Geography Ch- 1

1. Define resources.
Sustainable economic development means ‘development should take place without damaging
the environment, and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of
the future generations.’.
2. Examine the three major problems created as a result of indiscriminate utilization of
natural resources.
(i) Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
(ii) Accumulation of resources in few hands, which, in turn, divided the society into two
segments
i.e. haves and have nots or rich and poor.
(iii) Indiscriminate exploitation of resources has led to global ecological crises such as, global
warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
3.What is sustainable development?
Ans. Sustainable economic development means ‘development should take place without
damaging the environment, and development in the present should not compromise with the
needs of the future generations.’
4. Which summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of environmental protection
and socio-economic development at the global level? Explain Agenda 21 in this context.
(i) The first international earth summit at Rio de Janerio, Brazil in 1992 was convened for
addressing urgent problems of environmental protection and socioeconomic development at
the global level.
(ii) The members signed Agenda 21 for achieving Sustainable Development in the 21st century.
(iii) Agenda 21 aims at achieving global sustainable development. It is an agenda to combat
environmental damage, poverty, disease through global co-operation on common interests,
mutual needs and shared responsibilities
5. In India some regions are rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other
resources.” Do you agree with statement? Support your answer with three examples.
OR
"Planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources." Justify the
statement with examples.
Ans. Yes, I do agree with the statement. In a country like India, which has enormous diversity in
the availability of resources. Through planning, regions which have shortage of vital resources
and those having adequate quantities, receive equal attention.

1. There are regions which are rich in certain types of resources but are deficient in some other
resources.
For example: Arunachal has abundance of water but lacks in infrastructural development.
2. There are some regions which can be considered self-sufficient in terms of availability of
resources. For example: The states of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in
minerals and coal deposits.
3. There are some regions which have acute shortage of some vital resources.
For example: The state of Rajasthan is well endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in
water resources.

6. What are the steps involved in the complex process of resource Planning?
Resource planning is a complex process which involves:
(i) identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves
surveying, mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the
resources.
(ii) Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional
set up for implementing resource development plans.
(iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans.

7. How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?

Ans . Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to
accelerate their economic development. Technical and economic development always leads to
more consumption of all types of resources (i.e. natural and man-made) because of the
following reasons:
(a) Technological progress makes available the knowledge to bring resources under use.
(b) With economic progress, more industries will be setup. With growth in industrialization will
lead to increasing demand for all the types of resources (i.e. land, labour, capital, etc.).
(c) With technological and economic development income level of the people will increase due
to which demands will increase, which will lead to more services and more consumption of
resources.

8. Why it is the conservation of resources is essential? Elucidate in the light of Gandhi’s view.
It is essential because
(i) Resources are vital for any developmental activity. But irrational consumption and over-
utilisation of resources may lead to socio-economic and environmental problems.
(ii) Many resources are non-renewable and exhaustible. If we conserve them we can use them
for a longer period of time
• According to Gandhiji, “There is enough for everybody’s need and not for anybody’s
greed.
• Greedy and selfish individuals and the exploitative nature of modern technology are the
root cause for resource depletion.
He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with production by masses.
Q9. India’s vast and diverse size is the most important resource. Support the statement.
Ans. (i) India has land under a variety of relief features, namely; mountains, plateaus, plains and
islands. About 43 per cent of the land area is plain, which provides facilities for agriculture and
industry.
(ii) Mountains account for 30 per cent of the total surface area of the country and ensure
perennial flow of some rivers, provide facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.
(iii) About 27 per cent of the area of the country is the plateau region. It possesses rich reserves
of minerals, fossil fuels and forests.

Q.10 “33 percent of the total land area of a country should be under forests.”Justify the
statement highlighting the environmental values of forest.
Ans. The National Forest Policy 1952 outlines that Forest area in the country is far lower than
the desired 33 per cent of geographical area.
(i) Forests are essential for maintenance of the ecological balance. Plant animals and micro
organisms recreate the quality of air that we breathe and the soil that produces our food,
without which we cannot survive.
(ii) Forest protects the genetic diversity of plants and animals for better growth of species and
breeding.
(iii) Forests are the primary producers on which the livelihood of millions of people who live on
the fringes of these forests depends upon it.

