Tamil Nadu GK article covers almost entire important facts about the state.Tamil Nadu or ‘Tamil Country’ is the 10th largest state in Southern India with a unique culture located around 2500 km away from our capital city Delhi. According to the 2011 census, Tamil Nadu consists of 5.96% population in India. Tamil Nadu has a rich Tamil culture which was originated from major 3 kingdoms i.e., Chera, Chola and Pandyan. It is a highly significant state with a unique history and some wonderful heritage places.Tamil Nadu GK is important for all the competitive exams like SSC, IBPS, State PSCs, Defense exams and other competitive Exams of the country.
Also read : Rajasthan GK
Topic | Data/Facts |
| 1 History | 1.1 On 15 August, 1947 Madras Province with Andhra came into existence. 1.2 In 1956, the Madras Province bifurcated to create separate state ‘’Andhra’’. 1.3 On 14 January, 1969, it is renamed to ‘Tamil Nadu’ which means Tamil country. |
| 2 Geography | 2.1 Climate: 2.1.1 Dry Sub-Humid to Semi-Arid (Dependent on monsoon rains and prone to drought if monsoon fails) 2.1.2 state has two distinct periods of rainfall: (a) South west monsoon from June to September, with strong southwest winds. . It constitute 32% of annual Rain fall. (b) North east monsoon from October to December, with dominant northeast winds. It constitute 945 mm (48%) of annual Rain fall. (c) Tamil Nadu is divided into seven agro-climatic zones: (i) Northeast, (ii) Northwest, (iii) West, (iv) Southern, (v) High rainfall, (vi) High altitude hilly, and (vii) Kaveri Delta (the most fertile agricultural zone). 2.2 Agriculture: (i) Rice, Jowar, Ragi, Bajra, Maize, Pulses, Cotton, Sugarcane, Tea, Coffee, and Coconut. (ii) Paddy is the most leading crop in Tamilnadu and is found in 3 kinds namely Kuruvali, Thaladi, and Samba that varies from season to season. (iii) Also produces Sesame, Sunflower and Ground nut oil seeds and Mangoes and Banana as cash crops. (iv) Tamilnadu is also widely popular as the largest producer of agricultural products in India. (v) Agriculture in Tamilnadu possesses a Jatropha plant that has a Biodisel Policy which gives the waste land for cropping to farmers. (vi) Agriculture is the main stay of half the population of the Tamilnadu 2.3 Natural Resources: (i) Limestone, Bauxite, Gypsum, Lignite (Brown Coal), Magnesite, and Iron Ore. (ii) The open cast lignite mine at Neyveli, in the north-central part of the state, is among the largest in India, and its products are used to fuel a thermal-power plant that provides much of the state’s electricity. (iii) Lignite is 87% of National Share. 2.4 Major rivers: (i) Rivers drain into Bay of Bengal: Palar, Cheyyar, Ponnaiyar, Kaveri, Vollar, Vaigai (ii) Rivers drain into Indian Ocean: Chittar, Vaippur, Gunaar (iii) Rivers with Inland Drainage: Amaravati, Nohil, Vellar Some Important facts of Rivers (i) Flowing eastwards, all or most of the rivers are completely rain fed and originates from the Western Ghats in India. (ii) Kaveri River, with 760 km of length, is the longest among all the Tamil Nadu rivers. Since, it is among the sacred rivers of the country, this river is popularly called the “Ganga of the South” or the “Dakshina Ganga”. It flows east ward. 2.5 Animals: Elephants, Tigers, Leopards, Wild Dogs, Sloth bears, Gaurs, Lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri Langurs, Nilgiri tahrs, Grizzled ,Giant squirrels and Sambar, Deer. 2.6 Neighbouring States: Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Bay of Bengal to the East and Indian Ocean to the South. 2.7 Capital city : Chennai ( & also the largest city) 2.8 Total Land Area: 130,058 Sq Km 2.8.1 It is the 10th largest state in India in land area. |
