.

Test is part of Rau’s IAS Test series for Preliminary Exam 202 3

Test ID
GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER–I)
1022

INDIAN GEOGRAPHY-2
Time Allowed: 1 Hour Maximum Marks: 100

INSTRUCTIONS

1. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE EXAMINATION, YOU SHOULD CHECK

THAT THIS TEST BOOKLET DOES NOT HAVE ANY UNPRINTED OR TORN or MISSING PAGES OR
ITEMS, ETC. IF SO, GET IT REPLACED BY A COMPLETE TEST BOOKLET.

2. This Test Booklet contains 50 items (questions). Each item is printed in English Only. Each item
comprises four responses (answers). You will select the response which you want to mark on the
Answer Sheet. In case you feel that there is more than one correct response, mark the response
which you consider the best. In any case, choose ONLY ONE response for each item.

3. You have to mark all your responses ONLY on the separate Answer Sheet (OMR sheet) provided.
Read the directions in the Answer Sheet.

4. All items carry equal marks.

5. Before you proceed to mark in the Answer Sheet the response to various items in the Test booklet,
you have to fill in some particulars in the Answer Sheet as per instructions contained therein.

6. After you have completed filling in all your responses on the Answer Sheet and the examination has
concluded, you should hand over to the Invigilator only the Answer Sheet. You are permitted to
take away with you the Test Booklet.

7. Penalty for wrong answers:

THERE WILL BE PENALTY FOR WRONG ANSWERS MARKED BY A CANDIDATE IN THE

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTION PAPERS.

(i) There are four alternatives for the answer to every question. For each question for which a
wrong answer has been given by the candidate, one-third of the marks assigned to that
question will be deducted as penalty.

(ii) If a candidate gives more than one answer, it will be treated as a wrong answer even if one of
the given answers happens to be correct and there will be same penalty as above to that
question.

(iii) If a question is left blank, i.e., no answer is given by the candidate, there will be no penalty for
that question.

This test is part of Rau’s IAS Test series for Preliminary Exam 202 3
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1. Consider the following statements: 4. Consider the following pairs of local storms
1. Southern India experiences extreme and the regions where they are active:
climate with high daily and annual 1. Mango shower: Andhra Pradesh
range of temperature, as compared to
2. Blossom shower: Himachal Pradesh
Northern India.
3. Nor westers: Assam
2. The coastal parts of India have an
equitable climate, while the interior 4. Loo: Northern plains
areas have extremes of climate. How many of the pairs given above is/are
Which of the statements given above is/are correctly matched?
correct? (a) Only one pair
(a) 1 only (b) Only two pairs
(b) 2 only (c) Only three pairs
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) All four pairs
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

5. Consider the following statements about

2. Consider the following statements about
the October Heat:
the Western Disturbances:
1. There is a marked increase in the
1. They are the tropical cyclones brought
from the Mediterranean Sea to the temperature and humidity in the month
Indian landmass by the easterly jet of October.
stream. 2. Clear skies and moist lands facilitate
2. The arrival of the Western Disturbances the onset of the October Heat.
is marked by an increase in the Which of the statements given above is/are
prevailing night temperature. correct?
Which of the statements given above is/are
(a) 1 only
correct?
(b) 2 only
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2

(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2
6. Consider the following statements about
3. Consider the following statements about the Retreating Monsoon:
the Tropical Cyclones in India: 1. The entire country experiences dry
1. The frequency of the cyclones during weather during this period.
the main monsoon months is low, as
2. This period is associated with cyclonic
compared to the months before and
activity from the Andaman Sea to the
after monsoon.
eastern coast of India.
2. This is because of the low sea surface
temperatures during the main monsoon Which of the statements given above is/are
months. correct?
Which of the statements given above is/are (a) 1 only
correct? (b) 2 only
(a) 1 only (c) Both 1 and 2
(b) 2 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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7. Consider the following statements about Which of the statements given above is/are
the South-west Monsoon: correct?
1. The Chotanagpur Plateau receives (a) 1 only
rainfall from the Arabia Sea branch of (b) 2 only
the south-west monsoon. (c) Both 1 and 2
2. The Bay of Bengal branch of the south- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
west monsoon enters India from the
south-west direction. 10. Which of the following are the evidences of
3. The Tamil Nadu coast and the Kerala El-Nino event?
coast receive almost similar rainfall 1. Increase in sea level near the Australian
during the monsoon months. coast.
Which of the statements given above is/are 2. Reduction in sea temperature along the
correct? Australian coast, relative to the South
American coast.
(a) 1 only
3. Droughts and wildfires in South-east
(b) 2 and 3 only
Asia.
(c) 1 and 2 only
4. Weakened upwelling and reduced catch
(d) 1, 2 and 3 of fisheries.
5. Flattening of thermocline in the Pacific
8. Consider the following statements about Ocean.
the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO): Select the correct answer using the code
1. It is tropical intra-seasonal climate given below:
variability with a period ranging from (a) 1, 3, 4 and 5 only
30-60 days. (b) 2, 4 and 5 only
2. It remains static around the Equator in (c) 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
the Indian Ocean. (d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
3. The convective phase of the MJO results
in enhanced rainfall. 11. Consider the following statements about
Which of the statements given above are the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD):
correct? 1. It measures the differential between the
(a) 1 and 2 only sea surface temperatures of the Eastern
(b) 2 and 3 only and the Western Indian Ocean.
(c) 1 and 3 only 2. Positive IOD results in higher sea-
(d) 1, 2 and 3 surface temperatures and greater
precipitation in the South East Asia.
3. Usually positive IOD events happen
9. Consider the following statements about El-
during El-Nino events.
Nino:
Which of the statements given above are
1. All El-Nino events necessarily lead to
correct?
deficient monsoon rainfall and drought
(a) 1 and 2 only
like conditions over the Indian sub-
(b) 2 and 3 only
continent.
(c) 1 and 3 only
2. El-Nino results in weakening, or it even
(d) 1, 2 and 3
stops the walker cell circulation.

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12. While travelling through the Western Ghats 16. With reference to the montane forests of
and the Andaman & Nicobar, one common India, consider the following statements:
type of forest can be observed. Which of the 1. There is uniformity of trees in all types
following would be the common forest in of montane forests in India.
these areas? 2. Distribution of such forests is found
(a) Deciduous forest 5,000 metres above the sea level.
(b) Alpine forest 3. Such forests are used extensively
(c) Littoral forest by the Gujjars, the Bakarwals, the
(d) Evergreen forest Bhotiyas and the Gaddis.
Which of the statements given above is/are
13. These forests are found in the hills of the correct?
north-eastern regions. One can find a (a) 3 only
mixture of evergreen and moist deciduous (b) 1 and 2 only
forests here. Main species are white cedar, (c) 2 and 3 only
hollock and kail. Which of the following (d) 1 only
forests exactly shows the characteristics as
mentioned above?
17. Which of the following are the features of
(a) Tropical evergreen forest
the littoral and swamp forests?
(b) Swamp forest
1. They consist of a number of salt-
(c) Throne forest tolerant species of plants.
(d) Semi-evergreen forest 2. These forests are limited to the coastal
and river bank areas of India.
14. Tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair and 3. Tidal forests are one of such forests.
axlewood are common tree species found in Select the correct answer using the code
which of the following forests? given below:
(a) Evergreen forests (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) Montane forests (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) Tropical deciduous forests (c) 1 and 3 only
(d) Alpine forests (d) 1, 2 and 3

