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RRP - Indian Geography
RRP - Indian Geography
RRP - Indian Geography
• These forces have played a significant role (i) The Peninsular Block
in giving shape to various surface and (ii) The Himalayas and other Peninsular
subsurface features of earth. Indian Mountains
plate was south of equator, millions of
years ago. It was much larger in size and (iii) Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain.
the Australian plate was a part of it.
• Over millions of years, this plate broke into
many parts and Eurasian plate moved
towards south eastern direction and Indian
plate to the north.
• This northward movement of the Indian
plate is still continuing and it has
significant consequences on physical
environment of Indian subcontinent.
2.1.1 Based on these macro variations, • Some of the important ranges are the
India can be divided into following Greater Himalayan range (which includes
physiographic divisions: the Great Himalayas and the Trans-
Himalayan range), the Middle Himalayas
I) The Northern and North-eastern Mountains
and the Shiwalik.
II) The Northern Plain
III) The Peninsular Plateau
IV) The Indian Desert
V) The Coastal Plains
VI) The Islands
• In Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, they • They are an almost unbroken chain of low
are in the north south direction. hills except for a gap of 80-90 km which is
occupied by the valley of the Tista River
• The approximate length of the Great
and Raidak River.
Himalayan range, also known as the
central axial range, is 2,500 km from east • Valleys are part of synclines and hills are
to west, and their width varies between 160- part of anticlines or anti-synclines
400 km from north to south.
• Himalayas stand almost like a strong and
long wall between the Indian subcontinent
and the Central and East Asian countries.
Himalayas are not only the physical
I.2. Middle Himalayas or Himachal:
• In between the Shiwaliks in the south and
the Greater Himalayas in the north.
• The Lower Himalayan ranges are 60-80
km wide and about 2400 km in
length.Elevations vary from 3,500 to
I. 4.1. Kashmir or North-western
4,500 m above sea level.
Himalayas:
• The Lower Himalayas have steep, bare • It lies between the Indus and the ravi river.
southern slopes (steep slopes prevent Comprise a series of ranges such as the
soil formation) and gentler, forest covered Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar and PirPanjal.
northern slopes.
• Some of the important fresh lakes such as • Dehra Dun is the largest of all the duns
Dal and Wular and salt water lakes such with an approximate length of 35-45 km
as PangongTso and TsoMoriri are also in and a width of 22-25 km.
this region. • In the Great Himalayan range, the valleys
• This region is drained by the river Indus, are mostly inhabited by the Bhotia‘s.
and its tributaries such as the Jhelum and These are nomadic groups who migrate to
the Chenab. Jhelum in the valley of Bugyals‘ (the summer grasslands in the
Kashmir is still in its youth stage and yet higher reaches) during summer months
forms meanders – a typical feature and return to the valleys during winters.
associated with the mature stage in the This practice is called transhumance.
evolution of fluvial land form. • The famous ‘Valley of flowers‘ is also
I.4.2. Himachal and Uttarakhand situated in this region. The places of
Himalayas: pilgrimage such as the Gangotri,
Yamunotri, Kedarnath, Badrinath and
• It lies between the Ravi in the west and the
Hemkund Sahib are also situated in this
Kali (a tributary of Ghaghara) in the east.
part. The region is also known to have five
• Drained by two major river systems of famous Prayags.
India, i.e. Indus and Ganga.
I. 4.3. The Darjeeling and Sikkim
• Himalayas is an extension of the Ladakh Himalayas
cold desert, which lies in the Spiti • Bordered by Nepal Himalayas in the west
subdivision of district Lahul and Spiti. and Bhutan Himalayas in the east. It is
• All the three ranges of Himalayas are relatively small but is a most significant
prominent in this section also. part of the Himalayas.
• Known for its fast-flowing rivers such as
Teesta, it is a region of high mountain
peaks like Kanchenjunga (Kanchengiri),
and deep valleys.
• The higher reaches of this region are
inhabited by Lepcha tribes while the
southern part, particularly the Darjeeling
Himalayas, has a mixed population of
Nepalis, Bengalis and tribal from Central
India.
