Railway
'Brahma Kamal' is the state flower of:
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Answer: Option B — Uttarakhand
Detailed Solution
The Brahma Kamal ("Saussurea obvallata") is the state flower of Uttarakhand.
About the Brahma Kamal:
- It is named after Lord Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, and is considered sacred.
- It grows in the high-altitude alpine meadows of the Himalayas, at heights of about 3,000 to 4,800 metres, especially in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and parts of Kashmir.
- It blooms during the monsoon months, from about July to September.
- It is famous for blooming at night; its flower bud opens after dusk.
- Its large, creamy-white or pale yellow bracts (leaf-like structures) form a cup or "lotus-like" shape around purple flower heads.
- It is offered at Himalayan temples such as Kedarnath and Badrinath and at Hemkund Sahib.
- It is also used in traditional medicine.
- Because of over-collection by pilgrims and climate change, it has become threatened in some areas.
Where to see it:
The Valley of Flowers National Park, in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand, is famous for its alpine flowers, including the Brahma Kamal. The Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi National Parks together form a UNESCO World Heritage Site (Nanda Devi 1988, extended to include the Valley of Flowers in 2005).
Hemkund Sahib, a Sikh pilgrimage site near the Valley of Flowers.
Other state symbols of Uttarakhand:
- State animal: Alpine musk deer.
- State bird: Himalayan monal.
- State tree: Burans (rhododendron).
- State butterfly: Common peacock.
Other facts about Uttarakhand:
- It became the 27th state of India on 9 November 2000.
- Capital: Dehradun (winter); Gairsain (Bhararisain) was declared the summer capital in 2020.
- It is called "Dev Bhoomi" ("Land of the Gods") because of its many pilgrimage sites, including the "Char Dham" (Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath).
- In 2024, it became the first state to implement a Uniform Civil Code (effective January 2025).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Himachal Pradesh's state flower is the pink rhododendron.
- ✗Sikkim's state flower is the noble orchid.
- ✗Arunachal Pradesh's state flower is the foxtail orchid.
Quick tip
Remember: Brahma Kamal = state flower of Uttarakhand (blooms at night; Valley of Flowers); Uttarakhand: animal = musk deer, bird = Himalayan monal, tree = burans; first state with a Uniform Civil Code.
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Indian States & Union Territories — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian States & Union Territories, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers state-wise GK for India: capitals, formation dates, high courts, state animals, birds and flowers, famous places, and the culture, dances and festivals that identify each state and union territory. Questions commonly ask about the newest state or union territory, the state formed on a particular date, the capitals of states, and which high court serves more than one state. Keep a single table per state with its capital, formation year and key facts. Reorganisations such as that of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 change the answers, so make sure your notes are up to date. Practise the Indian states and union territories questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.