NCERT Questions & Answers + Important Extra Questions
NCERT Textbook Questions
Q1. Multiple Choice Questions
(i) Which one of the following types of resource is iron ore?
(a) Renewable (b) Biotic (c) Flow (d) Non-renewable
(ii) Under which of the following type of resource can tidal energy be put?
(a) Replenishable (b) Abiotic (c) Human-made (d) Non-recyclable
(iii) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?
(a) Intensive cultivation (b) Deforestation (c) Over-irrigation (d) Overgrazing
(iv) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?
(a) Punjab (b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh (c) Haryana (d) Uttarakhand
(v) In which of the following states is black soil found?
(a) Jammu and Kashmir (b) Maharashtra (c) Rajasthan (d) Jharkhand
Q2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words
(i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in it.
Ans. Black soil (regur soil) is found in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. It is also found in parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The main crop grown in black soil is cotton, which is why it is also called "black cotton soil."
(ii) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three main features of this type of soil.
Answer
Alluvial soil is found in river deltas of the eastern coast (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri deltas). Features: (i) Very fertile — rich in potash, phosphoric acid, and lime. (ii) Fine-grained and clayey in nature (new alluvium called Khadar). (iii) Ideal for intensive agriculture — supports crops like rice, sugarcane, and jute.
(iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?
Answer
(i) Terrace farming — cutting steps on slopes to reduce the speed of water flow. (ii) Contour ploughing — ploughing along the contour lines of a slope. (iii) Afforestation — planting trees to bind the soil with their roots. (iv) Building check dams and embankments to slow water runoff.
(iv) What are the biotic and abiotic resources? Give some examples.
Answer
Biotic resources: Resources obtained from the biosphere (living organisms) — forests, animals, fish, livestock, crops, birds, humans. Abiotic resources: Resources composed of non-living things — rocks, minerals, metals, water, land, soil, sunlight, wind.
Q3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words
(i) Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?
Answer
India's total geographical area is 3.28 million sq km, but land use data is available for only 93% of this. The land use pattern includes: Net sown area (about 43%), forests (about 23%), land not available for cultivation (barren land, built-up area — about 14%), fallow land (about 8%), and other uncultivated land (pastures, tree crops — about 12%).
The land under forest has not increased significantly since 1960-61 because: (i) Growing population has increased demand for agricultural land and housing, leading to encroachment on forest land. (ii) Industrialisation and urbanisation have converted forest areas into industrial zones and cities. (iii) Illegal logging and mining continue despite regulations. (iv) Afforestation programmes have not kept pace with deforestation. (v) Construction of dams, roads, and railways has led to submergence and clearing of forest areas. The National Forest Policy (1952) aims for 33% forest cover, but India is still far from this target.
(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?
Answer
Technical and economic development have dramatically increased resource consumption: (i) Industrialisation requires massive quantities of raw materials — minerals, water, energy, timber. As industries grow, demand for resources multiplies. (ii) Urbanisation leads to construction of buildings, roads, and infrastructure, consuming land, cement, steel, and energy. (iii) Modern agriculture (Green Revolution) uses chemical fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation, and machinery — all requiring resources. (iv) Rising living standards mean more consumption — cars, electronics, air conditioning, processed food all require resources for production and operation. (v) Population growth compounds the demand. (vi) Technological advancement has enabled extraction of resources from deeper and more remote locations, but this often causes environmental damage. (vii) The result has been resource depletion (fossil fuels, minerals, groundwater) and environmental degradation (pollution, deforestation, soil erosion). This underscores the need for sustainable development — using resources wisely so future generations can also meet their needs.
Important Extra Questions
Classify resources on different bases.
Answer
(a) On the basis of origin: Biotic (living origin — flora, fauna) and Abiotic (non-living — minerals, metals).
(b) On the basis of exhaustibility: Renewable (can be replenished — solar, wind, water, forests) and Non-renewable (take millions of years to form — minerals, fossil fuels).
(c) On the basis of ownership: Individual (owned by private individuals — farmland, houses), Community (accessible to all — public parks, grazing grounds), National (owned by the nation — minerals, water, forests within political boundaries), International (regulated by international bodies — oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of EEZ).
(d) On the basis of status of development: Potential (found but not yet utilised — Rajasthan's wind/solar energy potential), Developed (surveyed and being used — coal in Jharkhand), Stock (available but technology not ready to use them — hydrogen from water as fuel), Reserve (subset of stock that can be used with existing technology but not yet started — water in dams for electricity generation).
What is resource planning? Why is it essential for India?
Answer
Resource planning is the strategy for judicious use of resources to ensure equitable distribution and sustainable development. It involves three stages: (i) Identification and inventory of resources across regions, (ii) Development of a planning structure with appropriate technology, skills, and institutional setup, (iii) Matching resource development plans with overall national development plans.
Essential for India because: India has enormous diversity in resource distribution — some regions are resource-rich (Jharkhand — minerals, Rajasthan — solar potential) while others are resource-poor. States like Arunachal Pradesh have abundant water but lack infrastructure. Without planning, resources can be overexploited in some areas while remaining unused in others. Planning ensures sustainable use, equitable distribution, and prevents environmental degradation.
Describe the different types of soil found in India.
Answer
(i) Alluvial Soil: Most widespread and important. Found in Northern Plains, river deltas, and coastal plains. Very fertile. Two types: older Bangar (higher terrain) and newer Khadar (flood plains). Supports rice, wheat, sugarcane, pulses.
(ii) Black Soil (Regur): Found in Deccan Plateau — Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP. Made of lava rocks. Rich in calcium, magnesium, potash. Retains moisture well. Ideal for cotton.
(iii) Red and Yellow Soil: Found in areas of low rainfall — eastern and southern Deccan, Odisha, Chhattisgarh. Red colour from iron content. Less fertile than alluvial. Supports millets, groundnut, potatoes.
(iv) Laterite Soil: Found in high rainfall areas — Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, MP hills. Result of intense leaching. Poor in organic matter. Used for tea, coffee, cashew cultivation after adding manure.
(v) Arid Soil: Found in Rajasthan, Gujarat (dry areas). Sandy, saline, low humus. Low moisture. After irrigation, can grow wheat and other crops.
(vi) Forest/Mountain Soil: Found in hilly and mountainous areas. Loamy and silty in valley sides, coarse on upper slopes. Rich in humus in snow-covered areas. Supports tea, spices, fruits.