UPSC 2022 Geography Questions with Answers

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Low, thick clouds, not the high clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth.

Statement 2 is incorrect: High, thin clouds, not the low clouds primarily transmit incoming solar radiation. At the same time, they trap some of the outgoing infrared radiation emitted by the Earth and radiate it back downward, thereby warming the surface of the Earth.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: The Tea Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with the Indian Tea Association, lists Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Kerala, and Karnataka as tea-producing States. Kerala: Known for its tea plantations, particularly in Wayanad and the Western Ghats. Himachal Pradesh: Known for tea cultivation, especially in Kangra region. Tripura: Also a tea-producing State, with significant tea cultivation. Andhra Pradesh: Not a tea-producing State compared to the others listed. However, some claim Araku Valley as a minor tea production centre in the state. India tea production during 2023-24 was 1382.03 Million Kgs increased by 7.06 Million Kgs over 2022-23

Explanation

Statement 1 and 2 are correct: In India, monazite serves as the primary source of rare earth elements and thorium. Rare earth metals comprise a group of 17 elements known for their lustrous, silvery-white appearance and soft, heavy metallic properties. China dominates global rare earth production, contributing around 60-70 % of the total output. These elements play a critical role in the production of electronics, magnets, and batteries. Monazite, abundant in India’s coastal sands, is rich in rare earth elements and thorium, a radioactive material. Thorium is crucial for India’s three stage nuclear energy program.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Monazite is not found in the entire Indian coastal sands. While it is found along most of the southern Indian coast, particularly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Orissa, it does not occur throughout the entire coastline.

Statement 4 is correct: As per Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules 2004, Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a wholly owned Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India (GOI) under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is the only entity which has been permitted to produce and process monazite, and handle it for domestic use as well as for export. Fig: Rare Earth Minerals

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: Gandikota canyon is situated on the Pennar River in Andhra Pradesh and is known as the Grand Canyon of India. Gandikota is a small village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Gorges are formed when rivers erode through gigantic rock formations over a long period of time. A gorge is any valley formed by a source of water flowing between tall slabs of steep rocks. The swift flowing waters of River Pennar cut through the granite rocks near the village of Gandikota, naturally eroding the rock and forming a deep valley.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Namcha Barwa is not situated in Garhwal Himalayas. It is part of Eastern Himalayas marking the easternmost section of the Himalayas. The peak lies inside the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, where the river takes a significant turn before entering India as the Brahmaputra.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The part of the Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers is known as Kumaon Himalayas. Nanda Devi is part of the Kumaon Himalayas located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The peak is flanked by the Rishi-ganga valley to the west and the Goriganga valley to the east. The surrounding Nanda Devi National Park was recognized for its unique biodiversity and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Nokrek Peak stands as the high-est point in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills, situated in northeastern In-dia. It belongs to the Shillong Plateau and is geographically separate from the Sikkim Himalaya which is located further north in Sikkim. It is recognized for its diverse flora and fauna and the Nokrek region has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Re-serve.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Ghataprabha Reservoir is built on the Ghataprabha River, a tributary of the Krishna River, located in the Belagavi district of Karnataka(not Telengana). It provides irrigation to the drought-prone regions of north Karnataka. The Gokak Falls is located on this river.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Gandhi Sagar Dam is constructed on the Chambal River is situated in the Mandsaur and Neemuch districts of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the five major dams of the Chambal Valley Project and plays a vital role in irrigation and hydroelectricity.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: The Indira Sagar Dam is the largest dam in India, in terms of volume of water stored in the reservoir. It is located in Madhya Pradesh, not Andhra Pradesh. It is built on the Narmada River and is one of the largest reservoirs in India.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: The Maithon Dam is built on the Barakar River, a tributary of the Damodar River. It is situated in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. It is a key component of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) project, controlling floods and generating hydroelectric power.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Lake Victoria, located in East Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania), is the largest lake in Africa. It remains full and functional, supporting millions of people and diverse ecosystems.

Option (b) is correct: Lake Faguibine in Mali, West Africa, has mostly dried up due to climate change, low rainfall, and human activities. It was once one of the largest lakes in West Africa, covering 590 km², but has shrunk since the 1970s due to severe droughts. The lake depends on seasonal flooding from the Niger River, but with less water, the area has turned into dry land. This has badly affected farming, fishing, and the livelihoods of people who relied on the lake.

Option (c) is incorrect: Lake Oguta, located in Nigeria, is a permanent freshwater lake. It has not dried up and continues to serve as an important water source for local communities.

Option (d) is incorrect: Lake Volta, located in Ghana, is one of the largest artificial reservoirs in the world. It was created by the construction of the Akosombo Dam on the Volta River. The lake remains full and continues to be a vital source of hydroelectric power, irrigation, and fishing.