Geography — Climate, Soils, Vegetation, Water, Agriculture, Industries & Transport (India) — Practice

Question 1

Give four characteristics of black (regur) soil and name the crop most closely associated with it.

Accepted Answer

FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF BLACK SOIL:

(1) COLOUR: Dark/black, due to titaniferous magnetite and humus.

(2) MOISTURE RETENTION: High capacity — remains moist in dry spells, preventing wilting. It SWELLS when wet and CRACKS when dry.

(3) TEXTURE: Fine-grained, deep, compact. Deep fissures when dry help in natural aeration (self-tilling).

(4) NUTRIENTS: Rich in lime, iron, magnesium, and alumina; but low in nitrogen and organic matter.

DISTRIBUTION: Deccan Plateau — Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh.

MOST CLOSELY ASSOCIATED CROP: COTTON. Black soil's high moisture retention is ideal for cotton's long growing season. Often called 'cotton soil.'

✦ Answer: (1) Dark colour (titaniferous magnetite). (2) High moisture retention. (3) Fine-grained, swells/cracks. (4) Rich in lime, iron — low nitrogen. CROP: Cotton.

Question 2

Why is West Bengal the leading producer of rice in India? Give three geographical reasons.

Accepted Answer

West Bengal produces more rice than any other Indian state for three geographical reasons:

(1) RAINFALL: >150–200 cm annually from the Bay of Bengal branch of the SW monsoon. Rice requires standing water (paddy cultivation) — consistent heavy rain fulfils this.

(2) TEMPERATURE: Hot and humid conditions (>25°C throughout the growing season). Rice requires warmth for rapid vegetative growth and grain filling.

(3) SOIL: The Ganga delta has ALLUVIAL SOIL — the most fertile in India. It retains water, is deep, and is nutrient-rich from annual flood deposits (khadar).

ADDITIONAL: The flat deltaic terrain allows easy water impoundment (waterlogging is BENEFICIAL for paddy). Rivers enable irrigation in dry months.

✦ Answer: (1) Heavy monsoon rainfall >150 cm. (2) High temperature >25°C. (3) Fertile alluvial soil in Ganga delta.

Question 3

Explain the mechanism of the South-West monsoon. How do the Himalayas influence it?

Accepted Answer

MECHANISM OF SW MONSOON:

(1) HEATING: In summer (May–June), the Indian landmass heats rapidly, creating LOW PRESSURE over India. The Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal remain at higher pressure.

(2) ITCZ SHIFT: The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone shifts northward over India, drawing warm, moist SW winds from both oceans.

(3) TWO BRANCHES enter India:
- ARABIAN SEA branch: Strikes the Western Ghats, causing heavy OROGRAPHIC rainfall on the windward (western) side. Crosses the Ghats as moisture-depleted air, creating a RAIN SHADOW over the Deccan. Weakens as it reaches Punjab.
- BAY OF BENGAL branch: Hits NE India first — Meghalaya (Cherrapunji/Mawsynram = world's wettest). Moves westward across the Ganga plains.

ROLE OF HIMALAYAS: The Himalayas act as a BARRIER, blocking cold air from Central Asia and preventing the monsoon winds from escaping northward. This forces the SW winds to rise over the mountains → heavy orographic rainfall over the Himalayas and foothills (prolonged rain in N India).

✦ Answer: Low pressure over India → ITCZ shifts → SW winds drawn in → Arabian Sea branch (W Ghats rain + rain shadow) + Bay of Bengal branch (NE India → Ganga plains) → Himalayas trap monsoon winds and force orographic rain.

Question 4

Name the major coal fields of India and state which mineral India leads in global production.

Accepted Answer

MAJOR COAL FIELDS of India:

(1) JHARIA (Jharkhand) — largest coal field in India. Mainly bituminous coal.
(2) RANIGANJ (West Bengal) — oldest coal field.
(3) TALCHER (Odisha).
(4) SINGRAULI (Madhya Pradesh/UP).
(5) BOKARO (Jharkhand).

