Know Your State Jharkhand – Jharkhand GK Notes 2021 (Part 2)

In the last blog about Jharkhand, we dealt with the cultural, geographical and political sides. If you haven’t read that already, click here – Know your State ‘Jharkhand’ – Part 1. This part will be telling us about the historical, environmental and many more aspects of Jharkhand.

Do you know which state has Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary? Which state has one of the planned cities of India which is also known as “Steel City”?

Jharkhand produces an abundant amount of coal as most of the coal mines are situated here. Due to large-scale coal mines and proliferating industries related to coal, the state is vulnerable to various types of diseases. The capital of this state is Ranchi while Dumka is the sub-capital of the state.  

Coming to the very first heading i.e. –

HISTORY Jharkhand GK Notes

Jharkhand is the homeland of tribals who had dreamed of a separate state for a long time.

• The region was ruled by many empires and dynasties including Maurya, Gupta, Gauda, Pala, Nagvanshi, Ramgarh Raj, Raksel and Chero.
• During the age of Mahajanpadas around 500 BC, Jharkhand state was a part of Magadha and Anga.
• Before the arrival of the British in Chota Nagpur, the area was ruled by chiefs of various indigenous groups. The area came under the British in 1765 as part of Bihar.
• As the British gradually expanded their authority over the plains to the north of present-day Jharkhand during the second half of the 18^th century and the beginning of the 19^th, revolts against them occasionally erupted in Chota Nagpur.
• The Ho revolt (1820-27) and the Munda uprising (1831-32) are the most important uprisings.
• From the period of British expansion until the turn of the 21^st century, the history of Jharkhand overlapped with the history of Bihar.
• On November 15, 2000, after decades of growing discontent, especially on the part of the indigenous peoples, Chota Nagpur was separated from Bihar to become Jharkhand, the 28^th state of India.

Jharkhand has a vast reserve of minerals and metal deposits. The state has about 40% of India’s total mineral resources. It leads in coal reserves and holds the second and third position respectively, in iron ore and copper. So, let’s get on to more information like this i.e. –

ENVIRONMENT Jharkhand GK Notes

Due to the large-scale mining, the environment as well as the population is getting exposed to many serious issues. It threatens the forest cover which is almost 30% of the state. Forests and agricultural land are cleared to make way for new mines. The fine coal dust from mines affects the health of humans as well as those of the flora and fauna. That’s why respiratory ailments and cancer are on rise in this area.

• MAJOR DAMS – The major dams of this state –

1. Maithon Dam, Dhanbad: Maithon Dam is constructed on the Barakar River. It has an underground power station, which is the only of its kind in Asia. The lake spreads over an area of 65 sq.km.
2. Getalsud Dam, Ranchi – Getasud Dam near Ranchi is constructed across the Subarnrekha River.
3. Konar Dam – Konar Dam across the Konar River is the second multi-purpose dam of Damodar Valley Corporation.
4. Tilaiya Dam, Koderma – Tilaiya Dam is constructed across the Barakar River.
5. Tenughat Dam, Bokaro – Tenughat Dam lies across the Damodar River in Bokaro.
6. Panchet Dam – Panchet Dam across the Damodar River is also a part of the phase of the Damodar Valley Corporation.

• Important National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuary – There is only 1 National Park and 11 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Jharkhand.

1. Betla National Park – It is located on the Chota Nagpur Plateau in the Palamu district of Jharkhand. The park hosts a wide variety of wildlife. The Betla National Park was first established as a sanctuary and later upgraded to its present status. The average elevation is about 1000 feet.  Though the park is open throughout, the best time to visit is between the months of November to March. Spread over 250 sq.km, the park is covered with good roads to enable the motorist to have a closer view of the wildlife in dense forest.
2. Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary – It is located 10 km from the city of Jamshedpur in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It was inaugurated by Sanjay Gandhi in 1975. It is a notable wildlife sanctuary and contains a significant population of Indian Elephants. It is spread over an area of 195 km² and was established in 1976.
3. Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary – Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary (earlier called Hazaribagh National Park) is a wildlife sanctuary in Jharkhand, India, about 55 miles (89km) north of Ranchi. It was established in 1955. Nestling in low hilly terrain, at an average altitude of 615 metres, it has an area of 184 km² and is home to sambar, nilgai, chital, peafowl, sloth bears, black bears, hyenas and pigeons. Earlier it was home to tigers, leopards and many more animals but now rarely animals other than nilgai and hyena are seen. It is known that many foreigners also used to visit the then-called National Park, but due to lack of care by the government, it has become a mere forest. Very few tourists can be seen now. Hazaribagh, which was known as a tourist destination, is now losing its title.
4. Udhwa Lake Bird Sanctuary – It is the only bird sanctuary in the entire state of Jharkhand. Udhwa Bird Sanctuary, spreading in 5.65 square kilometres is the only bird sanctuary of Jharkhand state. The avian habitat comprises two backwater lakes over the river Ganges (Ganga) namely Patauda and Berhale. Migratory birds reach here every winter from several parts of the world, including Siberia and Europe. The main birds include the pranticole, egret, wagtail, plover, lapwing, stork, ibis and heron.  
5. Singhbhum Elephant Reserve – The first of all the elephant reserves in the country, created in the year 2001 under the Project Elephant Singhbhum Elephant Reserve. Sprawling in an area of 13,440 sq.km in east and west Singhbhum and Saraikela-Kharsawan districts the reserve is an abode of numerous elephants. For scientific and planned management aimed at the conservation of elephants, habitats have a viable population of Wild Asiatic Elephants in Jharkhand.

