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

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: Sugarcane is the least water-ef-ficient crop. It requires around 1800 to 2200 mm of water, making it a water-intensive crop. It has high water requirements, primarily because it is grown in tropical climates where irrigation is essential for optimal growth.

Option (b) is incorrect: Major oilseeds like soyabean, castor seeds, cotton seeds, linseed and sunflower, etc. requires around 672.4 mm of water, which is considerably lower than sugarcane’s water needs, making it more water-efficient.

Option (c) is incorrect: Millets can be grown even in dry regions without irrigation facilities. Pearl millet is a drought-resistant crop that requires only 350 mm of water, making it highly water-efficient, especially in dry regions.

Option (d) is incorrect: Red gram (pulses) requires 200-450 mm of water, making it relatively more water-efficient compared to crops like sugarcane. Crop Water Requirement (mm) Crop Water Requirement (mm) Rice 900-2500 Chillies 500 Wheat 450-650 Sunflower 350-500 Sorghum 450-650 Castor 500 Maize 500-800 Bean 300-500 Sugarcane 1500-2500 Cabbage 380-500 Groundnut 500-700 Pea 350-500 Cotton 700-1300 Banana 1200-2200 Soybean 450-700 Citrus 900-1200 Tobacco 400-600 Pineapple 700-1000 Tomato 600-800 Gingelly 350-400 Potato 500-700 Ragi 400-450 Onion 350-550 Grape 500-1200

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: In India, the important pulse crops grown in winter (rabi) are chickpea, lentil, lathyrus, field pea and kidney bean. However, green gram, black gram and cowpea are grown in both spring and rainy season. Black gram (Urad dal) can be cultivated in both kharif (monsoon) and rabi (winter) seasons in India, making it a versatile crop in the country’s agricultural cycle.

Statement 2 is incorrect: According to the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES), the share of pulse production in 2018-19 was as follows: Tur (15.34%), Gram (43.29%), Moong (Green gram, 10.04%), Urad (Black gram, 13.93%), Lentil (6.67%), and other pulses (10%). Green gram alone does not account for nearly half of India’s total pulse production.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Over the past three decades, both kharif pulses and rabi pulses have experienced increased production due to improved agricultural practices, increased area under cultivation, and better support for pulse farming.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct: Cotton is India’s most important fiber crop, accounting for about 25% of the world’s cotton production. Cotton growing condition requirements:

Temperature and climate: Cotton flourishes in a subtropical climate with optimal temperatures ranging from 21°C to 30°C. Rainfall: Cotton needs 50 to 100 cm of rainfall during its growing period, but excessive or waterlogged conditions can negatively affect its growth. Soil Type: Cotton grows best in light, well-drained, moisture-retaining soils, especially the black cotton soil of the Deccan Plateau, which has high moisture-retention capacity. Frost-Free Days: Requires at least 210 frost-free days and bright sunshine to complete its life cycle. Growing Season: It is a kharif crop and typically takes 6 to 8 months to mature Top Cotton Producing States: Gujarat > Maharashtra > Telangana > Andhra Pradesh > Rajasthan. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:

Jute: Requires high rainfall (150-200 cm) and humid weather, not subtropical conditions. Sugarcane: Requires higher rainfall (75-200 cm) and thrives mainly in tropical regions. Tea: Requires cool, humid conditions, heavy rainfall (150-300 cm), and acidic soils, unlike the drier conditions needed for cotton.

Explanation

In India, minerals are classified as major minerals and minor minerals under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. Major minerals are those specified in the First Schedule of the Act and are under the regulatory control of the central government. Minor minerals are defined under Section 3(e) of the Act and are regulated by state governments.

Option (d) is correct: The following are Major minerals:

Chromite is an oxide mineral of chromium and iron and is the primary source for chromium. It is extensively used in metallurgy, refractory materials, and chemicals. Kyanite is a typically blue silicate mineral used in refractory and ceramic products. Sillimanite is an alumino-silicate mineral used in high-temperature ceramics and refractories. Bentonite is a type of clay formed from volcanic ash and is primarily used in drilling mud, binder, purifier, and absorbent applications. In India, bentonite is officially classified as a minor mineral.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: According to Section 3(e) of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), ‘minor minerals’ include building stones, gravel, ordinary clay, ordinary sand, and other minerals that the Central Government may declare as minor minerals.