India is the world's 2nd or 3rd largest coal producer (behind China).

MINERAL INDIA LEADS GLOBALLY: MICA — India is the world's NUMBER ONE producer. Major mica-producing areas: Koderma-Gaya belt (Jharkhand), Nellore district (Andhra Pradesh), Rajasthan. Mica is used in electronics, cosmetics, and as an electrical insulator.

✦ Answer: Major coal fields: Jharia (largest), Raniganj, Talcher. India = World #1 in MICA production.

Question 5

Explain why the iron and steel industry of India is concentrated in the Chhotanagpur plateau region. Name the major steel plants.

Accepted Answer

The iron and steel industry is concentrated in the Chhotanagpur plateau because this region provides the optimal combination of ALL required raw materials and infrastructure:

(1) IRON ORE: Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Bailadila (Chhattisgarh), and Dalli-Rajhara are within 150–300 km. High-grade haematite ore available in abundance.

(2) COKING COAL: The Damodar Valley coalfields (Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro) provide coking coal for smelting — the absolute prerequisite for integrated steel plants. Iron ore + coal in proximity is the decisive factor.

(3) WATER: The Damodar, Subarnarekha, and other rivers provide water for cooling and processing.

(4) MANGANESE AND LIMESTONE: Odisha and Chhattisgarh supply manganese (for steel alloys) and limestone (flux — removes impurities as slag).

(5) TRANSPORT: Dense Southeastern Railway network developed to move raw materials to plants and finished steel to markets.

(6) LABOUR: Dense population of Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal provides abundant industrial labour.

MAJOR STEEL PLANTS:
- JAMSHEDPUR (Tata Steel — private, oldest, 1907)
- BOKARO (SAIL — public sector)
- BHILAI (SAIL, Chhattisgarh)
- ROURKELA (SAIL, Odisha)
- DURGAPUR (SAIL, West Bengal)

✦ Answer: Iron ore + coking coal convergence in Chhotanagpur is the decisive factor. All six location factors converge here. Plants: Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Bhilai, Rourkela, Durgapur.

Question 6

What was the Green Revolution? Why is it both celebrated and criticised?

Accepted Answer

The GREEN REVOLUTION (1960s–70s, championed by M.S. Swaminathan with Norman Borlaug's HYV seeds) transformed Indian agriculture:

ACHIEVEMENTS:
- High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds (especially wheat and rice) produced 3–5 times more grain per hectare.
- Combined with: chemical fertilisers, irrigation (tubewells), mechanisation.
- India went from food IMPORTS in the 1960s to food EXPORTS by the 1980s. Ended famines.

CRITICISMS:
(1) REGIONAL INEQUALITY: Benefits concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, W Bengal — states with irrigation. Dryland farmers left behind.
(2) ENVIRONMENTAL COST: Excessive irrigation depleted water tables (Punjab groundwater crisis). Chemical fertilisers degraded soil. Pesticide pollution.
(3) CROP DIVERSITY LOSS: Focus on wheat and rice reduced cultivation of traditional millets and pulses — nutritional diversity declined.
(4) ECONOMIC INEQUALITY: HYV seeds + fertilisers required capital investment — benefit skewed toward wealthy farmers.

✦ Answer: Green Revolution = HYV seeds + fertilisers + irrigation → food self-sufficiency. Celebrated: ended famines, food exports. Criticised: regional inequality, groundwater depletion, soil degradation, crop diversity loss.

Practice — Geography — Climate, Soils, Vegetation, Water, Agriculture, Industries & Transport (India)

Sign in to save attempts to your dashboard and track your accuracy over time

Find a verified tutor

Join a live course

Browse coaching centres

About

Categories

Support

Documentation

Get Study Tips & Updates

Download Our App

Download for iOS

Download for Android

Popular Cities