[DAY 43] 60 DAY RAPID REVISION (RaRe) SERIES for UPSC Prelims 2022 – GEOGRAPHY, CURRENT AFFAIRS & CSAT; Test Series, Videos & Notes!

Solution (a)

Basic Info:

Primitive Subsistence Farming:

It is mostly practiced by tribal people at Equatorial regions. This type of farming is still practised in small patches of Indian land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao, and digging sticks and family / community labour. The entire crop is kept for their family consumption. Farmers can avail either dryland farming or wetland farming depending on monsoon, natural fertility of the soil and suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown.

Features of Primitive Subsistence Farming :

• ‘Slash and Burn’ method is practised.
• The whole family depend on the farm.
• They used mostly old technological tools.
• The farms are small patches of land.
• Crop yield is low.
• No commercialisation of the crops.

Solution (c)

Basic Info:

Shifting cultivation is a form of agricultural practice or a cultivation system in which an area of ground is cleared of vegetation and cultivated for a few years and then abandoned for a new area until its fertility has been naturally restored. Generally, the crops grown in this type of farming is dry paddy, maize, millets and vegetables.

Shifting Cultivation is known by different regional names:

• Jhum: North-eastern India
• Vevar and Dahiyaar: Bundelkhand Region (Madhya Pradesh)
• Deepa: Bastar District (Madhya Pradesh)
• Zara and Erka: Southern States
• Batra: South-eastern Rajasthan
• Podu: Andhra Pradesh
• Kaman, Vinga and Dhavi: Odisha
• Ponam: Kerala

Solution (d)

Basic Info:

Ferrous Minerals

Ferrous minerals are metallic minerals containing iron. While non-ferrous minerals are also metallic, but they do not contain iron.
Iron ore and manganese are two important ferrous minerals mined in India.

Iron Ore
About 95 per cent of total reserves of iron ore are located in the States of Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

In Odisha iron ore occurs in a series of hill ranges in Sundergarh, Mayurbhanj and Jhar. Jharkhand has some of the oldest iron ore mines like Noamundi and Gua (Singhbhum district) and most of the  iron and steel plants are located around them. This belt further extends to Durg, Dantewara and Bailadila in Chhattisgarh.

In Karnataka, iron ore deposits occur in Sandur-Hospet area of Ballari district, Baba Budan hills and Kudremukh in Chikkamagaluru district and parts of Shivamogga, Chitradurg and Tumakuru districts.

The districts of Chandrapur, Bhandara and Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, Karimnagar and Warangal district of Telangana, Kurnool, Cuddapah and Anantapur districts of Andhra Pradesh, Salem and Nilgiri districts of Tamil Nadu are other iron mining regions. Goa has also emerged as an important producer of iron ore

Manganese
Manganese is an important raw material for smelting of iron ore and also used for  manufacturing Ferro alloys.

Manganese deposits are found in almost all geological formations, however, it is mainly  associated with Dharwar system.

Odisha is the leading producer of Manganese. Major mines in Odisha are located in the central part of the iron ore belt of India, particularly in Bonai, Kendujhar, Sundergarh, Gangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi and Bolangi.

Karnataka is another major producer and here the mines are located in Dharwar, Ballari, Belagavi, North Canara, Chikkmagaluru, Shivamogga, Chitradurg and Tumakuru.

Maharashtra is also an important producer of manganese, which is mined in Nagpur, Bhandara and Ratnagiri districts. The disadvantage to these mines is that they are located far from
steel plants.

The manganese belt of Madhya Pradesh extends in a belt in Balaghat-Chhindwara-Nimar Mandla and Jhabua districts.  Telangana, Goa, and Jharkhand are other minor producers of manganese.

Solution (b)

Basic Info:

Cement Industries in India

India is the second largest cement producer in the world and accounted for over 7% of the global installed capacity. India’s overall cement production capacity was nearly 545 million tonnes (MT) in FY20.

Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Kerala are largest cement producing states in India. Maharashtra is largest consumer state of Cement.

Limestone is the major raw material used in production of cement.  The production of cement releases greenhouse gas emissions both directly and indirectly.

Cement plants account for 5 % of global emissions of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming. Cement has no viable recycling potential.

Solution (a)

Basic Info:

Rudimentary Sedentary Tillage:

This form of agriculture is practiced at one place by a settled farmer, in which fields are not rotated and very primitive methods of cultivation is practiced. Nevertheless, the agricultural system is more reliable.

Rudimentary sedentary tillage is mostly confined to the tropical lands of Central and South America, Africa and Southeast Asia.

Crop rotation, rather than field rotation, is practiced and greater attention is paid to the land and the crop sown.

Tilling methods are more intensive, however, all the work is done by hand. Ploughing and hoeing of the soil is done with crude hand implements. There is more employment of manpower in the field.

