Q261. The primary objective of the National Mineral Policy of India regarding conservation is to ensure:
Indian Geography: RAS Prelims MCQs
462 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on Indian geography are on this page, in 9 chapters. They cover the physiographic divisions, rivers and lakes, climate, irrigation, agriculture, minerals, industrial regions, the iron and steel, textile and sugar industries, and petrochemical, IT and emerging industries. Each question has an answer and an explanation, in the formats the exam uses.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 261–270 of 462 questions
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Q262. Mineral conservation often emphasizes the recycling of scrap metals. What is the direct effect of utilizing scrap metal in industries like steel and aluminium?
Explanation
Utilizing scrap metal in industrial production significantly conserves natural resources by reducing the need to extract and process virgin ores. Recycling metals like steel and aluminium is also far less energy-intensive than primary production from raw minerals. This practice lowers the overall environmental footprint of the manufacturing sector, decreases greenhouse gas emissions, and extends the lifespan of the country’s finite mineral reserves.
Q263. Which of the following represents the correct chronological sequence of the commercial discovery/development of major oil and gas fields in India?
Explanation
The history of oil discovery in India began with Digboi in Assam during the late 1800s. Decades later, the major offshore field at Mumbai High was developed in the 1970s. This was followed by significant natural gas discoveries in the Krishna- Godavari Basin. More recently, the Mangala field in Rajasthan’s Barmer Basin was brought into commercial production, representing a major onshore success.
Q264. Which of the following practices is an exception and is NOT considered a measure for the sustainable use and conservation of minerals?
Explanation
Sustainable mineral use involves scientific methods, recycling, and substituting scarce minerals with more abundant alternatives. In contrast, unregulated rat-hole mining is a dangerous and unscientific practice that leads to severe environmental degradation, including water pollution and land subsidence. It also poses significant safety risks to miners and results in the inefficient extraction of resources, which contradicts the core principles of mineral conservation.
Q265. Consider the following statements regarding the challenges of sustainable mineral use:
I. Mining operations often lead to deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
II. Proper disposal of mine waste and reclamation of abandoned mines are costly and complex.
III. Unscientific mining methods reduce the life span of mineral reserves.
IV. The use of fossil fuels in the extraction process contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
V. Sustainable mining mandates that mineral extraction should purely focus on immediate economic gains irrespective of environmental impact.
Which of the above statements represents the correct understanding of sustainable use challenges?
I. Mining operations often lead to deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
II. Proper disposal of mine waste and reclamation of abandoned mines are costly and complex.
III. Unscientific mining methods reduce the life span of mineral reserves.
IV. The use of fossil fuels in the extraction process contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
V. Sustainable mining mandates that mineral extraction should purely focus on immediate economic gains irrespective of environmental impact.
Which of the above statements represents the correct understanding of sustainable use challenges?
Explanation
Sustainable mineral management faces several challenges, including environmental impacts like deforestation and the technical complexity of mine reclamation. Unscientific mining methods and the high carbon footprint of extraction processes also hinder sustainability. However, sustainable mining does not focus purely on immediate economic gains; instead, it requires balancing economic benefits with environmental protection and social responsibility to ensure long-term resource availability.
Q266. Given below are two statements:
Statement I: The discovery of hydrocarbons in the Barmer basin drastically transformed the economic landscape of western Rajasthan.
Statement II: The Barmer basin oil fields are managed exclusively by the State Government of Rajasthan without any central or private involvement.
Select the correct option:
Statement I: The discovery of hydrocarbons in the Barmer basin drastically transformed the economic landscape of western Rajasthan.
Statement II: The Barmer basin oil fields are managed exclusively by the State Government of Rajasthan without any central or private involvement.
Select the correct option:
Explanation
The discovery of oil and gas in the Barmer basin has significantly boosted the economy of western Rajasthan by creating jobs and infrastructure. However, the management of these fields involves collaboration between the Central Government, the State Government, and private companies through production sharing contracts. It is not an exclusive operation of the State Government, as national energy security and private investment are involved.
