GEOGRAPHY NCERT QUESTIONS

LEARN CROP CONDITIONS Revise general atmospheric circulation chapter Learn what kind of soil occurs where in India Rank continents based on area, population Do supplementary boxes (6-8) tomorrow Read NCERT glossaries

Cover:AtlasImportant gulfs/ seas/ rivers/ straits/ isthmusesResource distribution for major minerals, industriesGlobal weather patterns, vegetation, and reason for their occurrenceState-wise relief featuresState-wise list of crops and minerals (minerals on Page 28 of NCERT 8th Standard text, and Chapter 7 of Class XII NCERT Part 2)Flora/ Fauna from NCERTFind out which plant/ animal species have gone extinct in the last 5 yearsGeo phenomenaChange in relief featuresSee Geography mains syllabusPast year prelims questionsCurrent affairs: Earthquakes etc. (measurement scales)

Class VI

1. How often does the full moon occur?2. How soon after the full moon are you likely to see the new moon?3. What is the English name for the constellation Saptarishi?4. Of which bigger constellation is this a part?5. What is the difference between stars and planets?6. Which planet in the solar system is known as the earth’s twin? (Page 4)7. How long does one revolution of the moon around the earth take? (Page 5)8. What are asteroids? Name the biggest asteroid.9. What is the difference between asteroids, meteors, and meteoroids?10. What are the maximum and minimum values that degrees of latitudes can

take? What positions on the globe do these respond to?11. On what basis are the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn defined?12. What is the Torrid Zone (latitudes)? What is its antonym?13. What are Frigid Zones?14. What are the maximum and minimum values assumed by meridians of

longitude? Where do these start?15. Which longitudes does India correspond to?16. How many time zones has the earth been divided into? (Page 16)17. What is the angle that the earth makes with its orbital plane? (Page 18)18. What is the relationship between the circles of illumination and the earth’s

axis?

19. On which dates do the following occur: Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice, Spring Equinox, and Autumn Equinox?

20. On which day of the year do the sun’s rays fall directly over the Tropic of Cancer?

21. Define ‘biosphere’. (Page 30)22. What is the deepest point of the ocean anywhere on the earth? Name the

place and the ocean (Page 31).23. Which mountain range separates Asia from Europe?24. Which is the biggest continent?25. Which is the only continent through which Tropic of Cancer, the Equator,

and the Tropic of Capricorn all pass?26. Rank all the continents according to their size.27. On which continent will you find the Andes?28. Name the 2 Indian research stations in Antarctica (Page 33).29. True or false: rivers and lakes are a part of hydrosphere.30. Which is the biggest ocean?31. What is the Bering Strait? Where on the map will you find it? (Page 35)32. How many layers can the atmosphere be divided into? Name them.33. What are the 2 main gases in the atmosphere, by composition? Mention %. 34. Which is the third most prevalent gas? (Google search!)35. Does temperature always decline with altitude? (Google search)36. What holds the atmosphere close to the earth’s surface?37. What are the three kinds of mountains according to their origin? Which kind

are usually the highest? (Page 41)38. What kind of mountain range is the Himalayas?39. Which range is older: Himalayas, or the Aravalis?40. Which is the highest plateau in the world? (Page 42)41. Why are plateaus usually very rich in minerals?

(http://www.notemonk.com/qa/question/377/why.does.plateau.region.posses.rich.reserves.of.mi/)

42. What is the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of India? (Page 47)43. Why is the Tropic of Cancer special to India?44. Which longitude defines India’s standard time?45. How many countries share land border with India?46. What separates India and Sri Lanka? (Page 48)47. Which are the largest and smallest states of India?

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_and_territories_of_India_by_area)

48. Name the northernmost and southernmost mountain ranges of the Himalayas. (Page 51)

49. Mention states in which the following ranges lie, and mark them on a map: Aravalis, Vindhyas, and Satpuras.(Aravalis: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi// Vindhyas: discontinuous; Gujarat, UP, even Bihar// Satpuras: Gujarat/Maharashtra border, MP, Chhattisgarh)

50. What is the Hindi name for the Western Ghats?51. Which 2 rivers flow through the Sunderbans delta?52. What causes a Tsunami?53. Name two major west-flowing rivers of India.

54. What are the 5 broad divisions of India’s vegetation?55. Name 3 areas in India that one will find tropical rain forests.56. Name some states where you will find tropical deciduous forests. How are

these different from tropical rainforests?

Class VII

1. Define ‘ecosystem’.2. What are the main mineral constituents of the earth’s crust over land? In the

oceans?3. What is its average thickness over land? Over oceans?4. To what depth does the mantle extend? 5. What is the mineral composition of the earth’s core? What is its average

radius?6. What are the 2 different kinds of igneous rocks? Give an example of each.7. What is the primary rock that makes up the Deccan plateau?8. In what type of rocks are you likely to find fossils?9. Why do lithospheric plates move? (Page 12)10. What is the difference between endogenic and exogenic forces? Give some

examples of each.11. What are floodplain and levees?12. What are sea arches and sea stacks?13. What are moraines?14. What is loess?15. Which layer of the earth’s atmosphere is ideal for flying aircrafts? (Page 22)16. Which layer of the earth’s atmosphere contains the ozone layer?17. In which layer do meteorites usually burn up?18. In which layer does temperature begin to rise with altitude?19. What is insolation?20. Does atmospheric pressure increase or decrease with altitude?21. What is the relationship between temperature of a place and cloud

formation? (Page 24)22. Into what 3 categories can winds be broadly divided?23. Why do jet planes leave a white trail behind them? (Page 26)24. What is the major source of groundwater? (Page 26)25. What are the 3 different mechanisms that cause rainfall? Explain each.26. What is cyclonic rain?27. What is a ‘terrarium’? (Page 30)28. In which countries will you find the following rivers: Amazon, Darling,

Danube, and Orange?29. What are the three main kinds of movements of ocean waters?30. What is the difference between waves and tides?31. What are spring tides and neap tides?32. How do high tides help with ship navigation?33. Mark the following ocean currents on a map, and indicate which ones are

cold and which, warm: North Atlantic Drift, Gulf stream, Canaries, Alaska, California, North Equatorial, South Equatorial, Humbolot, Falkland, West Wind Drift, West Altantic Current, Kuroshio, Oyashio, Brazilian, Auglhas,

Equatorial Counter Current, North Pacific Drift (See dropbox-separate file on ocean currents)

34. What are the three main categories into which natural vegetation is classified? (Page 39)

35. What kind of trees are you likely to find in tropical rainforests?36. What is the major factor distinguishing tropical rainforests from deciduous

ones?37. Where are you most likely to find temperate evergreen forests? Temperate

deciduous forests (latitudes, which part of continents)? (CHECK: Page 42)38. Where are you most likely to find Mediterranean vegetation? What kind of

fauna are you likely to find here? 39. Where does one find coniferous forests? What is another name for this kind

of vegetation?40. Where is one likely to find tropical grasslands? Temperate grasslands?41. Where does one find Tundra vegetation? Give some examples of tundra

vegetation.42. Why are deserts usually found on western margins of continents?43. On the basis of climate, name the two different kinds of grasslands.44. Where does one find the prairies?45. What is Chinook?46. What are Velds?47. Which is the world’s largest desert?48. Why isn’t there much rainfall in Ladakh? (Page 75)

Class VIII

1. What % of India’s land is: cropped? Forest? Other uses?2. What is meant by soil profile?3. What % of the world’s water is fresh water?4. Why do deciduous trees shed their leaves in a particular season? (Page 19)5. True or False: Evergreen trees never shed their leaves. 6. What is mulching?7. What is a mineral? (Page 24)8. How can one tell if a rock contains copper?9. In which kind of rocks is one likely to find metallic minerals? Non-metallic

minerals?10. Name the minerals one is likely to find in the following places: North

Sweden, Ontario, South Africa. (Page 26)11. Asia produces more than half the world’s total quantity of which mineral?

(Page 26)12. Name 6 minerals that are found in abundance in Asia.13. Which continent is the leading producer of iron-ore in the world?14. Which country is the largest producer of high-grade iron-ore in the world?15. Name 3 minerals of which Africa is the world’s largest producer. 16. India is world’s leading exporter of which mineral?17. Where in India do the following minerals exist: Iron, Bauxite, Mica, Copper,

Manganese, Limestone, and Gold?18. List the world’s 6 largest producers of coal.

