CHAPTER- 1 RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT 1. What are resources? What are its characteristics?
Every thing available in our environment, which can be used to satisfy our needs if it is technologically accessible, economically feasible, and culturally acceptable, is termed as resource. [Or Resources are the means available for the development of a country. These are the natural or human made materials, which help to create goods or provide services].
Its characteristics are the following:
a) It has utility: Resources can be used to make a variety of goods and services. It satisfies human wants.
b) They are normally available in limited quantity: Most of the resources are scarce. They are exhaustible. We have to use it wisely.
c) Can’t be used as it is: Most of the resources are in crude form. We have to put effort on it to get utility or maximum satisfaction.
d) It should be technologically accessible.
2. Examine the interdependent relationship among nature ,technology and
institutions in the economic development. [ in the resource transformation] a) Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate economic development.
b) They transform material available in our environment in to resources by using technology and use them.
3. Name the essential component of resources. What is its role in the resource
transformation?
Human beings are the essential components of resources. Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate economic development. They transform materials available in our environment into resources by using technology and use them.
4. Distinguish between biotic and abiotic resources.
a) Biotic resources have or had living characteristics whereas abiotic resources are composed of non living things.
b) Biotic resources are normally obtained from the biosphere where as abiotic resources obtained from the lithosphere.
c) Examples of biotic resources are human beings, flora, fauna, fisheries and livestock d) Examples of abiotic resources are rocks, metals, minerals etc.
5. Distinguish between renewable and non renewable resources.
a) Renewable resources are those resources, which can be regenerated in a given period of time whereas non renewable resources cannot be re generated.
b) Renewable resources are abundant and replenishable where as non renewable resources are scarce and non replenishable.
c) Renewable resources are non exhaustible whereas non renewable resources are exhaustible.
d) Solar and wind energy, water, forest and wild life are examples of renewable resource and minerals and fossil fuels are examples of non renewable resources.
6. How are resources classified on the basis of origin? a) Biotic resources b) Abiotic resources ( Explain points)
7. How are resources classified on the basis of exhaustibility?
a) Renewable resources b) Non renewable resources ( Explain points)
8. How are resources classified on the basis of ownership? a) Individual resources:
These are privately owned resources. Village people own land and cattle whereas urban people own plots, flats or other property. Plantation, pasture lands, ponds, water in the wells are individual resources.
b) Community owned resources:
These are resources accessible to all the members of the community. Grazing grounds, burial grounds, village ponds, public parks, play grounds, picnic spots etc are community owned resources.
c) National Resources:
All the minerals, water resources, forests, wild life, all the resources with in the political boundaries and oceanic area up to 12 nautical miles from the coast belong to national resources. Roads canals, railways and properties of public character belong to national resources.
d) International resources:
The oceanic resources beyond 200 nautical miles of the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to international resources. No individual or country can claim it. There are international institutions to regulate these resources.
9. How are resources classified based on the status of development? a) Potential resources:
Resources, which are found in a region, but have not been utilized, are potential resources. These resources will be widely used shortly. Wind and solar energy potential in Rajasthan and Gujarat have not been developed and exploited properly so far.
b) Developed resources:
These are the resources surveyed; quality and quantity have been measured and have been determined for utilization.
c) Stock Resources:
Resources in the environment which have the potential to satisfy human needs but do not have the appropriate technology to have an access come under this category. We haven’t so far developed the technology to make inflammable gases like hydrogen and oxygen on a large scale from water . So it is considered a stock.
d) Reserve resources:
These are the subdivision of stock resources and can be put into use by applying the existing technology but their use has not yet been started. These can be used to meet our future requirements.
10. What is meant by Exclusive Economic Zone?
a) The UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, 1982, allowed coastal nations to claim a territorial sea of up to 12 nautical miles.
b) It also allowed jurisdiction over resources, control over fishing right, scientific research, and environmental protection in a zone up to 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) offshore. It is known as Exclusive Economic Zone. Beyond this zone, seabed mineral development will be regulated by an international body.
11. What are the major problems developed out of exploiting resources indiscriminately? ( State any to effects of indiscriminate exploitation of resources.) a) Depletion of resources for satisfying the greed of few individuals.
b) Accumulation of resources in few hands, which in turn divided the society in to rich and poor.
c) It has led to ecological crisis such as global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
12. What is sustainable development?
The development that takes care the needs of the present generation with out compromising the needs of future generations is termed as sustainable development. It emphasizes on prevention of pollution and avoidance of wastages. The development that takes place with out damaging the environment is termed as sustainable development.
13. What is resource planning? Why is it essential? ( Explain any three reasons responsible for making resource planning in India. ) i) Resource planning is a technique or skill of proper utilization of resources.
ii) An equitable distribution of resources has become essential for a sustained quality of life and global peace.
iii) If the present trend of resources depletion by a few individuals and countries continues, the future of the planet is in danger. There fore resource planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life. Or
Since the resources are limited and unevenly distributed, effective and efficient planning is necessary.
Resource planning includes conservation of resources too. We have to exploit resources in such a way that future generation will not suffer.
Resource planning is essential to prevent environmental pollution and to avoid wastages in the exploitation of resources.
14. Examine the diversity in the availability of resources in India. Give examples. Or Why is a balanced resource planning essential in India? ( Why is it necessary for a balanced resource planning at the national ,state regional and local levels?)
a) There are regions in India which are rich in certain type of resources but are deficient in some other resources. There are some regions in India which can be considered self sufficient in terms of availability of resources and there are some other regions which have acute shortage of some vital resources.
b) The states of Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits.
c) Arunachal Pradesh has abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural developments.
d) Rajasthan has a lot of solar and wind energy potential but lacks in water resources. e) The cold area of Ladakh has very rich cultural heritage but is deficient in water,
infrastructure and minerals.
15. What are the processes ( stages) involved in the resource planning? i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country: This involves surveying, mapping, qualitative and quantitative estimation, and measurement of resources.
ii) Evolving a planning structure with appropriate technology, skill and institutional setup for implementing resource development plans.
iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall national development plans. 16. ‘Mere availability of resources will not bring economic development’. Give
reasons.
i) Along with the availability of resources corresponding changes in technology and institutions are required for economic development.
ii) There are many regions in India that are rich in resources but are economically backward. Some other areas have poor resources but they are economically developed.
iii) It was primarily the higher level of technological development of the colonizing countries that helped them to exploit resources of other regions and establish their supremacy over the colonies.
