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Question 16 of 54 · Indian States & Union Territories
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SSC

Muga silk, known for its natural golden colour, is produced only in:

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Answer: Option C — Assam

Detailed Solution

Muga silk is a rare wild silk produced only in Assam. It is famous for its natural golden-yellow colour, its glossy texture and its durability.

About muga silk:

  • It is produced by the silkworm "Antheraea assamensis", which is endemic to Assam (found nowhere else).
  • The silkworms feed on the leaves of the "som" (Persea bombycina) and "soalu" (Litsea polyantha) trees.
  • The silk is not dyed; its golden shine is natural, and it becomes brighter with each wash.
  • It is very durable and is said to outlast the person who wears it.
  • It was once reserved for the royalty of the Ahom kingdom.
  • It is used to make traditional Assamese garments such as the "mekhela chador" (worn by women) and "gamosa" (a ceremonial cloth).
  • Muga silk received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag in 2007.
  • Sualkuchi, near Guwahati on the banks of the Brahmaputra, is a famous silk-weaving village known as the "Manchester of Assam" (or "Manchester of the East").

Types of silk produced in India:

Mulberry silk: produced by "Bombyx mori"; the most common type. Karnataka is the largest producer, followed by Andhra Pradesh.

Tasar (tussar) silk: produced mainly in Jharkhand (the largest producer), Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Eri silk: produced mainly in Assam and the north-east. It is called "Ahimsa silk" or "peace silk" because the moth is allowed to emerge from the cocoon before the silk is spun.

Muga silk: Assam only.

India and silk:

  • India is the second largest producer of silk in the world after China, and the largest consumer.
  • India is the only country that produces all four major commercial varieties of silk (mulberry, tasar, eri and muga).

The Central Silk Board, a statutory body under the Ministry of Textiles, was set up in 1948. Its headquarters is in Bengaluru.

Famous silk sarees include Kanjeevaram (Tamil Nadu), Banarasi (Uttar Pradesh), Mysore silk (Karnataka) and Baluchari (West Bengal).

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Karnataka is the largest producer of mulberry silk.
  • ✗Jharkhand is the largest producer of tasar silk.
  • ✗West Bengal is known for Baluchari silk sarees and Murshidabad silk.

Quick tip

Remember: Muga silk = Assam only (golden; silkworm Antheraea assamensis; GI tag 2007; Sualkuchi weaving village); mulberry = Karnataka; tasar = Jharkhand; eri = "Ahimsa silk"; Central Silk Board HQ = Bengaluru.

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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.

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