Jharkhand also has immense mineral sources. Agriculture is another sector in Jharkhand which helps the economy to grow. Let’s learn about such information in depth by going to another aspect i.e. –

ECONOMY Jharkhand GK Notes

• The gross domestic product of Jharkhand is estimated at Rs. 3.83 lakh crore in 2020-21.
• The per capita GDP of Jharkhand in 2018-19 was Rs.82,430.
• Jharkhand suffers from what is sometimes termed as a resource curse. It accounts for more than 40% of the mineral resources of India, but 39.1% of its population is below the poverty line and 19.6% of children under five years of age are malnourished.
• Jharkhand is the only state in India to produce coking coal, uranium and pyrite. With 25.7% of the total iron ore (hematite) reserves, Jharkhand ranks second among the states.
• The state’s industries enjoy a unique location-specific advantage as it is closer to the vast market of eastern India. It is closer to the ports of Kolkata, Haldia and Paradip which helps in the transportation of minerals.
• The state has attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) equity inflows worth US$ 113 million during the period April 2000 to September 2019, according to data released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• Total exports from the state stood at US$ 1,640.33 million during 2018-19. During 2019-20 (till December 2019), exports from the state stood at US$ 881.32 million.
• The state is the largest producer of Tasar Silk (non-mulberry silk) in the country, with 76.4% share in the total output. In 2018-19, raw silk production in the state was 2375 MT.
• Under the state budget 2019-20, the government launched two new scholarships programmes Mukhyamantri Medha Chatravitti Yojana (MMCY) and Mukhyamantri Vidyalakshmi Uncha Shiksha Protsahan (MVUSP) in which students who will be selected at state level, district level and on block level through competitive examination, would be given a scholarship of Rs. 12000, Rs. 6000 and Rs. 300.

Jharkhand is a state which has a lot of centres with regards to the examination conducted in the state boards. Various examinations in Universities and Colleges are taken care of by the Jharkhand education board. So, let’s come to the educational aspect.

EDUCATION Jharkhand GK Notes

Education in Jharkhand is composed of different boards such as Jharkhand intermediate examination board, Jharkhand Madrasha Examination Board. The education in Jharkhand has got a broad spectrum starting from the primary board to that of secondary.

• Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, formerly known as Ranchi College, is a state university located in Ranchi, Jharkhand. It is named after the Indian politician Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. It was established as a college in 1926 and upgraded to a university in 2017.
• The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad is a public technical and research university located in Dhanbad, India. It was formerly known as Indian School of Mines and was a deemed university before it was converted into an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and an Institute of National Importance.
• In order to make Jharkhand one of the best states in the nation with regards to education, the government of Jharkhand has taken up a few important steps. Education will be improved in the state once the government launches Sarva Siksha Abhiyan. This is an attempt to make every person in the state sound in education.
• Nilamber-Pitamber University is a state university located in Medininagar, Jharkhand. NPU is one of the largest universities of Jharkhand which manages and operates all colleges in Palamu district as well as other nearby districts like Garhwa, Latehar, etc. It is an autonomous institution.

SPORTS Jharkhand GK Notes

Jharkhand which earned the soubriquet Ruhr of India because of its early lead in industrial development, has also had a unique and glorious sports tradition.

• In the recent past, Jharkhand has won the National Championship of Subroto Mukharjee Cup Football Tournament twice.
• At Bangalore, recently Jharkhand has claimed gold in the under-17 National Jharkhand Envis Football Championship.
• Sportspersons from Jharkhand are making their presence felt in the sporting arena, in different sports disciplines.
• One of the highlights of the year 2011 was the coronation of Indian One-Day cricket (ODI) Cricket Team led by its captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who hails from Ranchi, Jharkhand. In the last few years, we have seen the meteoric rise of Mahendra Singh Dhoni or popularly known as MSD or Mahi.   

Here are Some of the Interesting Facts –

• Dhanbad, the Coal Capital, has over 112 coal mines, which can produce up to 27.5 metric tons of coal. Almost 50% of the coking coal required for industrial purposes is produced here.
• Tropic of Cancer actually passes through Ranchi at Kankee, located at 23.4 degrees north and 85.33 degrees east.
• Lupungtu is a stream which is famous for clear and warm water emerging from the roots of the trees. The water is said to be of medicinal value.
• Chas was used as a base by the Britishers during World War 2 to supply grains to soldiers fighting on the eastern front of Japan.
• Jharia Coal Mines are the coal mines that have the underground fire burning for more than a century.
• Chinnamastika Temple, Rajrappa, is known for Goddess Chinnamastika. One of the ten Tantric Goddesses. The self-decapitated goddess holds her served head in one hand and sword in another.

Therefore, this was all the required information about Jharkhand which will help you in competitive exams like SSC CGL, Civil Services, CDS, etc. In the next blog, we would be discussing some interesting facts and trivia about the state of Karnataka. Click here for Know your State – ‘Karnataka’.

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