SSC
Which Indian city is known as both the 'Diamond City' and the 'Silk City'?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)View answer ▾Hide ▴
Answer: Option D — Surat
Detailed Solution
Surat, in Gujarat, is known as the "Diamond City" and also as the "Silk City" (or "Textile City") of India.
Why Surat is the Diamond City:
- Most of the world's rough diamonds are cut and polished in Surat; estimates often put its share at about 80-90 per cent.
- The industry employs hundreds of thousands of workers.
The Surat Diamond Bourse, a huge trading centre for diamonds and jewellery, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December 2023. It is described as the world's largest office building.
Why Surat is the Silk City:
- Surat is one of India's largest centres of man-made fabric (synthetic and art silk) production, as well as weaving, dyeing and printing of textiles.
- It is famous for its "zari" (gold and silver thread) work, which has a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
About Surat:
- It is located on the banks of the Tapi (Tapti) river, near the Arabian Sea.
- In the Mughal period, it was one of India's most important ports, and a major port for Hajj pilgrims to Mecca.
The English East India Company set up its first factory (trading post) in India at Surat in 1613, after Emperor Jahangir issued a farman in its favour. Captain Thomas Best had defeated the Portuguese at the Battle of Swally (1612) nearby.
Shivaji raided Surat in 1664 and 1670.
It is one of the fastest-growing cities in India and has been ranked among the cleanest cities in India in the Swachh Survekshan surveys.
Other city nicknames:
- Bhagalpur (Bihar) is also called the "Silk City of India" because of its "Tussar" (Bhagalpuri) silk.
- Mumbai: "Financial Capital of India".
- Jaipur: "Pink City" and a major centre for gemstone cutting.
- Kanchipuram: "Silk City of the South".
Why not the other options?
- ✗Mumbai is the "Financial Capital of India".
- ✗Jaipur is the "Pink City", known for coloured gemstones.
- ✗Bhagalpur is known for tussar silk, but it is not the "Diamond City".
Quick tip
Remember: Surat = "Diamond City" and "Silk City" (cuts most of the world's diamonds; Surat Diamond Bourse 2023; on the Tapi; first English factory 1613); Bhagalpur = Tussar silk.
💬 Discussions on this question
Ask a doubt ›Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.
Ask a doubtMore Indian States & Union Territories Questions
View all ›More General Knowledge Questions
- Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
- Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
- Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
- Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
- Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms
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.