| 3 Forestry | 3.1 Forest (i) Forest Cover: 26,281 sq.km (20.21% of Geographical Area of state) (ii) Reserved Forest: 20,293 sq. Km (iii) Protected Forest: 1,782 sq. Km (iv) Unclassed Forest: 802 sq. Km (Data as per ISFR 2017 assessment) 3.2 National Parks: (i) Guindy National Park, Chennai (ii) Gulf of Mannar Marine Park, Ramanathapuram & Tuticorin (iii) Indira Gandhi National Park, Coimbatore (iv) Mukurthi National Park, Nilgiri (v) Mudumalai National Park, Nilgiri 3.3 Wild Life Sanctury: (i) Mudumalai Wild life Sanctuary, Nilgiri (ii) Vallanadu Wild life Sanctuary, Tuticorin (iii) Point Calimere wild life Sanctuary, Nagapattinam (iv) Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary, Coimbatore (v)Kalakad Wildlife Sanctuary, Tirunelveli (vi) Mundanthurai Wild life Sanctuary, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari (vii) Grizzled Giant Squirrel Wildlife Sanctuary, Virudhunagar (viii) Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary, Kanyaumari (ix) Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary, Erode (x) Megamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Theni and Madurai (xi) Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary Block A and Block B, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur Nagapattinam (xii) Kodaikanal Wildlife Sanctuary, Dindigul and Theni (xiii) Gangaikondan Spotted Deer Sanctuary, Tirunelveli (xiv) Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri (xv) Nellai Wildlife Sanctuary, Tirunelveli 3.4 Birds Sanctuary: (i) Vettangudi birds Sanctuary, Sivagangai (ii) Pulicat Lake Birds Sanctuary, Tiruvallur (iii) Karikili Birds Sanctuary, Kancheepuram (iv) Kanjirankulam Birds Sanctuary, Ramanathapuram (v) Chitrangudi Birds Sanctuary, Ramanathapuram (vi) Koonthankulam-Kadankulam Birds Sanctuary, Tirunelveli (vii) Vellode Birds Sanctuary, Erode (viii) Vedanthangal Birds Sanctuary, Kancheepuram (ix) Udayamarthandpuram Birds Sanctuary, Tiruvarur (x) Melaselvanur-Kilaselvanur Birds Sanctuary, Ramanathapuram (xi) Vaduvoor birds Sanctuary, Tiruvarur (xii) Karaivetti Birds Sanctuary, Ariyalur (xiv) Theerthangal Bird Sanctury, Ramanathapuram (xv) Sakkarakottai Tank Birds Sanctuary, Ramanathapuram (xvi) Oussudu Lake Birds Sanctuary, Villupuram 3.5 Elephant Reserves: (i) Nilgiri Elephant Reserve, Nilgiris Erode, Dharmapuri (ii) Nilambur Elephant Reserve, Coimbatore, Nilgiris (iii) Periyar Elephant Reserve (Srivilliputhur Elephant Reserve), Theni, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli (iv) Anamalai – Parambikulam Elephant Reserve (Anamalai Elephant Reserve), Coimbatore, Dindigul (Facts/ data are important from competition exams for Tamil Nadu GK) |
| 4 Economy | 4.1 Major Economic Data: GDP Growth: 5.28% (2020-21)₹19.2 lakh crore (US$270 billion) (2020-21) GDP Rank: 3rdPer Capita Income: ₹229,000 (US$3,200) 4.2 Industries: Major industries are as under:- (i) Automobiles and Auto Components, Military vehicles, Railway cars,( the railway-coach factory at Perambur (near Chennai) is one of the largest in Asia). (ii) Oil refinery and petrochemical plant in Chennai. (iii) Food processing, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals Garments, Textile Products, Leather Products, Chemicals and Plastics, Electronic parts and equipments. (iv) Handi Crafts most notably bronze, brass & copper ware, leather work, hanloom silk kalamkari (hand-painted fabric, using natural dyes), and articles fashioned from carved wood, cane and palm leaf. 4.3 Other Important facts: (i) Tamil Nadu is the second wealthiest state in India by GDP. (ii) The most industrialised state in India. (iii) Agriculture is the main stay of half the population of the Tamilnadu. It contributes 13% of GDP. (iv) Manufacturing sector accounts for more than one-third of the state’s gross product. (v) It ranks first among the states in terms of number of factories and industrial workers. (vi) The state also is a leader in wind-power generation. (Facts/ data are important from competition exams for Tamil Nadu GK) |
