vii) International Hockey Stadium, Ajitgarh (viii) Dhruv Pandove Cricket Stadium, Patiala (ix) Guru Nanak Stadium, Kapurthala 11.3 International Players from the state: Cricket: (i) Manny Aulakh (ii) Swaroop Kishen (iii) M. P. Pandove (iv) Sukhjinder Rana (v) Bhupinder Singh (vi) Jaskaran Singh (vii) Raja Maharaj Singh (viii) Sunita Singh (ix) Sunny Sohal Basketball: (i) Sajjan Singh Cheema (ii) Gurvinder Singh Gill (iii) Amjyot Singh (iv) Amritpal Singh (v) Princepal Singh (vi) Satnam Singh Hockey: (i) Muhammad Aslam (ii) William Goodsir-Cullen (iii) Sayed Jaffar (iv) Gurjit Kaur (v) Reena Khokhar (vi) Varun Kumar |
| 12 Governance & Administrative Divisions | 12.1 Administrative divisions: (i) Number of Districts: 22 (ii) Number of Tehsils: 79 (iii) Number of Urban Towns: 143 (iv) Number of Villages: 12,278 12.2 Official Languages: Punjabi (Based on census-2011) 12.3 Constituent Facts: (i) Number of Assembly seats: 117 (ii) Number of Parliament seats: 13 (iii) Number of Rajya Sabha Seats: 7 (iv) Number of Gram Panchayats: 12 (v) Legislature: Unicameral 12.4 Chief Minister: Bhagwant Mann ( From 16/03/2022) (From17th CM of Punjab (AAP) 12.4.1 First Chief Minister: Sikandar Hayat Khan (1937) 12.5 Governor: Banwari Lal Purohit (29th Governor of Punjab) From 11 September,2021. 12.5.1 First Governor: Chandulal Madhavlal Trivedi (1947) 12.6 Judiciary: Punjab and Haryana High Court is the common High Court for the Indian states of Punjab and Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh based in Chandigarh, India. As of 28 November 2019. (i) Number of Judges: 85 (ii) (Permanent: 64 Addl: 21) (iii) Judge Retirement Age: 62 |
| 13 Other Important facts | 13.1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: The Golden Temple (Proposed) 13.2 GI Tags: (i) Basmati Rice (ii) Phulkari 13.3 Number of Archaeological Sites: (i) Bara, Punjab (ii) Cemetery H culture (iii) Kotla Nihang Khan (iv) Qila Mubarak (v) Rupnagar 13.4 State Symbols: State Animal: Blackbuck State Bird: Baaz State Flower: Galdiolus State Tree: Sheesham |
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