19. Which mineral is also known as the ‘buried sunshine’? (Page 31)20. What are the leading oil-producing areas in India?21. List the 4 major producers of natural gas in the world. 22. Name 3 areas in India where one can find natural gas reserves. 23. Which are the two largest producers of nuclear power in the world? 24. Where in India does one find Thorium? (Page 34)25. Give some examples of geothermal energy.26. Name one place in India that uses tidal energy to generate electricity.27. What are sericulture, viticulture, and pisciculture?28. Specify the climatic conditions needed to grow the following: Rice, Wheat,

Millets, Maize, Cotton, Jute, Coffee, Tea, Sugarcane, Rubber, Pulses (Rainfall, temperature, soil)

29. Name two major components of steel.30. Name 4 states that have important steel producing centers in India.31. Where do the following steel-producing centers lie: Bhadravati,

Vishakhapatnam, Vijaynagar, Salem (Page 56) 32. Name 4 countries that are important producers of cotton textiles today.33. Describe the cotton industry in India (important centers).34. Why did the Indian cotton industry initially flourish around Maharashtra

and Gujarat? (One major factor; Page 59)35. Which places in India are famous for their gold-wrought cotton pieces? (Page

59)36. Which city is known as the ‘Manchester of India’? (Page 60)37. Which river is the above city located by?38. Which two continents together account for over 60% of the world’s

population? (Page 67)

Continent Major minerals

Asia

Tin: More than half the world’s tin comes from Asia (China, Malaysia, Indonesia major)Iron ore: China, India have large depositsLead, Antimony, Tungsten: China good

Europe Iron ore: Leading producer in the world (Russia, Ukraine, Sweden France)Copper, Lead, Zinc, Manganese, Nickel: European parts of Russia

North America

Iron ore, Gold, Uranium, Copper: Great Lakes of USAGold, Silver: Western mountains of USA

South America

Iron ore: Brazil largest producer of high-grade oreCopper: Chile, PeruTin: Brazil, BoliviaOil: Venezuela, Argentina, Chile, Peru, ColombiaAlso large deposits of gold, silver, zinc, diamond etc.

AfricaWorld’s largest producer of diamonds, gold, and platinumCobalt, BauxiteOil: Nigeria, Angola, Libya

Australia Bauxite- largest producer; also massive gold and diamonds

Mineral Global DistributionCoal China, USA, Germany, Russia, South Africa, FranceOil Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, QatarNatural Gas

Russia, Norway, UK, Netherlands

Mineral Distribution in IndiaGold Kolar (Karnataka); but very deep, so very expensive to mineOil Digboi (Assam), Bombay High, deltas of Krishna and GodavariNatural Gas

Jaisalmer, Krishna-Godavari delta, Tripura, Mumbai offshore areas

Iron JOC, MP, Goa, Maharashtra, KarnatakaBauxite JOC, MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil NaduMica JOC, Bihar, AP, RajasthanCopper Rajasthan, MP, Jharkhand, AP

Industry Global Distribution Distribution in IndiaIron and Steel

Germany, USA (Pittsburgh), China, Japan, Russia

JOC, WB

Cotton Textile

India, China, Japan (Osaka), USA

Class IX (VERY IMPORTANT)

1. What is the longitudinal and latitudinal extent of India?2. Which parts of India experience equatorial type of climate?3. List the Indian states through which the Tropic of Cancer passes (8).4. Which longitude has been selected as the Standard meridian of India? List

the Indian states through which this meridian passes (5).5. List the top seven countries in the world, according to landmass. 6. Amongst the horizontal and vertical extent of India, which is shorter, and by

how much? (Page 3)7. What stone is used to make talcum powder? (Page 7)8. How many major tectonic plates exist? Name them. (Page 7)9. With reference to plate tectonics, what is a ‘transform boundary’?10. What are the names of the northern and southern parts of the erstwhile

Pangaea? (Page 08)11. In which parts of India are you likely to find igneous and metamorphic

rocks?12. In which part of the Himalayas is the altitudinal variation higher? Western or

Eastern? (Page 09)13. Which Himalayan range contains most of the major peaks?14. Name the states in which the following mountain ranges lie: Aravalis,

Vindhyas, Satpuras.15. Which rock constitutes the core of the Himalayas? (Page 11)16. Name the 3 ranges of the Himalayas. In which of these do Kashmir, HP lie?17. What are duns? (Page 11)18. Which is the largest inhabited riverine island in the world? (Page 12)19. Name the 3 major river systems that serve the northern plains. 20. From west to east, into what different relief features can the northern plains

be divided? (Page 12, important)21. What are the two broad divisions of the peninsular plateau?22. The central highlands lie to the north of which river? 23. Name 4 rivers that drain the central highlands.

24. In which direction do they flow? What does this say about the topography of the central highlands?

25. What is the easternmost extension of the central highlands called? 26. Which river drains this? (Page 13)27. Name the highest peaks of the Western and Eastern Ghats. 28. Which mountain ranges form the northern/ eastern flanks of the Deccan

plateau?29. What is the inclination of the Deccan Plateau?30. What is the name of the extension of the Deccan Plateau in the northeastern

states? Name some important hill ranges in this part of the plateau.31. Which are higher, on average: western or eastern ghats? (Page 13)32. Which river marks the northern bound of the Eastern Ghats? 33. Which hills mark the southern bound of the Eastern Ghats?34. Which among the western and eastern ghats cause more orographic rain?35. Of the 3 types of rocks, which are the most common in the Deccan Trap?36. The Indian desert lies to the west of which hill range?37. Which is the only large river in the Indian desert? (Page 14)38. What are ‘barchans’?39. Name the 3 parts of the western coast, from north to south.40. Name the 2 parts of the eastern coast, from north to south. 41. Name the 4 major rivers flowing through the eastern coast and into the Bay

of Bengal (north to south).42. In which state does Lake Chilika lie? In which river’s delta?43. Among Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep islands, which ones

are coral, and which ones made from submarine mountains?44. Are the Northern Circars hills or plains? (Page 14)45. Define: drainage basin. (Page 17)46. What are the two main groups into which Indian rivers can be divided?

Which of these are perennial?47. Describe the 4 different types of drainage patterns. 48. Name 3 rivers that flow from Nepal Himalayas. (Page 20)49. Do the 3 main rivers of the central highlands (name them) originate from the

Ganga, or join the Ganga at a later stage?50. What is the name of the river where the Ganga and the Brahmaputra join?51. What is the Sunderbans delta named after?52. By what name is the Brahmaputra River known in Tibet?53. Name the two major peninsular rivers of India from north to south that flow

westward and make estuaries.54. Name the hills where these rivers rise. 55. Which states do they cover?56. Which is the largest peninsular river? 57. Where does it originate? Which states does it drain? (Page 21)58. Which river is known as the ‘Dakshin Ganga’?59. Name the 4 major east-flowing rivers of peninsular India. 60. For each of these, name the source, and the states through which it flows. 61. Name a saltwater lake of India, and the state in which it occurs. 62. Even though Brahmaputra originates in Tibet, it carries lesser amount of

water and silt there as compared to in India. Why? (Page 21)

River Source States coveredNarmada Amarkantak hills, MP MP, Gujarat (longer than Tapi)Tapi Satpuras, MP MP, Gujarat, MaharashtraMahanadi

Chhattisgarh highlandsMaharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa

Godavari(Dakshin Ganga)

Western Ghats, Nasik, Maharashtra

Maharashtra, MP, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh

Krishna

Mahabaleshwar, MaharashtraProminent tributaries: Bhima, Tungabhadra

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh

KaveriBrahmagiri range of Western Ghats (Coorg district, Karnataka)

Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu

Chapter 04: Climate

63. Differentiate between weather and climate.64. Why do coastal areas generally experience less variation in temperature

conditions as compared to the interiors of countries?65. In the Northern Plains, why is there a decrease in rainfall generally from east

to west?66. What are the 6 major control factors that determine the climate of any place?67. Describe the effects of variation in each.68. What is meant by ‘continentality’? (Page 27)69. Areas lying above and below which latitudes are called ‘subtropics’? (Google)70. Why does India experience relatively milder winters as compared to central

Asia? (Page 27)71. What kind of jet streams blow over India during summer and winter? (Page

28) 72. Which wind system brings in the western cyclonic disturbances experienced

in the north and northwestern parts of India? (Page 28)73. In which direction does the Coriolis force deflect moving things in the

northern and southern hemispheres?74. What is another name for this deflecting effect (not Coriolis force)?75. Even though the primary wind pattern that serves India originates over land

and carries little moisture, why is India not arid?76. Explain the reason behind the seasonal reversal of winds that causes the

southwest monsoon. 77. Are monsoon winds surface winds?78. Are southwest monsoon winds the only kinds of monsoon winds that serve

the Indian subcontinent? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon_of_South_Asia)

79. What is meant by ‘adiabatic’? (Dictionary)80. What are western cyclonic disturbances? At what time of the year do they

usually occur? (Page 28)81. With respect to the monsoon, what is the importance of the Western Ghats

and the Eastern Ghats? (wiki link above)82. Describe the traditional theory of monsoon formation.83. What is ‘sea breeze’? How does it occur? (wiki)

84. Why does the northeast monsoon only cause rain in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, and not the rest of the country like southwest monsoon? (wiki)

85. Explain the dynamic theory of the creation of monsoon system. (wiki)86. In what part of the atmosphere are jet streams usually located?