• These ranges are dissected by fast-flowing
• The British, taking advantage of the rivers from the north to the south, forming
physical conditions such as moderate deep gorges. Brahmaputra flows through a
slope, thick soil cover with high organic deep gorge after crossing NamchaBarwa.
content, well distributed rainfall Some of the important rivers are Kameng,
throughout the year and mild winters, Subansiri, Dihang, Dibang and Lohit.
introduced tea plantations in this region. These are perennial with the high rate of
• Absence of the Shiwalik formations. In precipitation, thus, having the highest
place of Shiwaliks here, the ‘duar hydro-electric power potential in the
formations‘ are important, which have country.
also been used for the development of tea • An important aspect of the Arunachal
gardens. Himalayas is the numerous ethnic tribal
community inhabiting in these areas.
I.4.4 The Arunachal Himalayas
• Extend from the east of the Bhutan • Some of the prominent ones from west to
Himalayas up to the Diphu pass in the east are the Monpa, Daffla, Abor, Mishmi,
east. Nishi and the Nagas. Most of these
communities practise Jhumming. It is also
• The general direction of the mountain
known as shifting or slash and burn
range is from southwest to northeast.
cultivation.
• Some of the important mountain peaks of
• This region is rich in biodiversity which
the region are Kangtu and NamchaBarwa.
has been preserved by the indigenous
communities.
• Due to rugged topography, the inter-valley
transportation linkages are nominal.
Hence, most of the interactions are carried
through the duar region along the
Arunachal- Assam border.
I. 4.5. The Eastern Hills and • From the north to the south, these can be
Mountains: divided into three major zones: the Bhabar,
Part of Himalayan mountain system having the Tarai and the alluvial plains.
their general alignment from the north to the • The alluvial plains can be further divided
south direction. into the Khadar and the Bhangar.
• They are known by different local names.
In the north, they are known as Patkai
Bum, Naga hills, the Manipur hills and in
the south as Mizo or Lushai hills.
• These are low hills, inhabited by numerous
tribal groups practising Jhum cultivation.
• The Barak is an important river in
Manipur and Mizoram.
• Bhabar is a narrow belt ranging between
• The physiography of Manipur is unique by 8-10 km parallel to the Shiwalik foothills at
the presence of a large lake known as the break-up of the slope. As a result of
‘Loktak‘ lake at the centre, surrounded by this, the streams and rivers coming from
mountains from all sides. Mizoram which the mountains deposit heavy materials of
is also known as the ‘Molassis basin’ rocks and boulders, and at times,
which is made up of soft unconsolidated disappear in this zone.
deposits.
• South of the Bhabar is the Tarai belt, with
• Most of the rivers in Nagaland form the an approximate width of 10-20 km where
tributary of the Brahmaputra. most of the streams and rivers re-emerge
• While two rivers of Mizoram and Manipur creating marshy and swampy conditions
are the tributaries of the Barak river, known as the Tarai.
which in turn is the tributary of Meghna. • Bhangar old alluvium deposit and
• Rivers in eastern part of Manipur are khaddar new alluvium deposit.
tributaries of Chindwin, which in turn is a • These plains have characteristic features of
tributary of the Irrawady of Myanmar. mature stage of fluvial erosional and
II. The Northern Plains: depositional landforms such as sand bars,
meanders, ox- bow lakes and braided
• Formed by the alluvial deposits brought by
channels. The Brahmaputra plains are
the rivers – the Indus, the Ganga and the
known for their riverine islands and sand
Brahmaputra. Extend approximately 3,200
bars.
km from the east to the west. Average
width of these plains varies between 150- • Most of these areas are subjected to
300 km. periodic floods and shifting river courses
forming braided streams.
• The mouths of these mighty rivers also
form some of the largest deltas of the
world, for example, the famous wall-like quartzite dykes offering natural
Sunderbans delta. sites for water storage.
III. The Peninsular Plateau • The western and north-western part of the
plateau has an emphatic presence of black
• Rising from the height of 150 m above the
soil.
river plains up to an elevation of 600-900m
is the irregular triangle known as the • This Peninsular plateau has undergone
Peninsular plateau. recurrent phases of upliftment and
submergence accompanied by crustal
• Delhi ridge in the northwest, (extension
faulting and fractures. (The Bhima fault
of Aravalis), the Rajmahal hills in the
needs special mention, because of its
east, Gir range in the west and the
recurrent seismic activities).
Cardamom hills in the south constitute
the outer extent of the Peninsular plateau. • The north-western part of the plateau has
a complex relief of ravines and gorges. The
• However, an extension of this is also seen
ravines of Chambal, Bhind and Morena are
in the northeast, in the form of Shillong
some of the well-known examples.
and Karbi-Anglong plateau.
