With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of
Answer & explanation
Answer: (d) saline lakes
Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are saline (salt) lakes in the dry interior of Rajasthan, in the Nagaur-Sikar region. They fill briefly after rain and leave salt behind as the water evaporates.
- ✓ (d) These are inland salt lakes of the Thar and Shekhawati region. Didwana is a known playa lake in Nagaur district, and Kuchaman is one of Rajasthan's salt works that draw on lake brine, like Sambhar.
- ✗ (a) Glaciers are found only in high mountain regions such as the Himalaya; Rajasthan has none.
- ✗ (b) Mangroves grow on tidal coasts and river deltas, while these lakes lie hundreds of kilometres inland in a desert region.
- ✗ (c) Sambhar is Rajasthan's famous saline Ramsar site, but these four lakes are not on the Ramsar list.
Remember · Rajasthan's inland salt lakes: Sambhar (largest), Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol, Khatu, Pachpadra. Playas collect run-off, then evaporation leaves salt.
Sources
- Office of the Salt Commissioner, Government of India: Salt industry in India ↗ “Inland Salt Works in Rajasthan using lake brine and sub-soil brine viz. Sambhar Lake, Nawa, Rajas, Kuchhaman, Sujangarh and Phalodi”
- ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute: Playa lakes of western Rajasthan (Annals of Arid Zone) ↗ · reference work “Salts and evaporites brought by run-off from surrounding catchments during rains accumulate in these sites.”
- Rajasthan Tourism / Environment Dept: Wetland inventory, Nagaur district (salt pans) ↗ “1204 Salt pans Khatu Salt Lake NAGAUR DIDWANA”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·