15. With reference to the Thorn forests, 18. Consider the following statements:
consider the following statements:
1. Forest area is the area notified and
1. Such types of forests grow in the recorded as the forest land, irrespective
geographical areas, having rainfall of the existence of trees.
above 50 cm.
2. The share of open forests in India is
2. These are found in the states of more than the share of dense forests.
Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra.
3. Most of the states with less than 10% of
3. Important species found are babool, ber the forest area lie in the north and
and wild date palm. central parts of the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are Which of the statements given above are
correct? incorrect?
(a) 1 and 3 only (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3

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19. With reference to the Nilgiri Biosphere 22. Which of the following statements is/are
Reserve, consider the following statements: correct with respect to wheat?
1. It is the first Biosphere Reserve of India. 1. Wheat cannot tolerate severe cold and
2. Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and snow, and can only resume growth with
Mudumalai are the integral parts of this the setting in of the warm weather in
Reserve. spring.
3. Lion-tailed macaque, gaur, sambar and 2. Soils with a clay loam or loam texture,
chital are found in this Reserve. good structure and moderate water
Which of the statements given above is/are holding capacity are ideal for wheat
correct? cultivation.
(a) 2 and 3 only 3. Wheat is mainly a Kharif crop in India.
(b) 2 only Select the correct answer using the code
(c) 1 and 3 only given below:
(d) 1, 2 and 3 (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
20. With reference to the Nanda Devi Biosphere (c) 1, 2 and 3
Reserve, consider the following statements: (d) 3 only
1. It includes the temperate forest of the
Himalayan region. 23. Which of the following statements is/are
2. Snow leopard, black bear, brown bear correct with respect to pulses?
and musk deer are found in this
1. Pulse crops are cultivated in Kharif,
Reserve.
Rabi and Zaid seasons of the
Which of the statements given above is/are agricultural year.
correct?
2. India is the largest producer, consumer
(a) 1 only and importer of pulses in the world.
(b) 2 only Select the correct answer using the code
(c) Both 1 and 2 given below:
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 (a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
21. Consider the following pairs: (c) Both 1 and 2
S. No. Category of Size-Class (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Land Holding
1. Small 2.00 – 4.00 24. Which of the following statements is/are
hectare correct with respect to jute?
2. Medium 4.00-10.00 1. India is the world’s biggest producer of
hectare jute, followed by Bangladesh.
3. Marginal Below 2 2. Jute is primarily grown in West Bengal,
hectare Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and
4. Large 10.00 hectare Andhra Pradesh.
and above 3. Jute is the second most abundant
natural fibre in the world.
Which of the pairs given above are correctly
Select the correct answer using the code
matched?
given below:
(a) 1 and 3 only
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

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25. Which of the following statements are 27. Consider the following pairs:
correct with respect to sugarcane?
S.N. Sub-Family Branch/Group
1. In northern India, it is cultivated largely
1. Austric Iranian Dardic
on the loams and clay loams of
Gangetic and other alluviums. 2. Indo-European Indo-Aryan

2. India is the world's second largest 3. Sino-Tibetan North Assam

producing nation, after Brazil.
Which of the pairs given above are correctly
3. Tamil Nadu is the largest sugar matched?
producing state in India.
(a) 1 and 2 only
Select the correct answer using the code (b) 2 and 3 only
given below:
(c) 1 and 3 only
(a) 1 and 2 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only 28. Which of the following come under the
‘Push’ factors for migration?
(d) 1, 2 and 3
1. High population pressure on the land.
2. Natural disasters, such as floods,
26. Which of the following statements are droughts etc.
correct about the 20th Livestock Census in 3. Availability of regular work and
India? relatively higher wages.

1. The Ministry of Agriculture and Select the correct answer using the code
given below:
Farmers’ Welfare has conducted the
20th Livestock Census in participation (a) 1 and 2 only
with all states and Union Territories. (b) 2 and 3 only

2. The total livestock population is (c) 1 and 3 only

showing an increase of 4.8% over the (d) 1, 2 and 3
Livestock Census-2012.

3. It covers all domesticated animals and 29. Consider the following statements:
its headcounts for total 16 species of 1. As per the 2011 Census, the proportion
animals possessed by the households, of workers (both main and marginal) is
household enterprises/non-household 60%.
enterprises and institutions at their 2. As per the 2011 Census, the states with
site. larger percentage of workers are
Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and
Select the correct answer using the code
Chhattisgarh.
given below:
Which of the statements given above is /are
(a) 1 and 2 only correct?
(b) 2 and 3 only (a) 1 only

(c) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) 1, 2 and 3
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

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30. Consider the following religious minorities: 33. Consider the following pairs:
1. Muslims
S.N. National Connecting
2. Jains
Highway (NH) places
3. Sikhs
4. Buddhists 1. NH-1 New Delhi to the
With reference to the religious minorities town of Attari in
mentioned above, in terms of percentage of Punjab
total population, which of the following is
the correct descending order? 2. NH-2 Attari to Leh in
(a) 1-4-3-2 Ladakh, via
(b) 3-1-4-2 Manali
(c) 1-3-4-2
3. NH-3 Dibrugarh in
(d) 1-4-2-3
Assam to Tuipang
in Mizoram
31. Consider the following pairs:
4. NH-4 Linked Mumbai,
S.N. Port State
Pune, Bengaluru
1. Kandla Gujarat and Chennai.
2. Ennore Andhra Pradesh
Which of the pairs given above are
3. Kochi Kerala
incorrectly matched?
4. Paradeep West Bengal
(a) 1 and 2 only
Which of the pairs given above are correctly (b) 2 and 3 only
matched?
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only (d) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
34. As per the 2011 Census, consider the
following statements:
32. Consider the following pairs:
1. West Bengal has the highest density of
S.N. National Waterway River population among the states.
1. National Waterway-1 Ganga 2. Andaman & Nicobar has the lowest
2. National Waterway-4 Brahmani density of population in India.

3. National Waterway-5 Godavari Which of the statements given above is/are

correct?
How many pairs given above is/are
correctly matched? (a) 1 only
(a) Only one pair (b) 2 only
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Both 1 and 2
(c) Only three pairs
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(d) None of the above

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35. Consider the following statements: 3. The colour of the alluvial soils varies
1. The period from 1901-1921 is referred from light grey to ash grey.
to as a period of stagnant or stationary Which of the statements given above are
phase of growth of India’s population. correct?
2. The decades 1951-1981 are referred to (a) 1 and 2 only
as the period of steady population
(b) 2 and 3 only
growth.
3. In the post 1981 till present, the growth (c) 1 and 3 only
rate of country’s population though (d) 1, 2 and 3
remained high, has started slowing
down gradually.
38. With reference to the black soils, consider
Which of the statements given above is /are
the following statements:
correct?
1. The black soils are generally clayey,
(a) 1 only
deep and impermeable.
(b) 1 and 2 only
2. They exhibit ‘self-ploughing’
(c) 2 and 3 only
characteristics during the dry season.
(d) 1and 3 only
3. They lack in phosphorous, nitrogen and
organic matter.
36. With reference to the soil classification in
Which of the statements given above are
India, consider the following statements:
correct?
1. The Indian Council of Agricultural
Research (ICAR) has classified them on (a) 1 and 2 only
the basis of their character, as per the (b) 2 and 3 only
United States Department of (c) 1 and 3 only
Agriculture (USDA) Soil Taxonomy.
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. According to this classification, Entisols
cover the largest percentage of area in
the country. 39. With reference to the laterite soils, consider
Which of the statements given above is/are the following statements:
correct? 1. The laterite soils develop in the areas
(a) 1 only with low temperature and low rainfall.
(b) 2 only 2. These soils are poor in iron oxide and
(c) Both 1 and 2 potash.
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 3. Laterite soils are widely cut as bricks
for use in house construction.
37. With reference to the alluvial soils, consider Which of the statements given above are
the following statements: incorrect?
1. They are generally rich in potash, but (a) 1 and 2 only
poor in phosphorous.
(b) 2 and 3 only
2. Khadar is the old alluvium, while
(c) 1 and 3 only
Bhangar represents a system of new
alluvium. (d) 1, 2 and 3

