29th September 2020, Static Quiz on Indian Geography

Solution: A
Justification: Statement 1: An interglacial period (or alternatively interglacial) is a geological interval of warmer global average temperature lasting thousands of years that separates consecutive glacial periods within an ice age. It is a strong evidence of climate change.
Statement 2: Moraines are glacial deposits (soil). Permafrost is frozen carbon within rocks. It does not attack or erode moraines. Permafrost is a deposit that is revealed only when the rocks melt and are exposed. Tree rings also show evidence for wet and dry periods. Also, for e.g. near Rajasthan, 3000-1700 BC was a period of higher rainfall, with 2000-1700 BC supporting Harappan civilization. Dry conditions accentuated since then.

Solution: C
Justification: It is a geophysical concept invoked in 1915 by Alfred Wegener to explain his ideas of Continental drift. He suggested that a differential gravitational force (horizontal component of centrifugal force) and the Earth’s flattening would cause continental masses to drift slowly towards the equator. This force is caused due to the spinning of earth. The hypothesis was expanded in 1920 but the force is now known to be far too weak to cause plate tectonics. The toughness of the sub layers of the Earth’s crust is much stronger than assumed by Wegener.

Solution: C
Justification: Statement 1: India is the third largest natural rubber producing country of the world, next to Thailand and Indonesia, producing about 9 per cent of the global output. Kerala is the largest producer, followed by TN.
Statement 2: So far as artificial/synthetic rubber is concerned, Chemical & Petrochemical Industry is delicensed and decontrolled and Government acts as facilitator in this sector.
Statement 3: In order to increase production of Natural Rubber in the country the Government through the Rubber Board is implementing the scheme “Sustainable and Inclusive Development of Natural Rubber Sector” wherein support is provided for plantation development and extension, strengthening research, technology upgradation and market development, Human resource development etc.

Solution: B
Justification: Statement 1 and 2: These are natural lakes. Natural lakes are generally found in mountainous areas, rift zones, and areas with ongoing glaciation.
Statement 3: This is located in Rajgir, a Buddhist site and a tourist destination.
Statement 4: Hussain Sagar is a heart shaped lake in Hyderabad built by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah in 1563, during the rule of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah. It is spread across an area of 5.7 square kilometers and is fed by River Musi. Artificial Lakes are constructed for industrial or agricultural use, for hydro-electric power generation or domestic water supply, or for aesthetic or recreational purposes. Guru Gobind Sagar is an example of an artificial lake. It supports the Bhakra Nangal Hydel Project.

Solution: A
Justification: As much as 55% of India’s total water supply comes from groundwater resources. Irrigation accounts for nearly 90% of total groundwater water used. Its share is much higher in agriculture-heavy states. Surface water is the major source of water for the industries (41%) followed by groundwater (35%) and municipal water (24%). The use of municipal water is limited to industries located in urban/ peri-urban areas. Sectors like pharmaceuticals, power, food processing and agriculture feel the brunt of poor water quality. High costs for obtaining water are hindering the business interest of smaller industries and the ones which are located in the drier regions of the country.

Solution: A
Justification: The diagram shows the findings of the ICRISAT data. The Indo-Gangetic plain, and parts of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are well irrigated. But, parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are still extremely vulnerable to climate change on account of not being well irrigated.

Solution: C
Justification: Hard rock structure does make setting up irrigation structures more difficult, but irrigation intensity does not reduce in the fashion as explained by statement 1. It is a bit complex and depends on a number of factors such as availability of river catchments, rock structure, dispersal of agricultural land, state investment in irrigation etc.

Solution: B
Justification: It is the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers. The movement happens because saltwater has a higher mineral content than freshwater, it is denser and has a higher water pressure. As a result, saltwater can push inland beneath the freshwater, which can lead to contamination of drinking water sources and other consequences.

Solution: D
Justification: Statement 1: Western coasts contribute 75% to the total fish catch, and eastern coast only 25%. So, 1 is wrong.
Statement 2: There is no such report. Indian Ocean is the least exploited of all oceans. The marine potential is around 20-25 million tonnes at present, only 11-12% is caught at present. The actual reasons are as here:
 Only 11% of fishing grounds are more than 200 m deep.
 India has tropical climate in which fish cannot be preserved for a long time. Heavy expenditure on refrigeration and deep freezing increases the market price of the fish.
 Indian coast does not have many gulfs, bays, estuaries and backwaters as is the case with Norway. As such, it lacks good fishing grounds
 Marine fishing in India is a seasonal phenomenon. Strong winds during the monsoon season accompanied by tropical cyclones often hinder the fishing operation.
 Majority of Indians are vegetarians and do not eat fish.
 About 60 per cent of the fishermen still use small non-mechanised boats. They normally do nut venture beyond 10 km. from the coast and in water more than 18 metres deep. They have to come back to the coast at night.
 Lack of landing, freezing, canning, transport and organised markets are other handicaps faced by fishing in India

Solution: B
Justification: Drip irrigation is a form of irrigation that saves water and fertilizer by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of many different plants, either onto the soil surface or directly onto the root zone, through a network of valves, pipes, tubing, and emitters. It is done through narrow tubes that deliver water directly to the base of the plant. Water is applied close to plants so that only part of the soil in which the roots grow is wetted unlike surface and sprinkler irrigation, which involves wetting the whole soil profile. With drip irrigation water, applications are more frequent (usually every 1-3 days) than with other methods and this provides a very favourable high moisture level in the soil in which plants can flourish. Drip irrigation is most suitable for row crops (vegetables, soft fruit), tree and vine crops where one or more emitters can be provided for each plant. Generally only high value crops are considered because of the high capital costs of installing a drip system.