Questions

General Studies [M] Geography

Geography
No. Questions 1 Examine the distribution of oil refineries in India. Why the Aravallis are called a divide between Mewar 2 & Marwar? What is Golden Quadrilateral? How will it help in the 3 economic development of the country? 4 El Nino, La Nina & monsoon rains 5 The Sambhar lake 6 The Sundarbans 7 Bombay High 8 Sabarkantha & Banaskantha Describe the major characteristics of the rivers of 9 Peninsular India. Account for the very high concentration of salt 10 extraction industries in the Saurashtra & South Tamilnadu Coast. State the four distinctive stages of Indian Demographic 11 history. 12 Define Terai Region. 13 Mention the area of Shola forests in India. 14 Who are Todas & where do they live? Name any four principal languages of Andaman & 15 Nicobar Islands. 16 What is MRTS? Where it is in operation? Give an account of the tea plantations of Assam & West 17 Bengal and state the economic significance of these plantations. Discuss the distribution of winds & rainfall over India 18 in the summer monsoon season. Define the concept of 'growth centres' & evaluate its 19 relevance in regional planning in India. Name the main petroleum producing areas in the 20 country. 21 Jhum cultivation - process & consequences 22 Census definition of urban places 23 Kaziranga National Park 24 Khetri Copper Project What are mangroves & in what way are they useful to 25 us? 26 Explain the causes of the Indian Monsoon. Had there been no Himalayas, what would have been 27 the winter climate in north India? 28 El Nino, La Nina & monsoon rains Year 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2004 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2003 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2002 2001 2001 2001 2001 Marks 2*10 2*10 2*10 5*2 5*2 5*2 5*2 5*2 2*10 2*10 2*10 5*2 5*2 5*2 5*2 5*2 2*10 2*10 2*10 5*2 5*2 5*2 5*2 5*2 2*10 2*10 2*10 5*2 Words 125 125 125 20 20 20 20 20 125 125 125 20 20 20 20 20 125 125 125 20 20 20 20 20 125 125 125 20 1

Questions

General Studies [M] Geography

29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55

Hirakud Project Glacier Two prominent left bank tributaries of river Ganges Equinox Mention the agro-climatic regions of India stating the basis of classification. Explain the major racial groups of India. What is waste land? Write a note in prospects of wasteland development in India. Linguistic regions of India Nagarjunsagar Project Mango Showers Multi-level planning in India India's Laterite soils How is deforestation of Himalayas disturbing the ecological balance of north India? What is dry farming? Discuss its relevance in augmenting the food supply in India. Name the mega cities of India & mention their specific problems. What is the importance of Indian Ocean for India? What are the geo-economic causes of underdevelopment of various regions in India? Which parts of India have been identified as draught prone? Mention the norms for such identification. Describe the changes that have taken place in the direction of international trade of India since independence. How do the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep differ in the geological evolution & topographical conditions? Discuss the origin of Monsoon in India. What measures has the Government of India taken for the development of Tribal areas in India? Why is there a demand for making Uttaranchal a Separate Hill State in India? Why has the Narmada River Valley Project attracted the attention of the common people? Mention the advantages which India enjoys being at the head of Indian Ocean. What is shifting cultivation? Describe its salient characteristics with reference to India. Where do mangroves forests occur in India? Describe their main characteristics.

2001 2001 2001 2001 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 2000 1999 1999 1999 1999 1998 1998 1998 1998 1997 1997 1997 1997 1996 1996 1996

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20 20 20 20 125 125 125 20 20 20 20 20 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150