On the basis of the prominent relief features,
• The Peninsular India is made up of a series
the Peninsular plateau can be divided into
of patland plateaus such as the
three broad groups:
Hazaribagh plateau, the Palamu plateau,
the Ranchi plateau, the Malwa plateau, 1. The Deccan Plateau
the Coimbatore plateau and the 2. The Central Highlands
Karnataka plateau, etc. 3. The North-eastern Plateau.
• The general elevation of the plateau is from • Western Ghats are comparatively higher
the west to the east, which is also proved in elevation and more continuous than the
by the pattern of the flow of rivers. Eastern Ghats.
3. Drainage System
• The Brahmaputra enters into Bangladesh • The other major river systems of the
near Dhubri. In Bangladesh, the Tista Peninsular drainage are – the Mahanadi,
joins it on its right bank from where the the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri.
river is known as the Jamuna. It finally • Peninsular rivers are characterised by
merges with the river Padma, which falls in fixed course, absence of meanders and
the Bay of Bengal. non- perennial flow of water. The
• The Brahmaputra is well-known for floods, Narmada and the Tapi which flow through
channel shifting and bank erosion. This is the rift valley are, however, exceptions.
due to the fact that most of its tributaries 3.3.B.1 Evolution of Peninsular
are large, and bring large quantity of Drainage System:
sediments owing to heavy rainfall in its
Three major geological events in the distant
catchment area.
past have shaped the present drainage
• Teesta - Major tributary of Brahmaputra, systems of Peninsular India:
rises from Sikkim also known as lifeline of 1. Subsidence of the western flank of the
Sikkim. Peninsula leading to its submergence
below the sea during the early tertiary Maharastra, Karnataka and Andhra
period. Pradesh.
2. Upheaval of the Himalayas when the
northern flank of the Peninsular block was • The Kaveri rises in Brahmagiri hills of
subjected to subsidence and the Kogadu district in Karnataka. Since the
consequent trough faulting. The Narmada upper catchment area receives rainfall
and The Tapi flow in trough faults and fill during the southwest monsoon season
the original cracks with their detritus (summer) and the lower part during the
materials. Hence, there is a lack of alluvial northeast monsoon season (winter), the
and deltaic deposits in these rivers. river carries water throughout the year.
3. Slight tilting of the Peninsular block
from northwest to the south-eastern It drains through Karnataka, Kerala and
direction gave orientation to the entire Tamil nadu. Its important tributaries are
drainage system towards the Bay of Bengal the Kabini, the Bhavani and the Amravati.
during the same period.
3.3.B.3 West Flowing Rivers:
3.3.B.2 River Systems of the Peninsular • The Narmada originates on the western
Drainage: flank of the Amarkantak plateau. Flowing
• The Mahanadi rises near Sihawa in Raipur in a rift valley between the Satpura in the
district of Chhattisgarh and runs south and the Vindhyan range forms
through Odisha to discharge its water into Dhuandhar waterfall near Jabalpur. The
the Bay of Bengal. It drains through Sher, the Shakkar, the Dudhi, the Tawa
are the tributaries.
Madhya Pradesh, chattisgarh and odisha.
The major tributaries of Mahanadi are • The Tapi is the other important westward
Seonath, Jonk, Hasdo, Mand, Ib, Ong, flowing river. It originates from Multai in
Tel etc. the Betul district of Madhya Pradesh. It
drains through Maharastra, Madhya
• The Godavari is the largest Peninsular
Pradesh, Gujarat.
river system. It is also called the Dakshin
Ganga. It rises in the Nasik district of • Tawa River rises from the Satpura Range
Maharashtra and discharges its water into of Betul in MP. This river is the longest
the Bay of Bengal. Its tributaries run tributary of River Narmada.
through the states of Maharashtra, • Sharavati River originates from the
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha Shimoga district of Karnataka. The Jog
and Andhra Pradesh. The Penganga, the
Falls is created by the Sharavati River.
Indravati, the Pranhita, and the Manjra are
its principal tributaries. • Mahi river originates from Dhar district of
Madhya Pradesh and flows through
• The Krishna is the second largest east- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
flowing Peninsular river which rises near Drains in to Gulf of Cambay.