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_stream)87. What are the 3 major types of jet streams in each hemisphere?88. What is the main reason for the formation of jet streams?89. In which direction do they usually flow?90. Explain the Jet Stream Theory of the monsoons.91. What are geostrophic winds? How are these related to jet streams?92. What are tropical cyclones? What is their primary cause, and in which

months do they usually occur in India? (Page 28)93. Around what latitudes are the monsoons typically experienced? (Page 30)94. What is the role of the Tibetan plateau in causing the Indian monsoon?95. What is the ITCZ? (Page 30)96. What is the ‘southern oscillation’? (see exact definition on the wiki page)97. What causes this?98. What is El Nino? Why is it called that?99. How does ENSO affect the Indian monsoon?100. By what other name is the cold Peruvian oceanic current known?101. What is the Indian Ocean Dipole? (wiki)102. In which months does it usually develop, and at what latitude?103. In ENSO years, what kind of IOD effect is beneficial for the Indian monsoon?

Positive, or negative? What does this mean with respect to the relative warming of the Arabian Sea as compared to the Bay of Bengal?

104. What is ‘monsoon burst’? (Page 30)105. What are the two different branches of the southwest monsoon? Which

parts of India do they usually serve?106. Why are Indian winters usually dry? Which parts of the country receive

some rainfall during these months, and why? (Page 31- CHECK)107. Despite this, what is the cause of winter rainfall received in the Ganga

Plains and snowfall in the mountains? By what colloquial name is this rainfall known? (Page 31)

108. In peninsular India, why does temperature usually remain lower during the summer as compared to the rest of the country?

109. In which part of the country is maximum rainfall received during the southwest monsoon? (Page 33- check)

110. Why does Tamil Nadu receive rain in winter? (Check: http://schools.aglasem.com/55642 question 04)

111. Why is the delta region of the eastern coast frequently struck by cyclones? (ibid)

<Climate chapter over>

112. What are ferns? (Google)113. Can one find subtropical vegetation in tropical areas? (Page 42)114. What is ‘photoperiod’?115. What is a ‘biome’? On what basis are they classified?

116. List the 5 major types of vegetation found in India. Also delineate the parts of India where each is likely to occur.

117. What range of annual rainfall do the above typically receive?118. Which of these is the most widespread in the country?119. Name 4 commercially important trees found in tropical rainforests. (Page

46)120. Where in India do you find moist deciduous forests?121. What is the most important tree one finds in these?122. Give some examples of tundra vegetation. 123. Name 5 Indian rivers that support Mangroves.124. Which agency publishes the ‘Red List’? (Page 48)125. Across which states in India do the Nilgiri hills spread? (Page 50) 126. What are the following used for: Sarpagandha, Jamun, Arjun, Babool,

Kachnar?127. Name three areas in India where one can find tigers.128. Where in India can one find red pandas?129. What is a biosphere reserve? (wiki)130. How many of these exist in India? Name them, and indicate the states that

they exist in. (wiki, answer in NCERT is outdated)131. How many of these are included in the World Network of Biosphere

Reserves? (See end of questions for Class 9)132. Which are the two latest ones to be declared BRs in India?133. Which is the most populous Indian state?134. Which 5 states together account for about half of the total Indian

population?135. Which state has the lowest population to area ratio?136. Describe the demographic profile of India.

(Indian Biosphere Reserves included in World Network of Biosphere Reserves: PASS-4NM)

Class X

1. Give one example of an international resource.2. What is the Rio Convention? (2 other names, aim)3. What % of India’s land is covered with mountains, plains, and plateaus

respectively? (Page 5)4. What is the desired % of forest area in India according to the National

Forest Policy of 1952?5. What % of India’s land is currently under forest cover? (Page 6, NCERT

figure is correct)6. Describe the 4 layer of the soil profile. (Page 7)7. What is ‘humus’?8. List where the following kinds of soil occur in India: Mountain, Alluvial,

Black, Red, Yellow, and Laterite.9. What are the three main constituents of alluvial soil?10. On the basis of age, what are the major classifications of alluvial soil?11. What is another name for black soil? (Page 8)12. What is the major constituent of black soil?

13. In which mineral are these soils usually poor?14. Black soils usually develop cracks during hot weather. Is this helpful/

harmful for cultivation? Why?15. What gives the characteristic color to red/ yellow soils?16. In what kind of temperature and rainfall conditions would you find laterite

soils?17. Name two crops that laterite soil is good for.

Soil Characteristics Distribution in India

Alluvial

Old alluvium is called Bhangar; new alluvium is called Khadar

Contain sand, silt, clay

Generally, very fertile, with adequate potash, phosphorous, and lime

Northern plains, eastern coastal plants (deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri)

Loam Near-equal proportions of sand, silt, and clay

BlackClayey (very fine) material; rich in most soil nutrients, deficient in phosphorous; also known as ‘Regur’ soils

Deccan- Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, MP, Chhattisgarh

RedDevelop a reddish color due to diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks

Low rainfall areas in eastern and southern parts of Deccan (igneous base rock)- Orissa, Chhattisgarh, piedmont plains of Western GhatsYellow

Red soil looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form

Laterite

Develop in high temperature, heavy rainfall

Humus content is low because microorganisms die in these extreme conditions

Can be used for cultivation with fertilizers (tea, coffee, cashew nut etc. can be grown)

Southern India: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, MP, hilly areas of Orissa and Assam

AridRed-brown in colour; sandy and saline, lack humus/ moisture due to high temperature; can be used for cultivation after proper irrigation

Rajasthan, Gujarat

18. Explain: gullies, sheet erosion, strip cropping, shelter belts. (Page 11)19. What is the proper way of ploughing a field on a slope, so as to counter soil

erosion?20. What is ‘enrichment plantation’? (Page 16)21. What is the Himalayan Yew? (Page 17)22. What are the Hindi names for the blackbuck and the Great Indian Bustard?

(Page 19)23. Name the tiger reserves in the following states: Uttaranchal, West Bengal,

Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, and Kerala.24. Describe India’s Joint Forest Management Programme. (Page 21)25. What % of India’s electricity is produced from hydroelectric sources? (Page

25)26. Which is the only state in India to have made rooftop rainwater harvesting

compulsory for all houses in the state? (Page 32)27. What does ‘intensive subsistence farming’ mean? (Page 35)28. What is plantation cropping?29. During what months are Rabi crops usually sown? Harvested?30. Name 5 important Rabi crops. (Page 36)31. Name 9 important Kharif crops.32. What are Aus, Aman, and Boro?

33. Among the 3 major millet crops, which one is rain-fed, and which one a crop of dry regions?

34. Which state is the largest producer of Jowar? (Page 38) 35. Which state is the largest producer of Bajra?36. Which state is the largest producer of Ragi?37. What is ‘gene revolution’?38. What is organic farming?39. Name two bio-diesel crops. (Page 47)40. How did partition of India affect the jute industry?

