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Q1Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2023
Consider the following statements about India and China in terms of agriculture:
1. India has a larger arable land area than China.
2. China has a higher percentage of irrigated land area than India.
3. The productivity per hectare of most crops is higher in India than in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
- AOnly oneCorrect
- BOnly two
- CAll three
- DNone
Explanation
Correct. India does have a larger arable land area than China, but China has a higher share of irrigated land and generally higher crop productivity per hectare. Only the first statement is correct.
Q2Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2022
Consider the following States:
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Kerala
4. Tripura
How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?
- AOnly one State
- BOnly two States
- COnly three States
- DAll four StatesCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Tea is grown in all four listed states, though on different scales. Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Tripura are well-known producers, and Andhra Pradesh also has tea cultivation in its northeastern hill tracts.
Q3Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2021
Consider the following statements:
1. Moringa (drumstick tree) is a leguminous evergreen tree.
2. Tamarind tree is endemic to South Asia.
3. In India, most of the tamarind is collected as minor forest produce.
4. India exports tamarind and seeds of moringa.
5. Seeds of moringa and tamarind can be used in the production of biofuels.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A1, 2, 4 and 5
- B3, 4 and 5Correct
- C1, 3 and 4
- D1, 2, 3 and 5
Explanation
Correct. Most tamarind in India is collected as minor forest produce (3), India exports tamarind and moringa seeds (4), and both can be used in biofuel production (5). Moringa is not leguminous (1 is wrong) and tamarind is native to Africa (2 is wrong).
Q4Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2021
The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of:
- ABrown forest soil
- BFissure volcanic rockCorrect
- CGranite and schist
- DShale and limestone
Explanation
Correct. Black cotton soil (regur) of the Deccan Plateau has been formed by the weathering of the basaltic lava flows (fissure volcanic rock) that erupted during the Cretaceous period.
Q5Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2021
How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?
1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant.
2. Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1 and 3
- B1, 2 and 4Correct
- C4 only
- D2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Permaculture discourages monoculture (1), does not cause soil salinity unlike chemical farming (2), and relies heavily on mulching (4). Statement 3 is wrong because permaculture is adaptable to semi-arid conditions.
Q6Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2021
Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?
- ASugarcaneCorrect
- BSunflower
- CPearl millet
- DRed gram
Explanation
Correct. Sugarcane requires very large amounts of water per unit of crop produced compared to sunflower, pearl millet and red gram, making it the least water-efficient crop among these options.
Q7Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2020
What are the advantages of fertigation in agriculture?
1. Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
2. Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphatic fertilizers is possible.
3. Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
4. Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- A1, 2 and 3 only
- B1, 2 and 4 only
- C1, 3 and 4 onlyCorrect
- D2, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Correct. Fertigation can control irrigation water alkalinity (1), increase nutrient availability through targeted root-zone delivery (3), and reduce leaching losses (4). However, rock phosphate and similar phosphatic fertilizers are poorly soluble, making statement 2 incorrect.
Q8Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2020
"The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop." Which one of the following is that crop?
- ACottonCorrect
- BJute
- CSugarcane
- DTea
Explanation
Correct. Cotton is a subtropical crop that needs 210 frost-free days, 50-100 cm rainfall, and light well-drained soils. All the described conditions match cotton cultivation perfectly.
Q9Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2020
With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:
1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop.
2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B2 and 3 only
- C2 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Black gram (urad dal) is cultivated in both kharif and rabi seasons. Green-gram does not account for half of pulse production (Bengal gram/chickpea dominates), and rabi pulse production has actually increased, not decreased.
Q10Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2020
With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements:
1. A substantial saving in seed material is made when 'bud chip settlings' are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field.
2. When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds.
3. If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts.
4. Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 and 2 only
- B3 only
- C1 and 4 onlyCorrect
- D2, 3 and 4 only
Explanation
Correct. Bud chip technology saves significant seed material when nursery-raised before field transplanting (1), and tissue culture is a viable modern method for sugarcane propagation (4). Single-budded setts fare worse in bad weather (3 is wrong) and do not have better germination in direct planting (2 is wrong).
Q11Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2019
Among the following, which one is the largest exporter of rice in the world in the last five years?
- AChina
- BIndiaCorrect
- CMyanmar
- DVietnam
Explanation
Correct. India has been the world's largest exporter of rice, accounting for about 25-40% of global rice exports in recent years, surpassing Thailand and Vietnam.
Q12Geography·Indian Resources and AgriculturePYQ 2018
With reference to agricultural soils, consider the following statements:
1. A high content of organic matter in soil drastically reduces its water-holding capacity.
2. Soil does not play any role in the sulphur cycle.
3. Irrigation over a period of time can contribute to the salinization of some agricultural lands.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 and 2 only
- B3 onlyCorrect
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. Long-term irrigation, especially in areas with poor drainage, leads to waterlogging and capillary action bringing dissolved salts to the surface, causing salinization. Statement 1 is wrong (organic matter increases water retention) and statement 2 is wrong (soil micro-organisms are active in the sulphur cycle).