Geography of India (Part -V) (UPSC)

Total Questions: 46

41. Consider the following statements: [2023-I]

  1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
  2. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake.
  3. Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.

 

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (b) Only two
Solution:One of the largest freshwater lakes in Asia, the wular lake is located in J&K where it is fed by the Jhelum river.
Koleru lake is situated in Northeastern Andhra Pradesh, lies between the Godavari & Krishan river deltas near the city of Eluru. The Krishna river does not direct feed Koleru lake.
The Kanwar lake is an oxbow lake formed by the meandering of Burhi Gandak River.

42. Consider the following statements: [2023-I]

  1. Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.
  2. Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of the Satpura Range.
  3. Seshachalam Hills constitute the southernmost part of the Western Ghats.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) None
Solution:The correct answer is (d). None of the statements are correct.
. Amarkantak Hills are located in the Maikal Range of the Satpura Range, not at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.
Biligirirangan Hills are not part of the Satpura Range. They are a part of the Eastern Ghats.
Seshachalam Hills are not part of the Western Ghats. They are a part of the Eastern Ghats.

43. Consider the following statements: [2023-I]

Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients.
Statement-II: The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly.

 

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Correct Answer: (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Solution:Many tropical rainforest soils are very poor and infertile. Millions of years of weathering have washed most of the nutrients out of the soil. Stl is wrong so answer is (d).
About Tropical Forests:
• Tropical forests are rich ecosystems located in tropical zones surrounding the equator.
• They make up six percent of Earth’s land surface area.
• They have a dense upper canopy of broad-leafed trees.
• These forests are known for supporting a wide variety of plant and animal life and have nutrient-poor soils with rapid decomposition.
• More than 50 percent of land-based plant and animal species on Earth can be found in tropical forests.
• They encompass both tropical deciduous forests and tropical rainforests.
• Tropical rainforests occur in regions of the tropics where temperatures are always high and where rainfall exceeds about 1,800 to 2,500 mm (about 70 to 100 inches) annually and occurs fairly evenly throughout the year.
• Similar hot climates in which annual rainfall lies between about 800 and 1,800 mm and in which a pronounced season of low rainfall occurs typically support tropical deciduous forests.

44. Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following? [2023-I]

Correct Answer: (d) Titanium
Solution:The correct answer is (d) Titanium.
Ilmenite and rutile are both titanium-bearing minerals. Ilmenite is the most common titanium-bearing mineral, and it is found in many different types of rocks. Rutile is a less common titanium-bearing mineral, but it is found in some high-grade metamorphic rocks.
About Titanium:
• It is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust.
• It often occurs in ore deposits in the form of chemical compounds with iron or oxygen.
• It is present in meteorites and the sun.
• Ores of Titanium: The two prime commercial minerals are Ilmenite (FeTiO3) and Rutile (TiO2).
• It is very corrosion resistant and generally not affected by air, water, acids or bases.
• It has a low density, good strength, is easily fabricated, and has excellent corrosion resistance.
• The metal burns in air and is the only element that burns in nitrogen.
• It is useful in aircraft, spacecraft, ships, and other high-stress applications.
• It also is used in prosthetic devices, because it does not react with fleshy tissue and bone.
• Titanium oxide spectra are used by astronomers to identify cool red dwarf stars.

45. With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct? [2024-I]

Correct Answer: (b) Gomati - Ghaghara - Gandak - Kosi
Solution:The correct sequence of Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East is Gomati -Gandak Kosi. Hence, Option (b) is correct.

46. Consider the following information: [2024-I]

WaterfallRegionRiver
1. DhuandharMalwaNarmada
2. HundruChota NagpurSubarnarekha
3. GersoppaWestern GhatsNetravati

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Correct Answer: (a) Only one
Solution:Row 1 is incorrect: The Narmada River begins on the western side of the Amarkantak plateau (not the Malwa plateau) and flows through a rift valley, with the Satpura range to the south and the Vindhyan range to the north. In the Jabalpur district, it forms a picturesque gorge through marble rocks and creates the beautiful Dhuandhar waterfall.
Row 2 is correct: The Hundru Falls is formed on the Subarnarekha River. The falls are situated on the Ranchi-Purulia Road on the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
Row 3 is incorrect: Jog Falls, also known as Gersoppa Falls, is in the Shimoga district of Karnataka. It is formed by the Sharavathi River, which originates in the Western Ghats.
Hence, Option (a) is the correct answer.