17. What was Gandhiji’s opinion about conservation (or over exploitation) of
resources?
i) Gandhiji said, ‘There is enough resources in India for every body’s need and not for any body’s greed’.
ii) He placed the greedy and selfish individuals and exploitative nature of modern technology as the root cause for resource depletion at the global level.
iii) He was against mass production and wanted to replace it with the production by the masses.
18. Why is it important to use the available land with careful planning?
i) We live on land , perform all economic activities on land and use it for variety of purposes.
ii) Land is a natural resource of utmost importance. It supports natural vegetation, wild life, human life, transport and communication systems.
iii) 95% of our basic needs for food, shelter and clothing are obtained from land iv) Land available is limited in quantity compared to the size of the population and hence it requires careful planning
19. Assess the land in India under important relief features. i. Plains: About 43 % of the land is plain which provides facilities for agriculture and
industry.
ii. Mountains: It accounts for 30 % of the land and ensure perennial flow of some rivers, provide facilities for tourism and ecological aspects.
iii. Plateau: About 27 % of the land is plateau. It possesses rich reserves of minerals fossil fuels and forests.
20. Give two reasons why we are not able to utilize the total geographical area of India. i) The land use reporting for most of the north- eastern states except Assam has not been done fully.
ii) Some areas of Jammu & Kashmir occupied by Pakistan and China have not been surveyed.
21. What is the land utilization pattern in India? Total area of land in India is 3.28 million sq.km., but only 93 % is available for use. i)The Net sown area in India is 43.41% in 2002-03.
ii) The Forest share in the land use pattern is 22.57% in 2002-03. iii) Area under non agricultural use is 7.92% in 2002-03.
iv) Permanent pastures and grazing land is 3.45 % only. v) Culturable Waste land is 4.41% in 2002-03.
vi) Fallow Land : The share of the current fallow land is 7.03% in 2002-03. Fallow other than current fallow is 3.82.
22. What are the most satisfying features of the land use pattern in India? a) About 54 % of the total land area is under cultivation in India. It is the highest
percentage in the world.
b) Land under the forests has increased from 18.11% in 1960-61 to 22.57% in 2002-03. (Any One)
c) Culturable Waste land has reduced from 6.23% in 1960-61 to 4.41% in 2002-03. 23. What is land degradation? Explain any three causes for land degradation.
Land degradation is the process of losing the fertility and productivity of land and turning it unfit for proper use. It is otherwise lowering the quality of land. Deforestation, careless management of forests, overgrazing by animals, soil erosion, surface mining and industrial effluents cause land degradation.
At present there are about 130 million hectares of degraded land in India .28 % of it belongs to forest degraded area, 56 % water eroded area, 10 % wind eroded area and the rest 6% is affected by saline and alkaline deposits.
24. State two natural and human activities that lead to land degradation. a. Natural : Soil erosion, land slides, torrential rain
b. Human : Mining and industry. (Explain all)
25. How does surface mining and industry lead to land degradation? o. The mining sites are abandoned after excavation is completed.
p. Processed soil or waste materials are dumped unscientifically causing the land used and the land nearby unfit for any use.
q. The mineral processing, like grinding of limestone for cement industry and calcite and soapstone for ceramic industry generates heavy amount of dust and releases in the atmosphere. It settles down in the surrounding areas, affecting infiltration of water and crop cultivation.
r. The industrial effluents released to the air causes acid rain and air and water get polluted.
26. How is man responsible for degradation of land? a) Cutting of trees (deforestation).
b) Unscientific disposal of industrial wastes. c) Unscientific industrial processing.
d) Construction of houses and buildings. (Explain any one)
27. What measures can be adopted for preventing land degradation? a. Stabilization of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes, preparation of shelterbelts for plants and control over grazing of animals are some methods of controlling land degradation in arid areas.
b. Moisture conservation and weed control in agricultural lands, regularization of grazing and proper management of wasteland and control of mining activities are the methods for semi arid areas.
c.Proper discharge and disposal of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water degradation in industrial and suburban areas.
28. What are soils? How are they formed? Or ( Describe the factors that contribute to the formation and fertility to the soil.)
i. Loose and fragmented uppermost layer of the earth’s crust, which is useful for plants, is called soil. It is the basic resources of agriculture.
ii. It consists of both organic and inorganic substances.
iii. The factors that contribute the formation and fertility of soil are rocks, climate, plants and animals, local topography, chemical and organic changes which takes place in the soil and long period of time.
1. Soils are formed by the disintegration and decomposition of rocks under the process of weathering and erosion. Climate determines the rate of weathering and the type of vegetation. Time provide maturity to soils.
29. Describe the characteristics of alluvial soil. (What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coasts? Give three main features of this type of soil. Or Which is the most widely spread and important soil in India? )
a) Alluvial soil is confined to northern plain, coastal strips, Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is the most widely spread and important soil in India.
b) It consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay.
c) As we move inlands to wards the valley soil particles appear some what bigger in size. In the upper reaches of the river valley the soil are coarse. Such soils are common in piedmont plains such as Duars, Chos and Terai.
d) Alluvial soil as a whole are very fertile Mostly these soil contain adequate proportion of potash , phosphoric acid and lime which are ideal for the growth of sugarcane, paddy, wheat and other cereal and pulse crops.
e) Soils in the drier areas are more alkaline and can be productive after proper treatment and irrigation.
f) Alluvial soil is divided into Bhangar and Khadar according to their age. ( Continue..) 30. Differentiate between Bhangar and Khadar. i)The Bangar soil has higher concentration of kanker nodules than the Khadar.
ii. Bhangar is older alluvium and is found away from rivers and Khadar is new alluvium found closer to the rivers.
iii. Bhangar is clayey and dark while Khadar is sandy and light in colour. iv. Bhangar is less fertile compared to Khadar. Khadar is renewed
frequently in the flood plain.
31. What are the characteristics of Black soil?( Regur soil) a) It is good for cultivation of cotton and also known as cotton soil.
c) It is rich in potash, calcium carbonate, magnesium and lime and poor in phosphoric content.
e) On drying these soil develops large and deep cracks and becomes sticky when wet. f) Climatic condition along with the parent rock material is the important factors for the formation of black soil.
g) This type of soil is typical of the Deccan trap spread over northwest Deccan plateau and is made up of lava flows.