| 5 Transportation | 5.1 Air, Rail, Road Routes by Buses, Tourist Taxies, Jeep, Car, Auto Riksha, Spaceports, and Seaports. 5.2 Other Important facts: (i) Total road length:62,294 Km (ii) NH : 6742 Km ( Constitute 5.13% of Nation’s total) 5.3 Major Railway Stations MGR Chennai Central, Coimbatore, Katpadi, Madurai, Salem, Erode, Dindigul, Karur, Nagercoil, Tiruchirapalli, and Tirunelveli. 5.4 Special Trains Nilgiri Mountain Railway Toy Train or Ooty Toy Train. 5.5 Major Air Ports: International Airports: (i) Chennai International Airport (ii) Coimbatore International Airport (iii)Tiruchirapalli International Airport (iv) Madurai International Airport Domestic Airports: (i) Salem Airport (ii)Thoothukudi Airport (iii) Vellore Airport Indian Air Force Stations: (i)Thanjavur AFS (ii)Tambram AFS (iii) Coimbatore AFS |
| 6 Infrastructures | 6.1 Power installed Capacity: 31,594 MW, which includes : (i) 50% of renewable energy, (ii) 28% from coal based power plants including shares from central generating stations, (iii) 5% from nuclear power plants, (iv) 3% from gas power plants, & (v) 14% through Long term and Medium term Open Access and Captive Power Plants (CPP). (vi) The state also is a leader in wind-power generation. |
| 7 Census and Demography | 7.1 Demographic Data: (i) Population: 72,147,030 (ii)Male: 36,137,975 (ii) Female: 36,009,055 (iv) Gender Ratio: 996 females per 1000 males (v) Population Growth: 15.61% (vi) Percentage of total population of the country: 5.96% (vii) Density: 555/sq.km. (viii) Rural Population: 51.60% (ix) Urban Population: 48.40% (x) 6th most populous state in India (Based on 2011 census) 7.2 Major Religion followers: (i) Hinduism: 63,188,168 (87.9%) (ii) Christianity: 4,418,331(6.12%) (iii) Islam: 4,229,479 (5.86%) (iv)Jainism: 89,265 (0.12%) (v) Buddhism: 11186 (0.02%) (vi)Sikhism: 14,601 (0.02%) (Based on 2011 census) (Facts/ data are important for Tamil Nadu GK) |
| 8 Culture | 8.1 Literature work: Literary work is majorly found under categories: (i) Sangam Literature (300 BCE – 300 CE). (ii) Tamil Literature. 8.2 Major Poets & Authors: Bharati Dasan, C.S. Chellappa, Durai Manickam, Ilanko Adigal, Indira Parthasarathy, Jayamohan, Kamban, Mayuram Vedanayakam Pillai, M. Varadarajan, Rajam Krishnan, R. Krishnamurthy, R. Shanmugasundaram, Sa. Kandasamy, Subramania Bharati. 8.2.1 Other important facts about Tamil literature: (i) In 1578, the Portuguese published a Tamil book in old Tamil script named ‘Thambiraan Vanakkam’, thus making Tamil the first Indian language to be printed and published. (ii) Tamil Lexicon, published by the University of Madras, is the first among the dictionaries published in any Indian language 8.3 Major Festivals: (i) Pongal Festival (ii) Natyanjali Dance Festival (iii) Karthigai Deepam (iv) Jallikattu Bull Festival (v) Vinayaka Chathurthi (vi) Chitri Rai Festival (vii) Mahamaham Festival 8.4 Folk Dance: (i)Bamber Dance, (ii)Bharatnatyam, (iii) Bommalattam, (iv) Kummi, (v)Chakkai Attam, (vi)Devaraattam, (vii) Kamandi or Kaman Pandiga 8.5 Major Religious Places: (i) Adiyogi Shiva,Velliangiri. (ii) Meenakshi Amman Temple, Madurai. (iii) Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple Tiruchirapalli. (iv) Dhyanalinga Temple Coimbatore. (v) Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, (vi) CuddaloreKamakshi Amman Temple, Kanchipuram (vii) Brihadeshwara Temple, Thanjavur (viii)Airavateswara Temple,Darasuram, Thanjavu |
| 9 Education | 9.1 State Literacy Data: (i) Total: 80.09% (ii) Male: 86.77% (iii) Female: 73.44% 9.2 Major Universities: (i) Anna University,Chennai (ii) Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham,Coimbatore (iii) VIT University, Vellore (iv) Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (v) University of Madras, Chennai (vi) Annamalai University, Chidambaram (vii) Madurai Kamraj University Madurai (viii) Indian Maritime University, Chennai 9.3 Major Institutions: (i) IIT Madras, Chennai (ii) NIT Trichy, Tiruchirappali (iii) Chennai Mathematical Institute, Chennai (iv) SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai |
| 10 Tourism | 10.1 The tourism industry of Tamil Nadu is the largest in India, with an annual growth rate of 16 per cent. 10.2 Major Tourist Spots: (i) Hindu temples built-in Dravidian architecture: (a) Brihadishwara Temple Thanjavur, (b) Gangaikonda Cholapuram and the Airavatesvara Temple in Darasuram (Great Cholas Temples) (c) Shore Temple along with the collection of other monuments in Mamallapuram which have been declared as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. (ii) The Nilgiri Mountain Railway. |
| 11 Sports | 11.1 State Game: Sadugudu( Kabbadi), is the state game in Tamil Nadu. 11.2 Major Stadium: (i) M. A. Chidambaram Stadium , Chennai ( it is cricket stadium capacity of 50,000). Earlier known as Madras Cricket Club Ground.Established in 1916 (ii) Nungambakkam tennis stadium (hosts ‘’Chennai Open & ‘’Devis Cup ’’) (iii) Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium Chennai ( holds hockey matches). (iv) Golf Ground, Chettipalayam Coimbatore (v)Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, Chennai It holds multipurpose sports events) (vi) TNSRA Squash Academy Chennai (hosting international squash events) (vii) Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Coimbatore 11.3 International Players from TN: Tennis : Ramesh Krishnan Ramanathan Krishnan Vijay Amritraj Mahesh Bhupathi Nirupama Vaidyanathan Hockey: Vasudevan Baskaran ( Captain Hockey, won Gold Medal Moscow Olympics-1980). |
| 12 Governance & Administrative Divisions | 12.1 Administrative divisions : (i) Number of Districts: 38 (5 divisions) (ii) Number of Tehsils: 244 (iii) Number of Police Stations:399 (iv) Number of Urban Towns: 146 (v) Number of Villages: 12620 12.2 Official Languages : (i) Tamil (Tamil is spoken as the first language by 88.37 percentage of the state’s population) (ii) English (Additional Official Language) (Based on census-2011) 12.3 Constituent Facts: (i) Number of Assembly seats: 234 (ii) Number of Parliament seats: 39 (iii) Rajya Sabha seats: 18 (iv) Number of Gram panchayat: 12,632 (v) Out of 235 assembly seats, 234 are elected and 01 seat is nominated for Anglo Indian Community. 12.4 Chief Minister: M.K. Stalin (12th Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, assumed Office on May 07,2021) 12.5 Governor: RN Ravi (15th Governor of Tamil Nadu) (From 18/09/2021) 12.6 Judiciary: (i) Madras High Court is the oldest High Court in India after Calcutta High Court in Kolkata. (ii) It is in Chennai. It was founded on 15th August, 1862. (iii)Number of Judges: 74 (Permanent: 56; Addl: 19) (iv) Judge Retirement Age: 62 (Facts/ data are important from competition exams for Tamil Nadu GK) 12.7 Website: tn.gov.in |
| 13 Other Important facts | 13.1 UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Monuments of Mahabalipuram, Chennai (Facts/ data are important from competition exams for Tamil Nadu GK) 13.2 Symbols of Tamil Nadu: (i) Tree: Asian Palm (ii) Mamals: Nilgiri Thar (iii) Flower: Gloriosa Lily (iv) Fruit: Jack Fruit (v) Bird: Emerald Dove (vi) Butterfly: Tamil Yeoman (vii) Song: Tamil Thai Valthu 13.3 GI Tags: (i) Salem Fabric (ii) Madurai Sungudi (iii) Coimbatore Wet Grinder (iv)Thanjavur Paintings (v) Arani Silk (v) Kovai Kora Cotton Sarees (vi) East India Leather (vii) Virupakshi Hill Banana (viii) Swamimalai Bronze Icons (ix) Kancheepuram Silk (x)Temple Jewellery of Nagercoil (xi)Thanjavur Doll (xii)Madurai Malli (xiii)Eathomozhy Tall Coconut (xiv)Toda Embroidery (xv)Chettinad Kottan (xvi)Srivilliputtur Palkova (xvii) Mahabalipuram Stone Sculpture |
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