Indian Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was established in 1948, making it India’s first multipurpose river valley project after independence. Operating in West Bengal and Jharkhand, it focuses on flood control, irrigation, hydropower generation, and industrial water supply. DVC manages four major dams (Tilaiya, Konar, Maithon, Panchet) and the Durgapur Barrage. It supports agriculture, industrial development, and electricity distribution across eight states. Inspired by the Tennessee Valley Authority (USA), DVC plays a crucial role in regional development and environmental management.

Statement 2 is correct: The DVC’s infrastructure includes both thermal and gas power stations, in addition to hydroelectric power plants. The DVC has a significant number of coal-based thermal power stations. Some of the major ones include:

Mejia Thermal Power Station (West Bengal) Bokaro Thermal Power Station (Jharkhand) Chandrapura Thermal Power Station (Jharkhand) Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station (West Bengal) Maithon Gas Turbine Station is a gas-based thermal power plant located at Maithon in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. It’s owned and operated by the DVC.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Andhra Pradesh does not have the longest coastline in India. Gujarat has the longest coast-line among Indian states, stretching approximately 1214 km. Andhra Pradesh ranks second among states with a coastline of around 972 km. When considering both states and Union Territories, Gujarat has the longest coastline among the states, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (~1,076 km), and Maharashtra (~720 km). However, the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has the longest coastline overall, spanning about 1,962 km.

Statement 2 is incorrect: As of 2004, Maharashtra had the highest number of airports in India, not Gujarat. It included major airports like Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport), Pune, Nagpur, and others, along with several smaller domestic airports. Even today Gujarat does not have the highest number of airports in India. While Gujarat has a good number of airports, Uttar Pradesh, has the most. The number of airports can also fluctuate with new airports being built. Currently, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of operational airports in India, with 15 airports. This includes both domestic and international airports, such as Lucknow, Varanasi, Kushinagar, and Ayodhya. The state’s extensive aviation infrastructure supports regional connectivity and economic development.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: Among the given options, the longest National Highway route is Kolkata-Hajira, which spans approximately 1,946 km. It connects Kolkata in West Bengal to Hajira in Gujarat, traversing multiple states and serving as a critical east-west corridor.

Option (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

The Agra-Mumbai Highway is approximately 1,190 km long. This was a significant route, connecting major cities. Chennai-Thane Highway involves multiple highways. It’s roughly around 1,350-1,400 km. Pune-Machilipatnam Highway is likely in the range of 800-900 km. The longest highway in India is now NH 44. It runs from Srinagar to Kanyakumari, the official length of National Highway 44 is approximately 4,112 kilometers (2,555 miles).

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Tidal phenomena are influenced by the shape of coastal features. A common misconception is that gulfs with narrow openings and wider interiors experience amplified tides. In reality, the opposite is true. Gulfs characterized by wide entrances and narrowing interiors, like a funnel, tend to exhibit higher tides. This occurs because the incoming tidal surge is compressed as it moves into the narrowing gulf, forcing the water level to rise. Options (b), (c) and (d) are correct:

Tidal currents, on the other hand, are generated when a gulf or bay is connected to the open sea through a narrow channel, as the water flows in and out with the tides. A tidal bore occurs when an incoming tide moves into a narrow, shallow, and funnel-shaped estuary, creating a sudden upstream surge of water. The narrowing estuary amplifies the tide’s height and velocity, while the shallow depth slows the river’s flow, allowing the tide to push upstream forcefully. This phenomenon is common in areas with a high tidal range, such as the Hooghly River in India and the Qiantang River in China. The tidal influence on the Hooghly River’s mouth is critical for the Kolkata Port as it facilitates navigation despite the river’s shallow depth. The semi-diurnal tides, with a range of up to 5 meters, help maintain water levels, enabling large vessels to access the port. Additionally, tidal currents assist in flushing out silt and sediments, which would otherwise accumulate and obstruct navigation channels. This natural tidal mechanism, combined with dredging efforts, ensures year-round operability of the port.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is true: The west-flowing rivers of Peninsular India, such as the Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, and Mandovi, generally do not form deltas due to the following reasons:

Steep Gradient and Short Course: These rivers flow through steep slopes of the Western Ghats and have a short course before reaching the Arabian Sea. This rapid flow prevents sediment deposition. Narrow Continental Shelf: The western coast has a narrow continental shelf, causing sediments to be quickly carried into deeper waters rather than accumulating near the mouth to form deltas. High Energy Waves and Currents: The Arabian Sea experiences strong wave action and currents that disperse sediments away from river mouths, further inhibiting delta formation. Reason (R) is false: While some west-flowing rivers might carry less alluvial sediment compared to east-flowing rivers that tra-verse vast plains, it’s not accurate to say they carry no alluvial sediments. The absence of deltas is due to the factors like the steep gradient of the rivers, the nature of the terrain they flow through, and the lack of a significant continental shelf where sediment could be deposited to form a delta. Thus, Assertion (A) is true and Reason (R) is false.

Explanation

Assertion (A) is false: Mangalore, being a coastal city on the western coast of India, receives significantly more rain-fall than Bangalore. Coastal areas in this region are directly impacted by the southwest monsoon. Reason (R) is true: Bangalore does receive rainfall from both the southwest and northeast monsoons. However, the amount of rainfall from the northeast monsoon is relatively small, and the rainfall from the southwest monsoon is also less compared to coastal areas like Mangalore. While the reason is true, it does not explain why Bangalore would have more rainfall than Mangalore; in fact, the opposite is the case. Thus, Assertion (A) is false but Reason (R) is true.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: As of 2004, Haryana has the minimum total forest cover among the given states. Haryana’s forest cover was only 1587 sq. km, accounting for 3.59 % of its geographical area, significantly lower than Sikkim, Goa, and Kerala, which have much higher forest coverage percentages. Even today, Haryana has the minimum total forest cover among the given states. Due to its predominantly agricultural and urban landscape, forest cover in Haryana is relatively low compared to states like Sikkim, Goa, and Kerala, which have more significant forested areas. According to the India State of Forest Report (SFR) 2023, Haryana has a total forest cover of 1602.44 square kilometers, which constitutes about 3.62% of the state’s geographical area, way below the national target of having 33% of forest cover. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect: As of 2004, the forest cover data for the other three states is as follows:

Sikkim: Forest cover was 3,262 sq. km, constituting 45.97% of its geographical area. Goa: Forest cover was 2,229 sq. km, constituting around 60.21% of its geographical area. Kerala: Forest cover was approximately 11,125 sq. km, constituting around 28.90% of its geographical area.