UPSC Static Quiz – 2020 : IASbaba’s Daily Static Quiz – GEOGRAPHY [Day 38]

Solution (c)

Western Ghats are higher in elevation compared to the Eastern Ghats. 

Hence statement 1 is incorrect

Most of the peninsular rivers have their origin in the Western Ghats.

Hence statement 2 is incorrect

Solution (c)

Gypsum is Calcium Sulfate and is a naturally occurring mineral. It has been touted as beneficial for breaking up compact soil, especially clay soil. It is useful in changing the soil structure of excessively heavy soils which have been impacted by heavy traffic, flooding, over cropping, or simply overly weatherized. It decreases their alkalinity. 

Hence option c is correct.

Solution (a)

Radial drainage pattern is formed when a river originates from a Hill and flows in all directions.

Hence option a is correct.

Centripetal drainage pattern is formed when the rivers discharge their waters from all directions in a lake or depression.

Hence option b is incorrect.

Trellis drainage pattern is formed when primary tributaries flow parallel to each other and secondary tributaries join them at right angles.

Hence option c is incorrect.

Dendritic drainage pattern is formed when the drainage pattern resembles branches of a tree.

Hence option d is incorrect.

Solution (d)

The mid-day Sun is exactly overhead at least once a year on all latitudes between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. Hence, among the given options, except Delhi, the remaining three are well in between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn and the mid-day Sun is exactly overhead at least once in a year. Delhi is slightly away from equator, so the Sun is slightly tilted from being over head.

Solution (d)

The Brahmaputra, one of the largest rivers of the world, has its origin in the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range near the Mansarover Lake. 

Hence statement 1 is correct.

The Ganga river raises in the Gangotri glacier near Gaumukh in the Uttarkashi district of Uttaranchal. 

Hence statement 2 is correct

The Ghaghara river raises in the glaciers of Mapchachungo. 

Hence statement 3 is correct

The Sarda or Sarayu river rises in the Milan glacier in the Nepal Himalayas where it is known as the Goriganga. Along the Indo-Nepal border, it is called Kali or Chauk, where it joins the Ghaghara. 

Hence statement 4 is correct

Solution (b)

Between the Great Himalayas and the Pir Panjal range, lies the world-famous valley of Kashmir and the famous Dal Lake.

Hence Statement 1 is incorrect.

The Kashmir Himalayas are also famous for Karewa formations, which are useful for the cultivation of Zafran, a local variety of saffron.

Hence statement 2 is correct.

Solution (d)

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 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.

Solution (c)

• 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.

Solution (b)

The peninsular plateau extends further east beyond the Rajmahal hills to from Meghalaya or the Shillong plateau.

Hence statement 1 is incorrect.

Garo-Rajmahal Gap separates the Meghalaya plateau from the main block.

Hence statement 2 is correct.

This gap was formed by down-faulting (normal fault: a block of earth slides downwards). It was later filled by sediments deposited by the Ganga and Brahmaputra. 

Hence statement 3 is incorrect.

Solution (c)

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.