UPSC IAS Exam 2016 notification has been released by Union Public Service Commission and form has been filed up by the UPSC IAS aspirants. So, this point of time, the UPSC IAS aspirants are required to understand the requirement of Civil Services Prelims Examination in order to qualify the IAS Prelim Exam. It requires a special focus on the IAS Exam Preparation and endless practice of the Subject Questions and Model Test Papers.
Geography is one of the important components of the IAS Syllabus which covers the major share of the IAS Prelims Questions. The General Studies Paper I of UPSC IAS Prelims Exam consist of Geography Questions ranges from 15 to 25 every year. So, the Civil Services aspirants have to do Preparation of GS Geography in a manner so, that they can score better in IAS Prelims Exam.
1. Consider the following statements regarding the mineral resource of India:
I. India possesses more than 100 minerals, out of which only 30 minerals have economic significance.
II. Reserves of petroleum and some non-ferrous metallic minerals are inadequate in India and in order to fulfil the internal demands for these minerals, the country is dependent on the imports from other countries.
III. After independence though export continues but also mineral production has picked up in consonance with the increasing industrial demands in the country.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
India is richly endowed with minerals. Our country possesses more than 100 minerals. Out of 100 minerals, there are 30 minerals which have economic significance. Some of the examples are coal, iron ore, manganese, bauxite, mica etc. The situation is also satisfactory in feldspar, florides, lime- stones, dolomite and gypsum etc. But the reserves of petroleum and some non-ferrous metallic minerals especially copper, lead, zinc, tin, graphite are inadequate. Non-ferous minerals are those which do not contain iron. Country fulfills internal demands for these minerals by importing them from other countries.
India was least industrialised and most of the minerals were exported during British period. After independence though export continues but also mineral production has picked up in consonance with the increasing industrial demands in the country. As a result the total value of all minerals produced in the country reached about Rs 744 billion in 2004 – 05 from Rs 892 million in 1950-51. Therefore, there has been 834 times increase during the past fifty five years.
2. Consider the following statements regarding distribution of mineral and energy resources in India:
I. Coal deposits are mostly associated with Gondwana system.
II. Dharwar and Cuddapah systems contain resources of major metallic minerals like copper, lead, zinc etc.
III. Major non-metallic minerals like limestone, dolomite, gypsum, calcium, sulphate etc are found in and upper Vindhyan system.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
The distribution of mineral and energy resources is uneven. It’s because occurrence of mineral resources are associated with certain types of geological formation. Coal deposits are mostly associated with Gondwana system, Dharwar and Cuddapah systems contain resources of major metallic minerals like copper, lead, zinc etc and major non-metallic minerals like limestone, dolomite, gypsum, calcium, sulphate etc are found in Cuddapah and upper Vindhyan system.
3. Consider the following statements regarding the deposits of minerals in North eastern plateaus of India:
I. It covers Chhotanagpur plateau, Orissa plateau and eastern Andhra plateau.
II. North eastern plateau belt contains rich deposits of a variety of minerals, specially used for metallurgical industries.
III. This region has also rich deposits coal, along the river valleys of Damodar, Mahanadi, Son etc.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. I and II
c. II and III
d. All of the above
Answer: d
Explanation:
It covers Chhotanagpur plateau, Orissa plateau and eastern Andhra plateau. This belt contains rich deposits of a variety of minerals, specially used for metallurgical industries. Prominent minerals that are large and widely distributed are iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, limestone, dolomite etc.
This region has also rich deposits coal, along the river valleys of Damodar, Mahanadi, Son etc. This region has also substantial amount deposit of copper, uranium, thorium, phosphate etc.
4. Consider the following statements regarding the mineral deposits found in South-western plateaus of India:
I. This region extends over Karnataka plateau and adjoining Tamil Nadu plateau and is rich in metallic minerals particularly in iron ore, manganese and bauxite and in some non-metallic minerals.
II. All the three gold mines of India are found in this region. However, coal is not found in this plateau region.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. Only II
c. Both I and II
d. Neither I nor II
Answer: c
Explanation:
This region extends over Karnataka plateau and adjoining Tamil Nadu plateau and is rich in metallic minerals particularly in iron ore, manganese and bauxite and in some non-metallic minerals. All the three gold mines of India are found in this region. However, coal is not found in this plateau region.
