Solution (b)

India’s wool sector:

• India is the seventh-largest producer of wool and accounts for nearly 2 to 3% of total world production.
• India has the third-largest number of sheep in the world with 74.26 million sheep under 42 registered breeds, according to the 20th Livestock Census in 2019.
• Due to the insufficient domestic production, India depends on imports for raw wool, particularly on Australia and New Zealand.
• Rajasthan is the largest wool producer and is known for its superior carpet grade Chokla and Magra wool.
• Carpet grade is rougher than apparel grade and accounts for 85% of India’s production.
• The wool textile industry provides employment to 2.7 million workers – 1.2 million in the organised sector, 1.2 million in sheep rearing and farming, and 0.3 million weavers in the carpet sector.

Article Link: Shear desperation: How can India’s wool sector be revived

Solution (d)

The Bosporus is a narrow, natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in northwestern Turkey. 

It forms part of the continental boundary between Europe and Asia, and divides Turkey by separating Anatolia from Thrace. 

It is the world’s narrowest strait used for international navigation. 

The Bosporus connects the Black Sea with the Sea of Marmara, and, by extension via the Dardanelles, the Aegean and Mediterranean seas, and by the Kerch Strait, the sea of Azov.

Together with the Dardanelles, the Bosporus forms the Turkish Straits.

Article Link: What is Kanal Istanbul

Solution (b)

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) has recently identified some geological sites across the Northeast for promotion of geo-tourism as some States in the region prepare to ‘unlock’ from September.

Of the 12 sites in the Northeast, three are in Meghalaya, two each in Assam and Tripura, and one each in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.

Some of the sites are:

• Mawmluh Cave: It is located near Cherrapunjee in the East Khasi Hills district in Meghalaya. This cave led scientists to the Meghalayan Age associated with a major climatic event – very abrupt, critical and significant drought and cooling – 4,200 years ago. A stage of the Meghalayan Age is defined from a specific level in a stalagmite from this cave. According to geologists, speleothems from the cave provide important records of Holocene paleo-climate and paleo-monsoon. The cave is about 55 km from the State capital Shillong.
• Umananda: It is located in Assam. One of the smallest inhabited islands in the Brahmaputra, Umananda is off the administrative hub of Guwahati and sports an old Shiva temple. The island is actually an inselberg, composed of the rocks of the Assam-Meghalaya gneissic complex.
• Unakoti: Located in Tripura, this site in the Unakoti district has numerous rock-cut sculptures and temples made between the 7th and 9th centuries. The hilly environs and waterfalls are an added attraction at Unakoti, which means “one less than a crore”. The place is a historic Shaiva pilgrimage 172 km from Agartala. The central Shiva head, known as ‘Unakotiswara Kal Bhairava’ is about 30 feet high, including an embroidered headdress that is 10 feet high.

Article Link: GSI lists geo-tourism sites in NE to visit after ‘unlock’

Solution (d)

The Sangestar Tso popularly known as the Madhuri Lake, is located on the way from Tawang to Bum La Pass in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, near Indo-China border above 15,200 ft above sea level.

The Sangesstar Tso was created by falling rocks, boulders and trees in an earthquake.

Article Link: GSI lists geo-tourism sites in NE to visit after ‘unlock’

Solution (a)

Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas of India is published by Space Application Centre, ISRO, Ahmadabad.

The Atlas provides a state-wise area of degraded lands for the time frame 2018-19.

It also provides the change analysis for the duration of 15 years, from 2003-05 to 2018-19.

Atlas presents state-wise desertification and land degradation status maps depicting land use, the process of degradation, and severity level.

The outputs are helpful in prioritizing areas to be taken up for minimizing the impact of desertification and land degradation.

Article Link: Despite PM Modi’s assurance, land degradation, desertification increasing