Vision Academy EducareVision Academy Educare
Question 67 of 72 · World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies
Questioneasy
This question was previously asked in

Defence

The national fish of Bangladesh is the:

Answer View answer ▾

Answer: Option A — Hilsa

Detailed Solution

The Hilsa (called "Ilish" in Bengali) is the national fish of Bangladesh.

About the Hilsa:

  • Its scientific name is "Tenualosa ilisha".
  • It is a fish of the herring family (Clupeidae).
  • It is an "anadromous" fish: it lives in the sea (the Bay of Bengal) but migrates up rivers to breed (spawn) in fresh water, especially during the monsoon.
  • It is found in the Bay of Bengal and the rivers of Bangladesh and India (Padma, Meghna, Hooghly, Ganga and Godavari), as well as in Myanmar and Pakistan (the Indus, where it is called "Palla").
  • It is famous for its rich, oily, flavourful flesh, though it has many fine bones.

It is a very important fish in Bengali cuisine. Dishes such as "Shorshe Ilish" (hilsa in mustard sauce) are very popular, especially during festivals.

Hilsa and Bangladesh:

  • Bangladesh produces about 80 per cent of the world's hilsa catch.
  • Hilsa accounts for about 10-12 per cent of Bangladesh's total fish production, and millions of people depend on it for their livelihood.
  • In 2017, Bangladesh received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for "Bangladesh Ilish".
  • Bangladesh bans hilsa fishing during the breeding season to protect the species, and declares "hilsa sanctuaries" in rivers.
  • Bangladesh has often sent hilsa as a gift to India during the Durga Puja festival ("Hilsa diplomacy").

Hilsa in India:

  • It is the state fish of West Bengal.
  • West Bengal and Odisha are the main consumers and producers in India.
  • The Farakka Barrage on the Ganga is believed to have obstructed the hilsa's upstream migration.

Other national symbols of Bangladesh:

  • National bird: Oriental magpie-robin (Doyel).
  • National animal: Royal Bengal tiger.
  • National fruit: Jackfruit.
  • National flower: White water lily (Shapla).

Why not the other options?

  • ✗Rohu is a freshwater carp, very popular in India and Bangladesh, but not the national fish.
  • ✗Catla is another major Indian carp.
  • ✗Pomfret is a marine fish, popular in Mumbai and Gujarat.

Quick tip

Remember: Bangladesh national fish = Hilsa (Ilish; anadromous; Bangladesh catches about 80 per cent of the world's hilsa; GI tag 2017); Hilsa = state fish of West Bengal; Bangladesh national animal = Royal Bengal tiger.

💬 Discussions on this question

Ask a doubt ›

Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.

Ask a doubt

More World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies Questions

View all ›
  1. Q1.Which country is known as the 'Country of Winds' (or Land of Wind)?
  2. Q2.What is the capital of Bhutan?
  3. Q3.What is the currency of Bangladesh?
  4. Q4.'Dhivehi' is the official language of which country?
  5. Q5.Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is known as the:

More General Knowledge Questions

  1. Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
  2. Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
  3. Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
  4. Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
  5. Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms

World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, 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 world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK 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.

‹ All World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies questionsBrowse all topics ›