WBCS Preliminary Examination 2023 — General Studies · Question 38 of 200

Answer: (B) Rajasthan

Answer as of 2023 — this may have changed since.

PSC's final answer key gives Rajasthan (the provisional key had given Uttar Pradesh), and that is recorded here. Official crop statistics do not really support either: in 2021–22 pulse yields were roughly Gujarat 1,530 kg/ha, Uttar Pradesh 1,080, Madhya Pradesh 1,065 and Rajasthan only about 630 kg/ha (RBI Handbook of Statistics on Indian States). What is true of Rajasthan is that it has the largest area under pulses, while Madhya Pradesh is the largest producer. Other facts: India is the world's largest producer, consumer and importer of pulses; gram (chana) is the leading pulse; pulses fix atmospheric nitrogen through Rhizobium bacteria; and 10 February is World Pulses Day.