Indian States at a Glance 2008-09: Performance, Facts and Figures presents information on the 29 states and 6 union territories of India in a set of 22 volumes. A compilation of the latest facts and figures, ranging from the basic socio-economic and demographic indicators to development parameters, these books also provide brief profiles of the states covering their history, culture, cuisine, handicrafts, places of tourist interest as well as an account of their performance vis-à-vis other states

Rajasthan is one of India’s prime tourist destinations. Growth in this state has been extremely volatile from year to year as it draws heavily from the agricultural sector, which, in turn, depends on the monsoon for sustenance. There has also been a drop in tourist revenue with the slowdown in world tourism in 2001–02. However, activity has picked up once again and the state has been performing well recently. There is a need to diversify economic activity to raise opportunities for the common man in the state, and thus improve per capita income. An education initiative started in 1987 led to a big spurt in literacy in the state between 1991 and 2001; the challenge now is to bring children to school and ensure they stay there through innovative programmes. Provision of education and health facilities is difficult in a state with a large desert area, yet an imperative to raise the standard of living.