Geography of India (Part -I) (UPSC)

Total Questions: 50

41. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the states (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) of India shown on the map in descending order in terms of available ground water resources for irrigation? [1998]

Correct Answer: (d) 4, 3, 2, 1
Solution:Uttar Pradesh is the state where 9,384,000 hectare are covered by ground water irrigation. Maharashtra covers 1,912,000 hectare, West Bengal covers 1,397,000 hectares, Assam covers hectare for ground water irrigation.
About Irrigation System
  • Irrigation is the controlled application of water through man-made systems to meet the water requirements of agriculture.
  • Irrigation is the application of artificial water to crops or plants, especially when rain does not provide enough water for an agricultural field.
  • Despite having the largest irrigated area in the world, India faces acute water scarcity. We must adopt irrigation methods that help save freshwater and provide sufficient water for plants' growth
  • Thus, irrigation supplies water to crops by artificial means such as canals, wells, tube wells, tanks, etc., from sources such as rivers, ponds, or underground water.
  • The main idea behind irrigation systems is to assist in the growth of crops and plants by maintaining the minimum amount of water required, suppressing weed growth in grain fields, and preventing soil consolidation.
  • In India, two-thirds of the total cropped area needs irrigation. The nature of monsoon rainfall in India is uncertain, unreliable, irregular, variable, seasonal, and unevenly distributed.

42. Among the Indian States shown labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the rough outline map given, the correct sequence in descending order of percent of scheduled tribe population to their total population is: [1998]

Correct Answer: (b) 3, 1, 2, 4
Solution:According to census 2011, Schedule tribe population in Mizoram is 94.4%, Arunachal Pradesh is 68.8%, Manipur is 40.9%, Orissa is 22.8%
  • The tribal communities in India have been recognized by the Indian Constitution under 'Schedule 5' of the constitution. Hence the tribes recognized by the Constitution are known as 'Scheduled Tribes.
  • Article 366 (25) defined scheduled tribes as "such tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within such tribes or tribal communities as are deemed under Article 342 to be Scheduled Tribes for this constitution".
  • The criterion followed for the specification of a community, as scheduled tribes are indications of primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact with the community at large, and backwardness
  • This criterion is not spelled out in the Constitution but has become well-established.

43. Which one of the following sets of states benefits the most from the Konkan Railway? [1998]

Correct Answer: (a) Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala
Solution:Konkan Railway travels 738 kilometers through the states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka, starting just after the Roha railway station (75 km south of Panvel in the suburbs of Mumbai) in Maharashtra and ending at the Thokur railway station near Mangalore in southern Karnataka.
Key Facts about Indian Railways
1. Extensive Network: With over 68,000 km of track, Indian Railways is the 4th largest railway network globally, after the US, Russia, and China, making it a crucial backbone for national transport.
2. Massive Passenger Traffic: Serving approximately 23 million passengers daily, Indian Railways is vital in connecting remote regions and urban centers, contributing to economic and social mobility.
3. Efficient Freight Movement: So far in this financial year (FY25), freight volumes reached 906.9 MT, marking a 2.2% increase, with significant growth in container (7.7%) and miscellaneous goods and clinker traffic (7%).
4. High Electrification: 97% of broad-gauge lines are electrified, reflecting Indian Railways' commitment to sustainability and reduced reliance on fossil fuels.
5. Targeted Freight Share: The government aims to increase the freight share from 35% to 45% by 2030, in line with India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
6. Rail Safety: Consequential rail accidents have dropped by 80% from 2016-21, a testament to ongoing safety measures. However, over 95% of accidents are still attributed to driver errors, indicating the need for more focused driver training and technological interventions.

44. Which one of the following pairs of cities has recently been connected through a 6-lane express way? [1998]

Correct Answer: (d) Mumbai : Pune
Solution:As question was asked in 1997, at that time Mumbai and Pune had been connected through a six lane express way. But in 2009, the National Highways Authority of India announced to upgrade the Ahmedabad-Vadodara Expresswayto six lanes and now it is a six lane highway.s
About National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):
  • NHAI is India's premier highway infrastructure creator entrusted with developing, maintaining, and managing National Highways.
  • It is a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
  • It was constituted under National Highways Authority of India Act, 1998 and made operational in February 1995.
  • Composition: It consists of a full time Chairman, and not more than five full time Members and four part time Members who are appointed by the Central Government.
  • The part time Members are the Secretary (RT&H), Secretary (Expenditure), Secretary (Planning) and DG (RD) & SS.
  • NHAI has technical, Finance, Administrative and Vigilance Wings at its Headquarters.

