12 sample questions are shown here; sign up free to practise all 80.
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
China has higher irrigation coverage and higher productivity per hectare, so statements 2 and 3 are not both correct from India's perspective. Only statement 1 is correct.
- Option C
Statement 3 is incorrect: China's crop productivity per hectare generally exceeds India's. Only one statement is correct.
- Option D
Statement 1 is correct: India has more arable land area than China.
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Tea is grown in more than just one of these states. All four have tea cultivation.
- Option B
Tea is grown in more than two of these states. All four produce tea.
- Option C
All four states produce tea, not just three.
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).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Moringa belongs to the family Moringaceae, not Leguminosae, so statement 1 is incorrect. Tamarind is native to tropical Africa, not endemic to South Asia, so statement 2 is also wrong.
- Option C
Statement 1 is incorrect as moringa is not a leguminous tree.
- Option D
Statement 1 is incorrect (moringa is not leguminous) and statement 2 is incorrect (tamarind is native to Africa).
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Brown forest soil is a temperate soil type and is not the parent material of black cotton soil.
- Option C
Granite and schist give rise to red soils, not black cotton soil.
- Option D
Shale and limestone do not produce the characteristic black cotton soil of India.
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 3 is incorrect. Permaculture is well-suited to semi-arid regions because it emphasises water harvesting and drought-resistant design.
- Option C
Statement 4 is correct, but statements 1 and 2 are also correct.
- Option D
Statement 2 is correct, but statement 3 is incorrect. Permaculture farming is possible in semi-arid regions.
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Sunflower is relatively water-efficient compared to sugarcane.
- Option C
Pearl millet is a drought-resistant crop and highly water-efficient.
- Option D
Red gram (pigeon pea) is a rain-fed pulse crop that requires comparatively little water.
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 2 is incorrect. Rock phosphate and most phosphatic fertilizers are not easily soluble in water and hence cannot be efficiently applied through fertigation.
- Option B
Statement 2 is incorrect. Phosphatic fertilizers generally cannot be applied efficiently through drip-based fertigation because of their low water solubility.
- Option D
Statement 1 is also correct. Fertigation can help manage alkalinity of irrigation water.
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Jute requires hot and humid conditions with heavy rainfall (above 150 cm), not 50-100 cm.
- Option C
Sugarcane requires tropical conditions with higher rainfall and does not specifically need light, well-drained soil.
- Option D
Tea grows in tropical and subtropical climates but needs well-distributed rainfall above 150 cm and hilly terrain with shade.
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement 2 is wrong: Bengal gram (chickpea), not green-gram, is the largest pulse crop. Statement 3 is also wrong: rabi pulse production has not decreased.
- Option C
Statement 2 is incorrect. Green-gram does not account for nearly half of pulse production.
- Option D
Only statement 1 is correct. Both statements 2 and 3 are factually incorrect.
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).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 2 is incorrect. Single-budded setts do not necessarily have better germination than multi-budded setts in direct planting.
- Option B
Statement 3 is incorrect. Single-budded setts actually have lower survival in adverse weather compared to larger setts.
- Option D
Statements 2 and 3 are both incorrect. Single-budded setts do not have better germination or survival in adverse conditions.
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.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
China is the world's largest producer of rice but is a net importer, not a major exporter.
- Option C
Myanmar is a significant rice exporter but ranks well below India in export volume.
- Option D
Vietnam is a major rice exporter but India has consistently exported more rice by volume in recent years.
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).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is incorrect. Organic matter actually increases, not reduces, the water-holding capacity of soil.
- Option C
Statement 1 is incorrect. Organic matter enhances water-holding capacity, not reduces it.
- Option D
Statements 1 and 2 are both incorrect.