Q.11 How much land is degraded in India at present ? Exlplain any four human activities
which are mainly responsible for land degradation in India.
Ans. (i) At present, there are about 130 million hectares of land is degraded in India. four
human activities which are mainly responsible for land degradation in India are as follows
(ii) In states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Orissa deforestation due to
mining have caused severe land degradation. Mining sites are abandoned after excavation
work is complete, leaving the land over-burdening and in a highly degraded state
(iii) The mineral processing like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite and
soapstone for ceramic industry generate huge quantity of dust in the atmosphere. It retards the
process of infiltration of water into the soil after it settles down on the land.
(iv) In states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra overgrazing is one of
the main reasons for land degradation.
(v) In the states of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, over irrigation is responsible for
land degradation due to water logging leading to increase in salinity and alkalinity in the soil.
Q12. Suggest any five measures to solve the problem of land degradation in India.
Ans. The following steps can be taken to solve the problem of land degradation.
(i) There are many ways to solve the problems of land degradation.
Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can stop the water down the slopes.
(ii) Strip cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between
the crops. This breaks up the force of wind, reducing its effect
(iii) Afforestation and proper management of razing can help to some extent.
(iv) Planting of shelter belts of plants, control on over grazing, stabilization of sand dunes by
growing thorny bushes are some of the methods to check land degradation.
(v) Proper management of waste lands, control of mining activities, proper discharge and
disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water
degradation in industrial and suburban areas.
Q13. Explain the five factors responsible for the formation of soil.
Ans. (i) Parent Material: It is deposited by streams or derived from in-situ weathering. In this
stage, soil inherits many properties like the mineral composition, the colour, the particle size
and the chemical elements. For example- Black soil derived its colour from lava rock

(ii) Climate: It is one of the important factors in the formation of soil because it affects the rate
of weathering of the parent rock.

(iii) Role of precipitation: The variability in the precipitation modified the composition of the
soil. For Example- Areas with little rainfall with high rate of evaporation led to the accumulation
of salts in the soil. The soils underlying tropical rain forests tend to be nutrient-poor because of
intensive leaching due to heavy rains.

(iv) Topography (Relief, Altitude and Slope): It is considered as passive factor to modifying the
effects of climate because it affects soil processes, soil distribution and the type of vegetation.

(v) Time: The formation of the soil is not one day process but requires many years to form.
Younger soils have some characteristics from their parent material, but as they age, the
addition of organic matter, exposure to moisture and other environmental factors may change
its features.
Q 14. Explain the characteristics or features of different soils of India.
Ans.1. Alluvial Soil
(i) This is the most widely spread and important soil. In fact, the entire northern plains
are made of alluvial soil. These have been deposited by three important Himalayan
river systems– the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
 (ii) These soils also extend in Rajasthan and Gujarat through a narrow corridor. Alluvial
soil is also found in the eastern coastal plains particularly in the deltas of the
Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.
(iii) The fine particles of sand, silt and clay are called alluvium. The alluvial soil can be
divided into old alluvium, also called Bangar, and new alluvium, called Khadar.
(iv) Alluvial soil has adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime which is
ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat, etc.
(v) Regions of Alluvial soil are intensively cultivated and are densely populated.