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40. With reference to the red and the yellow 1. They are loamy and silty on the upper
soils, consider the following statements: slopes and coarse-grained in the valley
1. Red soil develops on crystalline igneous sides.
rocks in the areas of low rainfall in the 2. In the snow-bound areas of the
eastern and southern parts of the Himalayas, they are alkaline with high
Deccan Plateau. humus content.
2. The soil develops a reddish colour due Which of the statements given above is/are
to a wide diffusion of iron in crystalline correct?
and metamorphic rocks. (a) 1 only
Which of the statements given above is/are (b) 2 only
correct? (c) Both 1 and 2
(a) 1 only (d) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 44. With reference to the peaty soils, consider
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 the following statements:
1. They are found in the areas of poor
41. With reference to the arid soils, consider rainfall and low humidity.
the following statements: 2. These soils are rich in humus and
1. Nitrogen content is normal and organic content.
phosphate is insufficient in these soils. 3. These soils are normally light and red in
2. Lower horizons of these soils are colour.
occupied by ‘Kankar’ layers. Which of the statements given above are
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
correct? (a) 1 and 2 only
(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) 1, 2 and 3
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
45. With reference to soil erosion, consider the
42. With reference to the saline soils, consider following statements:
the following statements: 1. Sheet erosion deepens with rainfall and
1. They have more salts, largely because of cuts the agricultural lands into small
dry climate and poor drainage. fragments and makes them unfit for
2. Addition of gypsum is used to solve the cultivation.
problem of salinity in the soil. 2. Gully erosion takes place on level lands
Which of the statements given above is/are after a heavy shower and is harmful,
correct? since it removes the finer and more
(a) 1 only fertile top soil.
(b) 2 only Which of the statements given above is/are
correct?
(c) Both 1 and 2
(a) 1 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
43. With reference to the forest soils, consider
the following statements: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

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46. Which of the following are the methods for Which of the statements given above is/are
soil conservation? correct?
1. Contour bunding (a) 1 only
2. Cover cropping (b) 2 only
3. Agro forestry (c) Both 1 and 2
4. Mixed farming (d) Neither 1 nor 2
5. Crop rotation
Select the correct answer using the code 49. Consider the following pairs:
given below: S.N. Iron ore mine State
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
1. Kudremukh Karnataka
(b) 4 and 5 only
2. Dalli-Rajhara Chhattisgarh
(c) 2, 3 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 3. Gua Jharkhand
4. Barbil Odisha
47. Which of the following regions in India Which of the pairs given above are correctly
receive highest rainfall throughout year? matched?
1. Parts of Khasi and Jaintia hills (a) 1 and 4 only
2. Brahmaputra valley (b) 2 and 3 only
3. Western Uttar Pradesh (c) 1, 2 and 4 only
Select the correct answer using the code (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
given below:
(a) 1 and 2 only
50. Consider the following statements:
(b) 2 and 3 only
S.N. Gold Mines State
(c) 1 and 3 only
1. Hatti Gold Mines Karnataka
(d) 1, 2 and 3
2. Lava Gold Mines Jharkhand
48. Consider the following statements: 3. Kunderkocha Gujarat
1. Koeppen based his scheme of Climatic
Which of the pairs given above is/are
classification on monthly values of
correctly matched?
temperature and precipitation.
(a) 1 and 2 only
2. He identified Tropical climates, where
(b) 2 and 3 only
mean monthly temperature throughout
the year is over 18°C. (c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

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Answers &
Explanations
of

TEST ID: 1022

GENERAL STUDIES (PAPER–I)

Indian Geography-2

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ANSWERS & EXPLANATIONS OF
Indian Geography-2
GS Paper-I: (1022)

1. Answer: (b) The Western Cyclonic Disturbances,

Explanation: which enter the Indian sub-continent
The northern part of India lies in the sub- from the west and the north-west during
tropical and temperate zone, and the part the winter months, originate over the
lying south of the Tropic of Cancer falls in Mediterranean Sea and are brought into
the tropical zone. The tropical zone, being India by the westerly jet stream. An
nearer to the Equator, experiences high increase in the prevailing night
temperatures throughout the year with temperature generally indicates an advance
small daily and annual range. The area in the arrival of these cyclonic
north of the Tropic of Cancer, being away disturbances.
from the Equator, experiences extreme
climate with high daily and annual range of 3. Answer: (a)
temperature. Explanation:
With a long coastline, large coastal areas The tropical cyclogenesis requires several
have an equable climate. The areas in the favourable precursor environmental
interior of India are far away from the conditions:
moderating influence of the sea. Such areas Warm Ocean waters (of at least 26.5℃
have extremes of climate. That is why; the throughout sufficient depth, at least on the
people of Mumbai and the Konkan coast order of 50 m). Relatively moist layers near
have hardly any idea of the extremes of the the height of 5 km. Non-negligible amount
temperature and the seasonal rhythm of of the Coriolis Force, pre-existing near
the weather. On the other hand, the surface disturbance. Low values of vertical
seasonal contrasts in the weather at places wind shear between the surface and the
in the interior of the country, such as upper troposphere.
Delhi, Kanpur and Amritsar, affect the
In July and August, the winds on the
entire sphere of life.
surface are westerly/south-westerly to the
south of the monsoon trough and south
2. Answer: (b) easterly/easterly to its north and are
Explanation: generally stronger over the seas than the
Western Disturbances (WDs): The WD land areas. The upper winds are
phenomenon causes precipitation over the westerly/south-westerly to the south and
Indian region, mostly during the winter south easterly/easterly to the north of this
period and mostly over the northern part. trough region. The westerly winds increase
The WDs are a type of extra-tropical with height and reach a maximum speed of
cyclone, which have mid-latitude frontal 20-25 knots between 900 to 800 hPa levels.
characteristics that migrate eastwards The easterly winds strengthen with height
embedded in the sub-tropical westerly jet from 200 hPa, reaching a maximum at 100
stream. hPa. The speeds are between 60 knots to
80 knots over the peninsula at 150 /100

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hPa level, or even at lower height (around oppressive. This is commonly known as
200 hPa) in the southern latitude. This the ‘October heat’.
results in high values of vertical wind
shear, which is unfavourable for the 6. Answer: (b)
tropical cyclogenesis. So, we do not get Explanation:
cyclones during the main monsoon The weather in the retreating monsoon
months, like July and August. is dry in North India, but it is associated
with rain in the eastern part of the
4. Answer: (b) Peninsula. Here, October and November
are the rainiest months of the year.
Explanation:
The widespread rain in this season is
Some Famous Local Storms of the Hot
associated with the passage of the cyclonic
Weather Season:
depressions, which originate over the
(i) Mango Shower: Towards the end of Andaman Sea and manage to cross the
summer, there are pre-monsoon eastern coast of the southern Peninsula.
showers, which are a common These tropical cyclones are very
phenomenon in Kerala and the coastal destructive. The thickly populated deltas of
areas of Karnataka. Locally, they are the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri
known as ‘mango showers’, since they are their preferred targets. Every year
help in the early ripening of the cyclones bring disaster here. A few cyclonic
storms also strike the coast of West Bengal,
mangoes.
Bangladesh and Myanmar. A bulk of the
(ii) Blossom Shower: With this shower,
rainfall of the Coromondal Coast is derived
coffee flowers blossom in Kerala and from these depressions and cyclones. Such
the nearby areas. cyclonic storms are less frequent in the
(iii) Nor Westers: These are the dreaded Arabian Sea.
evening thunderstorms in Bengal and
Assam. Their notorious nature can be 7. Answer: (a)
understood from the local Explanation:
nomenclature of ‘Kalbaisakhi’, a As these winds approach the land, their
calamity of the month of Baisakh. south-westerly direction is modified by the
These showers are useful for tea, jute relief and thermal low pressure over the
and rice cultivation. In Assam, these north-west India. The monsoon approaches
storms are known as “Bardoisila”. the landmass in two branches:
(iv) Loo: Hot, dry and oppressing winds (i) The Arabian Sea branch
blowing in the northern plains, from (ii) The Bay of Bengal branch
Punjab to Bihar, with higher intensity Another branch of the Arabian Sea
between Delhi and Patna. monsoon strikes the coast, north of
Mumbai. Moving along the Narmada and
the Tapi River valleys, these winds cause
5. Answer: (c)
rainfall in extensive areas of central India.
Explanation: The Chotanagpur Plateau gets 15 cm
The retreating south-west monsoon season rainfall from this part of the branch.
is marked by clear skies and rise in Thereafter, they enter the Ganga plains and
temperature. The land is still moist. Owing mingle with the Bay of Bengal branch.
to the conditions of high temperature and The Bay of Bengal branch strikes the coast
humidity, the weather becomes rather of Myanmar and part of south-east