Most of the crops grown under rudimentary sedentary tillage belong to the tuber and cereal family, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, maize and sorghum, cassava, banana etc,.

Solution (b)

Basic Info:

Jute Cultivation:

The  leading  world’s  jute producing  countries are India , Bangladesh , China and Thailand . India is the world’s largest producer of raw jute and jute goods , contributing to over 50 percent and 40 percent respectively of global production.

The cultivation of jute in India is mainly confined to the eastern region of the country. The jute crop is grown in  nearly  83  districts  of seven states –  West Bengal ,  Assam ,  Orissa , Bihar , Uttar Pradesh , Tripura and Meghalaya . West Bengal alone accounts for over 50 percent raw jute production.

Jute crop requires humid  climate  with  temperature  fluctuating between 24 degree Celsius and 38 degree Celsius. Minimum  rainfall  required  for  jute  cultivation is  1000  mm . New  grey  alluvial  soil of  good  depth receiving  silt  from  annual  floods is most suitable  for  jute  growth. However, jute  is grown widely in sandy looms and clay loams.

Jute Geotextile is a variety of jute available in woven and non-woven fabrics used for natural options to save the environment. Geo jute is used in erosion control, separation, filtration and drainage in civil engineering work, and agricultural uses. It also has application in rural road pavement construction and agro plant mulching.

To promote and popularize jute diversification work, National Jute Board, Government of India, Ministry of Textiles, acts as the apex body for promotion of the products in India and abroad.

Solution (c) 

Basic Info:

Mediterranean and Monsoon Agriculture:
The Mediterranean agriculture and Monsoon agriculture have many similarities and dissimilarities.

Similarities

• There is a marked dry and rainy season.
• The agriculture is largely of intensive type.
• Dry farming and wet farming both are practiced.

Differences

• Monsoon region is associated with higher rainfall than Mediterranean region.
• In Mediterranean, the rainfall is received in the winters while it is summers in the monsoonal region.
• The farming in monsoonal region is largely subsistence while in the Mediterranean, it is largely near subsistence.
• The Monsoonal agriculture is largely concerned with grain farming while the Mediterranean is concerned with Horticulture and Olericulture.
• The arable area in the Monsoon region is very large while it is restricted in the Mediterranean lands.
• Farming in monsoonal region is done on alluvial plains, delta, loess and lava soil region covering large areas while in the Mediterranean, it is confined to small valleys, narrows floodplains deltas, piedmont plains and lower slopes of the mountains

Solution (b)

Basic Info:

Foot Loose Industries does not have a strong locational preference because the resources, production skills, and consumers on which it depends can be found in numerous places. Such a company may therefore be more prone to relocation, hence the term footloose.

Following are the some other characteristics of Foot Loose Industries:

• They are not dependent on any specific raw material, weight losing or otherwise.
• These industries require small plant size compared to heavy and small industries.
• They produce in small quantities and also employ a small labour force
• It needs skilled workers as the industrial process is advanced and major work needs high-quality precision.
• These are generally not polluting industries. The important factor in their location is accessibility by road network.
• They are primarily located in clean environment because it attracts skilled migrants and also many electronic industries needs clean air.

Solution (d)

Basic Info:

NPPA was set-up as an independent Regulator on 29th August, 1997 for pricing of drugs and to ensure availability and accessibility of medicines at affordable prices.

NPPA is neither a Statutory nor a Constitutional Body.

It is an attached office of the Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP), Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilizers was created vide Government of India Resolution published in the Gazette of India.

NPPA, under its Central Sector Scheme named Consumer Awareness, Publicity and Price Monitoring (CAPPM), has set up Price Monitoring and Resource Unit (PMRU) in 12 States/ UTs, including Kerala, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Mizoram and Jammu & Kashmir. NPPA has plans to set up PMRUs in all the 36 States/ UTs. The expenses of PMRUs, both recurring and non-recurring are borne by NPPA under the Scheme.

The primary function of PMRUs is to assist NPPA in monitoring of prices of drugs, ensuring availability of drugs and raising consumer awareness. They act as collaborating partners of NPPA with information gathering mechanism at the grass-roots level. They will render necessary technical assistance to both the NPPA and the respective State Drug Controllers of States/ Union Territories.

Solution (a)

Basic Info:

Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India produces about 12 per cent of total wheat production of world, it is primarily a crop of temperate zone.

Wheat is a rabi crop which is sown in the beginning of winter and is harvested in the beginning of summer.

The following conditions are required for its growth:

• Temperature: 10-15 degree Celsius (sowing time) 21-26 degree Celsius (ripening & harvesting)
• Rainfall: 75-100 cm
• Soil: Well drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy

About 85 per cent of total area under this crop is concentrated in north and central regions of the country  i.e. indo-gangetic Plain, Malwa Plateau and Himalayas up to 2,700 m Madhya Pradesh , Punjab Haryana & Rajasthan.