32. Describe the major features of Red soil. Where is it found? a. Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks in areas of low rainfall in the eastern and southern parts of the Deccan plateau.
b. It is red in colour due to the diffusion of iron in crystalline and metamorphic rocks. It looks yellow when it occurs in a hydrated form.
c. Red soils are highly porous and fertile and they are fine grained and deep.
d. It is deficient in phosphoric acid, organic matter and nitrogen and rich in potash. e. They occur in parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Jharkhand. 33. What are Laterite soils? What are its features?
a. Laterite soils are intensely leached soils of the monsoon climate.
b. The humus content of this soil is low because most of the micro organisms particularly the decomposers like bacteria get destroyed due to high temperature. It has low value for crop production.
c. They are red in colour with high content of iron oxide.
d. It is poor in nitrogen and lime and has high contents of acidity. e. It doesn’t have the ability to retain moisture.
f. It is composed of little clay and much gravel of red sand stones.
g. These soils develop in areas of high temperature and heavy rainfall. They occur in Karnataka, Kerala, Orissa and part of Assam and Meghalaya.
(Why are laterite soil less fertile? Ans points a and b above)
34. Describe the characteristics of forest (mountain) soil. a. These are the soils found in the mountainous region of India like Meghalaya, Arunachel Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
b. These soils are characterized by deposition of organic materials derived from vegetative cover.
c. These are heterogeneous in nature and vary from place to place.
d. They are loamy and silty in valley sides and coarse grained in the upper slopes. e. In the snow covered areas of Himalayas these soils experience denudation and are acidic with low humus content.
35. What are arid (desert) soils? a. These are the soils found in the arid areas of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana.
b. These sands are partly of local origin and partly have been blown from the Indus Valley.
c. In some areas, the soil contains high percentage of soluble salt. d. It is sandy, coarse and porous and poor in organic matter. e. These soils can be used for cultivation with irrigation facilities.
36. What is meant by soil erosion? How is it caused? Removal of soil from one place to another by some natural agent is called soil erosion. It is the process of taking away or washing away of soil cover by wind or water flow.
Soil erosion is caused by deforestation, heavy rains and running water, overgrazing, winds and slope of the land.
37. What are ravines? Where is it found? Ravines are bad land, turned unsuitable for cultivation by soil erosion. If the outer cover of the soil is removed by wind or water, bad Lands are formed. In the Chambal basin such lands are called ravines.
38. What is sheet erosion and contour ploughing? a) When water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope, top soil is washed away. It
is known as sheet erosion.
b) Ploughing along the contour lines is known as contour ploughing. It is a method of controlling soil erosion.
39. Suggest a few measures of controlling soil erosion. 递 递 珓ɞ⥔〣Ǖ33.I递 递 珓ɞ⥔〣Ǖ䚖 䚖 輘ff퍊뷴ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ 踜䩌 ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ굺쪊 굺 ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ棼붎ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ⚜曼 萒 纶麲 麲ЉЉЉЉЉЉ虬胒ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ䩌쟚 分㨮 ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ䚖ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ ЉЉ梲놸ЉЉЉЉЉЉ궦⬠ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ殖酄烈ޤЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ仄쭊ЉЉЉ ЉЉЉЉЉ엢麲Љ⽾ 谈얒 ЉЉЉЉЉᏤ맸챔翖寢꾢ЉЉЉЉЉЉ鱐湞麲ЉЉЉЉЉЉ ЉЉ躬麲ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ 䚖㎆ЉЉЉЉЉЉЉЉ⬀ﭲ ⬀ Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines is known as contour
Ploughing, which reduces the flow of water. (hilly areas) b) Terrace farming: It restricts soil erosion in hilly areas.
c) Strip Cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops.
a) Shelter belts and planting thorny bushes: : Planting lines of trees reduce wind
force and stream flow. Planting of thorny bushes help stabilize sand dunes in the desert areas.
40. Explain the six major land use categories of our country along with the changes that have occurred recently. Total area of land in India is 3.28 million sq.km., but only 93 % is available for use. i) Net sown area : In 1960-61 its share was 45.26% which has decreased to 43.41% in 2002-03. It has decreased due to using of agricultural land for other purposes. ii) Forest : Its share was 18.11% in 1960-61 and it has increased to 22.57% in 2002-03. It has increased due to massive afforestation and government policies.
iii) Area under non agricultural use: Its share in 1960-61 was 4.95% and it has increased to 7.92% in 2002-03.
iv) Permanent pastures and grazing land: Its share in 1960-61 was 4.47% and it is reduced to 3.45 % in 2002-03. This shows tremendous pressure of livestock population on agricultural land.
v) Culturable Waste: Its share was 6.23% in 1960-61 which has reduced to 4.41% in 2002-03. The reduction in this category is mainly due to its conversion into net sown area. vi) Fallow Land : The share of the current fallow land was 3.73% in 1960-61, which has
been increased to 7.03% in 2002-03. Fallow other than current fallow has increased from 3.50 to 3.82.
41. How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources? i) It was primarily the higher level of technological development of the colonizing
supremacy over the colonies.
ii) Technical development led to mechanization and over exploitation of resources. Economic development led to invention of modern machineries which accelerated over exploitation of resources.
iii) Economic development increases the standard of living of the people. It helps them to enjoy a number of facilities and use more resources.
42. Prove by giving examples that the pattern of net sown area varies greatly from one state to another.
Net sown area in Punjab and Haryana is over 80 % and in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur and Andaman and Nicobar Islands it is less than 10 %
43. What is the importance of resources ? Why is it necessary to conserve them? Resources are vital for any developmental activity. Economic development of a country is depended on the availability of resources.
Resources are in limited quantity. Most of them are non renewable. Irrational consumption and over-utilization of resources may lead to socio-economic and environmental problems. To overcome these problems, resource conservation at various levels is important. It helps in the sustainable development. It helps to conserve the resource for the future generation. It also helps in avoiding wastages and preventing pollution.
Additional Questions:
01. Draw a neat diagram showing the soil profile.02. On what grounds are soils classified? i. Soils are classified based on colour, thickness, texture, age, chemical and physical
properties.
03. What is the main purpose of resources? ( to satisfy basic needs of mankind) 04. Which mineral is mined in the Indian Ocean? (Manganese nodules)
05. What is the ill effect of accumulation of resources in few hands? (The society will be divided in to rich and poor)
06. What was the aim of Rio de Janeiro Summit?(Achieve global sustainable development) 07. Name four ecological crisis: global warming, ozone layer depletion, environmental pollution and land degradation.
08. What were the two aims of first earth summit? (Environmental protection and economic development)
09. Name two river valleys in South India where black soil is found. ( Godavari valley and Krishna valley)
10. What do you mean by Deccan trap? It is the plateau formed by deposition of Basalt lava. 11. Why are yellow soils yellow in colour? (Due to the presence of iron in hydrated form) 12. Despite enormous potential solar power is not developed in Rajasthan and Gujarat. Why ? ( Due to lack of technology and demand)
13. When and where was the first international earth submit held? It was held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1992
14. What is meant by Agenda 21?
i) It was the declaration signed by the world leaders in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, which took place at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 1992.
ii) It was an agenda to combat environmental damage , poverty, diseases through global cooperation on common interests mutual needs and shared responsibilities in the 21st C.
iii) One major objective of the Agenda 21 is that every local government should draw its own local Agenda 21.