45. "India has the largest population of the Asian X. Today, there are just about 20,000 to 25,000 X in their natural habitat spreading across the evergreen forests, dry thorn forest, swamps and grasslands. Their prime habitats, are however the moist deciduous forests. The X population in India ranges from north-west India where they are found in the forest divisions of Dehradun. Bijnor and National districts, of UP to the Western Ghats in the states of Karnataka and Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In Central India, their population distributed over Southern Bihar and Orissa. In the East, they are seen in North Bengal, Assam and a few other states." [1999]

The animal "X" referred to in this quotation is :

Correct Answer: (b) elephant
Solution:In the question 'X' represents the Elephant population.
  • Project Elephant, launched by the Government of India in 1992, is a significant conservation initiative to protect the country's elephant population and habitats.
  • The project focuses on safeguarding these majestic animals from threats such as poaching and habitat destruction while also working to mitigate conflicts between elephants and local communities.
  • By establishing and managing protected areas and wildlife corridors, Project Elephant ensures that elephants have safe and sustainable environments in which to thrive.
  • The initiative promotes research and monitoring to enhance our understanding of elephant behaviour, health, and population dynamics.

46. Assertion (A): According to statistics, more female children are born each year than male children in India. [1999]

Reason (R): In India, the death rate of a male child is higher than that of the female child.

Correct Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
Solution:Assertion is correct, but the reason is wrong. In India, the sex ratio of female is lower than male, because female foeticide is common across India.
  • Sex ratio is used to describe the ratio of females to males in a population. Sex Ratio refers to the "number of females per 1000 males in a given area at a specific time period". It is used to indicate the Sex Composition. Certain countries confute it as the number of males to females.
  • Historically, all over the world, it has been found that there are slightly more males than females in most countries.
  • A ratio of 1,000 signifies gender parity, while ratios above 1,000 suggest an excess of females, and those below 1,000 indicate a deficit.
  • In India, the sex ratio has been estimated via a number of methods and data sets including the decennial censuses, the National Family Health Surveys (NFHS), the Civil Registration System, the Sample Registration System and the Health Management Information System.

47. The minimum land area recommended for forest cover to maintain proper ecological balance in India is: [1999]

Correct Answer: (b) 33%
Solution:For proper ecological balance 33% of forest land is recommended, but in India have only 20.14% of forest coverage.
NOTE As per Indian State of Forest Report 2017, the total forest and tree cover was at 24.39%, the country's forest cover is consistently on the rise. In 2017, it had registered an increase of 1% or 8,021 square km over 2015.

48. In which one of the following areas in the given map was there a recent discovery of copper deposits by the Atomic Minerals Division of Department Atomic Energy ? [1999]

Correct Answer: (d) 3
Solution:In the given map, copper deposits discovered by Atomic Minerals Division of Department Atomic energy, is at Hasson in Karnataka and is marked as '4'.
  • The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) was set up on August 3, 1954, under the direct charge of the Prime Minister through a Presidential Order.
  • As per this order, all businesses of the Government of India related to atomic energy and to the functions of the Central Government under the Atomic Energy Act, 1948, were directed to be transacted in the DAE,
  • DAE encompasses all the areas related to power and non-power applications of atomic energy.
  • The Department has the mandate of development of nuclear power technology which includes exploration, identification and processing of uranium resources and atomic minerals, fabrication of nuclear fuel, production of heavy water, construction and operation of nuclear power plants, nuclear fuel reprocessing and waste management
  • DAE is also responsible for research and development of fast reactors and fusion technologies, accelerator and laser technology, advanced electronics and instrumentation, materials science, biological sciences, etc.
  • As part of non-power applications of atomic energy, the Department carries out cutting-edge research and development for the application of isotopes and radiation technologies for health care, food & agriculture, industry, and the environment.

49. In the given figure, the site of the Tehri dam has been labelled as: [1999]

Correct Answer: (c) C
Solution:In the given map the site of Tehri Dam is "C" which lies in Uttaranchal. It is an earth and rock-fill dam on the Bhagirathi rivers in Tehri district.
  • The Tehri Dam and Hydroelectric Project constructed on Bhagirathi River is being operated by Tehri Hydro Power Development Corporation India Limited.
  • Power generation by this project was started in 2006. Tehri Hydroelectric Complex (2400 MW) has three components-
  • Tehri Dam & Hydroelectric Project (1000 MW)
  • Koteshwar Dam & Hydroelectric Project (400 MW)
  • Tehri Pumped Storage Plant (1000 MW)

50. The figure shows a portion of Southern India. The proposed site (Koodankulam) for construction of two 1000 MW nuclear power plants has been labelled in the map as : [1999]

Correct Answer: (b) B
Solution:Koodankulam is the site for 1000 MW nuclear power plants under construction in Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu. In the given figure Koodankulam plant is labelled as 'B'.
The fifth largest source of electricity in India is Nuclear Power after thermal, hydroelectric and renewable sources of electricity. Currently, there are 22 Nuclear Power Plants in India operating in seven states with 6780 MegaWatt (MWe) out of which 18 reactors are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and 4 are Light Water Reactors (LWRs). The responsibility for generating nuclear power in India lies with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL), a public sector enterprise headquartered in Mumbai. NPCIL functions under the administrative control of the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India...