(http://www.answers.com/Q/How_did_the_partition_of_the_country_in_1947_affect_the_jute_industry)

41. Which minerals are used in making a light bulb? (Copper, Aluminum, Molybdenum, trona, tungsten etc.)

42. What is an ore? (Page 51)43. What are ‘placer deposits’? (Page 52)44. What is ‘rat-hole mining’?45. Broadly speaking, indicate in which region of India are you likely to find the

following: coal, metallic minerals, mica, petroleum, non-ferrous minerals.46. What is the finest ore of iron called? (Page 52)47. Which is the most widely industrially used ore of iron?48. Name 4 major iron-ore producing areas of India.49. What is the major use of Manganese?50. Which state in India has the most manganese ores?51. What are some uses of copper? (Page 55)52. Which state in India produces the highest amount of copper ore?53. What is the major use of bauxite?54. Which state in India produces the highest amount of bauxite?55. What is the major use of mica?56. Which state in India produces the highest amount of mica?57. What are the two major uses of limestone?58. Which two states in India produce the highest amount of limestone?59. Which is the most abundantly available fossil fuel in India? (Page 58)60. Name the 4 different varieties of coal, and rank them in order of increasing

carbon content. 61. What is metallurgical coal?62. Why are heavy industries and thermal power stations located on or near

coalfields? (Page 60)63. Name two broad regions of India that contain most of the country’s coal.

Which states fall in these regions?64. Name three major petroleum-producing areas of India, in decreasing order

of importance. 65. True or false: Natural gas is found only in areas with petroleum deposits.66. Which river basin contains large quantities of natural gas?67. Where is the Gulf of Cambay? Name some major rivers that drain into this

gulf.68. Name two places in India where uranium is found. (Page 61)

Mineral Properties Uses Distribution in IndiaIron ore Magnetite (purest), haemetite

(most widely used)Orissa and Karnataka together produce over

50% (25 each)

CopperMalleable, Ductile, Conducting Electrical wires MP’s Balaghat mines

produce 52%; Rajasthan- 42%

BauxiteAluminum production Orissa largest (45%)

(Panchpatmali/ Koratpur)

ManganeseSteel production; bleaching powder, insecticides, paints

Orissa largest (33%)

MicaSplits easily into thin sheets; excellent insulator

Electric industriesJharkhand leads

LimestoneCement manufacture; smelting of iron in blast furnace

AP, MP, Rajasthan (15% each)

UraniumJharkhand, Aravali ranges of Rajasthan

69. Which place in India provides ideal conditions for generating electricity from tidal power?

70. Name two places in India where experimental projects have been set up to generate electricity form geothermal sources.

71. Where is Koderma? What is it famous for? (Google)72. What is the share of industry in India’s GDP? Manufacturing?73. What is an ‘agglomeration economy’? (Page 66)74. Give some examples of agro-based industries.75. How much does the textile industry contribute to total industrial

production in India? (Page 67)76. How much to GDP?77. In its early years, in which parts of India was the cotton industry

concentrated, and why?78. What is the major challenge facing the cotton textile industry in India?

(Page 70)79. Which Indian state has the maximum number of jute mills? Apart from the

availability of raw materials, what are some of the other factors for this concentration?

80. What is the major challenge facing the jute industry? Name one important government intervention to correct this trend.

81. Name 10 states in India that have sugar mills. 82. Which 2 states together account for over 60% of the total number of mills?83. In recent years, why is there a tendency for mills to shift and concentrate in

southern and western states? (3 reasons) (Page 71)84. List some of the problems that the sugar industry is facing in India

currently (very important)85. Name three major components of steel. In what proportion should they be

mixed in the production of steel?86. What is the purpose of using manganese in production of iron?87. Name two major ingredients of aluminum. (Page 74)88. What % of GDP does the chemicals industry contribute to India’s GDP?

(Page 75)89. What kind of fertilizer is urea? (Chemically)90. Describe the Indian government’s new urea policy (Current Affairs)91. Among the 3 major fertilizers, which one does India have absolutely no

commercially usable reserves of?

92. Name 4 major ingredients of cement.93. Where are most of the cement producing plants in India located and why?

Industry Features in India Global Distribution

Iron and Steel

Basic heavy industry

Manufacturing requires 4:2:1 usage of iron ore, coking coal, and limestone; manganese

Major challenges and constraints: high cost of good quality coking coal, low productivity of labour, bad energy supply, poor infrastructure

Germany, USA (Pittsburgh), China, Japan, Russia

Textile 4% of GDP; 15% of all industrial production

Cotton Textile

Spinning centralized in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu, but weaving is highly decentralized

India exports about 25% of the world’s total yarn, but in textiles trade, our share is only 4%, because our mills don’t have the scale (so we export yarn, and our textile mills import fabric)

India, China, Japan (Osaka), USA

Jute TextilesIndia is second largest exporter after Bangladesh; synthetic substitutes are the biggest threat

Sugar

India second largest producer

More than 60% of all mills are in UP and Bihar

Mills have been moving to southern states, because of 3 factors: better sugarcane (higher sucrose, cool climate => longer crushing season); better cooperatives

Aluminium smelting

Second most important metallurgical industry in India

Aluminium is good conductor of heat, light but strong, corrosion resistant, malleable etc.

Raw materials: Bauxite and AluminaChemical Industries

3% of India’s GDP; industries widely spread out over the country

FertilizerIndia has no natural Potash reserves

New urea policy- incentives to increase production

Cement

Requires limestone, silica, alumina, and gypsum

Strategically located plants in Gujarat to access Gulf markets

Automobiles 7% of GDP

94. List 6 reasons as to why roads are a comparatively better means of transport than railways. (Page 82)

95. Name the places linked by: Golden Quadrilateral, North-South Corridor, and East-West Corridor.

96. What is the implementing agency for the road networks mentioned above?97. Does the same agency manage national highways?98. What is another name for NH1?99. Name the places connected by: NH2, NH7, NH8, NH15.100. Which NH is the longest?101. Which agency usually maintains district roads? (Page 82)102. Which agency builds and maintains roads in border areas?

103. What is the major usability difference between metaled and un-metaled roads?

104. Why is it said that Indian NHs are under extreme stress? (% of road network v/s total load carried)

105. How many national waterways exist in India? (Google)106. Which port accounts for almost half of all of India’s iron-ore exports? (Page

87)107. Which is India’s deepest landlocked port?108. In which states do the following ports lie: Marmagao, Tuticorin, Kandla,

Vishakhapatnam, Mumbai, Chennai, Haldia, Kochi, Paradip, New Mangalore?

109. What is the full form of STD?

Class XI- Fundamentals of Physical Geography

1. Which theory of the earth’s origin is connected with Laplace and Immanuel Kant?

2. What is another name for the Big Bang Theory?3. The Big Bang Theory postulates that the universe and galaxies are

expanding. True or False?4. What is ‘singularity’?5. How are galaxies and stars formed? (Page 15)6. How are planets formed?7. What is the difference between Terrestrial and Jovian planets? Name them. 8. List 3 differences between Terrestrial and Jovian planets.9. Among the elements found in the earth’s crust, core, and mantle, where do

you expect to find the density of the materials the highest? Why?10. Describe the evolution of the earth’s atmosphere. (Page 17)11. How old is the earth?12. What is the exact radius of the earth? 13. What is ‘Moho’s Discontinuity’? (Page 25)14. List 3 direct sources that help us get information about the earth’s

interiors.15. List 3 indirect sources.16. What is the gravity anomaly?17. To what depth does lithosphere extend? (Page 22)18. Define: focus, epicenter (with reference to earthquakes)19. What are the 2 different kinds of earthquake waves? What is the main

difference between them? (Page 23)20. What are the 2 different kinds of body waves? What are the two main

differences between them?21. Of the three kinds of waves, which ones are the most destructive?22. List the mechanism of propagation of the 3 kinds of waves. 23. Which one creates crests and troughs in the material?24. Which one creates density differences in the material?25. What is a ‘shadow zone’?26. Between P and S waves, which ones have a larger shadow zone?27. What is the extent on degrees of their respective shadow zones?