15. Name any two books that advocate resource conservation.
‘Small is beautiful’ written by Schumacher and ‘Our Common future’ 16. Name any two types of piedmont plains where alluvial soil is found. Duars, Chos and Terai. ( any two)
Chapter 3 WATER RESOURCES 1. How does water become a renewable resource? Explain.
Fresh water is obtained from surface water and ground water. It is continuously renewed and recharged through the hydrological cycle. All water moves in the hydrological cycle and ensures that water is a renewable resource.
2.
How does water threaten human welfare? Or Why is it necessary to conserve water resources? Give reasons.a)
Scarcity of water: Due to high population, increasing urbanization and rising standard of living, there is a growing scarcity of water felt all over India.b)
Use of degraded water: In many areas, people are forced to drink and use polluted water which causes various water borne diseases.c) Lowering the water table: Increased use of tube wells in recent years has lowered the water table and has caused depletion of underground water resources.
d)
Inadequate supply water for irrigation; Two third of the cropped area in India is still rainfed , which is uncertain and irregular which affects agriculture.3.
What are the causes of growing water scarcity in India ?i.
Variation in the annual rainfall: The rainfall in India is unequally distributed. The desert areas of Rajasthan receive less than 20 cm of annual rainfall and hence is drought prone.ii.
Rapidly growing population: A large population needs more water not only for domestic use but also for production of more food.iii.
Over exploitation of water resources: For more food production, water resources are over exploited which leads to its scarcity.iv.
Industrialization and urbanization: Industries require a lot of water for processing and as a cleaning agent. Much of the energy for industrial use is obtained from hydro electricity. Urbanization changes the life style of people and demand of water increases. It leads to water scarcity.4.
What are the quantitative and qualitative aspects of water scarcity in India?i.
Quantitative aspects: A large part of India is facing the problem of shortage of fresh water. Variation in the annual rainfall makes these areas drought prone. Rising population, makes the situation worse.ii.
Qualitative aspects: A number of villages and cities in India are facing the problem of pure drinking water. Water in these areas is polluted due to domestic and industrial wastes, chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers.Dams would integrate development of agriculture and the village economy with rapid industrialization and growth of the urban economy. Therefore, Jawaharlal Nehru proclaimed the dams as the ‘temples of modern India.
6. Why are dams now referred as multipurpose projects? Dams are now used for number of purposes at a time. They are
a) Flood control b ) Irrigation c) Navigation d ) Electricity e) Soil conservation and preservation of wildlife through afforestation
f)Tourism or recreation (F.I.N.E.S.T. ) Hence they are called multipurpose projects. (Explain points)
7. Why do the dams in India come under great scrutiny and opposition? ( What are the arguments against large dams?)
i.
Regulating and damming of river water affect their natural flow causing poor sediment flow and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the reservoirs, resulting in rockier streambeds and poorer habitat for the river’s aquatic life.ii. Dams prevent the migration and spawning of aquatic fauna.
iii.
Construction of dams leads to submergence of land and vegetation leading to its decomposition over a period of time.iv.
It leads to loss of livelihood to many tribal and village people and find it difficult to rehabilitate them.v.
Dams did create conflicts between people wanting different uses and benefits from the same water. In Gujarat the Sabarmati-basin farmers agitated against the higher priority given to water supply in urban areas particularly during drought.vi.
Inter-state dispute also becoming common over sharing the cost and benefit of multi purpose river valley projects. (Give example)8. Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi purpose river valley projects. ( Explain the above two answers)
9.
What is meant by rainwater harvesting? Mention a few traditional techniques of rain water harvesting.i.
It is a technique of increasing the recharge of ground water by capturing and storing rainwater.ii.
Roof top rainwater harvesting was commonly practiced to store drinking water particularly in Rajasthan.iii. In the flood plain of Bengal, people developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields.
iv.
In arid and semi arid regions of Rajasthan agricultural fields were converted into rain fed storage structures that allowed the water to stand and moisten the soil.i
Almost all the houses in these regions had traditional underground tank or ‘tankas’ for storing drinking water. ( Define the term Tanka)ii The tanks could be as large as a big room.
iii
The tanks were part of the well-developed roof top rainwater harvesting system and were built inside the main house or courtyard. They were connected to the slopping roofs of the houses through a pipe.iv
The rainwater, falling on the roof would travel down through the pipe and is stored in the underground tanks.11. Describe how modern adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods are being carried out to conserve and store water.
i
Today in western Rajasthan the practice of roof top rainwater harvesting is declined due to availability of ample supply of water from the Rajasthan canal.ii
In Gendathur, a remote village in Mysore, nearly 200 houses have installed roof top rain water harvesting system.iii
In Tamil Nadu, the roof top rainwater harvesting structure is made compulsory to all houses across the state. There are legal provisions to punish the defaulters.iv
In some areas, the ground water is recharged through hand pumps or using abandoned wells.12. Name any two social movements against multi purpose river valley projects.
i. ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ ii. ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’ These resistance movements are started against large scale displacement of local communities.
13. Who are the people benefited by multi purpose river valley projects? i. Land owners and large farmers. ii. Industrialists and a few urban centres. 14. How does river valley projects transform social landscape? Give an example.
i. River valley projects increase the social gap between the richer landlords and land less poor. ii. It creates conflicts between people wanting different uses and benefits from the same water resources.
iii. In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were agitated and almost caused a riot over the higher priority given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts.
15. What is the Krishna Godavari dispute raised by the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh Governments?
It is regarding the diversion of more water at Koyna by the Maharashtra Government for a multi purpose project. This would reduce down stream flow in their states with adverse consequences for agriculture and industry.
16. Prove by giving examples that river valley projects fail to achieve the purpose for which they were built.
i. The dams were constructed to control floods but it has triggered floods due to sedimentation in the reservoir and due to dam failure. Release of water from dams during heavy rains aggravated the flood situation in Maharashtra and Gujarat in 2006
ii. Multi purpose projects induced earthquakes, caused waterborne diseases and pollution resulting from excessive use of water.
17. What is the ecological consequence of irrigation and changing of cropping pattern? Salinization of soils.
18. Name two structures built to harvest water in hilly areas. Guls, Kuls. 19. Name two water harvesting system in Rajasthan. Khadins- and Johads.
20. What is meant by hydraulic cycle? Movement of water in different forms from ocean to atmosphere and from atmosphere to ocean.
