Class | Subject | Book | Chapter | Session | Questions covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
XII | Geography | India: People and Economy (NCERT) | 5 – Mineral and Energy Resources | 2026-27 | 9 of 9 |
Chapter at a glance
Topic | Key point |
|---|---|
Mineral belts | North-eastern Plateau (Chotanagpur, Odisha, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh); South-western Plateau (Karnataka, Goa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala); North-western region (Rajasthan, Gujarat) |
Ferrous minerals | Iron ore (Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Goa), manganese (Odisha, Karnataka, MP, Maharashtra) |
Non-ferrous minerals | Bauxite (Odisha, Gujarat, Jharkhand, MP, Chhattisgarh), copper (Jharkhand — Singhbhum, MP — Balaghat, Rajasthan — Jhunjhunu, Alwar) |
Non-metallic | Mica (Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan), limestone |
Conventional energy | Coal (Gondwana — Damodar valley: Jharia, Raniganj, Bokaro; Tertiary — north-east), petroleum (Assam — Digboi; Gujarat — Ankleshwar; Mumbai High), natural gas |
Nuclear | Uranium (Jaduguda, Jharkhand), thorium (monazite, Kerala); Tarapur (1969), Rawatbhata, Kalpakkam, Narora, Kakrapara, Kaiga, Kudankulam |
Non-conventional | Solar, wind, tidal and wave, geothermal (Manikaran, Himachal), bio-energy |
Conservation | Sustainable use, recycling, substitutes, renewable energy |
Exercise Questions
Question 1 (i)
In which one of the following States are the major oil fields located?
(a) Assam (b) Bihar (c) Rajasthan (d) Tamil Nadu
Answer
Assam has the oldest and major oil fields — Digboi, Naharkatiya, Moran. (Gujarat — Ankleshwar, Kalol — and offshore Mumbai High are also major producers; Rajasthan’s Barmer field is newer.)
- Assam
Question 1 (ii)
At which one of the following places was the first atomic power station started?
(a) Kalpakkam (b) Narora (c) Rana Pratap Sagar (d) Tarapur
Answer
India’s first atomic power station was set up at Tarapur (Maharashtra), commissioned in 1969.
- Tarapur
Question 1 (iii)
Which one of the following is non-renewable source of energy?
(a) Hydel (b) Solar (c) Thermal (d) Wind power
Answer
Thermal power is generated by burning coal, petroleum or natural gas — fossil fuels which are non-renewable. Hydel, solar and wind are renewable.
- Thermal
Question 2 (i)
Give an account of the distribution of mica in India.
Answer
Mica is mainly found in Jharkhand (the Hazaribagh plateau — Koderma, Giridih belt), Andhra Pradesh (Nellore district — the best quality mica), and Rajasthan (a belt about 320 km long from Jaipur to Bhilwara and around Udaipur). It is also found in Karnataka (Mysore and Hasan districts), Tamil Nadu (Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Kanniyakumari), Kerala (Alleppey), Maharashtra (Ratnagiri), West Bengal (Purulia, Bankura).
Mica is mainly found in Jharkhand (Hazaribagh plateau — Koderma, Giridih), Andhra Pradesh (Nellore — best quality) and Rajasthan (Jaipur–Bhilwara belt, Udaipur), and also in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
Question 2 (ii)
What is nuclear power? Mention the important nuclear power stations in India.
Answer
Nuclear power is energy obtained by the fission (splitting) of atoms of radioactive minerals like uranium and thorium in a nuclear reactor; the heat produced is used to generate electricity. Uranium deposits occur in Jaduguda (Jharkhand) and parts of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh; thorium from monazite sands of Kerala.
Important nuclear power stations: Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rawatbhata near Kota (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (Uttar Pradesh), Kakrapara (Gujarat), Kaiga (Karnataka), Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu).
Nuclear power is electricity generated from the heat released by fission of radioactive minerals like uranium and thorium. Important stations: Tarapur (Maharashtra), Rawatbhata (Rajasthan), Kalpakkam and Kudankulam (Tamil Nadu), Narora (UP), Kakrapara (Gujarat) and Kaiga (Karnataka).