28. Describe the most commonly used scales for measuring earthquakes. (Google)

29. What is the mean thickness of: oceanic crust? Continental crust? (Page 25)30. What is the type of rock most commonly found in oceanic crust? What is it

used for?31. What is the upper portion of the earth’s mantle called?32. Does the lithosphere consist only of the earth’s crust? (Page 26)33. In what state are the materials at the earth’s core? (Check- Page 26)34. What is the difference between shield volcanoes, composite volcanoes,

calderas, and flood-basalt provinces?35. India’s Deccan Trap is an example of which one of the above?36. What are plutonic rocks? What is their other counterpart?37. List and describe 6 different forms of intrusive landforms formed by

volcanic eruptions.38. Why do earthquake waves develop shadow zones? (Google)39. Why is the shadow zone larger for S-waves than P-waves? (Google)40. What % of the earth’s surface do continents cover? (Page 30)41. Which scientist’s name is associated with the theory of continental drift?42. According to this theory, what were the ancient landmass and the mega-

ocean called?43. List 5 evidences cited in support of the continental drift theory.44. What is Tillite? (Page 31)45. What are placer deposits?46. According to Wegener, what were the two forces that caused continental

drift?47. Name two prominent post-drift studies.48. What are the three broad divisions of the ocean floor?49. What are abyssal plains?50. Where on the map would you find the ‘ring of fire’? (Page 33)51. Which rocks are usually younger: those found on the continental shelves, or

those found close to the mid-oceanic ridges?52. Explain the concept of sea floor spreading, and give two pieces of evidence

in its favor. (Page 34)53. How is a tectonic plate classified as oceanic or continental? (Page 35,

check)54. According to the theory of plate tectonics, how many major tectonic plates

exist on the earth’s lithosphere? Name them. (Page 35)55. How is the theory of continental drift different from the theory of plate

tectonics?56. Does the theory of plate tectonics discredit the existence of an ancient,

connected landmass known as Pangaea? (Page 36)57. What are the 3 different kinds of boundaries of tectonic plates?58. What kind of boundary are the Himalayas located on? (Figure on Page 35)59. What is the driving force behind movement of tectonic plates?60. What are the two main sources of the earth’s internal heat?61. What is the name of the ancient sea that separated India from the Asian

landmass before the two converged?62. Were the Deccan Traps created as a result of the collision of the Indian

mainland with the Asian one, or due to later geological activity?

63. List the top five elements found in the earth’s crust (by %). (Page 40)64. Give some examples of organic and inorganic minerals. (Check- Page 40)65. What is the basic source of all minerals?66. Do rocks have definite composition of minerals? (Page 41)67. Which are the two most common minerals found in rocks?68. What is the technical term for the science of rocks (not geology).69. What is lithifaction? (Page 43)70. What is dynamic metamorphism?71. What are the effects of thermal metamorphism?72. What are the two types of thermal metamorphism?73. What is foliation? By which other name is it known?74. What is banding?75. What is the basic source of all exogenic forces that act on the earth’s

surface? (Page 45)76. Why do exogenic forces fail to ever even out all the relief features on the

earth’s surface?77. What are the main forces that drive endogenic forces? (Page 46)78. What is diastrophism? 79. What are epeirogenic forces? 80. What are shear stresses? (Page 47)81. Is weathering an in-situ or ex-situ process?82. What are the three main types of weathering processes?83. Are mass movements an example of erosion? (Page 52)84. What is solifluction? (Page 52)85. What latitudes is this most common in?86. Give 3 reasons why the Himalayas are prone to debris avalanches and

landslides. (Page 54)87. What is the key difference between weathering and erosion?88. What is the formula to calculate kinetic energy? How is this related to

erosion?89. What are karst regions?90. What are people who study soil called? (Check: Page 55)91. What is the process of soil formation called?92. List the five basic factors that affect soil formation?93. What is geomorphology? (Page 59)94. What are monadnocks? (Page 60)95. What are peneplains?96. Waterfalls and rapids are associated with which stage of a river?97. What is the difference between a gorge and a canyon?98. In which types of rocks is one likely to find the above two features,

respectively?99. What are incised meanders? 100. What is meant by river rejuvenation? (Google)101. What are river terraces?102. What is the difference between paired and unpaired terraces?103. How are alluvial cones formed? (Page 62)104. How are river deltas different from alluvial cones? (2 points)105. What are point bars? Where are these likely to be located?106. Give 3 reasons for formation of meanders.

107. What are braided channels?108. In which kinds of rocks does groundwater make landforms? Name two.109. What is it about these rocks that helps groundwater create landforms,

unlike in other rocks?110. Explain: sinkhole, doline, uvalas, lapies.111. Which two rivers in the Himalayas join to make the Ganga? Where do they

join each other?112. What are: cirques, tarn lakes, horns, serrated ridges, arêtes?113. What are fjords?114. What is glacial till?115. What are moraines?116. What are eskers? 117. What are drumlins?118. What is a wave-cut platform?119. What is wave-built terrace?120. What are barrier bars and spits?121. What are lagoons?122. Which coast of India has dominant erosional/ depositional features?123. What are sea stacks?124. Do shingle beaches contain large pebbles or small? (Page 71)125. What are pediments and pediplains?126. What are playas?127. What are deflation hollows?128. What is the difference between barchans, seifs, and parabolic dunes?129. 99% of the total composition of the atmosphere extends up to what height

from the earth’s surface? (Page 76)130. After Nitrogen and Oxygen, what is the gas most commonly found in earth’s

atmosphere?131. How does the ozone layer help us?132. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer? (Page 77)133. In which latitudes is a higher concentration of dust particles found, and

why? (Page 77)134. How do dust particles help in cloud formation?135. At which latitudes is the height of the troposphere maximum?136. Why is the tropopause called that?137. In which layer of the atmosphere does the temperature start increasing

with height?138. At what heights do the various layers of atmosphere exist?139. What is the primary reason behind differences in atmospheric pressures at

different places?140. What are the technical names for positions of the earth when it is closet to/

furthest away from the sun?141. What is the angle made by the earth’s axis with the plane of its orbit around

the sun?142. Why do higher latitudes of the earth receive lesser insolation?143. What are the reasons behind the red color exhibited by the setting and

rising sun? (Page 80)144. Why does the equator receive comparatively lesser insolation as compared

to the tropics?

145. What is advection?146. How is the above important in the context of India?147. What is meant by the albedo of the earth?148. Describe the heat balance of the earth. (Page 81)149. Even though the tropics have a net heat surplus and the poles have a net

heat deficit, why do the tropics not get heated up progressively and the poles melt?

150. What are the four major factors that determine the temperature of a place?151. What is meant by the normal lapse rate?152. What are isotherms?153. What is the relationship between isotherms and the earth’s latitudes? 154. In which hemisphere does this relationship hold roughly true?155. Describe: Temperature Inversion (Page 85)156. In January, describe the typical position of isotherms in the northern and

southern hemispheres. (Page 85)157. What is the relationship between latitudes and the length of days?158. In India, why is the day temperature maximum in May and not during the

summer solstice in June?159. In what units is atmospheric pressure measured? (Page 88)160. What is the primary cause for movement of air from one place on the earth

to the other?161. Although pressure decreases rapidly with height in the lower atmosphere,

why do we not experience vertical winds?162. What are the lines connecting places that have equal atmospheric

pressures called?163. Describe the distribution of these pressure lines in January; name them

with reference to the latitudes that these characteristically lie at in January. 164. List 4 forces that affect horizontal forces close to the earth’s surface.165. How does the pressure gradient force differ due to differences in the

distances between isobars?166. What is the Coriolis force? How does it relate to latitudes?167. What is the relationship between Coriolis force and the Pressure Gradient

force?168. Why are tropical cyclones not formed near the equator? (Page 90; just

memorize this)169. What are geostrophic winds?170. What is the wind circulation around a low-pressure zone called? Around a

high-pressure zone?171. List the 5 things that determine the general pattern of circulation.172. Describe the 3 cells that set the pattern for the general circulation of air.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ixT7D3f8Qo)173. What are the nicknames of the equator, 30 degrees N and S? (video above)174. Explain the formation of the polar jet stream. (around 16 minutes into the

video)175. What is katabatic wind?176. What is an air mass?177. What is the difference between cold and warm fronts? (Page 94-CHECK)178. What is an occluded front?

179. What are extra-tropical cyclones? At what latitudes, and how, are they formed?

180. Describe the three stages of an extra-tropical cyclone. (http://charliesweatherforecasts.blogspot.in/2011/09/tropical-vs-extratropical-cyclones.html)

181. How and when do extra-tropical cyclones dissipate? Or are they permanent phenomena?

182. In which direction do extra-tropical cyclones move in each hemisphere?183. Draw the cross-section of an extra-tropical cyclone.184. What are the names of tropical cyclones in the Indian Ocean, Atlantic

Ocean, Western Pacific, and Western Australia?185. How are tropical cyclones formed?

