Match the following pastoral communities with the regions they belong to :

(A) Dhangar - (i) Kumayun and Garhwa
(B) Bakarwal - (ii) Rajasthan
(C) Raika - (iii) Maharashtra
(D) Bhotia - (iv) Jammu and Kashmir

Question

Match the following pastoral communities with the regions they belong to :

(A) Dhangar - (i) Kumayun and Garhwa
(B) Bakarwal -  (ii) Rajasthan 
(C) Raika - (iii) Maharashtra
(D) Bhotia - (iv) Jammu and Kashmir

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 3:
The correct match aligns the pastoral communities with their primary regions of residence and migration routes: Dhangar are a prominent pastoral group, mainly shepherds and blanket weavers, found primarily in Maharashtra and extending into Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. Bakarwal are a nomadic community predominantly found in the Pir Panjal mountain ranges of Jammu and Kashmir, known for rearing goats and sheep. The Raika (or Rabari) are traditionally camel and sheep herders concentrated primarily in Rajasthan and Gujarat, especially in the Marwar region of Rajasthan. Bhotia are migratory pastoralists of the Himalayas, who migrate between low-lying areas in winter and high pastures in summer, and are commonly found in the upper regions of Uttarakhand, which include Kumayun and Garhwal. Thus, the correct pairing is (A)-(iii), (B)-(iv), (C)-(ii), and (D)-(i).

The incorrect option is 1: This option incorrectly links Dhangar to Jammu and Kashmir (iv), Bakarwal to Kumayun and Garhwa (i), and Raika to Maharashtra (iii). These assignments are factually wrong concerning the primary geographical distribution of these communities.

The incorrect option is 2: This option mistakenly places Dhangar in Rajasthan (ii) and Bhotia in Jammu and Kashmir (iv). While Raika are in Rajasthan, Dhangar are primarily in Maharashtra, and Bhotia are associated with the Uttarakhand region (Kumayun and Garhwa).

The incorrect option is 4: This option makes several errors, including incorrectly matching Dhangar with Kumayun and Garhwa (i) and Bakarwal with Rajasthan (ii). It correctly identifies Raika with Maharashtra (iii) but misplaces Bhotia in Jammu and Kashmir (iv).