21. Define the term ‘matkas’.
These are the earthen pots used by Rajasthan women for collecting and storing water. 22. Why did the Sabarmati basin farmers agitate and almost cause a riot in Gujarat?
It was over the higher priority given to water supply in urban areas
CHAPTER- 4 AGRICULTURE
1. ‘India is an agricultural country. ' Comment. Or Why is agricultural development a precondition for our national prosperity? Or What is the importance of agriculture in
India?
1) India is an agricultural country. Nearly two-third of its population depends directly on agriculture for its livelihood.
2) Agriculture is the mainstay of India's economy. It accounts for 26 % of the Gross Domestic Product.
3) Agriculture provides 10 % of our total exports and a source of fodder for animals. 4) Its share in providing employment and livelihood to the population is 63 per cent in 2001.
2. Define the term agriculture.
The term agriculture is derived from two Latin words 'ager' meaning land and 'cultur' meaning cultivation. Agriculture thus means land cultivation. However, it includes animal husbandry, forestry, horticulture and pisiculture.
3. State any two reasons for the change in the methods of cultivation. i. Change in the physical environment
ii. Change in the technological know-how
iii. Change in the socio cultural practices. (Explain)
4. Differentiate between net sown area and gross cropped area.
1) The total land cultivated in a year is called net sown area. The net sown area and the land in the net sown area cultivated more than once together make gross cultivated area.
2) The net sown area in India at the present is 143 million hectares. It is about 46.6 % of the total geographical area.
5. Mention in brief, the various limitations from which the Indian agriculture suffers presently. (Drawback of Indian agriculture)
I. Agriculture is not generating sufficient employment opportunities in the country. The growth rate in agriculture is decelerating which is an alarming situation.
II. Today, Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition and our government is going ahead with reduction in the public investment in agriculture sector particularly in irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanization.
III. Subsidy on fertilizers is decreased leading to increase in the cost of production. Moreover, reduction in import duties on agricultural products have proved detrimental to agriculture in the country.
IV. Farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in the employment in agriculture.
6. What is primitive subsistence farming? Why do majority of Indian farmers follow it?
i. Subsistence farming is the cultivation of crops for domestic use and not for sale. It is practiced in small patches of land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, digging sticks and family labour.
ii. This type of farming depends on monsoon, natural fertility of the soil and suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown.
iii. Majority of Indian farmers practise subsistence farming because they have scattered land holdings and they use only primitive tools.
iv. They are poor farmers and they can't use fertilizers and machinery. Facilities like electricity and irrigation are not available to them.
7. Name any two local names of primitive subsistence farming.
i. It is Jhumming in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. ii. In Manipur it is Pamlou.
iii. It is Dipa in Bastar districts of Chattisgarh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. What is shifting agriculture? What are its features?
a) Shifting agriculture is the old type of agriculture. In this system, forestland is cleared to cultivate. Crops are grown for two or three years. When the fertility is reduced the farmers move to another area to cultivate by clearing forests again. It allows the land to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes.
b) Dry paddy, maize, and vegetables are grown in this farming. The per- hectare yield is low. It is, other wise known as ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.
Features:
a) It is a subsistence type of agriculture. c) The rotation of field is practiced. d) Simple implements are used.
e) Per capita or the per-hectare production is low.
f) It is practiced in the region of low density of population
9. What is intensive subsistence farming? Why do the farmers follow this type of farming?
i. It is a type of farming practiced in the areas of high population pressure on land. It is a labour intensive farming, where high dozes of bio-chemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining high production.
ii. The farmers follow this type because their holding of land is very small due to continuous family partition and the ‘right of inheritance’ and the absence of alternative sources of livelihood.
10. What is commercial farming? What are its characteristics?
It is the type of farming practised mainly for sale. So they produce more than what they require for domestic consumption. Plantation agriculture is an example of commercial farming. Its characteristics are the following:
i. Modern inputs like High Yielding Varieties of seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides are used.
ii. The yield per hectare or productivity is very high.
iii. It is a mechanized farming system in which modern machinery is used. iv. Irrigation facilities are available to this farming technique.
11. What are the features of plantation agriculture?
Plantation agriculture is bush or tree farming. The British introduced it in the 19th Century. Its
features are the following:
1) It is a single crop farming in a large area. It includes tea, coffee, cocoa, spices, coconut, apples, grapes, oranges etc.
2) It is a capital-intensive agriculture and requires good managerial ability.
3) It requires technical know-how, sophisticated machinery, fertilizes, irrigation and transport facilities.
4) It is normally developed in hilly areas of northeastern India, Nilgiri, Aanamalai and Cardamom hills.
5) Since the production is on large quantity processing factory also is built with in or close to it.
6) All the produce is used as raw material in respective industries and has an interface of agriculture and industry.
12. What are the factors that play an important role in the development of plantations?
i. A well-developed network of transport and communication system is an important factor since the plantation agriculture is market-oriented.
ii. Processing industries with in the estate and the technical know-how play an important role in its development.
13. Which are the different crop seasons in India?
i. Kharif Crop season: The ' Kharif ' season starts with the onset of monsoon and continues till the beginning of winter i.e. from June – July to September -October. Crops like rice, maize, millet, cotton, groundnut, moong, urad etc. are grown in Kharif season.
ii. Rabi Crop Season: Rabi season starts in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June. Crops such as wheat, barley, grain, linseed, rapeseed and mustard seeds are grown in rabi season.
iii. Zaid season: It is a crop season between Rabi and Kharif seasons practised during the end of summer in March to May. Crops like watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, and fodder crops are grown during this period.
14. State any two reasons for the success of rabi crops in wheat producing areas.
i. Availability of precipitation during winter months due to western temperate cyclones helps the growth of these crops.
ii. The success of Green Revolution in Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan helped a lot in the growth of rabi crops.
15. Why is the extension of green revolution necessary in India?
( Growing population and declining trend of food production- for food security- For making use of abundant natural gas to manufacture fertilizers- to have a favourable land use pattern and to increase the net sown area) .(Explain points)
16. Name an important staple crop of India and the regions where it is produced. Or Describe the temperature and rainfall conditions necessary for the growth of rice. Name the major areas of rice production. Or What are the features of rice cultivation in India?
Rice is the most important staple crop in India. It is a tropical plant. It requires high temperature and high humidity for its successful growth. The mean monthly temperature of about 25°C, with minor variations during, sowing, growing and harvesting seasons, is ideal for its cultivation. It grows well in areas of 100 cm of rainfall. In the areas of less rainfall, it is grown with the help of irrigation. The most important rice producing areas are Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu ( BUPAT)
17. Into how many heads can we group the varieties of crops conveniently?
(Cereals, pulses, oilseeds, fibre crops, beverage crops and cash crops. (Give examples.)