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AAG4HEsgMQ)186. Explain the anatomy of a tropical cyclone. 187. Explain: Tropical cyclones that cross 20 degrees N latitude generally

recurve and are more destructive.188. List 3 important differences between tropical and extra-tropical cyclones.189. What is storm surge?190. What are thunderstorms?191. What are tornadoes?192. In which latitudes are you likely to find tornadoes, and why?193. In the northern hemisphere, in which directions do tropical and extra-

tropical cyclones spin? (See self note on top of Page 94)194. In the southern hemisphere, in which directions do tropical and extra-

tropical cyclones spin?195. The direction of wind around a low pressure in the northern hemisphere is:

clockwise, anti-clockwise, perpendicular to isobars, or parallel to the isobars?

196. Define relative humidity.197. What is dew point?198. Why is evaporation greater when the movement of air is greater? (Page 98)199. What is sublimation?200. What is the difference between fog and mist?201. What are the four different types of clouds?202. What is the difference between condensation and precipitation? (Page 100)203. When does sleet form?204. Between 35 and 40 degrees North and South of the equator, the rain is

heavier on the eastern coasts of continents, and vice versa for 45 and 65 degrees N and S. Why?

205. Discuss the salient features of the world distribution of precipitation.206. How many major climatic groups did Koeppen recognize? Name them.

(Page 103)207. What type of climate falls in the ‘A’ region? How many subgroups is this

type divided into? Name them, along with regions of the world where this type of climate is found.

208. Apart from India, name two other places where Am type of climate is found.209. In which latitudes does one find ‘B’ type of climate?

210. Explain: on the western margins of continents, B type of climates extend more equatorwards and occur on coastal land, whereas in middle latitudes (35-60 degrees N and S) they are confined to the interiors of continents.

211. Where is one likely to find Subtropical Steppes?212. Around which latitudes are you likely to find Cs type of climate?213. What is the ‘subtropical ridge’? (Google)214. Describe the major climate types by latitude (se pdf notes on dropbox)215. What are the four major divisions of the oceanic floor? (Page 113)216. Why are fossil fuels rather commonly in the oceans just off the shores of the

continents?217. What are seamounts, guyots, and atolls?218. In which hemisphere are oceans, on average, likely to be hotter? (Page

115)219. What cause longitudinal variations in ocean temperature? (Page 115)220. Why do enclosed seas in the low latitudes record relatively higher

temperatures than the open sea, and enclosed seas in high latitudes have lower temperature than the open sea?

221. What is halocline? (Page 118)222. What is the thermocline?223. What is the average temperature of the surface water of the oceans at the

equator? (Page 116)224. What is the upper limit of salinity to demarcate brackish water? (Page

116)225. Around which latitudes are the highest levels of salinity found and why?

(Page 117)226. Which lake exhibits the highest level of salinity? 227. Although the North Sea is located at a rather high altitude, why does it

record a high level of salinity?228. Among Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, which one exhibits higher

salinity and why?229. What is a continental margin? (Page 119)230. Classify the following into horizontal and vertical motions: ocean currents,

tides, and waves. (Page 120)231. What causes waves to form and travel?232. Describe the motion of water inside a wave with a diagram.233. When do waves break? (Page 120)234. In what unit is wave speed usually measured?235. What is the difference between tides and surges? (Page 121)236. Aside from the gravitation force created by the pull of the sun and the

moon, what is the other major cause of tides?237. How many times a day do tides usually occur? At what rough time interval?238. What is meant by perigee?239. What are spring tides and neap tides? When do they occur?240. List three major forces that affect ocean currents. (Page 123)241. Why does water tend to flow away from the equator? (Page 123- CHECK)242. Where are you likely to find cold/ warm ocean currents in the low/

middle/ high latitudes on each hemisphere? (Page 123)243. Describe WHY the above happens.244. What are the two major factors influencing the direction of ocean currents?

245. List the 18 major ocean currents and classify them into cold and warm ocean currents. Also indicate their position on a map. (Page 124, 125)

246. In which month does the earth reach its perihelion?- January; aphelion is around July

247. Define ecology. (Page 128)248. True or false: Habitat denotes the physical characteristics that constitute

the general environment of an organism. 249. What are the two broad types of ecosystems?250. What are biomes?251. What are four major kinds of biomes?252. What are the two major types of aquatic ecosystems?253. What are the two types of food chains? (Page 129)254. What are biogeochemical cycles?255. What is the carbon cycle?256. What are exotic species? (Page 137)257. What are the 3 classification of IUCN? 258. What are the different levels of biodiversity?

Class XI: Book 02- India: Physical Environment

1. What are the latitudes and longitudes that cover the extremities of India?2. How many nautical miles does the territorial limit of India extend towards

the sea?3. Which extent of India is longer in distance: horizontal or vertical?4. Into which two broad climatic zones can the mainland of India be divided?5. Name the states through which India’s standard meridian passes.6. What is the difference between a Gulf and a Strait?7. How many countries does India share a land border with? Rank them in

order of the length of the frontier.8. Give three reasons as to why the rivers flowing east in India into the Bay of

Bengal form deltas. 9. Which river is Srinagar located alongside? (Page 11)10. Which part of India is known as the molasses basin?11. Which major rivers drain the northern plains of India? (Page 15)12. Into how many major zones can the northern plains be divided? Name them.13. True or false: no part of the Indian peninsular plateau extends to the

northeastern regions.14. Which among the western and eastern ghats in comparatively higher?15. What are the western ghats locally known as in the following regions:

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala?16. Which is the highest peak of the western ghats, and where is it located?

(Page 17)17. Where do the eastern and western ghats meet each other?18. Is the Meghalaya plateau a part of the peninsular plateau? 19. What are its subdivisions?20. Which part of India receives the maximum rainfall from the southwest

monsoon? (Page 17)21. Is the Thar Desert a part of the peninsular plateau? (Page 18)22. Why is the western coast of India more suited to ports and harbors?

23. What is the ‘ten degree channel’? (Page 19)24. What is the ‘eleven degree channel’?25. Which is the only active volcano in India? Where is it located?26. Which between the two main groups of islands in India is built of coral

deposits?27. What are ‘Karewas’? Where are they found? (Page 11)28. What are ‘catchment areas’ and ‘drainage basins’? (Page 20)29. What is the difference between ‘watersheds’ and ‘basins’?30. Which river is known as ‘the sorrow of Bihar’? (Page 24)31. Which gap separates the Rajmahal hills and the Meghalaya plateau?32. Which river feeds the canal system of the Bhakra Nangal Project? (Page 25)33. What is a ‘river regime’?34. What is thalweg? (Page 30)35. List the various rivers along the west and east coasts of India, and mention

the states that they serve. 36. List two major effects of the Himalayas on the climate of India.37. Although Agra and Darjeeling are located at the same latitude, why is

Darjeeling much cooler?38. Why are winters usually dry in India? (Page 35)39. What kind of upper air circulation does India experience during winter

months?40. During winter, when the prevailing night temperature increases, what does

it indicate? (Page 36)41. What are tropical cyclones? At which time of the year are these likely to hit

India?42. Describe the surface winds and upper air circulation over India during

summer months. 43. Why do areas in the northeast receive the maximum rainfall during the

southwest monsoon period? (Page 37, black underline)44. Between which latitudes do the easterly jet streams confine themselves over

India? (Page 37)45. Which wind system is responsible for the ‘burst’ of monsoon over India?

(Page 38)46. What is the monsoon trough? (Page 40)47. Explain: monsoon rains show a declining trend from west to east over the

west coast of India, and from the southeast towards the northwest over the North Indian Plain and the northern part of the peninsula.

48. What causes El-Nino? (Page 38- and it’s not atmospheric pressure; that happens because of El-Nino; doesn’t cause it)

49. What are the two major reasons for break in the monsoon?50. Explain the pattern of winter rainfall in India. (CHECK- Page 42)51. Which of the following statements is true: during summer months, the

temperature in India (a) decreases from north to south, or (b) increases from coast to the interior?

52. At which latitude are you likely to find the ITCZ during July? (Page 45)53. In which direction does the loo blow? (westerly or easterly?)54. What is kalbaisakhi? (page 45)55. Explain: the monsoon winds over Bihar are easterly.56. Explain the two branches of the southwest monsoon in India. (Page 47)

57. Why does Tamil Nadu remain dry during the southwest monsoon?58. Describe: October Heat.59. Explain: the weather in retreating monsoon (around October and

November) is dry in north India but is associated with rain in the eastern part of the peninsula. (Page 49)

60. Name the 6 Indian names for seasons, and the Indian names for the months that they are associated with.

61. Which parts of India fall under the following type of climate: Amw, As, Aw, Bwsw, Bwhw, Cwg, Dfc, E. (Page 53- DO PROPERLY)

62. Which 2 broad regions in India receive the highest rainfall? (Page 56)63. How many distinct seasons are found in India as per the IMD? Name them.