Q267. Which of the following pairs correctly identifies a challenge in mineral conservation with its appropriate mitigation strategy?
Explanation
A major challenge in the mineral sector is the gradual depletion of high-quality ore deposits. To mitigate this, industries must adopt advanced beneficiation and processing technologies that allow for the economic utilization of low-grade ores. This strategy helps extend the life of existing mineral reserves and ensures a stable supply of raw materials, which is a key component of sustainable mineral conservation.
Q268. The Khetri copper belt is historically significant not just for modern mining, but because evidence suggests mining activities here date back to which ancient civilization?
Explanation
The Khetri copper belt in Rajasthan has a long history of human interaction, with archaeological evidence suggesting that copper mining and smelting activities occurred there during the Indus Valley Civilization. Artifacts from sites like Ganeshwar indicate that this region was a primary source of copper for ancient peoples. This historical continuity highlights the enduring geological and economic importance of the Aravalli range’s mineral wealth.
Q269. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Codes:
| Mineral | Specific Mine/Field |
|---|---|
| A. Iron Ore | i. Hutti |
| B. Coal | ii. Zawar |
| C. Gold | iii. Noamundi |
| D. Zinc | iv. Jharia |
Explanation
India’s diverse mineral resources are found in specific iconic mines. Noamundi is a major source of iron ore in the Jharkhand-Odisha belt. Jharia is the largest and most famous coalfield in Jharkhand, known for coking coal. The Hutti mines in Karnataka are currently the primary source of domestic gold. Zawar in Rajasthan is a globally significant site for the extraction of lead and zinc.
Q270. Which of the following best defines a footloose industry in the context of industrial location factors?
Explanation
Footloose industries represent manufacturing sectors that are not tied to specific locations by raw material availability or weight considerations. These industries typically produce high-value products like electronics or jewelry where transportation costs form a negligible part of total production costs. Consequently, they enjoy the flexibility to operate in varied environments across different geographic regions without significant economic disadvantages.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 261 | (b) Sustainable mining practices with a zero- waste objective and scientific exploitation |
| 262 | (b) Reduces energy consumption and virgin ore depletion. |
| 263 | (b) Digboi, Mumbai High, KG Basin, Mangala (Barmer) |
| 264 | (c) Unregulated artisanal rat-hole mining |
| 265 | (c) I, II, III and IV only |
| 266 | (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect |
| 267 | (b) Depletion of high-grade ores - Upgrading technology to process low-grade ores economically |
| 268 | (d) Indus Valley Civilization |
| 269 | (a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii |
| 270 | (b) An industry that can be located in diverse locations without transportation cost penalties |
Key facts from Indian Geography
- The RPSC syllabus lists Indian physiography, climate, rivers and lakes, irrigation, important crops, metallic and non-metallic minerals, and industrial regions and industries.
- Physiography and rivers are asked through locations: the highest peak of a range, the origin of a river, a lake and its state.
- Minerals and industries questions link a mineral or plant to its State, for example Khetri copper in Jhunjhunu or Bhilai steel in Chhattisgarh.
- Agriculture and irrigation questions test crops, their leading States and the major projects and disputes.
- The questions often include Rajasthan items, such as the Luni, Zawar and the Indira Gandhi Canal.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Indian Geography?
This page has 462 practice MCQs on Indian Geography. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the Indian geography set cover?
Nine chapters: physiographic divisions of India, major rivers and lakes, climate, irrigation, agriculture (food, commercial and plantation crops), minerals (metallic and non-metallic), major industrial regions, iron and steel, textile and sugar industries, and petrochemical, IT and emerging industries.
Is Indian geography in the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. RPSC lists the physiographic divisions, climate, rivers and lakes, irrigation, agriculture, minerals and industries of India in the Geography of World and India section of the syllabus.
How should I prepare Indian geography for RAS Prelims?
Keep a map of India and mark every place that comes up: peaks, rivers, lakes, mines and plants. Attempt each chapter, read the explanations and revise State-wise lists of crops, minerals and industries.