Statement 2 is incorrect: State Governments have the power to grant mining leases for minor minerals under Section 15 of the MMDR Act. The Central Government does not have the power to frame rules related to the grant of minor minerals. The power to frame rules for minor minerals lies with the State Governments under Section 15(1A) of the MMDR Act.

Statement 3 is correct: Section 23C of the MMDR Act empowers State Governments to make rules for preventing illegal mining, transportation, and storage of minerals, including minor minerals.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The area under rice cultivation in India, in 2019-20 was 43.7 million hectares while in 2023-24, it became 47.6 million hectares and is highest amongst all.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The annual area under Jowar ranges between 4 and 5 million hectares while the oilseed area is 27.1 million hectares (2019-20) i.e area under the cultivation of Jowar is less than that of oilseeds.

Statement 3 is correct: The area under sugarcane cultivation is 4.6 million hectares (2019-20), 4.9 million hectares (2020-21), 5.2 million hectares (2021-22). The area under cotton cultivation is 13.5 million hectares (2019-20), 13.3 million hectares (2020-21), and 12.4 million hectares (2021-22). Hence the area under cotton cultivation is more than sugar cultivation.

Statement 4 is incorrect: With respect to the year in which the question is asked The area under sugarcane cultivation does not seem to be steadily decreasing. The area under sugarcane cultivation is 4.99 million hectares (2013-14), 5.066 million hectares (2014-15), 4.953 million hectares (2015-16). Addition Information:

As per the Economic Survey 2023-24 Statistics, the area under cultivation (in million hectares) for the above crops over the past five year is:

Crop 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 Cotton 13.5 13.3 12.4 12.9 12.7 Rice 43.7 45.8 46.3 47.8 47.6 Jowar 4.8 4.4 3.8 3.5 4.0 Oil-seeds 27.1 28.8 29.0 30.2 30.1 Sugarcane 4.6 4.9 5.2 5.9 5.6

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: According to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 (MMDR Amendment Act), state governments have the power to auction non-coal mines. The central government sets the guidelines for the auction process, but the actual auction of non-coal mines is conducted by the state governments.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do have gold mines. Andhra Pradesh: Gold is found in Ramagiri in the Anantapur district. Jharkhand: Both alluvial and native gold are present, with alluvial gold found in the sands of the Subarnarekha River and Sona Nadi, and native gold found near Lowa in the Singhbhum district. Largest gold ore deposits in India are found in Bihar (based on recent discovery but not certified yet by GSI), Rajasthan, and Karnataka with Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand having smaller reserves.

Statement 3 is correct: Rajasthan has significant iron ore deposits. Iron ore deposits, primarily hematite and magnetite, are found in Rajasthan, specifically in districts like Jaipur, Udaipur, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Bhilwara, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa, and Banswara. These deposits contribute to the production of iron in India.

Explanation

Shale gas is a type of natural gas that is trapped within shale formations, which are fine-grained sedimentary rocks. Un-like conventional natural gas, which is found in porous reservoirs like sandstone, shale gas is tightly bound within the rock and requires advanced extraction techniques to release it.

Option (d) is correct: The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG) has identified six basins as potentially shale gas bearing. These are: Cambay, Assam-Arakan, Gondwana, Krishna-Godavari Basin, Cauvery Basin and the Indo Gangetic plain.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Saltpetre (Potassium nitrate) is not used in steel production. It is used in the production of fertilizers, rocket propellants, fireworks, and tree stump removal.

Option (b) is incorrect: Rock phosphate is used in the production of fertilizers, not in steel production. It is primarily a source of phosphorus.

Option (c) is correct: Coking coal is crucial for steel production. It is used in the process of converting iron ore into iron and then into steel. India has limited reserves of high-quality coking coal, and more than 60% of the coking coal requirement of the domestic steel industry is met through imports.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Drought-Prone Area Programme (DPAP) was launched in 1973-74 to mitigate the effects of drought in drought-prone areas by promoting sustainable development. It is implemented under the Ministry of Rural Development, not the Ministry of Agriculture. The programme focuses on watershed development, soil conservation, and water harvesting to improve agricultural productivity in drought-affected regions.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: The Desert Development Programme aims to combat desertification and mitigate the adverse effects of drought in desert areas. This programme is also over-seen by the Department of Land Resources within the Ministry of Rural Development, not the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The DDP aims to minimize the adverse effects of drought and control desertification through the rejuvenation of the natural resource base in identified desert areas.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: The National Watershed Devel-opment Project for Rainfed Areas (NWDPRA) focuses on the development of rainfed regions to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. This project is implemented by the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, not the Ministry of Rural Development.