IASBABA.COM 2018 IASBABA [IASBABA’S 60 DAYS PLAN-COMPILATION (GEOGRAPHY)] Born with the vision of “Enabling a person located at the most remote destination a chance at cracking AIR 1 in IAS”. IASbaba’s 60 Days Plan – (Geography Compilation) 2018 Q.1) Consider the following. 1. Himalayas 2. Peninsular Plateau 3. North Indian Plains Arrange the following in chronological order of their formations. a) 1-3-2 b) 2-1-3 c) 2-3-1 d) 3-2-1 Q.1) Solution (b) The oldest landmass, (the Peninsula part), was a part of the Gondwana land. The Gondwana land included India, Australia, South Africa, South America and Antarctica as one single land mass. The northward drift of Peninsular India resulted in the collision of the plate with the much larger Eurasian Plate. Due to this collision, the sedimentary rocks which were accumulated in the geosyncline known as the Tethys were folded to form the mountain system of western Asia and Himalayas. The Himalayan uplift out of the Tethys Sea and subsidence of the northern flank of the peninsular plateau resulted in the formation of a large basin. In due course of time this depression, gradually got filled with deposition of sediments by the rivers flowing from the mountains in the north and the peninsular plateau in the south. A flat land of extensive alluvial deposits led to the formation of the northern plains of India. Do you know? Geologically, the Peninsular Plateau constitutes one of the ancient landmasses on the earth’s surface. It was supposed to be one of the most stable land blocks. THINK! Eastern and Western Ghats Q.2) Consider the following statements about Northwestern Himalayas. 1. The world-famous valley of Kashmir lies between the Karakoram Range and Ladakh Range. 2. The Kashmir Himalayas are also famous for Karewa formations. 3. Chenab in the valley of Kashmir is still in its youth stage and yet forms meanders. 1 IASbaba’s 60 Days Plan – (Geography Compilation) 2018 Which of the above statements is/are correct? a) 1 and 2 only b) 2 only c) 1 and 3 only d) All the above. Q.2) Solution (b) Between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal range, lies the world-famous valley of Kashmir and the famous Dal Lake. The Kashmir Himalayas are also famous for Karewa formations, which are useful for the cultivation of Zafran, a local variety of saffron. Srinagar, capital city of the state of Jammu and Kashmir is located on the banks of Jhelum River. Dal Lake in Srinagar presents an interesting physical feature. Jhelum in the valley of Kashmir is still in its youth stage and yet forms meanders – a typical feature associated with the mature stage in the evolution of fluvial land form. Do you know? Karewas are the thick deposits of glacial clay and other materials embedded with moraines. THINK! Molassis Basin. Q.3) Tors, block mountains, rift valleys, spurs, bare rocky structures, series of hummocky hills and wall-like quartzite dykes are some of the important physiographic features of which of the following region? a) Purvanchal Hill Complex. b) Peninsular plateau. c) North Indian Plains. d) Indian Deserts. Q.3) Solution (b) Some of the important physiographic features of peninsular plateau region are tors, block mountains, rift valleys, spurs, bare rocky structures, series of hummocky hills and wall-like quartzite dykes offering natural sites for water storage. The western and northwestern part of the plateau has an emphatic presence of black soil. 2 IASbaba’s 60 Days Plan – (Geography Compilation) 2018 Do you know? A tor, which is also known by geomorphologists as either a castle koppie or kopje, is a large, free-standing rock outcrop that rises abruptly from the surrounding smooth and gentle slopes of a rounded hill summit or ridge crest. THINK! Ravines and gorges. Q.4) Consider the following statements 1. The western coastal plains are an example of emergent coastal plain. 2. The western coastal plains are narrow in the middle and get broader towards north and south. 3. Because of its submerged nature, eastern coast has less number of ports and harbors. 