Solution (d)

Basic Info:

The Department of Agriculture, Co-operation and Farmers Welfare conducts agriculture census every five years to collect data on structural characteristics of agricultural sector including size of agriculture land holdings in the country.

The total number of operational holdings in the country has increased from 138.35 million in 2010-11 to 146.45 million in 2015-16 showing an increase of 5.86%.

The total operated area in the country has decreased from 159.59 million ha. in 2010-11 to 157.82 million ha. in 2015-16 showing a decrease of 1.11%.

In a total of 146.45 million operational holdings in the country, the highest number of operational holders belonged to Uttar Pradesh (23.82 million) followed by Bihar (16.41 million), Maharashtra (15.29 million)

As regards operated area, out of a total of 157.82 million ha., the highest operated area was contributed by Rajasthan (20.87 million ha), followed by Maharashtra (20.51 million ha.), Uttar Pradesh (17.45 million ha.),

Solution (b)

Pairs 1 and 3 are interchanged.

Basic Info:

In multi cropping system, farmers grow two or more crops on farmland in one calendar year. It includes inter-cropping, mixed-cropping and relay cropping. Multi cropping system is common in tropical regions having more rainfall, higher temperatures, and a longer growing season.

• Intercropping: Is growing two or more crops simultaneously in a definite cropping pattern.
• Relay cropping: Relay cropping involves growing of two or more crops on the same field with the planting of the second crop after the first one has reached its reproductive stage.
• Mixed intercropping: It involves growing more than one crop simultaneously without any distinct row arrangement.

Solution (c)

Basic Info:

• In India, Sugarcane is grown as a Kharif Crop.
• It needs hot and humid climate with an average temperature of 21°C to 27°C.
• 75-150 cm rainfall is favorable for sugar cane cultivation.
• Irrigation needed for areas with lesser rainfall.
• Sugarcane can grow in any soil which can retain moisture. Ideal soil for sugarcane is deep rich loamy soil.
• The soil needs to be rich in nitrogen, calcium and phosphorus but neither it should be neither too acidic nor too alkaline.
• It is least water efficient crop.
• It also provides raw material for manufacturing alcohol. Bagasse, the crushed cane residue, can be more beneficially used for manufacturing paper instead of using it as fuel in the mills.
• It is also an efficient substitute for petroleum products and a host of other chemical products.
• The largest sugarcane producing state of India is Uttar Pradesh

Solution (b)

Basic Info:

In agriculture, water is mainly used for irrigation. Irrigation is required because of Spatio-temporal variability in rainfall in India. The large tracts of the country are deficient in rainfall and drought-prone. ex: North-western India and Deccan plateau. Winter and summer seasons are more or less dry in the majority parts of the country. 

So, it is difficult to practice agriculture without assured irrigation during dry seasons. Even in the areas of abundant rainfall like West Bengal and Bihar, breaks in monsoon or its failure creates dry spells detrimental for agriculture. Water need of certain crops also makes irrigation necessary. For example, the water requirement of rice, sugarcane, jute, etc. is very high which could be met only through irrigation.

Provision of irrigation makes multiple cropping possible. It has also been found that irrigated lands have more agricultural productivity than un-irrigated land. Further, the high yielding varieties of crops need regular moisture supply, which is made possible only by a developed irrigation system.

This is why the green revolution strategy of agriculture development in the country has generally been successful in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Climate Change and associated changes in the pattern of rainfall makes it erratic, and thus irrigation becomes cardinal to success of agriculture.

Solution (b)

Basic Info:

India is the largest producer (25% of global production), consumer (27% of world consumption) and importer (14%) of pulses in the world. Pulses account for around 20 per cent of the area under foodgrains and contribute around 7-10 per cent of the total foodgrains production in the country. Though pulses are grown in both Kharif and Rabi seasons, Rabi pulses contribute more than 60 per cent of the total production.

Gram is the most dominant pulse having a share of around 40 per cent in the total production followed by Tur/Arhar at 15 to 20 per cent and Urad/Black Matpe and Moong at around 8-10 per cent each. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka are the top five pulses producing States. Productivity of pulses is 764 kg/ha.

With the advent of Green Revolution, which promoted rice and wheat using external inputs and modern varieties of seeds, pulses were pushed to the marginal lands. This resulted in decline in productivity and land degradation. Thus, pulses are still cultivated on the marginal and sub marginal land, predominantly under unirrigated conditions.

Besides serving as an important source of protein for a large portion of the global population, pulses contribute to healthy soils and climate change mitigation through their nitrogen-fixing properties.

Solution (c)

Basic Info:

Mariculture is a specialized branch of aquaculture involving the cultivation of marine organisms for food and other products in the open ocean, an enclosed section of the ocean, or in tanks, ponds or raceways which are filled with seawater.

