Human and Economic Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)

Explanation

Indian coal is predominantly of the bituminous to sub-bituminous variety, which accounts for over 80% of the non-coking coal reserves in India. Bituminous coal is widely used in India, particularly in power plants, but the high ash content requires effective ash handling and disposal systems.

Option 1 is correct: Indian coal is characterized by a high ash content, which refers to the non-combustible residue left after burning coal. This is a significant characteristic of coal in India, making it less efficient and more environmentally damaging when burned.

Option 2 is correct: Indian coal has a low sulphur content, which makes it relatively cleaner than coals from other regions that have higher sulfur levels. This reduces the emissions of harmful sulfur dioxide when the coal is burned.

Option 3 is incorrect: Indian coal typically has a high ash fusion temperature (about 1,500°C). The ash fusion temperature refers to the temperature at which the ash in coal begins to soften and fuse, and Indian coal is known for its high ash fusion temperature, making it more resistant to fusion during combustion.

Explanation

Cotton, Groundnut and Rice are Kharif Crops in India while wheat is a Rabi Crop.

Explanation

Water is an indispensable resource for various indus-trial processes. In India, different industries use water in varying amounts, but the thermal power sector stands out as the high-est consumer due to its extensive cooling and steam generation requirements. While engineering, paper and pulp, and textiles industries do require water for various operations such as manufacturing, cleaning, and processing, their water consumption is comparatively much lower than that of thermal power plants.