Thar Desert

Current Context: The Thar Desert has seen a 38% annual increase in greening over the past two decades due to monsoon rainfall and agricultural expansion.

Key Highlights:

• Location: Spans 200,000 sq km across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana in India, and Sindh, Punjab in Pakistan.

Geography & Climate:

• Bordered by Indus River plain (west), Punjab Plain (north/northeast), Aravalli Range (southeast), and Rann of Kachchh (south).
• Subtropical desert climate with high pressure and subsidence.

Soil Composition:

• Includes Desert, Red Desertic, Sierozems, Regosols, Saline, and Lithosols.

Biodiversity:

• Home to species like Blue Bull (Nilgai), Blackbuck, Great Indian Bustard (GIB), and Indian Gazelle (Chinkara).
• Houses Desert National Park in Rajasthan, one of India’s largest national parks.

Mineral Resources:

• Rich in lignite coal, gypsum, and salt.
• Includes significant saltwater lakes, such as