(Page 56)64. Name the 5 major groups into which Indian forests can be divided. (Page 57)65. Name 3 broad regions of India where one finds tropical evergreen forests.66. Which is the most common type of forests in India?67. Name two plants that are common in tundra vegetation.68. What are temperate forests called in the Nilgiri hills? (Page 60)69. Which two places in India are protected as waterfowl habitats under the

Ramsar convention?70. Do Andamans have mangrove forests?71. Which state/ UT has the maximum forest cover?72. What % of India’s area does the National Forest Policy aim to bring under

forest cover?73. What is ‘social forestry’?74. What is ‘farm forestry’?75. What are the two main aims of the Wildlife Act of 1972?76. Which organization runs the Man and Biosphere programme?77. Define: Biosphere Reserve.78. How many BRs exist in India, How many are included in the World Network

of BRs? Name them all.79. List the 8 types of soils found in India. (Page 69)80. Which is the most common soil type in India?81. Which kind of soil is used in making bricks? (Page 71)82. Is alluvial soil only found in the Gangetic plains? (Page 69)83. In which of the following minerals is alluvial soil rich? : Potash or

Phosphorus?84. List 5 states where one finds black soil.85. Which characteristic of black soil helps crops sustain even during dry

seasons?86. Which minerals are black soils deficient in?87. Where do you find red and yellow soils? 88. Why do they look like that?89. What are laterite soils? Where are they found?90. What minerals are these soils deficient in? Which minerals are found in

excess?91. What are peaty soils? Where are they found?92. What is the difference between sheet and gully erosion? (Page 73)93. Why does excessive irrigation make arable soil saline?94. What is integrated land use planning? (Page 74)

95. ‘Regur soil’ is another name for what kind of soil?96. What do farmers add to the soil when it turns saline? (Page 72)97. What is the Yoakahama Strategy? (Google/ Page 80)98. What are the four broad categories of natural disasters? (Page 79)99. The collision of which two tectonic plates caused the recent Nepal

earthquake?100. Although the Indian peninsular block is a fairly stable geological entity,

what is the cause of some devastating earthquakes in Gujarat and Maharashtra? (Page 81)

101. Explain: a ship at sea is not much affected by a Tsunami, but the same Tsunami can cause massive damage at the coast.

102. Define: tropical cyclone. (CHECK- Page 84)103. Which latitudes are tropical cyclones found between? Why?104. Why are tropical cyclones not found between 0-5 degrees latitudes?105. List four conditions for the emergence of a tropical cyclone.106. In case of Bay of Bengal, why do cyclones develop most numerously during

the months of October and November? (107. Where do tropical cyclones derive their energy from? (Page 86)108. Why do tropical cyclones make landfall on India’s east coast, and not on the

west coast? (Page 85- CHECK)109. Why does Tamil Nadu sometimes experience flash floods during

November-January? (Page 88)110. What are the 4 types of droughts? (Page 89)111. Describe the Disaster Management Bill of 2005.

Additional questions from this book:

1. Fault that separates northeastern plateau from peninsular plateau? (Page 8)

2. Where are the following hills/ peaks located?

Hill State Hill StateNallamalla Andhra Pradesh Veliconda Andhra Pradesh

Javadi Tamil Nadu Palkonda Andhra Pradesh

MahendragiriOrissa (highest peak of

EGs is here)Aravalis

Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi

Vindhyas Gujarat, MP, UP, Bihar SatpurasGujarat-Maharashtra

border, MP, Chhattisgarh

Kangtu Arunachal Pradesh Namcha Barwa Arunachal PradeshDiphu pass Arunachal Pradesh Bomdi La Arunachal Pradesh

Lushai Mizoram Pataki Bum Arunachal Pradesh

Rajmahal hills Jharkhand Cardamom hillsWestern Ghats (Kerala,

SW Tamil Nadu)

Anaimalai hills Kerala Maikal rangeChhattisgarh (part of

Satpura)Mahadeo hills MP (part of Satpura) Anaimudi WG; Kerala

Dodabeta WG, Tamil Nadu Kaimur hills MP, BiharSaddle, Diavolo, Koyob,

ThuillerAndamans Potwar plateau Delhi Ridge

3. Where are the following rivers located?

River State

GhagharaMajor left bank tributary of the Ganges; comes from Nepal Himalayas, join the Ganga in Bihar

Tista Fast-flowing river of the Darjiling/ Sikkim HimalayasBrahmputra Enters via Namcha Barwa in Arunachal Pradesh

Kameng

All in Arunachal Himalayas; these are perennial with a high rate of fall, and hence very well suited for hydroelectric power generation

SubansiriDihang

Dibang/ SikangLohitBarak Manipur, Mizoram; tributary of the Meghana river

Chindwin Manipur; tributary of Myanmar’s Irrawady riverBanas Tribuatry of Chambal

Mahi

Gujarat

West flowing; rises in MP, flows through Rajasthan and Gujarat to drain into Arabian sea

Periyar Kerala; west flowing (Arabian sea drainage)Pennar Andhra Pradesh

Sabarmati GujaratKalindi Sundarbans

Meghana BangladeshChambal

Oldest rivers; arise in central highlands, flow towards the Ganga (so, southwest to northeast direction of flow). Seasonal rivers.

BetwaSon

Hunza, Shigar, Gasting, Tochi, Gomal, Viboa, Sangar- tributaries of Indus

ChandrabhagaAnother name for Chenab (because it is formed at the confluence of 2 rivers called Chandra and Bhaga)

Ramganga Tributary of Ganga; UPMahananda Tributary of Ganga; rises in Darjeeling

Son Rises in Amarkantak hills

Ganga systemLeft bank tributaries: Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda

Right bank: Son, (Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken: via Yamuna)

Brahmaputra system

Left bank tributaries: Dibang/ Sikang, Lohit, Burhi Dihing, Dhansari

Right bank: Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, SankoshMahanadi Rises in Chhattisgarh highlands (in Raipur); covers MP, Chhattisgarh, Orissa

Godavari

Rises in Nasik (WG), known as Dakshin Ganga; runs through Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh

Main Tributaries: Penganga, Indravati, Pranhita, Manjra

Krishna

Rises in Mahabaleshwar (WG); runs through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh

Main Tributaries: Konya, Tungabhadra, and Bhima

Kaveri

Brahmagiri hills, Karnataka (Kogadu district); runs through Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu

Main Tributaries: Kabini, Amravati, Bhavani

NarmadaAmarkantak hills; flows in a rift valley between Vindhyas and Satpuras, forms Dhuandhar waterfall near Jabalpur; Sardar Sarovar Dam

Tapi Satpura, MP (Betul district); Maharashtra, MP, GujaratSaraswati Rajasthan; tributary of Luni

Mandovi, Juari- GoaBharathapuzha Kerala

Sharavati KarnatakaPamba Kerala; falls into Vambanad lake

River StateBanas Tribuatry of Chambal

Brahmputra

Enters via Namcha Barwa in Arunachal PradeshLeft bank tributaries: Dibang/ Sikang, Lohit, Burhi Dihing, Dhansari

Right bank: Subansiri, Kameng, Manas, SankoshBarak Manipur, Mizoram; tributary of the Meghana river

BetwaOldest rivers; arise in central highlands, flow towards the Ganga (so, southwest to northeast direction of flow). Seasonal rivers.

Bharathapuzha Kerala

ChandrabhagaAnother name for Chenab (because it is formed at the confluence of 2 rivers called Chandra and Bhaga)

Chindwin Manipur; tributary of Myanmar’s Irrawady river

DihangArunachal Himalayas; these are perennial with a high rate of fall, and hence very well suited for hydroelectric power generation

Dibang/ SikangArunachal Himalayas; these are perennial with a high rate of fall, and hence very well suited for hydroelectric power generation

ChambalOldest rivers; arise in central highlands, flow towards the Ganga (so, southwest to northeast direction of flow). Seasonal rivers.