Question 2 (iii)
Name non-ferrous metals. Discuss their spatial distribution.
Answer
Non-ferrous metals do not contain iron — e.g. bauxite (aluminium), copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tin. - Bauxite – Odisha (largest producer; Kalahandi, Koraput, Sambalpur — Panchpatmali deposits), Gujarat (Bhavnagar, Jamnagar), Jharkhand (Lohardaga), Chhattisgarh (Amarkantak plateau), Madhya Pradesh (Katni–Jabalpur, Balaghat), Maharashtra (Kolaba, Thane, Ratnagiri). - Copper – Jharkhand (Singhbhum), Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat — Malanjkhand), Rajasthan (Jhunjhunu — Khetri, Alwar). - Lead and zinc – Rajasthan (Zawar, Udaipur); gold – Karnataka (Kolar, Hutti).
Non-ferrous metals include bauxite (aluminium), copper, lead, zinc and gold. Bauxite is found in Odisha (Kalahandi, Koraput — largest), Gujarat, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra; copper in Jharkhand (Singhbhum), Madhya Pradesh (Balaghat — Malanjkhand) and Rajasthan (Khetri in Jhunjhunu, Alwar); lead and zinc in Rajasthan (Zawar) and gold in Karnataka (Kolar, Hutti).
Question 2 (iv)
What are non-conventional sources of energy?
Answer
Non-conventional sources of energy are renewable, eco-friendly sources that are relatively new in use — solar, wind, tidal and wave energy, geothermal energy, bio-energy (biogas, biomass). They are inexhaustible, cause little pollution, and are evenly distributed. India has great potential (e.g. solar in Rajasthan and Gujarat, wind in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, geothermal at Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh, tidal in the Gulf of Khambhat and Gulf of Kachchh).
Non-conventional energy sources are renewable, eco-friendly sources such as solar, wind, tidal and wave, geothermal and bio-energy (biogas, biomass) — inexhaustible and low-polluting (e.g. solar in Rajasthan, wind in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, geothermal at Manikaran).
Question 3 (i)
Write a detailed note on the Petroleum resources of India.
Answer
Importance: crude petroleum consists of hydrocarbons of liquid and gaseous states, varying in chemical composition, colour and specific gravity. It is an essential source of energy for all internal combustion engines in automobiles, railways and aircraft. Its numerous by-products are processed in petrochemical industries — fertilisers, synthetic rubber, synthetic fibre, medicines, vaseline, lubricants, wax, soap and cosmetics. It is called “liquid gold” because of its scarcity and diversified uses.
Occurrence: crude petroleum occurs in sedimentary rocks of the Tertiary period. Oil exploration and production were systematically taken up after the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) was set up in 1956. Until then, Digboi in Assam was the only oil-producing region (since 1901).
Distribution of oil fields: 1. Assam – Digboi, Naharkatiya, Moran — the oldest oil-producing state. 2. Gujarat – Ankleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana, Nawagam, Kosamba, Lunej. 3. Mumbai High (offshore) – about 160 km off Mumbai, discovered in 1973; production started in 1976 — the largest producing field. Also Bassein (south of Mumbai High). 4. Krishna–Godavari and Kaveri basins (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu) – oil and natural gas. 5. Rajasthan – Barmer (newer discovery).
Refineries: there are two types — field-based (e.g. Digboi) and market-based (e.g. Barauni). India has many refineries (e.g. Jamnagar — Reliance, the world’s largest refining complex; Mathura, Panipat, Koyali, Kochi, Visakhapatnam, Haldia, Mangaluru, Bina, Bongaigaon, Numaligarh, Guwahati, Barauni).
Natural gas – the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) was set up in 1984 to transport and market natural gas. It is obtained along with oil in all oil fields; exclusive reserves are located along the eastern coast (Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh), Tripura, Rajasthan and off-shore wells in Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Problems: domestic production meets only a small part of the demand; India imports a large share of crude oil (over 80%), which drains foreign exchange; need for exploration, efficient use and alternatives.