Mahabaleshwar in Sahyadri. The Koyna,
the Tungbhadra and the Bhima are its • Sabarmati is the name given to the
major tributaries. It drains through combined stream of Sabar and Hathmati.
It originates in Aravalli’s. The Sabarmati
basin extends over states of Rajasthan and with high daily and annual range of
Gujarat. temperature.
• Note: Ghaggar is the most important river 2. Himalayan Mountains:
of inland drainage. It is a seasonal stream
Himalayas in the north along with its
which rises on the lower slopes of the
extensions act as an effective climatic divide.
Himalayas and forms boundary between
The towering mountain chain provides an
Haryana and Punjab.
invincible shield to protect the subcontinent
Largest river basin in India – Ganga > from the cold northern winds.
Godavari > Mahanadi > Krishna >
• Himalayas also trap the monsoon winds,
Narmada
forcing them to shed their moisture within
the subcontinent
4. Climate
3. Distribution of Land and Water:
• Weather is the momentary state of the • India is flanked by the Indian Ocean on
atmosphere which changes quickly while three sides in the south and girdled by a
climate refers to the average of the high and continuous mountain-wall in the
weather conditions over a longer period of north.
time. • As compared to the landmass, water heats
• Monsoon connotes the climate associated up or cools down slowly. This differential
with seasonal reversal in the direction of heating of land and sea creates different
wind. India has hot monsoonal climate air pressure zones in different seasons in
which is the prevalent climate in south and and around the Indian subcontinent.
southeast Asia. Difference in air pressure causes
reversal in the direction of monsoon
4.1 Factors Determining the
winds.
Climate of India:
4. Distance from the Sea:
4.1.1 Factors related to location and
relief With a long coastline, large coastal areas have
an equable climate. Areas in the interior of
1. Latitude: India are far away from the moderating
Northern part of the India lies in sub-tropical influence of the sea. Such areas have
and temperate zone and the part lying south extremes of climate.
of the Tropic of Cancer falls in the tropical
5. Altitude:
zone. The tropical zone being nearer to the
equator, experiences high temperatures Temperature decreases with height. Due to
throughout the year with small daily and thin air, places in the mountains are cooler
annual range. than places on the plains.
(ii) It lies in the rain shadow area of the (iii) The monsoon rainfall has a declining
Arabian Sea branch of the south-west trend with increasing distance from
monsoon. the sea.
5.5.4. Season of Retreating Monsoon: (iv) The monsoon rains occur in wet spells of
few days duration at a time. The wet
• The months of October and November are
spells are interspersed with rainless
known for retreating monsoons.
interval known as Monsoonal breaks.
• By the end of September, the southwest
(v) The summer rainfall comes in a heavy
monsoon becomes weak as the low
downpour leading to considerable run off
pressure trough of the Ganga plain starts
and soil erosion.
moving southward in response to the
southward march of the sun. (vi) Monsoons play a pivotal role in the
agrarian economy of India because over
• The retreating southwest monsoon season
three-fourths of the total rain in the
is marked by clear skies and rise in
country is received during the south-
temperature. The land is still moist.
west monsoon season.
Owing to the conditions of high
temperature and humidity, the weather (vii) Its spatial distribution is also uneven
becomes rather oppressive. This is which ranges from 12 cm to more than
commonly known as the October heat. 250 cm.
• Areas of High Rainfall: The highest (i) Tropical climates, where mean
rainfall occurs along the west coast, on monthly temperature throughout the
the Western Ghats, as well as in the sub- year is over 18°C.
Himalayan areas is the northeast and (ii) Dry climates, where precipitation is
the hills of Meghalaya. Here the rainfall very low in comparison to
exceeds 200 cm. In some parts of Khasi temperature, and hence, dry.
and Jaintia hills, the rainfall exceeds 1,000
(iii) Warm temperate climates, where
cm. In the Brahmaputra valley and the
mean temperature of the coldest
adjoining hills, the rainfall is less then 200
month is between 18°C and minus
cm.
3°C.
• Areas of Medium Rainfall : Rainfall
(iv) Cool temperate climates, where
between 100-200 cm is received in the
mean temperature of the warmest
southern parts of Gujarat, east Tamil
month is over 10°C, and mean
Nadu, north eastern Peninsula covering
temperature of the coldest month is
Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern
under minus 3°C
Madhya Pradesh, northern Ganga plain
along the sub-Himalayas and the Cachar (v) Ice climates, where mean
Valley and Manipur. temperature of the warmest month is
under 10°C.