5. Consider the following statements regarding the mineral deposits found in North-western region of India:
I. This belt extends from gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat to the Aravalli range in Rajasthan.
II. Petroleum and natural gas are principal resources of this belt.
III. The region is known for reserves and production of several non-ferrous metals particularly copper, silver, lead, and Zinc.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. Only II
c. Both I and II
d. Neither I nor II
Answer: c
Explanation:
This belt extends from gulf of Khambhat in Gujarat to the Aravalli range in Rajasthan. Petroleum and natural gas are principal resources of this belt. Deposits of other minerals are small and scattered. However, it is known for reserves and production of several non-ferrous metals particularly copper, silver, lead, and Zinc.
6. The upper Brahmaputra valley is known for which of the following resources?
a. Zinc
b. Petroleum
c. Coal
d. Silver
Answer: b
Explanation:
Outside of these mineral belts, upper Brahmaputra valley is a significant petroleum producing area whereas Kerala possesses enormous concentration of heavy mineral sands. Outside these above mentioned areas minerals deposits are very poor, scattered and reserves are inconsistent.
7. Consider the following statements regarding coal reserves of India:
I. The bulk of the Indian coal reserves are of rather poor quality and the requirements of coking coal met through the imports from other countries.
II. In India, emphasis is being laid on setting thermal and super thermal power station on or near the coal fields and electricity generated is supplied to far off places through transmission lines.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. Only II
c. Both I and II
d. Neither I nor II
Answer: c
Explanation:
Unfortunately, the bulk of the Indian coal reserves are of rather poor quality. We meet part of our coking coal requirements through import. In India, emphasis is being laid on setting thermal and super thermal power station on or near the coal fields and electricity generated is supplied to far off places through transmission lines. At one time Indian railways were the largest consumer of coal. Since they have switched on to the use of diesel and electricity they are no more the direct consumer of coal.
8. Consider the following statements regarding distribution of coal fields in India:
I. Coal in India occurs in two important types of coal fields which are Gondwana coal fields and Tertiary coal fields.
II. Out of the total coal reserves and production in India, Gondwana coal fields contribute 98% and the rest 2% is produced by tertiary coal fields.
III. The Gondwana coal fields are located in the sedimentary rock systems of lower Gondwana Age.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
a. Only I
b. Only II
c. Both I and II
d. Neither I nor II
Answer: c
Explanation:
Coal in India occurs in two important types of coal fields. They are the Gondwana coal fields and Tertiary coal fields. Out of the total coal reserves and production in India, Gondwana coal fields contribute 98% and the rest 2% is produced by tertiary coal fields.
The Gondwana coal fields are located in the sedimentary rock systems of lower Gondwana Age. They are distributed chiefly in the river velleys of the Damodar (Jharkhand - West Bengal); the Son (Madhya Pradesh–Chhatisgarh); the Mahanadi (Orissa), the Godavari (Andhra Pradesh) and the Wardha (Maharashtra).
Tertiary coalfields occur in the extra-peninsular areas which include Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Sikkim. Besides lignite or brown coal are found in coastal areas of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and in land basins of Rajasthan.
9. Which of the following states has the second largest coal fields in India after Jharkhand?
a. West Bengal
b. Bihar
c. Odisha
d. Madhya Pradesh
Answer: a
Explanation:
Jharkhand ranks highest in production as well as reserves of coal in India. The coal deposits of Jharkhand mainly occur in Dhanbad, Hazaribagh and Palamu district. In Dhanbad district the most important coalfields of Jharia and Chandrapura are located.
The oldest coal field of Raniganj is situated in West Bengal. It is the second largest coalfield in India. Raniganj coalfield stretches over Burdwan and Purulia districts. In Chhatisgarh, coal deposits occur in Bilaspur and Sarguja districts.
In Madhya Pradesh, coal deposits are found in Sidhi, Shahdol and Chhindwara districts. Singrauli coalfield in Shadhol and Sidhi districts is the largest in the state. In Andhra Pradesh, coal occurs in the district of Adilabad, Karimnagar, Warangal, Khammam and West Godavari. In Orissa, Talcher is an important coal field.
Other coal field are in Sambalpur and Sundargarh districts. In Maharashtra the coal fields are found in the districts of Chandrapura, Yeotmal and Nagpur.
10. With reference to the coal reserves in India which of the following statements is incorrect?
a. Coal is used as raw material in chemical and fertiliser industries and in the production of thousands of items of daily use.
b. Coals are mainly found in the Gondwana and Tertiary coal field.
c. The states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa are the leading producers of coal.
d. The bulk of lignite reserves are found in and around Kolar in Karnataka.
Answer: d
Explanation:
Coal is used as raw material in chemical and fertiliser industries and in the production of thousands of items of daily use. Coals are mainly found in the Gondwana and Tertiary coal field.
The states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa are the leading producers of coal. The bulk of lignite reserves are found in and around Neyveli in Tamil Nadu.
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