18. Describe the temperature and rainfall conditions necessary for the growth of wheat. Name the major areas of wheat production.
India is the second largest producer of wheat after China. It is a rabi crop.
The ideal temperature at the time of sowing wheat is 10 to 15° C and at the time of harvest, it is 20 to 25° C.
The crop grows well in areas where rainfall is 50 to 75 cm. It requires well-drained fertile lands. This crop requires cool growing season and a bright sunshine at the time of ripening. It grows well in two wheat growing zones in India viz. the Ganga Satluj plains in the north-west and the black soil region in the Deccan.
The major areas of wheat cultivation is Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar. (PHURB)
19. What are millets? Why are millets a very important food crop in India? a) Millets are the third most important food crops in India, after rice and wheat.
Jowar, bajra and ragi are some of the important millets grown in India. They have high nutritional value. Ragi is rich in iron, calcium and other micro nutrients.
b) Jowar is produced in many states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
c) Rajasthan is the largest producer of Bajra. It is also produced in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.
d) Ragi is produced mainly in the drier parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
e) Rice and Wheat cannot provide the total food of India. So millets are important to support the food requirements.
20. State the importance of ragi crop in India.
i. It belongs to the millet group. Rice and Wheat cannot provide the total food for India. Therefore, millets are important to support the food requirements.
ii. Ragi has a high nutritional value. Ragi is rich in iron, calcium and other micronutrients. iii. It is a crop of dry region and grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy, and shallow black soils. iv. Karnataka is the largest producer of ragi followed by Tamil Nadu.
21. Describe the characteristics of maize and its cultivation. (a) Maize is a coarse grain and used as both food and fodder. (b) It is grown under varied soil and climatic conditions.
(c) It grows well in areas of 50 to 100cm of rain and in areas of less rain it is grown under irrigation.
(d) It grows well under temperature between 21 and 27°C and grows well in old alluvial soil. (e) It requires well-drained fertile soil.
(f) It is cultivated mainly as a kharif crop.
(g) Major maize producing states are Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh(KUMBA)
22. Describe the importance of pulses as a food crop and its cultivation. State any two important pulses and mention the states producing it.
(a) Pulses are the major sources of protein in a vegetarian diet.
(b) These are grown all over the country except the areas of heavy rainfall.
(c) Pulses like Tur, Arhar and Urad are kharif crops and Moong and Masur, Peas and Gram are rabi crops.
(d) Plants of pulses help in restoring fertility of the soil and hence they are grown in rotation with other crops.
(e) Two important pulses are Gram and Tur. Gram is produced in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan(MUR) and Tur is produced in Maharashtra, UttarPradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh(MUKAM).
23. What is the importance of oil seeds in India? Describe any one and its distribution. (a) Oil seeds are used to make vegetable oil, which is an important item of Indian food. (b) Oil cake, the residue after oil is extracted from the seeds, is an important cattle feed. (c) India is the largest producer of oil seeds in the world.
The major oil seeds are the following:
(a) Groundnut: It accounts for about half of the major oil seeds produced in the country.
It is a kharif crop.Its major producers are Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.(TG.KAM).
The other oil seeds are Sesamum, Rapeseed and Mustard seed and Lin seed:
24. Name an important beverage crop and specify the geographical conditions required for its
growth.
Tea is an important beverage crop in India.
(1) Tea cultivation in India is a classic example of plantation agriculture. It is a tropical as well as a sub-tropical plant.
(2)Tea grows well in deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter. (3) It requires warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year.
(4) It is a labour intensive crop and requires cheap and skilled labour.
(5)The ideal temperature for its growth is 20 to 30°C and annual rainfall of 150 to 300 cm. (6) High humidity is good for the rapid development of tender leaves.
Major tea producing states are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
25. What is the importance of rubber production as a cash crop? (1) Rubber is produced from the latex of a number of different species of rubber tree.
(2) It is used for manufacture of a number of industrial products like tyres and tubes. (3)India is the fifth major rubber producing country in the world.
(4) About 97% of the country’s demand for natural rubber is met from domestic production. (5) The tree requires moist and humid climate with rainfall more than 200cm. and temperature above 25°C.
(6) Kerala produces about nine-tenth of the total production of rubber. The other rubber producing states are Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam and Tripura.
( Write the temperature and rainfall conditions required for rubber cultivation. Explain point 5) 26. Which are the important fibre crops in India. Mention the major producing areas of any two
crops.
i) Cotton, Jute, Silk and Wool are the important fibre crops of India. Cotton is grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas.
ii) It requires at least 210 frost-free days. It is grown well in black and alluvial soils.
iii) It requires 6 to 8 months to mature and it is a kharif crop. It requires a lot of cheap and efficient labour at the time of plucking of cotton balls. At the time of harvest, the weather should be fine to maintain the luster of cotton.
iv) The main cotton producing states are Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
a) Jute is a crop of hot and humid climate. The crop takes 8 to 10 months to mature. b) The fibre is obtained from the retting of the plant.
c) It is used in making bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artifacts. d) It is produced in Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam, and Meghalaya.
27. How have the technological and institutional reforms been able to improve the conditions of Indian agriculture? Explain with suitable examples.
Technological Reforms.
a) Modern machineries are used in agriculture for ploughing, sowing, harvesting and thrashing.
b) Indian farmers have started to use chemical fertilizers on a large scale.
c) High Yielding Varieties and early maturing quality seeds have been introduced to increase the agricultural production.
d) Irrigation facilities have improved with the constructions of canals and the introduction of motor pumps, drip irrigation and use of sprinklers.
Institutional Reforms . ( Enlist the various institutional reform programmes introduced by the Government in the interest of farmers.
a) The govt. abolished the Zamindari system to protect the interest of the farmers. b) The Govt. encouraged the consolidation of smallholdings of land to make them more profitable.
c) The widespread use of radio and television acquainted farmers in new and improved techniques of cultivation.
d) The crop insurance against drought, flood, fire, cyclone and diseases was another set up to protect the farmers in new and improved techniques of cultivation.
e) Easy availability of capital or investment, through a well-knit network of rural banking like ‘Grammen banks’ was introduced.
f) Special bulletins for farmers were introduced in T.V. and radios to take precautionary measures.
g) Minimum support price for various crops is introduced to remove uncertainty of prices and sales.
h) Issue of Kissan Credit Cards and introduction of Personal Accident Insurance Scheme are some other measures taken.