• Areas of Low Rainfall: Western Uttar
Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu
and Kashmir, eastern Rajasthan, Gujarat
and Deccan Plateau receive rainfall
between 50-100 cm.
• Areas of Inadequate Rainfall: Parts of the
Peninsula, especially in Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and Maharashtra, Ladakh and
5. Littoral and Swamp forests
• Covers vast areas of the country, where • The Himalayan ranges show a succession
rainfall ranges between 70 - 100 cm. of vegetation from the tropical to the
found in rainier areas of the Peninsula and tundra, which changes with the altitude.
the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Deciduous forests are found in the foothills of
dry season begins, the trees shed their the Himalayas.
leaves completely.
It is succeed by the wet temperate type of
• Tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair, axle forests between an altitude of 1000-2000m in
wood etc. are the common trees of these the higher hill areas of west Bengal and
forests. Uttaranchal, Evergreen broad leaf trees such
as oak and chestnut are predominant.
Between 1500-1750m, Pine forests are well
developed, with Chir pine as a very useful
commercial tree. Deodar, a highly valued 6.1.5 Littoral and Swamp Forests:
endemic species grows mainly in the western • India has a rich variety of wetland
part of the Himalayan range. Deodar is a habitats. About 70 per cent of this
durable wood mainly used in construction comprises areas under paddy cultivation.
activity, similarly the chinar and the walnut, Two sites — Chilika Lake (Odisha) and
which sustain the famous Kashmir Keoladeo National Park (Bharatpur) are
handicrafts belong to this zone blue pine and protected as water-fowl habitats under the
spruce appear at altitude of 2225 -3048 m. Convention of Wetlands of International
At many place in this zone temperate grass Importance (Ramsar Convention).
lands are found. But in the higher reaches 6.2 Forest Cover in India:
there is a transaction to alpine forests and
• The forest area covers 23.28 per cent of the
pastures. Silverfirs, junipers, pines, birch and
total land area of the country.
rhododendrons, etc., occur between used
extensively for transhumance by tribes like • The forest area is the area notified and
the Gujjars, the Bakarwals, thebhotiyas and recorded as the forest land irrespective of
the gaddis. the existence of trees, while the actual
forest cover is the area occupied by
Southern slopes of the Himalayans carry a
forests with canopy.
thicker vegetation cover because of relatively
higher precipitation than the drier north – 6.3 India State of Forest Report
facing slopes at higher altitudes, mosses and (ISFR) 2019:
lichens from part of tundra vegetation. • The Ministry for Environment, Forests and
6.1.4.b. Southern Mountain Forests: Climate Change has released the India
State of Forest Report (ISFR), 2019.
• Found in three distinct areas of Peninsular
India viz; the Western Ghats, the • ISFR is a biennial publication of Forest
Vindhyas and the Nilgiris. As they are Survey of India (FSI), an organization
closer to the tropics, and only 1,500 m under the Ministry of Environment
above the sea level, vegetation is temperate Forest & Climate Change.
in the higher regions, and subtropical on • The ISFR assesses the forest and tree
the lower regions of the Western Ghats, cover, bamboo resources, carbon stock and
especially in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and forest fires.
Karnataka.
• The 2019 report for the first time has
• The temperate forests are called Sholas assessed the qualitative nature of the
in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai and Palani hills. forest cover, including listing its
Some of the other trees of this forest of biodiversity and the type of plants and
economic significance include magnolia, trees found.
laurel, cinchona and wattle. Such forests
• It also created a national forest inventory
are also found in the Satpura and the
for the first time on produce from forests.
Maikal ranges.
6.3.1 Key Findings 6.5 Social Forestry:
Forest Cover • Social forestry means the management and
protection of forests and afforestation on
• Forest Cover (Area-wise): Madhya
barren lands with the purpose of helping in
Pradesh > Arunachal Pradesh>
the environmental, social and rural
Chhattisgarh > Odisha > Maharashtra.
development.