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Bangladesh. But, the Arakan Hills, along - The MJO involves variations in wind,
the coast of Myanmar, deflect a big portion sea surface temperature (SST),
of this branch towards the Indian sub- cloudiness and rainfall. Based on the
continent. The monsoon, therefore, enters place of convective activity, the period of
West Bengal and Bangladesh from south the MJO is divided into 1-8 phases,
and south-east, instead of from the south- with each phase roughly lasting for 7 to
westerly direction. 8 days.
Here, it is important to know why the Tamil Since the MJO is the most important mode
Nadu coast remains dry during this season. of tropical intra-seasonal variability, with
There are two factors responsible for it: potentially important influences on the
(i) The Tamil Nadu coast is situated monsoon activity in the Asian regions on
parallel to the Bay of Bengal branch of extended range time scale (beyond 7 days
the south-west monsoon. to 1 month), the capability of statistical or
(ii) It lies in the rain-shadow area of the numerical models in capturing the MJO
Arabian Sea branch of the south-west signal is very crucial in capturing the
monsoon. active/break cycle of the monsoon.
The MJO consists of two parts, or phases:
One is the enhanced rainfall (or convective)
8. Answer: (c)
phase and the other is the suppressed
Explanation:
rainfall phase. Strong MJO activity often
The Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) is
dissects the planet into two halves: One
one of the most important atmosphere
half within the enhanced convective phase
ocean coupled phenomena in the tropics,
and the other half in the suppressed
which has profound influence on the Indian
convective phase. These two phases
summer monsoon. The MJO is the leading
produce opposite changes in clouds and
mode of tropical intra-seasonal climate
rainfall, and this entire dipole (i.e., having
variability and is characterized by
two main opposing centres of action)
organization on a global spatial scale, with
propagates eastwards.
a period typically ranging from 30-60 days,
which was discovered by Madden and
9. Answer: (b)
Julian in 1971 in a published paper. It has
the following characteristics: Explanation:

- The MJO is a massive weather event, El-Nino: Although most El-Nino events lead
consisting of deep convection, to reduced rainfall over the India sub-
coupled with atmospheric continent, however, sometimes, despite El-
circulation, moving slowly eastwards Nino, India receives ample rainfall. For
over the Indian and the Pacific example, a positive IOD (The Indian Ocean
Oceans. Dipole), warmer waters in the west, is
thought to have cancelled the adverse
- The MJO is an equatorial travelling
impact of El Ninos in 1997 and 2006.
pattern of anomalous rainfall that is
planetary in scale. El Niño results when this circulation
decreases or stops, as the impaired or
- Each cycle lasts approximately 30–60
inhibited circulation causes the ocean
days. Also known as the ‘30-60 Day
surface to warm to above average
Oscillation’, ‘30-60 Day Wave’, or ‘Intra-
temperatures.
Seasonal Oscillation (ISO)’.

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10. Answer: (c)
Explanation:

El Niño flattens the thermocline, squeezing the warm bulge of water eastwards into a long
shallow pool.

11. Answer: (c)

Explanation:
The Indian Ocean Dipole: The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is defined by the difference in sea
surface temperature between two areas (or poles, hence a dipole) – a western pole in the Arabian
Sea (western Indian Ocean) and an eastern pole in the eastern Indian Ocean, south of
Indonesia. The IOD affects the climate of Australia and other countries that surround the Indian
Ocean Basin and is a significant contributor to rainfall variability in this region.
Like ENSO (The El Niño-Southern Oscillation), the change in temperature gradients across the
Indian Ocean results in changes in the preferred regions of rising and descending moisture and
air.
In scientific terms, the IOD is a coupled ocean and atmosphere phenomenon, similar to ENSO,
but in the equatorial Indian Ocean. It is thought that the IOD has a link with the ENSO events
through an extension of the Walker Circulation to the west and associated Indonesian through
flow (The flow of warm tropical ocean water from the Pacific Ocean into the Indian Ocean).
Hence, positive IOD events are often associated with El Niño and negative events with La
Niña. When the IOD and the ENSO are in phase, the impacts of El Niño and La Niña events

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are often most extreme over Australia, while when they are out of phase, the impacts of
El Niño and La Niña events can be diminished.

12. Answer: (d) Tropical evergreen forests are well

Explanation: stratified, with layers closer to the ground
Tropical Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen and are covered with shrubs and creepers,
Forests: These forests are found in the with short structured trees, followed by tall
western slopes of the Western Ghats, the variety of trees.
hills of the north-eastern region and the
Andaman & Nicobar Islands. They are 13. Answer: (d)
found in warm and humid areas, with an Explanation:
annual precipitation of over 200 cm and Semi-Evergreen Forests: These forests are
mean annual temperature above 22 found in the western slope of the
degrees C. Western Ghats, the hills of the north-

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eastern region and the Andaman & parts of Rajasthan, the vegetation cover is
Nicobar Islands. The semi-evergreen very scanty, due to low rainfall and
forests are found in the less rainy parts of overgrazing.
these regions. Such forests have a mixture
of evergreen and moist deciduous trees. 15. Answer: (c)
The under-growing climbers provide an
Explanation:
evergreen character to these forests. Main
Tropical thorn forests occur in the areas
species are white cedar, hollock and kail.
which receive rainfall less than 50 cm.
These consist of a variety of grasses and
14. Answer: (c) shrubs. They include the semi-arid areas
Explanation: of south-west Punjab, Haryana,
The tropical deciduous forests are the Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and
most widespread forests in India. Uttar Pradesh. In these forests, the plants
They are also called the monsoon forests. remain leafless for most part of the year
They spread over regions which receive and give an expression of scrub vegetation.
rainfall between 70-200 cm. On the basis of Important species found are babool, ber
the availability of water, these forests are and wild date palm, khair, neem, khejri,
further divided into moist and dry palas, etc. Tussocky grass grows upto a
deciduous. height of 2 m as the under growth.
The moist deciduous forests are more
pronounced in the regions which record 16. Answer: (a)
rainfall between 100-200 cm. These forests Explanation:
are found in the north-eastern states, along Mountain forests / montane forests can be
the foothills of the Himalayas, the eastern classified into two types: the northern
slopes of the Western Ghats and Odisha. mountain forests and the southern
Teak, sal, shisham, hurra, mahua, amla, mountain forests.
semul, kusum and sandalwood etc., are the
The Himalayan ranges show a succession
main species of these forests.
of vegetation from the tropical to the
Dry deciduous forests cover vast areas of tundra, which change in with the altitude.
the country, where rainfall ranges between Deciduous forests are found in the foothills
70 -100 cm. On the wetter margins, it has of the Himalayas. They are succeeded by
a transition to the moist deciduous, while the wet temperate type of forests between
on the drier margins to the thorn forests. an altitude of 1,000-2,000 m.
These forests are found in the rainier areas
Between 1,500-1,750 m, pine forests are
of the Peninsula and the plains of Uttar
also well-developed in this zone, with chir
Pradesh and Bihar.
pine as a very useful commercial tree. Blue
In the higher rainfall regions of the pine and spruce appear at altitudes of
Peninsular Plateau and the northern Indian 2,225-3,048 m.
plains, these forests have a parkland
At many places in this zone, temperate
landscape with open stretches, in which
grasslands are also found. But, in the
teak and other trees interspersed with
higher reaches, there is a transition to
patches of grass are common. As the dry
alpine forests and pastures. Silver firs,
season begins, the trees shed their leaves
junipers, pines, birch and rhododendrons,
completely and the forest appears like vast
etc., occur between 3,000-4,000 m.
grassland with naked trees all around.
However, these pastures are used
Tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair,
extensively for transhumance by the tribes,
axlewood, etc., are the common trees of
these forests. In the western and southern