An example of the latter is the farming of marine fish, including finfish and shellfish like prawns, or oysters and seaweed in saltwater ponds.

Non-food products produced by mariculture include fish meal, nutrient agar, jewelry (e.g. cultured pearls), and cosmetics.

Benefits of Mariculture

• Sustainable mariculture promises economic and environmental benefits.
• Economies of scale imply that ranching can produce fish at lower cost than industrial fishing, leading to better human diets and the gradual elimination of unsustainable fisheries.
• Maricultured fish are also perceived to be of higher quality than fish raised in ponds or tanks, and offer more diverse choice of species.
• Consistent supply and quality control has enabled integration in food market channels.

Solution (d)

Basic Info:

Millets in India: The three major millet crops currently grown in India are jowar (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet) and ragi (finger millet).  Along with that, India grows a rich array of bio-genetically diverse and indigenous varieties of “small millets” like kodo, kutki, chenna and sanwa.

Major producers include Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

Millets are less expensive and nutritionally superior to wheat & rice owing to their high protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals like iron content.

Millets are also rich in calcium and magnesium.

They are also harder and drought-resistant crops, which has to do with their short growing season (70-100 days, as against 120-150 days for paddy/wheat) and lower water requirement (350-500 mm versus 600-1,200 mm).

Solution (d)

Source : https://commerce.gov.in/about-us/divisions/export-products-division/export-products-agriculture/

Solution (b)

Basic Info:

• Seaweed farming or Kelp farming is the practice of cultivating and harvesting seaweed.
• Seaweed, or macroalgae, refers to thousands of species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae.
• India is among the 12 mega-biodiversity nations in the world.
• India has an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.17 million sq.km.
• A water temperature ranging from 25 °C to 30 °C is best for growing seaweed. In shallow waters near the beach, the water temperature can become quite high especially during a sunny day. Such an area is not suitable for planting seaweed.
• Freshwater kills seaweed, But Seaweed prefers clear saline water and plenty of sunlight, even turbid water (muddy) will not sustain good seaweed growth.
• If the water current is too strong, it can damage your plants and even wash away your planted lines by pulling down the stakes.
• They are the only group of higher plants adapted to live in saltwater.
• Major Seagrass meadows in India occur along the southeast coast of Tamil Nadu, in the lagoons of a few Lakshadweep Island and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands.

Solution (c)

Basic Info:

Organic Farming in India

• Organic farming is in a nascent stage in India. About 2.78 million hectare of farmland was under organic cultivation as of March 2020, according to the Union Agriculture Ministry. This is two per cent of the 140.1 million ha net sown area in the country.
• The top three states, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra account for about half the area under organic cultivation.
• Madhya Pradesh tops the list with 0.76 million ha of area under organic cultivation — that is over 27 per cent of India’s total organic cultivation area.
• Sikkim is the only state to be considered fully organic.
• India introduced the organic farming policy in 2005.

Solution (b)

Statement Analysis:

 Context – There was a session of UN General Assembly regarding Ukraine-Russian war.

Solution (c)

Statement Analysis:

 Context – Turkey vowed to block Russia’s entry into Mediterranean Sea.

Solution (c)

Fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and carbapenems are antibiotics. India has been reporting high levels of resistance to fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and carbapenems across the Gram-negative pathogens that cause almost 70 per cent of infections in communities and hospitals.

Context – These drugs were in news due to anti-microbial resistance.

Solution (d)

Statement Analysis:

 Context –Coal imports were in news.

Solution (a)

Statement Analysis:

 Context – The species was in news.

Solution (b)

Logic is 2×1 + 1 = 3, 3 × 2 + 4 =10, 10 × 3 + 9 = 39, 39 × 4 + 16 = 172…. So in place of 38, it should be 39.

Solution (d)

Logic is 4 × 1.5 = 6, 6 × 2 = 12, 12 × 2.5 = 30, 30 × 3 = 90, 90 × 3.5 = 315, 315 × 4 = 1260. Thus the wrong number is 312.50, it should be 315.

Solution (a)

The first term is {a- 1} = -9 while the common difference is d=7.

Substituting the values in the formula for arithmetic progression

= a + ( n – 1 ) * d

= -9 + ( 45-1) * 7

= -9 + 308

= 299

Solution (c)

On separating the Odd and the Even Series, we observe the following pattern:

ODD SERIES   EVEN SERIES

3

3 + 4 =7                        6

7 + 6 =13                      6+4 = 10

13 + 8=21                     10+6 =16

21 +10=31                    16+8=24

31 +12=43                    24+10=34

34+12=46

On observing the given two series, we observe that the fifth term in EVEN SERIES should be replaced by 34, therefore option (a) is the correct answer.

Solution (b)

Refer to the first line of the passage; we can infer that statement 2 is correct.

Statement 1 is not correct.

Hence, option b is correct.