• Forest Cover (Percentage): Mizoram
• Urban forestry pertains to the raising and
(85.4%)> Arunachal Pradesh (79.63%)>
management of trees on public and
Meghalaya (76.33%)
privately owned lands in and around
• The country’s forest cover includes all urban centres such as green belts, parks,
patches of land with a tree canopy density roadside avenues, industrial and
of more than 10% and more than 1 hectare commercial green belts, etc.
in area, irrespective of land use, ownership
• Rural forestry lays emphasis on
and species of trees.
promotion of agro-forestry and community-
• The total forest cover of the country is forestry.
7,12,249 sq km which is 21.67% of the
• Agro-forestry is the raising of trees and
geographical area of the country.
agriculture crops on the same land
• The top five states to have shown an inclusive of the waste patches. It combines
increase in forest cover include Karnataka forestry with agriculture, thus, altering the
(1,025 sq km) > Andhra Pradesh (990 sq simultaneous production of food, fodder,
km) > Kerala (823 sq km) > J&K (371 sq fuel, timber and fruit.
km) > Himachal Pradesh (334 sq km).
• Community forestry involves the raising
• Total forest cover in the North Eastern of trees on public or community land such
region is 1,70,541 sq km, which is 65.05% as the village pasture and temple land etc.
of its geographical area.
• Farm forestry is a term applied to the
• There has been a decrease of forest cover process under which farmers grow trees for
to the extent of 765 sq km (0.45%) in the commercial and non-commercial purposes
region. Except Assam and Tripura, all the on their farm lands.
States in the region show decrease in
forest cover.
Parts of Punjab,
Haryana and
Eastern parts of
Rajasthan. 50 to 100 com rainfall. 6 to 15 m high.
Tropical Dry Teak, Sal, Bamboo,
Deciduous Mango, Acacia, Neem,
Forests Northern and Moderate humidity. Roots are thick and long. Shisham etc.
Western parts of
Madhya Pradesh.
Tamil Nadu.
Southern parts of
Uttar Pradesh.
Rajasthan and
adjoining areas of Thorny vegetation.
Low rainfall (less than 50cm per Cactis.Thorny bushes,
Dry Forests Haryana, Gurjarat
annum). Kikar, Babool, Date palm,
or Arid and Punjab. Roots are very long.
Acacia, Khair, Euphorbias
Forests
Relative humidity is less etc
Rainshadow areas Leaves are small.
of peninsular India.
Due to increase of altitude the
Mountainous temperature decreases hence Each vegetation belt Sal, Teak, Chir, Deodar,
forests or In Himalayan Himalayan forests contain all the occurs at relatively 300m Oak, Olive, Chestnut,
Himalayan region varieties of world except equatorial more height in Eastern Conifers, Spruce and Lirch
Forest forest Himalayas. etc.
7.1.6. Saline Soils: • They are Loamy and silty on valley sides
and coarse-grained in the upper slopes.
• Also known as Usara soils. Saline soils
contain a larger proportion of sodium, • In the snow-bound areas of the Himalayas,
potassium and magnesium, and thus, they experience denudation, and are acidic
they are infertile, and do not support any with low humus content. The soils found
vegetative growth. in the lower valleys are fertile.
9.3.2 Thorium:
10. Industries
• It is found in the Monazite sands of Placer
deposits of coastal regions.
• Although Monazite sands are found in east
and west coast, the largest concentration is
on the Kerala coast.
• Thorium is also extracted from Thorianite.
• Kerala, Jharkhand, Bihar, Tamilnadu and
Rajasthan are the major producers of
Thorium.
9.3.3 Beryllium:
• Beryllium oxide is used as moderator in 10.1. Factors responsible for the
nuclear reactors. location of Industries:
• India has sufficient reserves of Beryllium. 1. Raw Material: Industries using weight-
losing raw materials are located in the
regions where raw materials are located.
2. Power: Power provides the motive force for ofraw supplementin
materials g raw
machines, and therefore, its supply has to materials
be ensured before the location of any Important iron and steel industry are,
industry. Rourkela – Odisha –Germany, Bhilai- MP-
3. Market: Markets provide the outlets for Soviet Union, Durgapur- West Bengal-UK,
manufactured products. Heavy machine, Bokaro-Bihar –soviet union
machine tools, heavy chemicals are
2. The Cotton Textile Industry:
located near the high demand areas as
these are market orientated. Cotton textile It is one of the traditional
industries of India. India was
industry uses a non-weight-losing raw famous worldwide
Historical
material and is generally located in large Significance
for the production of muslin, a
urban centre, e.g. Mumbai. very fine variety of cotton cloth,
calicos, chintz and other different
4. Transport: Earlier industries were located varieties of fine cotton cloth.
only in metro cities that was because of a) it is a tropical country and
cotton is the most comfortable
better transport network. Now due to
fabric for a hot and humid
growing web of transport infrastructure, Reasons for climate. b) Large quantity of
industries are being set up in interior part. development cotton was grown in India.