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like the Gujjars, the Bakarwals, the Mangroves grow along the coasts in the
Bhotiyas and the Gaddis. salt marshes, tidal creeks, mud flats and
The southern mountain forests include the estuaries.
forests found in three distinct areas of the They consist of a number of salt-tolerant
Peninsular India, viz., the Western Ghats, species of plants. Crisscrossed by creeks
the Vindhyas and the Nilgiris. As they are of stagnant water and tidal flows, these
closer to the tropics and only 1,500 m forests give shelter to a wide variety of
above the sea level, vegetation is temperate birds.
in the higher regions and sub-tropical on
the lower regions of the Western Ghats, 18. Answer: (b)
especially in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Explanation:
Karnataka. The temperate forests are called It is important to note that the forest area
Sholas in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai and Palani and the actual forest cover are not the
hills. Some of the other trees of this forest same. The forest area is the area notified
of economic significance include magnolia, and recorded as the forest land,
laurel, cinchona and wattle. Such forests irrespective of the existence of trees,
are also found in the Satpura and the while the actual forest cover is the area
Maikal ranges. occupied by the forests with canopy. The
former is based on the records of the State
Revenue Department, while the latter is
17. Answer: (c)
based on aerial photographs and satellite
Explanation: imageries. According to the India State of
Littoral and Swamp Forests: India has a Forest Report 2019, the actual forest
rich variety of wetland habitats. About 70% cover in India is only 21.67%. Of the
of this comprises areas under paddy forest cover, the shares of dense and
cultivation. The total area of wet land is 3.9 open forests are 12.41 and 9.26%,
million hectares. respectively.
The country’s wetlands have been grouped Both forest area and forest cover varies
into eight categories, viz., (i) the reservoirs from state to state. Lakshadweep has zero
of the Deccan Plateau in the south, per cent forest area; Andaman and Nicobar
together with the lagoons and other Islands have 86.93%. Most of the states
wetlands of the southern west coast; (ii) the with less than 10% of the forest area lie
vast saline expanses of Rajasthan, Gujarat in the north and north-western parts of
and the Gulf of Kachchh; (iii) freshwater the country. These are Rajasthan,
Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.
lakes and reservoirs from Gujarat
eastwards through Rajasthan (The
Keoladeo National Park) and Madhya 19. Answer: (d)
Pradesh; (iv) the delta wetlands and Explanation:
lagoons of India’s east coast (The Chilika The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), the
Lake); (v) the freshwater marshes of the first of the fourteen Biosphere Reserves of
Gangetic Plains; (vi) the floodplains of the India, was established in September, 1986.
Brahmaputra; the marshes and swamps in It embraces the sanctuary complex of
the hills of north-east India and the Wayanad, Nagarhole, Bandipur and
Himalayan foothills; (vii) the lakes and Mudumalai, the entire forested hill slopes
rivers of the montane region of Kashmir of Nilambur, the Upper Nilgiri Plateau, the
and Ladakh; and (viii) the mangrove forest Silent Valley and the Siruvani Hills.
and other wetlands of the island arcs of the The total area of the Biosphere Reserve is
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. around 5,520 sq. km.

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The Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve possesses 2.00-4.00
different habitat types, unspoilt areas of 3. Semi-Medium
hectare
natural vegetation types with several dry
scrubs, dry and moist deciduous, semi- 4.00-10.00
4. Medium
evergreen and wet evergreen forests, hectare
evergreen sholas, grasslands and swamps.
10.00 hectare
It includes the largest known population of 5. Large
and above
two endangered animal species, namely the
Nilgiri Tahr and the Lion-tailed macaque.
The largest south Indian population of 22. Answer: (b)
elephants, tigers, gaur, sambar and chital, Explanation:
as well as a good number of endemic and Wheat crop has wide adaptability. It can be
endangered plants are also found in this grown not only in the tropical and sub-
Reserve. The habitat of a number of tribal tropical zones, but also in the temperate
groups, remarkable for their traditional zone and the cold tracts of the far north,
modes of harmonious use of the beyond even the 60-degree north altitude.
environments, is also found here. Wheat can tolerate severe cold and snow,
and resume growth with the setting in of
the warm weather in spring. It can be
20. Answer: (c)
cultivated from sea level to as high as
Explanation:
3,300 metres.
The Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, The best wheat is produced in the areas
situated in Uttarakhand, includes parts of favoured with cool, moist weather during
Chamoli, Almora, Pithoragarh and the major portion of the growing period,
Bageshwar districts. followed by dry, warm weather to enable
The major forest types of the Reserve are the grain to ripen properly.
temperate. A few important species are Wheat is grown in a variety of soils of India.
silver weed and orchids, like latifolie and Soils with a clay loam or loam texture, good
rhododendron. The Biosphere Reserve has structure and moderate water holding
a rich fauna, for example, the snow capacity are ideal for wheat cultivation.
leopard, black bear, brown bear, musk Care should be taken to avoid very porous
deer, snowcock, golden eagle and black and excessively drained oils.
eagle. Wheat is mainly a Rabi (winter season)
crop in India.
21. Answer: (c)
Explanation: 23. Answer: (c)

In the Agriculture Census, the operational Explanation:

holdings are categorised in five size classes, Pulse crops are cultivated in Kharif, Rabi
as follows: and Zaid seasons of the agricultural year.
Rabi crops require mild cold climate during
Category of the sowing period, during vegetative to pod
S. No. Size-Class
Land Holding development cold climate and during
maturity/harvesting warm climate.
Below 1.00
1. Marginal Similarly, Kharif pulse crops require warm
hectare
climate throughout their life, from sowing
1.00-2.00 to harvesting. Summer pulses are the
2. Small
hectare habitants of warm climate. Seed is required