28. Suggest the initiative taken by the Government to ensure the increase in the agricultural production.
i. The Government of India started a number of agricultural reforms to improve Indian agriculture in the 1960s and 1970s. The Green revolution based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution were some of the strategies adopted.
ii. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Agricultural Universities, Veterinary services, Horticulture Department, research and development in the field of meteorology and weather forecast were given priority to modernize agriculture and to improve it.
iii. Comprehensive land development programmes, which included the institutional and technological reforms, were introduced in 1980s and 1990s.
iv. ( add relevant points from answer 27 )
29. The land under cultivation has been reduced day by day. What are its consequences?
i. It affects the food security in India. There will be acute shortage of food grains in India since the population is increasing.
ii. A major part of our foreign exchange will have to be spent for importing food grains. iii. Majority of the population in India will have to find alternate occupation since
agricultural activity is declining.
iv. It affects the dependent cattle population in India and even affects the ecological balance.
30. Explain any four features of the comprehensive land development programmes initiated in our country during 1980s and 1990s. i. Comprehensive land development programmes, which included the institutional and
technological reforms, were introduced in 1980s and 1990s.
ii. The widespread use of radio and television acquainted farmers with new and improved techniques of cultivation.
iii. The crop insurance against drought, flood, fire, cyclone and diseases was another schemes to protect the farmers against crop failures.
iv. Easy availability of capital or investment through a well-knit network of rural banking like ‘Grammen banks’ were introduced.
v. Special bulletins for farmers were introduced in T.V. and radios to make precautionary measures and to get the farmers acquainted with modern techniques of farming.
vi. Issue of Kissan Credit Cards and introduction of Personal Accident Insurance Scheme are some other measures taken.
vii. The government also announced minimum support price for important crops to check the exploitation of farmers by speculators and intermediaries. (any four)
32. Name a commercial crop of Punjab and Haryana, which is a subsistence crop in Orissa.
Ans: Rice
33. Name any two types of paddy grown in Assam, West Bengal and Orissa. Ans: Aus, Aman and Boro.
34. Name the inputs in commercial farming.
(HYV seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, irrigation, modern technology) 35. What are the challenges faced by India farmers today?
i. Today Indian Farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition and our government is going ahead with reduction in public investment in agriculture sector particularly in irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanization.
ii. Subsidy on fertilizers is decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.
iii. More over reduction in import duties on agricultural products have proved detrimental to agriculture in the country.
iv. Farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in the employment in agriculture.
36. Why is the declining share of agriculture in the GDP a matter of serious concern? Because any decline and stagnation in agriculture will lead to a decline in other spheres of the economy having wider implications for society.
CHAPTER-5- MINERALS AND ENERGY RESOURCES 1. What are minerals? What is its importance?
i) Minerals are natural chemical compounds uniform in composition and structure and are constituents of rocks and ores.
ii) These are homogenous, naturally occurring substance with a definable internal structure. iii) These are formed through various geological processes taking place in the earth.
iv) Minerals are naturally found in solid, liquid and gaseous states ranging from the hardest diamond to the softest talc.
iii) Minerals are one of the most important resources of a country. It provides sound base for economic and industrial development.
Importance:
a) Minerals are indispensable part of our lives. Almost everything that we use, from a tiny pin to a towering building or a big ship, all are made from minerals.
b) The railway lines and the pavements of the roads, our implements and machinery too are made of minerals.
c) Cars , buses, trains, aeroplanes are manufactured from minerals and run on power resources derived from the earth.
d) Even the food that we eat contains minerals. In the stages of development, human beings use minerals for their livelihood, decoration, festivals and religious and ceremonial rites. 2. What are the properties of minerals?
i. Minerals are in wide range of colours, hardness, crystal forms, luster and density, because, these are formed from, a certain combination of elements depends upon the physical and chemical conditions under which the material forms.
ii. Minerals are naturally found in solid, liquid and gaseous states ranging from the hardest diamond to the softest talc. (any other points from answer 1)
3. What are the different types of formations of minerals? OR Where do different forms of minerals generally occur?
i. In igneous and metamorphic rocks, minerals occur in the cracks, crevices, faults or joints. The smaller occurrences are called VEINS and the larger are called LODES. They are
formed when minerals in molten and gaseous forms are forced upward through cavities towards the earth’s surface. They cool and solidify as they rise.
ii. In sedimentary rocks, a number of minerals occur in beds or layers. They have been formed as a result of deposition, accumulation, and concentration in horizontal strata. Coal and some forms of iron ore have been concentrated as a result of great pressure for a long period. Another group of sedimentary minerals is gypsum, potash salt and sodium salt. These are formed as a result of evaporation especially in arid regions.
iii. Another mode of formation involves the decomposition of surface rock, and the removal of soluble constituents, leaving a residual mass of weathered material containing ores. Bauxite is formed this way.
iv. Certain minerals may occur as alluvial deposits in sands of valley floors and the base of hills. These deposits are called ‘placer deposits’ and generally contain minerals which are not corroded by water. Gold, silver, tin and platinum are most important among such minerals.
v. The ocean water contains vast quantities of minerals, but most of these are too widely diffused to be of economic significance. However, common salt, magnesium and bromine are largely derived from ocean waters. The ocean beds too are rich in manganese nodules.
4. How are minerals formed in igneous and metamorphic rocks? (Ans. Point i above) 5. Describe the diversity in the distribution of mineral resources in India. State an important reason for this diversity.
i. The peninsular rocks contain most of the reserves of coal, metallic minerals, mica and many other non metallic minerals.
ii. Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern sides of the peninsula in Gujarat and Assam have most of the petroleum deposits.
iii. Rajasthan has reserves of many non-ferrous minerals.
iv. These variations exist because of the difference in the geological structure, processes and time involved in the formation of minerals.
6. Distinguish between ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
i. Ferrous metals are those metals, which have iron content in it where as non-ferrous metals do not have iron content in it.
ii. Normally ferrous metals are available in plenty whereas non ferrous metals are available in limited quantity.
iii. Iron ore, manganese ore, chromate, pyrite, tungsten, nickel, and cobalt are some examples of ferrous metals. Copper , bauxite, lead, zinc, and gold are examples of non ferrous metals.
iv. Ferrous minerals provide a strong base for the development of metallurgical industries. Non ferrous minerals play an important role in a number of metallurgical, engineering and electrical industries.
i. Orissa Jharkhand belt: High-grade hematite ore is found in Badampahar mines in the Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts of Orissa. It is found in Gua and Noamundi mines of Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand too.
ii. Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt in Chhatisgarh: Very high-grade hematite is found in the Bailadila range of hills in the Bastar district of Chhatisgarh. It is found in Durg and Dantewara districts of Chhatisgarh.
iii. Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikmaglur-Tumkur belt in Karnataka: It has the largest reserves of iron ore. The Kudremukh mines located in the Western Ghats of Karnataka are known to be one of the largest in the world.
iv. Maharashtra –Goa belt: The iron ore of the North Goa district of Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra are not of high quality, yet they are efficiently exploited.