C)Abundant skilled
5. Labour: Industries require skilled labour. labour required for this industry
In India, labour is quite mobile and is was available in this country
available in large numbers due to our • Cotton is a “pure” raw material
which does not lose weight in
large population. the manufacturing process. so
6. Industrial Policy: government of India other factors, like, power to
provides lots of incentives to industries drive the looms, labour, capital
Factors or market may determine the
locating in backward areas. responsible location of the industry.
for locations • Kolkata due to its port facilities
10.2. Footloose Industries: • Lower labour costs: Ujjain,
Footloose industry can be located at any Bharuch, Agra, Hathras,
Coimbatore and Tirunelveli.
location without effect from factors • abundant availability of hydel
power for the mills: Tamil Nadu
10.3. Major Industries in India: • Presently, the major centres of
1. The Iron and Steel Industry: the cotton textile industry are
Importanc Raw Reason for Ahmedabad, Bhiwandi,
Location
e materials Location Solapur, Kolhapur, Nagpur,
All these In India, Indore and Ujjain
raw Chhattisgarh, • Maharashtra, Gujarat and
Almost all
materials Northern Tamil Naduare the leading
sectors of
iron are Orissa, Current
the Indian cotton producing states.
industry
oreand gross(weigh Jharkhand position
coking t losing), and western • Tamil Nadu has the largest
depend number of mills and most of
coal, therefore, West Bengal,
heavily on
limestone, the best which is them produce yarn rather than
the iron
and steel
dolomite, location for extremely cloth. Coimbatore has emerged
manganes the iron richin high as the most important centre
industry for
e fire clay and steel grade iron with nearly half the
their basic
plants is ore, good millslocated there
infra.
near the quality coking
source coalandother
3. Sugar: 5. Chemical Industries:
India-largest producer of both sugarcane Chemical Products Location of the
and cane sugar. industry Manufactured Industry
khandasari and gur or jaggery are also • Chemicals • India is a • Major plants
Importance prepared from sugarcane. industry in strong global producing
Sugar industry is a seasonal industry India is highly dye supplier, sulphuric acid
because of the seasonality of raw diversified, accounting for are located at
materials. covering more approximately Khetri, Alwaye
Sugarcane is a weight-losing crop. Its than 80,000 16% of the (Kerala),
sucrose content begins to dry during commercial world Mumbai,
haulage after it has been harvested from products. It is production of Kolkata,
Location the field. Sugar factories hence, are located broadly dyestuff and Burnpur and
within the cane producing regions. classified into dye Jamshedpur.
Maharastra is leading producer followed Basic chemicals, intermediates. • Major plants
by UP and TN. Specialty • Fertilisers, are located at
chemicals, and insecticides Mithapur,
4. Petrochemical Industries: Agrochemicals. and pesticides. Dharangadhra
• India’s proximity and
Types of
to the Middle Porbandar—all
raw
Need Locations East, theworld’s in Gujarat.
materials it
sourceof • The Hindustan
provide
petrochemicals Organic
In 1960s,
demand for feedstock, Chemicals
organic makes for Limited at
chemicals economies of Rasayani
increased so fast scale. (Maharashtra)
that it became produces the
difficult to meet Mumbai is the hub of chemicals
this demand. At the petro-chemical required for
that time, industries. Cracker drugs,
(i) polymers, dyestuffs and
petroleum units are also located
(ii) synthetic synthetic
refining industry in Auraiya (Uttar
expanded fibres, Pradesh), Jamnagar, rubber.