Questions

General Studies [M] Geography

56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74

What is ozone hole? How is it formed & what effect does it have on earth? What do you understand by Deccan trap? Describe its characteristics. Why have the rivers of peninsular India well-defined rigid channels in sharp contrast to the Himalayan rivers? What is intensity of rainfall? Discuss its importance to Indian farmers. What is drip irrigation? Why is it considered the most efficient method of irrigation? Why the soils of Malwa in Madhya Pradesh are black while those in Karnataka red? Discuss the relative fertility of these soils. Which part of India receives more rainfall from the north-east monsoon than from the south-west monsoon? Explain why it is so. What is 'exclusive economic zone' of a country? Discuss its relevance to India. What is dryland agriculture? Discuss its importance to India. Give your assessment of the soundness of large river valley projects with high dams vis--vis smaller river valley projects. Which parts of India are described as 'arid zones'? Comment on the characteristics & economic activities prevalent in these regions. What is remote-sensing? Describe the status of remotesensing in India. What is social forestry? Describe how social forestry can help in the uplift of the rural poor. Examine the recent developments that have taken place identifying & mapping land resources in India. Explain the factors affecting the distribution of population in India, bringing out the variation in density over space. Explain the concept of National Water Grid & its objectives. What is the need for soil conservation? What are the major measures taken by the Government towards conserving soil in India? Comment on detrimental effects of canal irrigation. As part of the process of 'urban sprawl', distinguish between urban peripheral growth, suburbs & satellite towns, giving at least, one example of each type from any metropolitan centre of India.

1996 1995 1995 1995 1995 1994 1994 1994 1994 1993 1993 1993 1993 1991 1991 1990 1990 1990 1990

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150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150

Questions

General Studies [M] Geography

75 76 77

78

79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86

What are the salient features of the hill economy of Northern India, & how do these account for its relative backwardness? How has modern technology contributed to a better forecasting of weather? Mention the particular efforts made in India in this regard. What geopolitical & economic advantages are enjoyed by India due to its location in the southern part of the Continent of Asia? Examine the production & supply of edible oil in India. What are its main source crops & where are they grown? Do we have to import edible oil? State the types of environmental pollution & some of the places where it has occurred due to the progress of industrialisation in India. Which parts of India were mainly affected by the severe draught of 1987-88? What were its main consequences? What are black soils? Give their distribution in India and explain their uses & problems. Mention any three tribal areas in India. What are the main components of the Government's tribal development programme? Despite the fact that half of India is outside the tropic of cancer, India is called a tropical country. Why is it so? What is the exclusive economic zone of India? Why has it been constituted? What is the need for Coal Conservation? What are the major components of India's Coal Conservation Policy? Why do you understand by Ecological Balance? Why is this balance necessary? What is being done in India today to maintain this balance? List major areas of wasteland in India. Write a note on the prospects of the wasteland development in the country explaining its impact on the food, fodder & duel supply. What is 'White Revolution'? Discuss the different factors which have helped to bring about this revolution in India. What are laterite soils? Where do we find these in India? Explain their problem & the most suitable use. How far is it justifiable to state that the financial budget of the country is a gamble, against the Indian monsoon? To what extent have developmental measures solved the problem? Where do we find large desert areas in India? What steps have been taken by the government for their development?

1989 1989 1989

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150 150 150

1989

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150

1988 1988 1988 1988 1987 1987 1987 1987

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150 150 150 150 150 150 150 150

87

1986

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150

88 89

1986 1986

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150 150

90

1986

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150

91

1985

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150

Questions

General Studies [M] Geography

92

93

94

What measures have been taken by the Government of India to develop its own source for the supply of petroleum cruse? Discuss the measures of success achieved in this regard. Why are floods such recurrent feature in India? Discuss the measures taken by the Government for flood control. What are the important wheat growing regions in India, and why? Are we now growing enough wheat in India to meet our own demand for it?

1985

2*15

150

1985

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150

1985

2*15

150

Share of Geography in Mains is only 30 marks. While geography in prelims is much more comprehensive in scope (that includes Indian as well as World geography), in mains, it is confined to Indian Geography only (though questions might be asked on global factors affecting India like el nino). Classification o Physical Geography o Economic Geography o Social Geography Pattern of questions o Any two of three for 10 marks each o ALL five out of five for 2 marks each. o So broadest question on geography is supposed to be written in 125 words. So no real long answers. Physical geography is of highest significance. In this important chapters are landforms, rivers, climate & soils. Landforms that include questions on advantages of location, mountain ranges, forests, and deserts are given highest weightage. Questions on important places, forests, islands are frequently asked in short questions category. Economic geography is very important as well that includes industry, resources, agriculture. Social geography has lesser share of questions. Questions may be asked on demography, tribal people, racial groups etc. Questions on wasteland development, significance of Himalayas, the river system in India, Indian monsoon are repeatedly asked. Questions are also asked regarding use of new technology in mapping natural resources, agriculture, land development etc. Almost No questions are asked on foreign trade, settlement & migration, land & water resources.