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to pass many stages to produce seed, like Compared to rice, jute requires very little
germination, seedling, vegetative, flowering, water and fertiliser. It is largely pest-
fruit setting, pod development and grain resistant and its rapid growth spurt
maturity/harvesting. ensures that weeds do not stand a chance.
India is the largest producer (nearly 24% of Jute is the second most abundant natural
global production), consumer (around 27% fibre in the world. It has high tensile
of world consumption) and importer (nearly strength, acoustic and thermal insulation,
14%) of pulses in the world. Pulses account breathability, low extensibility, ease of
for around 20% of the area under food blending with both synthetic and natural
grains and contribute around 7% -10% of fibres, and anti-static properties.
the total food grains production in the Jute can be used: for insulation (replacing
country. glass wool), geo-textiles, activated carbon
powder, wall coverings, flooring, garments,
24. Answer: (d) rugs, ropes, gunny bags, handicrafts,
Explanation: curtains, carpet backings, paper, sandals,
carry bags and furniture.
India is the world’s biggest producer of
jute , followed by Bangladesh. Jute is
primarily grown in West Bengal, Odisha, 25. Answer: (a)
Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Andhra Explanation:
Pradesh. Heavy soils with good drainage are
The jute industry in India is about 150 preferred for sugarcane cultivation, though
years old. There are about 70 jute mills in it grows well on medium and light-textured
the country, of which about 60 are in West soils also with assured irrigation. Soils with
Bengal, along both the banks of river 0.5% - 0.6% carbon content and pH 6.5 to
Hooghly. 7.5 are most suitable for sugarcane growth.
Jute production is a labour intensive In northern India, it is cultivated largely on
industry. It employs about two lakh the loams and clay loams of Gangetic and
workers in West Bengal alone and 4 lakh other alluviums, and in the peninsular
workers across the country. India, it is grown on brown or reddish
Jute is the only crop where the earnings loams, laterites and black cotton soils.
begin to trickle in way before the final India is the second largest producer of
harvest. The seeds are planted between sugar, after Brazil, and the largest
April and May, and harvested between July consumer of sugar in the world.
and August. Uttar Pradesh is the country's leading
The leaves can be sold in the vegetable sugar producing state and Maharashtra
markets for nearly two months of the four- is the country's second largest sugar
month jute crop cycle. The tall, hardy grass producing state.
shoots up to 2.5 metres and each part of it
has several uses. 26. Answer: (b)
The outer layer of the stem produces the Explanation:
fibre that goes into making the jute
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal
products. But, the leaves can be cooked,
Husbandry and Dairying has conducted
the inner woody stems can be used to
the latest, i.e., the 20th Livestock
manufacture paper and the roots, which
Census in 2019, in participation with all
are left in the ground after harvest, improve
states and Union Territories. It covers all
the yield of the subsequent crops.
domesticated animals and its headcounts
for total 16 species of animals, like cattle,

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buffalo, Mithun, yak, sheep, goat, pig, computers to digitize household level data
horse, pony, mule, donkey, camel, dog, through online transmission from the field.
rabbit and elephant, and poultry birds The total livestock population is 536.76
(Fowl, duck, turkey and other poultry million in the country, showing an increase
birds) possessed by the households, of 4.8% over the 19th Livestock Census-
household enterprises/non-household 2012.
enterprises and institutions at their site. The total livestock population in the rural
Moreover, the 20th Livestock Census is and the urban areas is 514.11 million and
indeed a unique attempt, as for the first- 22.65 million, respectively, with percentage
time, data collected in using tablets share of 95.78% for the rural area and
4.22% for the urban area.

27. Answer: (b)

Explanation:
Family Sub-Family Branch/Group Speech Areas
Austric (Nishada) Austro-Asiatic Mon-Khmer Meghalaya, Nicobar Islands,
1.38% Austro-Nesian Munda West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha,
Assam, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra and
Outside India.
Dravidian (Dravida) South-Dravidian Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala,
20% Central- Dravidian Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
North- Dravidian Odisha, Maharashtra,
Bihar and West Bengal.
Sino-Tibetan Tibeto - Tibeto-Himalayan Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal
(Kirata) 0.85% Myanmari North Assam Pradesh, Sikkim, Arunachal
Siamese- Assam- Myanmari Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland,
Chinese Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and
Meghalaya.
Indo - European Indo-Aryan Iranian Outside India,
(Aryan) 73% Dardic Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab,
Indo-Aryan Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha, West
Bengal, Assam, Gujarat,
Maharashtra and Goa.

28. Answer: (a) (i) The Push Factors: These cause the
Explanation: people to leave their place of residence
The people are generally emotionally, or origin; and
attached to their place of birth. But (ii) The Pull Factors: These attract the
millions of people leave their places of birth people from different places.
and residence. There could be variety of In India, the people migrate from the rural
reasons. These reasons can be put into two to the urban areas, mainly due to poverty,
broad categories: high population pressure on the land, lack

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of basic infrastructural facilities like health 30. Answer: (c)
care, education, etc. Apart from these Explanation:
factors, natural disasters, such as, floods, Religious Population % of
droughts, cyclonic storms, earthquakes, group (in million) total
tsunamis, wars and local conflicts also give
Hindus 966.3 79.8
extra push to migrate.
Muslims 172.2 14.2
On the other hand, there are ‘Pull Factors’,
Christians 27.8 2.3
which attract the people from the rural
Sikhs 20.8 1.7
areas to the cities. The most important Pull
Buddhists 8.4 0.7
Factor for majority of the rural migrants to
Jains 4.5 0.4
the urban areas is better opportunities,
Other Religions 7.9 0.7
availability of regular work and relatively
and 2.9 0.2
higher wages. Better opportunities for
Persuasions
education, better health facilities and (ORP)
sources of entertainment, etc., are also
Religion Not
quite important Pull Factors. Stated
(2011
29. Answer: (b) Census)
Explanation:
The population of India, according to their 31. Answer: (a)
economic status, is divided into three Explanation:
groups, namely; main workers, marginal
S.N. Port State
workers and non-workers. It is observed
1. Kandla Gujarat
that in India, the proportion of workers
(both main and marginal) is only 39.8% 2. Ennore Tamil Nadu
(2011), leaving a vast majority of about 3. Kochi Kerala
60% as non-workers. This indicates an 4. Paradeep Odisha
economic status in which there is a larger
proportion of dependent population, further
32. Answer: (a)
indicating possible existence of large
Explanation:
number of unemployed or under-employed
The Ganga - Bhagirathi - Hooghly river
people.
system between Haldia (Sagar) and
Work Participation Rate: The proportion Allahabad (1,620 km) was declared as
of working population of the states and the National Waterway-1 (NW-1) in 1986.
Union Territories shows a moderate National Waterway-2 (NW-2) is a section of
variation from about 39.6% in Goa to about the Brahmaputra River, having a length of
49.9% in Daman and Diu. The states with 891 km, between the Bangladesh border
larger percentages of workers are Himachal near Dhubri and Sadiya in Assam.
Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Andhra The West Coast Canal or National
Pradesh, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Waterway-3 runs
Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya. Among from Kollam to Kottapuram and was
the Union Territories, Dadra & Nagar declared a National Waterway in 1993. In
Haveli and Daman & Diu have higher addition to the main stretch, Champakara
participation rate. and Udyogmandal canals are navigable and

