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Punjab: Short Notes on States of India - For UPSC/SSC/PSC Aspirants

In this session, we will go through all Important Points related to Punjab that can be asked in your exams. Punjab is located in the northern region of India and is surrounded by the Indian union territories of Jammu and Kashmir to the north, Chandigarh to the east, the Indian states of Himachal Pradesh to the north and northeast, Haryana to the south and southeast, and Rajasthan to the southwest. State is divided into 22 districts with Firozpur being the largest district and Kapurthala being the smallest district.

Punjab

Punjab: Short Notes on States of India

Also Read: Meghalaya: Short Notes on States of India - For UPSC/SSC/PSC Aspirants

  • The region was originally called Sapta Sindhu, the vedic land of the Seven Rivers flowing into the Sea.
  • Indian state of Punjab was created in the year 1947 after the Partition.
  • It is the 20th Largest Indian State by area and 16th largest state by Population.
  • It is the only Sikh majority state of India. Sikhism originated in the Punjab region during 15th Century.
  • It is also called Food Basket of India and Granary of India.
  • Punjabi is the state official Language.
  • State Animal is Blackbuck and State Bird is Northern Goshawk.
  • Economy is mostly agrarian. Almost 84% of the land is under cultivation in the state.
  • Malwa Plain can be found in the state.
  • Major rivers include Ravi, Beas, Chenab, Jhelum and Sutlej.
  • State does not have any National Parks or Biosphere Reserve or Wild Life Sanctuary. It has only a Bird Sanctuary - Harike Bird Sanctuary.
  • There are no scheduled Tribes in the State.
  • Bhangra and Giddha are the major folk dances of Punjab. Other important dances of the state are Sammi and Dhamal.
  • Most of the State lies in a Fertile alluvial plain with many rivers and extensive canal irrigation system.
  • Ranjit Sagar Dam is the major Dam of the State.
  • Major Festivals of the state includes Lohri, Vaishakhi, Teeyan Festival, Jor Mela.
  • The Architectural work of Le Corbusier in Chandigarh is the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • GI Tag of the State include Phulkari which is also the GI tag of Haryana.
  • Punjab economy is the 14th Largest in the State.
  • Chilwali Ghar is the highest point in the Punjab.
  • Monsoon season provides most of the rainfall for the region. Punjab receives rainfall from the monsoon current of the Bay of Bengal. This monsoon current enters the state from the southeast in the first week of July.
  • Rainfall in the winter provides relief to the farmers as some of the winter crops in the region of Shivalik Hills are entirely dependent on this rainfall.
  • Wetlands include the national wetland Hari-Ke-Pattan, the wetland of Kanjli, and the wetlands of Kapurthala Sutlej.
  • The largest cultivated crop is wheat. Other important crops are rice, cotton, sugarcane, pearl millet, maize, barley and fruit.
  • State produces 10.26% of India's cotton, 19.5% of India's wheat, and 11% of India's rice.
  • The Golden Temple in Amritsar is one of the major tourist destinations of Punjab and indeed India, attracting more visitors than the Taj Mahal.
  • Lonely Planet Bluelist 2008 has voted the Harmandir Sahib as one of the world's best spiritual sites. More info on Wikipedia Page.

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