4. The lakes and the playas have brackish water which is the main source of obtaining salt in western coasts. Choose the correct answer using the codes given below. a) 1 and 4 only b) 2 and 3 only c) 2, 3 and 4 only d) 2 and 4 3 IASbaba’s 60 Days Plan – (Geography Compilation) 2018 Q.4) Solution (d) The western coastal plains are an example of submerged coastal plain. It is believed that the city of Dwaraka which was once a part of the Indian mainland situated along the west coast is submerged under water. Because of this submergence it is a narrow belt and provides natural conditions for the development of ports and harbors. The western coastal plains are narrow in the middle and get broader towards north and south. As compared to the western coastal plain, the eastern coastal plain is broader and is an example of an emergent coast. Because of its emergent nature, it has less number of ports and harbours. The continental shelf extends up to 500 km into the sea, which makes it difficult for the development of good ports and harbors. The lakes and the playas have brackish water which is the main source of obtaining salt. These are feature of Indian Deserts. Do you know? The plains along the Bay of Bengal are wide and level. In the northern part, it is referred to as the Northern Circars, while the southern part is known as the Coromandel Coast. THINK! Deltas. Q.5) Consider the following pairs Passes Connects 1. Banihal Jammu and Srinagar 2. Zoji La Srinagar and Leh 3. Shipki La Himachal Pradesh and Tibet 4. Mana pass Uttarakhand and Tibet Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched? a) 1 only 4 IASbaba’s 60 Days Plan – (Geography Compilation) 2018 b) 2 only c) 1 and 3 only d) All the above Q.5) Solution (d) Pass Connects Aghil Pass Ladakh – China Burzil Pass Kashmir –Giligit Karakoram Pass Ladakh – China Zojila Pass Srinagar- Leh (J&K) Pensi La Ladhak -Kashmir Banihal Pass Jammu and Srinagar Baralacha Pass Ladakh – Himachal Pradesh Rohtang Pass Kullu valley with Lahul and spiti. Shipki La Himachal Pradesh-Tibet border Mana Pass Uttarakhand-Tibet border (Also known as Dungri La) Niti Pass Uttarakhand-Tibet border Lipulekh Pass Uttarakhand-Tibet border Q.6) Which of the following best defines Duars? a) The tract of land lying between two converging, or confluent, rivers. b) The alluvial floodplains in northeastern India that lies south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas and north of the Brahmaputra River basin. c) The land drained by the brackish water. d) The landscape all along the foothills of Shiwaliks. Q.6) Solution (b) The Dooars or Duars are the alluvial floodplains in northeastern India that lie south of the outer foothills of the Himalayas and north of the Brahmaputra River basin. This region is about 30 km (19 mi) wide and stretches over about 350 km (220 mi) from the Teesta River in West Bengal to the Dhanshiri River in Assam. The region forms the gateway to Bhutan. It is part of the Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands ecoregion. Do you know? The Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands is a narrow lowland ecoregion at the base of the Himalayas, about 25 km (16 mi) wide, and a continuation of the Gangetic Plain. It is colloquially called Terai in the Ganges Basin east to Nepal, then Dooars in West 5 IASbaba’s 60 Days Plan – (Geography Compilation) 2018 Bengal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Assam east to the Brahmaputra River. The world's tallest grasslands are found in this ecoregion, which are the most threatened and rare worldwide. THINK! Bhabar Q.7) Consider the following Himalayan ranges. 1. Karakoram range 2. Phir Panjal range 3. Ladakh range 4. Zaskar range Arrange the above ranges from North to South. a) 1-3-4-2 b) 1-4-3-2 c) 1-2-3-4 d) 1-2-4-3 Q.7) Solution (a) Do you know? 6 IASbaba’s 60 Days Plan – (Geography Compilation) 2018 The longitudinal valley lying between lesser Himalaya and the Shiwaliks are known as Duns. Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun and Patli Dun are some of the well-known Duns. THINK! Patlands. Q.8) Consider the following statements: 1. The region is swampy and marshy. 2. The underground streams re – emerge in this region. 3. The region is conducive for the breeding of mosquitoes and flies. 4. The forests in this region have been cleared and intensive agriculture is being practiced. The above statements are true for which of the following regions? a) Bhabar b) Bhangar c) Khadar d) Tarai Q.8) Solution (d) The Tarai Tract: Tarai Tract 7 IASbaba’s 60 Days Plan – (Geography Compilation) 2018 Tarai lies South of Bhabar. It is 15-30km wide with its width increasing from west to east. (Note: this is opposite from the Bhabar plains). This is a zone of excessive dampness, thick forests, rich wild life and malarial climate. This zone is formed as the rivers which got submerged in Bhabar plains reemerge in this region. In most of the northen states, from Haryana to Bihar, the Tarai forests have been cleared and plains are used for agriculture now. The Tarai belt is known for the cultivation of Sugarcane, rice, wheat, maize, oil seeds, pulses and fodder. THINK! Battle of Tarai Kankar Chuar Q.9) Dandakaranya forest has been in news because of Naxalism.