2. Black Soil/Regur Soil/Cotton Soil

(i) The black soil is also called the Regur Soil or the Black Cotton Soil. Cotton grows best in
this soil.
(ii) Black soil is formed from the weathering of the igneous rocks.
(iii) Black soil has high concentration of fine particles and thus can hold moisture for long
time. They develop deep cracks during hot weather, which helps in the proper aeration
of the soil.
(iv) These soils are sticky when wet and difficult to work on unless tilled immediately after
the first shower or during the pre-monsoon period.
(v) It contains calcium carbonate, potassium, magnesium and lime. This soil is poor in
phosphoric contents.
(vi) The black soil is mostly found in the Deccan Trap, covering large areas of Maharashtra,
Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. It is also found in some parts of Godavari
and Krishna river valleys, covering parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
3.Red or Yellow Soil
(i) Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern
and southern parts of the Deccan plateau.
(ii) Red soil is derived from the weathering of the igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is
found in the areas of low rainfall.
(iii) The red colour is due to the high percentage of iron contents.
(iv) These soils develop a reddish colour due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and
metamorphic rocks. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form
(v) Red & Yellow soils are found in the parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh Ganga plain and
Western Ghats. It is also found in the southern and eastern parts of the peninsular
plateau.
4. Laterite Soil

(i) Laterite has been derived from a Latin word called "Later" which means Brick. The
laterite soil is widely spread areas with high temperature and rainfall. This causes
leaching of the soil and microorganisms are killed during the process.
 (ii) Due to intensive leaching, the laterite soil generally lacks fertility and is of low value for
crop production. Leaching is a process in which heavy rains wash away the fertile part of
the soil
(iii) But when manured and timely irrigated, the soil is suitable for producing plantation
crops like tea, coffee, rubber, coconut, etc
(iv) This soil is mainly found in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and in hilly
areas of Orissa and Assam.

5. Arid Soil
(i) The Arid soil is found mostly in the arid and semi-arid regions, receiving less
than 50 cm of annual rainfall.
(ii) Soil colour ranges from red to brown. Sandy in texture and saline in nature.
Soil lacks in humus and moisture. The lower layer of the soil is occupied by
Kankar because of increasing calcium content downwards.
(iii) The Kankar layer formations in the bottom horizons restrict the infiltration of
water. After proper irrigation these soils become cultivable
(iv) Such regions are mostly found in Rajasthan and the adjoining areas of
Haryana and Punjab. The Rann of Kachchh in Gujarat is an extension of this
region.
6. Forest Soil
(i) The Forest soil is generally found on the hill slopes covered with forests.
This type of soil is found in the Himalayan region, the Western and Eastern Ghats and in
some parts of the Peninsular India.
(ii) Soil is loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes.
This soil is rich in humus, but poor in potash, phosphorus and lime.
(iii) In the snow-covered areas of Himalayas, these soils experience denudation and are
acidic with low humus content.
(iv) This soil is especially suitable for producing plantation crops, such as tea, coffee
Q15. What is Soil erosion? What are the factors of soil erosion.
i. The removal of the soil cover and subsequent washing down is described as soil erosion.
The processes of soil formation and erosion go on simultaneously and generally there is a
balance between the two.
ii. Sometimes, this balance is disturbed due to human activities like deforestation, over-grazing,
construction and mining etc.
iii. Natural factors like wind, glacier and water lead to soil erosion.
Q16. Define the term: Gullies, Badland, Ravine and Sheet erosion.
Gullies : The running water cuts through the clayey soil and makes deep channels known as
Gullies.
Badland : The land which is not fit for cultivation is known as Bad Land. In Chambal region
such types of land is called Ravines. It is larger in scale than gullies, although smaller than
valleys.
Q17. What is meant by conservation of soil? Describe some of the soil conservation methods.
• Soil conservation means protection, preservation and proper utilization of the soil.
• Some methods of soil conservation are: -
1. Contour Ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water
down the slopes. This is called contour ploughing
2. Terrace Cultivation: Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace cultivation
restricts erosion. Western and central Himalayas have well developed terrace farming.
3. Strip Cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between
the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. This method is known as strip cropping.
4. Shelter Belts: Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of
such trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the
stabilization of sand dunes and in stabilizing the desert in western India.
5. Afforestation, Crop Rotation, Control over Deforestation and Overgrazing, etc. are also
some of the methods to conserve soil.
Q18. In a political map of India locate the soils of India.