In this tutorial, we will see all the Important Questions related to Gujarat that can be asked in your exams. Gujarat is located on the Western Coast of India and is surrounded by Rajasthan to the northeast, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu to the south, Maharashtra to the southeast, Madhya Pradesh to the east, and the Arabian Sea and the Pakistani province of Sindh to the west. It is the fifth largest Indian state by area and ninth largest state by Population and has a total of 33 districts.

Gujarat: Short Notes on States of India

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

• Gujarat is also known as Jewel of Western India.
• Modern day Gujarat has derived its name from Gurjaradesa.
• It has longest coastline of around 1600 KM.
• It has an area of around 196,024 square km. More can be checked here.
• It shares borders with Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Pakistan.
• Gujarat was created from Bombay as a result of Bombay(Reorganization) Act, 1960.
• Previously the Capital of Gujarat was Ahmedabad but later in 1970 it moved to Gandhinagar.
• State official language is Gujarati which is an Indo Aryan Language evolved from Sanskrit.
• State Animal is Asiatic Lion and State bird is Greater Flamingo.
• State has more than 9% of their land as waste land.
• Kheda, Mehsana, Amreli, Surat, Gandhinagar, Anand, Patan, Bhavnagar and Banaskantha districts have more than 70% of their area under cultivation.
• The Soils found in South Gujarat and Saurashtra are mostly clayey. In Central Gujarat it is sandy loam to loam or clay loam to clay in midland, floodplains and the coastal saline area.
• In rainy season, some places in the state gets flooded due to proximity with Arabian Sea.
• State records an average annual rainfall of 93.2 cm.
• Monsoon winds flowing through the state does not hit any Orographic barrier and hence many of the regions in the state does not receive enough rainfall.
• The Rann of Kutch sees an extreme weather conditions every year where Summers are too hot and Winters are chilling and tool cold.
• During Winter season, state maintains dry and mild weather conditions with an average temperature of 12 °C at night 29 °C at day.
• Summers are tremendously hot in the state with day time temperature roaring up to 41 °C and night temperature up to 29 °C.
• Lothal is known as the World's First Seaport located in Gujarat.
• Dholavira is one of the most prominent and largest archaeological site of India. Altogether state has 50 Indus Valley Civilization sites. Most recent of them is Gola Dhoro.
• Gujarat was in trade with Ancient Greeks, Egypt, Bahrain and Sumer at around 1000 to 750 BC.
• Some of the Major mountains ranges like Aravallis, Vindhyas and Satpuras are located in Gujarat.
• Some of the Volcanic mountains like Barbaric Hills and Girnaric hills are located in Gujarat.
• Major rivers includes Sabarmati, Mahi, Narmada and Tapi. Sabarmati is the largest river of Gujarat.
• Important National Parks are Gir National Park, Blackbuck National Park and Vansada National Park.
• There are two World Heritage Sites located in Gujarat: Rani ki Vav and Champaner Payagadh.
• State also has a Biosphere Reserve Great Rann of Kutch which has key fauna like Asiatic Lion, Black buck and Indian Wild Ass.
• Nal Sarovar lake is the largest Ramsar wetland in the state.
• Kandla Port which is the tidal port located in the state. It was immediately built after the Partition as Karachi Port went to Pakistan.
• Major Tribes of the State are: Bhils, Barda, Bamcha, Charan, Dhodia, Gamta, Paradhi and Patelia.
• Garba is the major folk dance in the state.
• Surat is situated on River Tapi and it has world famous diamond cutting Industries. It has lot of Bauxite reserves and is also the important Centre of Handicraft Industries.
• Vadodara is located near Mahi River and has a big petrochemical Complex.
• Porbandar is an Important Cement Manufacturing Centre and many chemical industries are also located at this place.
• Jamnagar has largest Oil refinery of India.
• Gujarat Government has banned alcohol since 1960.
• State witnessed a social political movement called Nav Nirman Andolan in 1974 against economic crisis and corruption. This was the only successful movement after Independence of India that ousted the elected government.
• Major Festivals in Gujarat are Modhera Dance Festival, Rann Utsav, Chitra Vichitra Mela, Madhavrai Fair, Bhavnath Mahadev Fair, International Kite Festival, Kavant Fair, Rath Yatra, Ravechi Fair, Tarnetar Fair and Bhadrapurnima Fair.