Ganga systemLeft bank tributaries: Ramganga, Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda

Right bank: Son, (Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken: via Yamuna)

Godavari

Rises in Nasik (WG), known as Dakshin Ganga; runs through Maharashtra, MP, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh

Main Tributaries: Penganga, Indravati, Pranhita, Manjra

GhagharaMajor left bank tributary of the Ganges; comes from Nepal Himalayas, join the Ganga in Bihar

Juari Goa

Krishna

Rises in Mahabaleshwar (WG); runs through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh

Main Tributaries: Konya, Tungabhadra, and Bhima

Kaveri

Brahmagiri hills, Karnataka (Kogadu district); runs through Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu

Main Tributaries: Kabini, Amravati, Bhavani

KamengArunachal Himalayas; these are perennial with a high rate of fall, and hence very well suited for hydroelectric power generation

Kalindi Sundarbans

LohitAll in Arunachal Himalayas; these are perennial with a high rate of fall, and hence very well suited for hydroelectric power generation

Meghana BangladeshMahananda Tributary of Ganga; rises in Darjeeling

Mahi

Gujarat

West flowing; rises in MP, flows through Rajasthan and Gujarat to drain into Arabian sea

Mahanadi Rises in Chhattisgarh highlands (in Raipur); covers MP, Chhattisgarh, OrissaMandovi Goa

NarmadaAmarkantak hills; flows in a rift valley between Vindhyas and Satpuras, forms Dhuandhar waterfall near Jabalpur; Sardar Sarovar Dam

Periyar Kerala; west flowing (Arabian sea drainage)Pennar Andhra PradeshPamba Kerala; falls into Vambanad lake

Ramganga Tributary of Ganga; UP

SubansiriAll in Arunachal Himalayas; these are perennial with a high rate of fall, and hence very well suited for hydroelectric power generation

SonOldest rivers; arise in central highlands, flow towards the Ganga (so, southwest to northeast direction of flow). Seasonal rivers. Rises in Amarkantak hills

Sabarmati GujaratSharavati KarnatakaSaraswati Rajasthan; tributary of Luni

Tista Fast-flowing river of the Darjiling/ Sikkim Himalayas

Tapi Satpura, MP (Betul district); Maharashtra, MP, GujaratHunza, Shigar, Gasting, Tochi, Gomal, Viboa, Sangar- tributaries of Indus

4. What is a ‘scarp’? (Page 9)5. What is ‘Baltoro’? (Page 11)6. Which of the following are salt water lakes and which, freshwater: Dal,

Wular, Tsomoriri, Pangong Tso7. Which river flows through the Kashmir valley? Is this river in its young,

middle, or mature form here?8. What are ‘duns’? (Page 12)9. What are ‘Bhotias’? (Page 13)10. What are the tribes in the higher reaches of the Sikkim Himalayas called?

(Page 13)11. Name 6 prominent tribal communities in the Arunachal Himalayas. (Page

14)12. Arrange from north to south: Naga hills, Pataki Bum, Mizo hills, Manipur

hills. (Page 15)13. Where is the Loktak lake located (state)? (Page 15)14. Amongst the 3 major zones of the alluvial planes, in which zone are you

most likely to find landforms of fluvial erosion and depositional landforms? (Page 15)

15. Which state has the Mazagaon port? (Page 18)16. What are ‘kayals’? (Page 18)17. Which is the largest island in Lakshadweep group? (Page 19)18. What is the Indus river called in Tibet? (Page 24)19. Name the only district in India through which the Indus river flows. (page

25)20. Which is the largest tributary of the Indus? (Page 25)21. Where is the river Sikang? (Pge 26)

Class XII, Part 1: Fundamentals of Human Geography

1. What are environmental determinism, possibilism, and neo-determinism?2. What is the growth rate of population in India? (Google)3. List the 3 components of the HDI, and mention how they’re measured.

(Page 27)4. Describe the Human Poverty Index.5. Which economist introduced the concept of human development? (Page

29)6. What kind of products in Mediterranean agriculture famous for? (Page 40)7. What is the difference between cooperative and collective farming? (Page

41)8. Discuss the global distribution of cotton and iron and steel industries. (Page

52)9. What are quarternary and quinary services? (Page 61)10. What is the difference between KPOs and BPOs?11. List the three conditions that a settlement in India needs to fulfill to be

classified as an urban settlement. (Page 91)

Class XII, Part 2: India- People and Economy

1. Name the Indian states that are:i. Largest by area

ii. Smallest by areaiii. Most populousiv. Least populousv. Most densely populated

vi. Least densely populatedvii. Lowest TFR

viii. Highest TFRix. Maximum forest cover (absolute)x. Maximum forest cover (% of area)

xi. Highest % of urban populationxii. Lowest % of urban population

xiii. Largest receiver of internal migrantsxiv. Largest generator of internal migrants

2. What % of India’s population is rural?3. What is the relationship between the work participation rate and the level of

economic development? (Page 11)4. Describe the employment structure of India’s population.5. What is the level of urbanization in India?6. Which cities do National Highways 1 and 2 connect? (Page 114)7. NHAI is under the administration of which ministry? (Page 114)8. What are the four major classifications of roads in India? Ran them in terms

of % share of total road network that each accounts for.9. What are the three main divisions of railways tracks based on the width of

track? What are their % shares?10. What is the main reason behind inland waterways becoming un-navigable in

many parts of the country? (Page 119 end)11. How many National Waterways exist in India? (Google)12. What is the name of the famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race held in the

backwaters of Kerala? (Page 121)13. How many railway zones exist in India? (Google)14. Which is the longest national highway in India? (Google)15. What % of the world’s trade does India account for?16. List the breakdown of India’s exports and imports by sector.17. List the 5 biggest export and import items of India by % share.18. List the top three overall trading partners of India, and also by exports and

imports.19. Which coast of India has more seaports? (Page 129)20. What is the functional difference between a port being classified as ‘major’

or ‘minor’? (Page 129)21. Which port is known as the ‘Queen of the Indian sea’? (Page 131)22. Which port is located on the Mahanadi?23. Which port of India is a land-locked harbor?24. What % of India’s land is covered under: forests, net sown area, and area

under non-agricultural uses? (Page 42)

25. What is the sum of Indian area under Culturable Wasteland, Fallow land, and Net Sown Area? (Page 44)

26. List 6 kharif, 5 rabi, and 2 zaid crops grown in north Indian states. (Page 44)27. List 5 crops grown in south Indian states almost all year round.28. In which kind of irrigation is water requirement higher: productive or

protective?29. What % of India’s total cropped area is accounted for by food crops?30. Which state in India produces more than half of all Jowar produced in the

country? (Page 47)31. This state also accounts for about a third of the total production of another

crop. Name that crop. (Page 49)32. What broad parts of India are pulses grown in? What % of total cropped area

do they account for? (Page 47)33. What are rai, toria, and taramira examples of? (Page 49)34. Which state accounts for more than a third of their total production?35. List the top 5 producers of sugarcane in India. (Page 53)36. What is the difference between black and green tea leaves?37. Where in southern India is tea grown? (Page 53)38. What are robusta and liberica?39. Name the 3 top producers of coffee in India. (CHECK- Page 53)40. What is the land-man ratio in India? What’s the world average? (Page 53)41. Roughly what proportion of surface and groundwater withdrawals are

accounted for by agriculture? (Page 64)42. What is the cause for increasing incidence of arsenic poisoning in many parts

of India? (Page 65)43. Which Indian state has made water-harvesting structures in every home

compulsory? (Page 67)44. What is an important use of manganese? (Page 74)45. Which state is the largest producer of manganese?46. True or False: India is well endowed with both ferrous and non-ferrous

minerals.47. What is a major use of bauxite? (Page 76) 48. Which state is the largest producer of bauxite?49. What are the four types of coal, in order of increasing carbon content?

(Google)50. Which river valley in India contains maximum coal deposits?51. Name 3 states associated with oil reserves in India. (Page 80)52. What are ‘footloose industries’?53. Although Bhadravati, Bhilai, and Rourkela are not major coal producing

centers, why are lots of iron and steel industries located there? (Page 86)54. Why do iron and steel industries locate quite close to their raw materials?

(Page 87)55. Apart from iron ore, list 5 main raw materials for producing iron and steel.56. What were the effects of partition on India’s cotton industry? (Page 93)57. At present, what is the driving location behind location of cotton mills?58. What are the four kinds of petrochemical industries? (Page 95)59. What is the main cause of decline in industrial activity of the Hugli Industrial

Region? (Page 100)60. Name the two top sugar producing states of India.