Petroleum, “liquid gold”, is vital as fuel and for petrochemicals; it occurs in Tertiary sedimentary rocks. Systematic exploration began with ONGC (1956); earlier only Digboi (Assam) produced oil. Main fields: Assam (Digboi, Naharkatiya, Moran), Gujarat (Ankleshwar, Kalol, Mehsana), offshore Mumbai High (1973 — largest), the Krishna–Godavari and Kaveri basins and Barmer. There are field-based (Digboi) and market-based (Barauni) refineries, including Jamnagar; GAIL (1984) handles natural gas. India imports most of its crude oil.
Question 3 (ii)
Write an essay on hydel power in India.
Answer
Hydel (hydroelectric) power is generated by using the energy of fast-flowing water (falling from a height) to rotate turbines. Water is a renewable resource, so hydel power is clean, non-polluting and cheap to produce once projects are built.
Potential and development: 1. India has a large hydel potential, estimated at over 1,45,000 MW (at 60% load factor about 84,000 MW); only a part has been developed. 2. Hydel power accounts for a significant share (about 11–12%) of India’s installed capacity. 3. Multipurpose river valley projects — for irrigation, flood control, navigation and power — were built after independence; Nehru called dams the “temples of modern India”.
Distribution / major projects: 1. Himalayan rivers (perennial, snow-fed, steep gradient) – the largest potential: Bhakra Nangal (Sutlej, Punjab–Himachal), Tehri (Bhagirathi, Uttarakhand), Salal and Dulhasti (Chenab, J&K), Nathpa Jhakri (Sutlej, Himachal), Teesta projects (Sikkim), Subansiri (Arunachal Pradesh); the north-east has huge untapped potential. 2. Peninsular rivers – Damodar Valley Corporation (Jharkhand–West Bengal), Hirakud (Mahanadi, Odisha), Nagarjuna Sagar (Krishna, Telangana–AP), Koyna (Maharashtra), Sharavati (Jog falls, Karnataka), Mettur and Pykara (Tamil Nadu), Idukki (Kerala), Sardar Sarovar (Narmada, Gujarat), Rihand (UP). 3. The Western Ghats have potential due to heavy rainfall and steep slopes.
Advantages: renewable, no fuel cost, non-polluting, multipurpose benefits (irrigation, flood control, drinking water, fisheries, tourism), long life.
Problems: 1. High initial cost and long gestation period. 2. Displacement of people and loss of forests and agricultural land (e.g. Narmada Bachao Andolan, Tehri dam protests). 3. Environmental impacts – submergence, loss of biodiversity, siltation of reservoirs, seismic risks in the Himalayas. 4. Seasonal variation in river flow, especially of peninsular rivers. 5. Inter-state disputes over sharing of water.
Way forward: development of small and mini hydel projects, proper rehabilitation, environmental safeguards, and cooperation with neighbouring countries (Nepal, Bhutan — e.g. Chukha, Tala projects).
Hydel power uses falling water to turn turbines; it is renewable, clean and cheap to run. India has large potential, much of it in perennial, steep Himalayan rivers (Bhakra Nangal, Tehri, Salal, Nathpa Jhakri, Teesta, Subansiri) and in peninsular projects (Damodar Valley, Hirakud, Nagarjuna Sagar, Koyna, Sharavati, Mettur, Idukki, Sardar Sarovar), mostly multipurpose. Its problems include high costs, displacement, environmental damage, siltation, seasonal flows and inter-state disputes, so small hydel projects and proper rehabilitation are needed.
Topic checklist
- ☒ Minerals: mica and non-ferrous metals (Q 2 (i), 2 (iii))
- ☒ Petroleum and conventional energy (Q 1 (i), 1 (iii), 3 (i))
- ☒ Nuclear, hydel and non-conventional energy (Q 1 (ii), 2 (ii), 2 (iv), 3 (ii))