(iii) elastome 6. Cement:
rapidly. Many Gandhinagar and
items are rs, (iv) Hajira (Gujarat), Cement industry Features of the industry
derived from surfactant Nagothane, Ratnagiri
intermediate
In India comprises of • India is the second largest
crude (Maharashtra), Haldia 125 large cement plants producer of cement in the
petroleum, (West Bengal) and and over 300 mini world.
which provide Vishakhapatnam cement plants having • India's cement industry is a
raw materials for (Andhra Pradesh) total installed capacity vital part of its economy,
many new of 148.28 million tonnes providing employment to
industries, these and 11.10 million more than a million people,
are collectively tonnes per annum directly or indirectly.
known as respectively. • The housing and real estate
petrochemical The raw materials sector is the biggest
industries needed to produce demand driver of cement,
cement (calcium accounting for about 65 per
Polymers are made from ethylene and carbonate, silica, cent of the total
propylene. These materials are obtained in the alumina and iron ore) consumption in India. The
are generally extracted other major consumers of
process of refining crude oil. from limestone rock, cement include public
chalk, clayey schist or infrastructure at 20 per
clay. cent and industrial
development at 15 per cent.
• They are located in the
states of Andhra Pradesh,
Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
10.4. Industrial Regions in India: About 7500 long coast line of India served by
Industrial regions are those areas, where 12 major and medium, minor ports.
concentration of industries has occurred due Port State and Port Information
Kandla Gujarat, tidal port
to geo-economic conditions. These are areas Maharastra, biggest port with natural
Mumbai
within which manufacturing industry is and well sheltered harbours
Jawharlal Maharastra, decongest Mumbai port
carried out on a relatively large scale and Marmagao Goa, major iron ore export
employs a relatively large proportion of New Mangalore Karnataka, major iron ore export
Kochi Kerala, natural harbour
population. Mumbai - Pune, Hugli, Bangalore Tuticorin Tamil nadu, natural harbour
- Chennai, Delhi Gurgaon are important Chennai Tamil nadu, oldest artificial port
Regions. Andhra Pradesh, deepest land locked
Vishakapatnam
and well protected port
Paradip Orissa, major iron ore export
Major Industrial Regions as shown in Haldia West Bengal, decongest Kolkata port
the image there are 8 major industries. Kolkata
West Bengal, riverine port located on
hoogly river
11.1.3.a Structure of Tropical Cyclone: • The causes of floods are well- established.
Relatively slow in occurrences and often,
• The centre of the cyclone is mostly a warm
occur in well-identified regions and within
and low-pressure, cloudless core known as
expected time in a year. Floods occur
eye of the storm. Expansion of the wind
commonly when water in the form of
belt is about 10-150 km from the centre.
surface run-off exceeds the carrying
11.1.3.b Spatial-temporal Distribution capacity of the river channels and streams
of Tropical Cyclone in India and flows into the neighbouring low-lying
• Owing to its Peninsular shape surrounded flood plains.
by the Bay of Bengal in the east and the • Floods can also be caused due to a storm
Arabian Sea in the west, the tropical surge (in the coastal areas), high
cyclones in India also originate in these intensity rainfall for a considerably longer
two important locations. time period, melting of ice and snow,
• Though most of the cyclones originate reduction in the infiltration rate and
between 10°-15° north latitudes during the presence of eroded material in the water
monsoon season, yet in case of the Bay of due to higher rate of soil erosion.
• Though floods occur frequently over wide and over-utilisation of water from the
geographical area having disastrous reservoirs and other storages, including
ramifications in many parts of the world, the ground water.
floods in the South, Southeast and East
• Drought is a complex phenomenon as it
Asian countries, particularly in China,
involves elements of meteorology like
India and Bangladesh, are frequent and
precipitation, evaporation, evapo-
equally disastrous.
transpiration, ground water, soil moisture,
• Rashtriya Barh Ayog (National Flood storage and surface run-off, agricultural
Commission) identified 40 million practices, particularly the types of crops
hectares of land as flood-prone in India
grown, socio-economic practices and
Assam, West Bengal and Bihar are
among the high flood-prone states of ecological conditions.
India. 11.1.5.a Types of Droughts:
• Meteorological Drought: It is a situation
when there is a prolonged period of
inadequate rainfall marked with mal-
distribution of the same over time and
space.
• Agricultural Drought: It is also known as
soil moisture drought, characterised by low
soil moisture that is necessary to support
the crops, thereby resulting in crop
failures.
• Hydrological Drought: It results when the
availability of water in different storages
and reservoirs like aquifers, lakes,
reservoirs, etc. falls below what the
precipitation can replenish.
• Ecological Drought: When the
productivity of a natural ecosystem fails
due to shortage of water and as a
consequence of ecological distress,
damages are induced in the ecosystem.