8. Differentiate between magnetite and hematite.
These are the two important types of iron ores. Magnetite is the finest iron ore with a very high content of iron up to 70 %. It has excellent magnetic qualities and is valuable in the electrical industry. Hematite is the most important industrial iron ore in terms of quantity used. It has a lower content of iron from 50 to 60 %.
9. What are the uses of manganese as a mineral? Name any two states producing manganese ores.
i. Manganese is used in the manufacturing of steel and ferro-manganese alloy. It is also used in manufacturing bleaching powder, insecticides, and paints.
ii. Orissa is the largest producer of manganese ores in India. It accounted for one-third of the country’s production in 2001.
10. State any two uses of copper. Name the states where it is produced. i. Copper is used in electrical cables, electronics and chemical industries.
ii. The Balaghat mines in Madhya Pradesh produce 52 % of copper .Copper is produced in Singbhum district of Jharkhand and Khetri mines in Rajasthan.
11. What are the advantages of bauxite as a metal ore? Where is it found?
i. Bauxite is the ore from which aluminium is obtained. Aluminium is a light metal used in manufacture of airplanes, utensils and other household goods.
ii. Aluminium is an important metal because it combines the strength of metals like iron with extreme lightness and with good conductivity and malleability.
iii. Orissa is the largest bauxite producing state with 45 % of the country’s total production in 2001. Panchpatmali in Koraput district is the important bauxite producing centre in Orissa.
12. What are the properties of mica as a mineral? What are its uses? Where is it found? i. Mica is made up of a series of thin plates or leaves.
ii. Mica has insulating properties and has the quality to withstand high voltage and temperature. Hence it is used in electrical and electronic industries
iv. Mica is found in northern edge of Chotanagpur plateau. Koderma Gaya – Hazaribagh belt of Jharkhand is the leading producer of mica. Ajmer in Rajasthan and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh are the other areas, producing mica.
13. Name an important rock mineral. What are its uses? Where is it found?
Limestone is an important rock mineral. It is found in association with rocks composed of calcium carbonates or calcium or magnesium carbonates. It is found in sedimentary rocks of most geological formations. It is used as a raw material in cement industry . It is used in the blast furnace in the smelting of iron ore. It is produced in Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
14. Why is conservation of minerals necessary? Suggest a few measures to conserve minerals.
i. The total volume of workable mineral deposits is only one per cent of the earth crust. We are rapidly consuming mineral resources that requires millions of years to be created and concentrated. The rate of replenishment is very slow but the rate of consumption is very fast. So conservation is necessary.
ii. Mineral resources are finite and non-renewable. Rich mineral deposits are short-lived possessions. So conservation is necessary.
iii. Continued extraction of minerals leads to increasing costs as it comes from greater depths along with decrease in quality. Therefore, we have to conserve it.
Measures:
a) A concerted effort has to be made in order to use our mineral resources in a planned and sustainable manner.
b) Improved technologies need to be constantly evolved to allow use of low-grade ores at low costs.
c) Recycling of metals, using scrap metals and other substitutes are steps in conserving it for future.
15. What is the significance of energy resources?
Energy is an indispensable requirement in modern life. It may be manual or animal and mechanical or electrical. Availability of energy is a pre-requisite of modern economic activities. Economic development of a country depends on the energy sources available in a country. It is needed to cook, to provide light and heat, to run vehicles and to drive machineries in industries.
16. How are the sources of energy categorized? The sources of energy are classified into two:
(a) Conventional source of energy:
These are the sources of energy, which have been in use for a long time. Coal Petroleum, natural gas, and thermal and hydro electricity are conventional sources of energy. These are non-renewable sources of energy.
(b) Non-conventional source of energy:
These are the new sources of energy developed recently. Solar, wind, tidal, geothermal, biogas and atomic energy are non-conventional source of energy. These are renewable sources of energy.
17. Name the two common sources of energy in rural areas. Why is its use discouraged? Firewood and cattle dung are the common sources of energy in rural areas. About 70 % of energy requirements in rural areas is met by these two.
Since forest area is decreasing, the use of firewood is discouraged to prevent further decreasing of forests. The use of cattle dung is discouraged because it consumes most valuable manure which could be used in agriculture.
18. How is coal formed? What is its use?
a) Coal is formed due to the compression of plant material over millions of years. It is found in a variety of forms depending on the degrees of compression, depth, and time of burial. It is found in sedimentary rocks beneath the earth’s surface.
b) Coal is the main source of power in India. It is used for power generation, to supply energy to industries as well as domestic needs.
c) It is also used as a raw material in chemical industries. It is used in Iron and steel industries as a raw material to reduce its temper. Coal is so useful that it is called ‘black gold’.
19. What are the four different types of coal? (Black gold) Write its characteristics. (a) Anthracite is the best quality coal. It is hard black and compact.
(b) Bituminous is the most popular coal for commercial use. High grade bituminous coal is the metallurgical coal which has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces. (c) Lignite is a low-grade brown coal, which is soft with high moisture content and is used for generating electricity.
(d) Peat has low carbon and high moisture content and low heating capacity. It burns like wood and gives more smoke and less heat.
20. Differentiate between peat and bituminous.
i. Peat has low carbon and high moisture content where as bituminous has high carbon and low moisture content.
ii. Peat has low heating capacity. It burns like wood and gives more smoke and less heat where as bituminous has high heating capacity, it gives more heat and less smoke.
iii. Peat is not widely used where as bituminous is the most popular coal for commercial use. High grade bituminous coal is the metallurgical coal which has a special value for smelting iron in blast furnaces.
21. Name the main rock series of geological ages where coal occurs in India. Or ( Name the main rock series of coal found in India)
a. Gondwana coal, a little over 200 million years in age , is found in Damodar valley in West Bengal and Jharkhand.
b. Tertiary coal, only about 55 million years old, is found in north-eastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland.
22. State the importance of petroleum production in India. Where does it occur in the rock formations?
i. Petroleum is the second major energy source after coal.
ii. It provides fuel for heating and lighting, lubricants for machineries and raw materials for a number of manufacturing industries.
iii. Petroleum refineries act as a nodal industry for synthetic textile, fertilizer and a numerous chemical industries.
