Geography (Part-2) (CDS-Solved Paper)

The statement I and II are correct, but statement II is not the correct explanation of statement I. Karst topography is usually formed in a region of plentiful rainfall where bedrock consists of carbonate rich rock, such as limestone, gypsum, or dolomite, that is easily dissolved. Sinkhole, which is a depression with varying depth and width is considered most fundamental feature of Karst topography.
Though, there is no absolute reason for it being the most common topographic form, but studies show that it is most common because it is both the initial as well as the final feature of a Karst terrain.
Various Karst cycle of erosions begin with a sinkhole (of dolines) and finally ends with collapse of caves to form sinkholes.

Incised meander is a river meander which has been cut abnormally deeply into the landscape because upliftment of the land and has led to renewed downward erosion by the river. This type of meander occurs in the young stage of river. Therefore, only statement II is correct.

Glaciated valleys are trough like and U-shaped with broad floors and relatively smooth and steep sides. The U-shaped valleys are carved out by glaciers which have receded or disappeared. The valley may contain littered debris or debris shaped as moraines with swampy appearance.

Very deep glacial troughs filled with sea water and making up share lines (in high latitudes) are called fjords/fiords. Trough tend to have flat valley floors and steep, straights sides. They are formed by glacial erosion. Hence, both the statements are correct and statements II is the correct explanation of statement I.

Species richness is generally lower in the Arctic than at lower latitudes, and richness also tends to decline from the low to high Arctic. However, patterns of species richness vary spatially and include significant patchiness.

Further, there are differences among taxonomic groups, with certain groups being most diverse in the Arctic. Hence, both statements are individually true, but statement II is not the correct explanation of statement I.

Tides are rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effect of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of the Earth because the Earth rotates once in about 24 hours with respect to the Sun.

The tidal range is not constant but changes depending on where the Sun and Moon are. Hence, both the statements are individually correct but statement II is not the correct explanation of statement I.

High air pressure prevails over large parts of North-West India due to low temperatures coupled with divergence induced by the ridge of the sub-tropical jet stream.

Pressure is comparatively lower as we move towards South of India in winters. Leh is present closest to this high pressure area followed by Guwahati, Jaisalmer and Chennai. Hence, (b) is the right option.

The Chamberlin–Moulton
Planetesimal Hypothesis states that planets form out of cosmic dust particles that collide and stick to form larger and larger bodies.
Thermal Contraction Theory or
Jeffrey’s  Theory  is based on the history of the  contraction  of the Earth. According to Jeffrey the Earth began to shrink because of  contraction  caused by gradual cooling of the Earth due to loss of heat through radiation from the very beginning of its origin.
Kober Attempted to explain the origin of the mountains on the basis of his geosynclinal theory.
Daly’s Hypothesis is based mainly on the idea that mountain building was due to the downhill movement of the continents.

According to Article 58 of United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), 1982, Navigation of ships and laying down submarine cables over. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is not an exclusive right of concerned coastal nations.

Rather, this right is available to all the states whether coastal or land locked. Rest of the rights given above are exclusive rights of the concerned coastal nations over EEZ under Article 56 of UNCLOS.

UNCLOS is an international treaty which aims to set legal status of the territorial sea, of the air space over the territorial sea and of its bed and subsoil.

The Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project aided by World Bank is focusing on improving the water availability for the population, to contribute towards increased understanding and acceptance of the need to protect, conserve and manage coastal natural resources etc.

Under this project, coastal zones would be developed and pilot projects would be implemented in specific geographical areas. Focus would be on three selected states Gujarat (Gulf of Kutch), Odisha (Paradip Chilika lake) and West Bengal (sagar dweep).

National Water Academy  (NWA) (earlier named as Central Training Unit) was set up Central Water Commission in the year 1988. It imparts training to the in-service engineers of various Central/State organisations involved in the Development and Management of  Water Resources (MOWR).
Now, it is functioning under full funding from budget of Ministry of Water Resources (MOWR), River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation. It is located at Pune, Maharashtra. Thus, only statements (1) is correct and statement (2) is incorrect.