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connect the industrial centres of Kochi to Southern India. NH-4 linked four of the 10
Kochi port. most populous Indian cities –
The Inland Waterways Authority of India Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai.
(IWAI), under the Ministry of Shipping, is NH-4 was 1,235 km (767 mi) in length and
co-ordinating the task for developing, passed through the states
monitoring and administering the National of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil
Waterways. It has been extended Nadu.
to Kozhikode, as per the National
Waterways Act, 2016. 34. Answer: (d)
National Waterway-4 (NW-4): It connects Explanation:
the Indian states of Telangana, Andhra The density of population is expressed as
Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and the Union the number of persons per unit area. The
Territory of Puducherry. The NW-4 runs density of population in India (2011) is 382
along the Coromandal Coast through persons per sq. km. There has been a
Kakinada, Eluru, steady increase of more than 200 persons
Commanur, Buckingham Canals and also per sq. km over the last 50 years, as the
through part of the Krishna and density of population increased from 117
the Godavari rivers in South India. persons/sq. km in 1951 to 382 persons/sq.
National Waterway-5 (NW-5): It covers the km in 2011. The data (i) give an idea of
state of Odisha and a part of West Bengal. spatial variation of population densities in
It was declared a National Waterway in the country, which ranges from as low as
November, 2008. The NW-5 consists of 17 persons per sq. km in Arunachal
the stretches from Talcher to Dhamra on Pradesh to 11,297 persons in the National
the Brahmani River. Capital Territory of Delhi. Among the
northern Indian states, Bihar (1,102),
33. Answer: (b) West Bengal (1,029) and Uttar Pradesh
(828) have higher densities, while Kerala
Explanation:
(859) and Tamil Nadu (555) have higher
The National Highway-1 or NH-1 is
densities among the peninsular Indian
a national highway in Northern India that
states. The states like Assam, Gujarat,
links the national capital New Delhi to the
Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand and
town of Attari in Punjab, near the India–
Odisha have moderate densities. The hill
Pakistan border.
states of the Himalayan region and the
The National Highway-2 is a national North-eastern states of India (excluding
highway in India that runs Assam) have relatively low densities, while
from Dibrugarh in Assam to Tuipang in the Union Territories (excluding the
Mizoram. This national highway passes Andaman and Nicobar Islands) have very
through the Indian states of Assam, high densities of population. The density of
Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram. population is a crude measure of human
The National Highway-3, or NH-3, is a and land relationship. To get a better
national highway in India. It starts from insight into the human-land ratio, in terms
Attari, adjacent to the India-Pakistan of the pressure of population on the total
border and near Amritsar, and cultivable land, the physiological and the
terminates at Leh in Ladakh, via Manali agricultural densities should be found out,
in Himachal Pradesh. which are significant for a country like
The National Highway-4 (NH-4) was a India having a large agricultural
major national highway before national population.
highway renumbering in Western and

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35. Answer: (d) 36. Answer: (a)
Explanation: Explanation:
The growth rate of population in India over  Since independence, the scientific
the last one century has been caused by surveys of soils have been conducted by
annual birth rate and death rate, and the various agencies. The Soil Survey of
rate of migration and, thereby, shows India, established in 1956, made
different trends. There are four distinct comprehensive studies of the soils in
phases of growth identified within this selected areas, like in the Damodar
period:
Valley. The National Bureau of Soil
Phase I: The period from 1901-1921 is Survey and the Land Use Planning, an
referred to as a period of stagnant or institute under the control of the Indian
stationary phase of growth of India’s
Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),
population, since in this period, the growth
did a lot of studies on the Indian soils.
rate was very low, even recording a negative
In their effort to study soil and to make
growth rate during 1911-1921.
it comparable at the international level,
Phase II: The decades 1921-1951 are
the ICAR has classified the Indian soils
referred to as the period of steady
on the basis of their nature and
population growth. An overall improvement
character, as per the United States
in health and sanitation throughout the
Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soil
country brought down the mortality rate.
Taxonomy.
At the same time, better transport and
communication system improved  According to this classification,
distribution system. The crude birth rate Inceptisols cover the largest area of
remained high in this period, leading to the country, followed by Entisols.
higher growth rate than the previous ICAR has classified the soils of India into
phase. the following order as per the USDA soil
Phase III: The decades 1951-1981 are taxonomy
referred to as the period of population
SI Order Area (in Percentage
explosion in India, which was caused by
No. Thousand
a rapid fall in the mortality rate, but a
Hectares)
high fertility rate of population in the
country. (i) Inceptisols 130372.90 39.74
Phase IV: In the post 1981 till present, the (ii) Entisols 92131.71 28.08
growth rate of country’s population, though
(iii) Alfisols 44448.68 13.55
remained high, has started slowing down
gradually. A downward trend of crude birth (iv) Vertlsols 27960.00 8.52
rate is held responsible for such a (v) Arldisols 14069.00 4.28
population growth. This was, in turn,
(vi) Ultisols 8250.00 2.51
affected by an increase in the mean age at
marriage, improved quality of life, (vii) Mollisols 1320.00 0.40
particularly education of the females in the (viii) Others 9503.10 2.92
country. The growth rate of population is,
Total 100
however, still high in the country, and it
has been projected by the World Source: Soils of India, National Bureau
Development Report that the population of of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning.
India will touch 1,350 million by 2025. Publication Number 94

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37. Answer: (c) the Deccan Plateau, the black soil is
Explanation: very deep. These soils are also known as
 The alluvial soils are widespread in the the ‘Regur Soil’ or the ‘Black Cotton
northern plains and the river valleys. Soil’. The black soils are generally
These soils cover about 40% of the total clayey, deep and impermeable.
area of the country. They are  They swell and become sticky when wet
depositional soils, transported and and shrink when dried. So, during the
deposited by the rivers and streams. dry season, these soils develop wide
Through a narrow corridor in cracks. Thus, there occurs a kind of
Rajasthan, they extend into the plains ‘self-ploughing’. Because of this
of Gujarat. In the Peninsular region, character of slow absorption and loss of
they are found in the deltas of the east moisture, the black soil retains the
coast and in the river valleys. The moisture for a very long time, which
alluvial soils vary in nature from sandy helps the crops, especially, the rain-fed
loam to clay. They are generally rich in ones, to sustain even during the dry
potash, but poor in phosphorous. season.
 In the Upper and Middle Ganga plains,  Chemically, the black soils are rich in
two different types of alluvial soils have lime, iron, magnesia and alumina. They
developed, viz., Khadar and Bhangar. also contain potash. But, they lack in
Khadar is the new alluvium and is phosphorous, nitrogen and organic
deposited by floods annually, which matter. The colour of the soil ranges
enriches the soil by depositing fine from deep black to grey.
silts. Bhangar represents a system of
older alluvium, deposited away from 39. Answer: (a)
the flood plains. Both the Khadar and Explanation:
the Bhangar soils contain calcareous
 The word ‘Laterite’ has been derived
concretions (Kankars). These soils are
from the Latin word ‘Later’, which
more loamy and clayey in the lower and
means brick. The laterite soils
middle Ganga plains and the
develop in the areas with high
Brahamaputra valley. The sand content
temperature and high rainfall. These
decreases from the west to the east.
are the result of intense leaching due to
 The colour of the alluvial soils varies tropical rains.
from light grey to ash grey. Their shades
 With rain, lime and silica are leached
depend on the depth of the deposition,
away, and the soils rich in iron oxide
the texture of the materials and the
and aluminium compound are left
time taken for attaining maturity.
behind. Humus content of the soil is
Alluvial soils are intensively cultivated.
removed fast by the bacteria that thrive
well in high temperature. These soils
38. Answer: (d) are poor in organic matter, nitrogen,
Explanation: phosphate and calcium, while iron
 The black soils cover most of the oxide and potash are in excess.
Deccan Plateau, which includes parts of Hence, laterites are not suitable for
Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, cultivation. However, application of
Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and some manures and fertilisers are required for
parts of Tamil Nadu. In the upper making the soils fertile for cultivation.
reaches of the Godavari and the  Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Krishna, and the north-western part of Pradesh and Kerala are more suitable

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for tree crops, like cashewnut. Laterite downwards. The ‘Kankar’ layer
soils are widely cut as bricks for use in formation in the bottom horizons
house construction. These soils have restricts the infiltration of water and, as
mainly developed in the higher areas of such, when irrigation is made available,
the Peninsular Plateau. The laterite the soil moisture is readily available for
soils are commonly found in Karnataka, a sustainable plant growth. Arid soils
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh are characteristically developed in
and the hilly areas of Odisha and western Rajasthan, which exhibit
Assam. characteristic arid topography. These
soils are poor, and contain little humus
40. Answer: (c) and organic matter.
Explanation:
 Red soil develops on crystalline igneous 42. Answer: (c)
rocks in the areas of low rainfall in the
Explanation:
eastern and southern parts of the
 The saline soils are also known as the
Deccan Plateau. Along the piedmont
Usara soils. Saline soils contain a larger
zone of the Western Ghats, long stretch
of area is occupied by red loamy soil. proportion of sodium, potassium and
Yellow and red soils are also found in magnesium, and thus, they are infertile,
parts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh, and and do not support any vegetative
in the southern parts of the middle growth. They have more salts, largely
Ganga plains. because of dry climate and poor
 The soil develops a reddish colour due drainage. They occur in arid and semi-
to a wide diffusion of iron in crystalline arid regions, and in the waterlogged and
and metamorphic rocks. It looks yellow swampy areas. Their structure ranges
when it occurs in a hydrated form. The from sandy to loamy. They lack in
fine-grained red and yellow soils are nitrogen and calcium.
normally fertile, whereas coarse-grained  Saline soils are more widespread in
soils, found in the dry upland areas, are western Gujarat, the deltas of the
poor in fertility. They are generally poor eastern coast and in the Sundarbans
in nitrogen, phosphorous and humus. areas of West Bengal. In the Rann of
Kuchchh, the southwest monsoon
41. Answer: (b) brings salt particles and deposits there
Explanation: as a crust. Seawater intrusions in the
 Arid soils range from red to brown in deltas promote the occurrence of saline
colour. They are generally sandy in soils. In the areas of intensive
structure and saline in nature. In some cultivation with excessive use of
areas, the salt content is so high that irrigation, especially in the areas of
common salt is obtained by evaporating Green Revolution, the fertile alluvial
the saline water. Due to the dry climate, soils are becoming saline. Excessive
high temperature and accelerated irrigation, with dry climatic conditions,
evaporation, they lack moisture and promotes capillary action, which results
humus. Nitrogen is insufficient and in the deposition of salt on the top layer
the phosphate content is normal. of the soil. In such areas, especially in
 Lower horizons of these soils are Punjab and Haryana, the farmers are
occupied by ‘Kankar’ layers, because of advised to add gypsum to solve the
the increasing calcium content problem of salinity in the soil.

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43. Answer: (d) after a heavy shower and the soil
Explanation: removal is not easily noticeable. But,
 Forest soils are formed in the forest it is harmful, since it removes the
areas where sufficient rainfall is finer and more fertile top soil.
available. The soils vary in structure  Gully erosion is common on steep
and texture, depending on the slopes. Gullies deepen with rainfall,
mountain environment where they are cut the agricultural lands into small
formed. They are loamy and silty on fragments and make them unfit for
the valley sides and coarse-grained in cultivation. A region with a large
the upper slopes. number of deep gullies, or ravines, is
 In the snow-bound areas of the called a ‘bad land topography’. Ravines
Himalayas, they experience are widespread in the Chambal basin.
denudation and are acidic with low Besides this, they are also found in
humus content. The soils found in the Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
lower valleys are fertile.  Soil erosion is a serious problem for the
Indian agriculture and its negative
effects are seen in other spheres also.
44. Answer: (c)
Eroded materials are carried down to
Explanation:
the rivers and they lower down their
The Peaty soils are found in the areas of carrying capacity, and cause frequent
heavy rainfall and high humidity, where floods and damage to the agricultural
there is a good growth of vegetation. lands.
Thus, large quantity of dead organic matter
accumulates in these areas, and this gives
46. Answer: (d)
a rich humus and organic content to the
soil. Organic matter in these soils may go Explanation:
even up to 40%-50%. These soils are Soil erosion is essentially aggravated by
normally heavy and black in colour. At faulty practices. The first step in any
many places, they are alkaline also. They rational solution is to check open cultivable
occur widely in the northern part of Bihar, lands on the slopes from farming. Soil
southern part of Uttarakhand and the erosion gradient of 15% - 25% should not
coastal areas of West Bengal, Odisha and be used for cultivation. If at all the land is
to be used for agriculture, terraces should
Tamil Nadu.
carefully be made. Over-grazing and
shifting cultivation in many parts of India
45. Answer: (d) have affected the natural cover of land and
Explanation: given rise to extensive erosion. It should be
 Wind and water are powerful agents of regulated and controlled by educating the
soil erosion, because of their ability to villagers about the consequences. Contour
remove soil and transport it. Wind bunding, contour terracing, regulated
erosion is significant in the arid and forestry, controlled grazing, cover
semi-arid regions. In the regions with cropping, mixed farming and crop
rotation are some of the remedial
heavy rainfall and steep slopes, erosion
measures which are often adopted to
by running water is more significant.
reduce soil erosion. Efforts should be
Water erosion, which is more serious
made to prevent gully erosion and control
and occurs extensively in different parts
its formation. Finger gullies can be
of India, takes place mainly in the form
eliminated by terracing. In bigger gullies,
of sheet and gully erosions. Sheet
the erosive velocity of water may be
erosion takes place on level lands reduced by constructing a series of check

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dams. Special attention should be made to based on Koeppen’s scheme have been
control the head-ward extension of the described below:
gullies. This can be done by gully plugging, Koeppen based his scheme of Climatic
terracing or by planting cover vegetation. In classification on monthly values of
the arid and semi-arid areas, efforts should temperature and precipitation. He
be made to protect cultivable lands from identified five major climatic types, namely:
encroachment by sand dunes through
(i) Tropical climates, where mean monthly
developing shelter belts of trees and agro-
temperature throughout the year is
forestry.
over 18°C.
(ii) Dry climates, where precipitation is
47. Answer: (a)
very low in comparison to temperature,
Explanation:
and hence, dry. If dryness is less, it is
Distribution of Rainfall
semiarid (S); if it is more, the climate is
The average annual rainfall in India is arid(W).
about 125 cm, but it has great spatial
(iii) Warm temperate climates, where mean
variations.
temperature of the coldest month is
Areas of High Rainfall: The highest
between 18°C and minus 3°C.
rainfall occurs along the west coast, on the
(iv) Cool temperate climates, where mean
Western Ghats, as well as in the sub-
Himalayan areas is the northeast and the temperature of the warmest month is
hills of Meghalaya. Here the rainfall over 10°C, and mean temperature of
exceeds 200 cm. In some parts of Khasi the coldest month is under minus 3°C.
and Jaintia hills, the rainfall exceeds 1,000 (v) Ice climates, where mean temperature
cm. In the Brahmaputra valley and the of the warmest month is under 10°C.
adjoining hills, the rainfall is less than 200
cm. 49. Answer: (d)
Areas of Medium Rainfall: Rainfall Explanation:
between 100-200 cm is received in the
southern parts of Gujarat, east Tamil S.N. Iron ore mine State
Nadu, northeastern Peninsula covering 1. Kudremukh Karnataka
Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern Madhya
2. Dalli-Rajhara Chhattisgarh
Pradesh, northern Ganga plain along the
sub-Himalayas and the Cachar Valley and 3. Gua Jharkhand
Manipur. 4. Barbil Odisha
Areas of Low Rainfall: Western Uttar
5. West Singhbhum Jharkhand
Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu
and Kashmir, eastern Rajasthan, Gujarat 6. Bailadila Chhattisgarh
and Deccan Plateau receive rainfall
between 50-100 cm. Areas of Inadequate 50. Answer: (a)
Rainfall: Parts of the Peninsula, especially
Explanation:
in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and
Maharashtra, Ladakh and most of western S.N. Gold Mines State
Rajasthan receive rainfall below 50 cm. 1. Hatti Gold Mines Karnataka
2. Lava Gold Mines Jharkhand
48. Answer: (c)
3. Kunderkocha Jharkhand
Explanation:
There are different schemes of classification
of climate. Major climatic types of India

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