Rabindranath World School

W-10/3120, DLF Phase III, Gurgaon (HR)

Geography-X
Chapter 1 : Resources and Development

1. What are biotic and abiotic resources, Give some examples.

OR
Classify resources on the basis of origin. Explain them in brief along with examples.
Ans. On the basis of origin, resources can be classified into biotic and abiotic resources.
Biotic resources are substances obtained from living beings. They include flora, i.e.,
vegetation, fauna, i.e., birds, fishes, domestic and wild life as well as human beings. Everything
within the biosphere, which has some utility for man, is a biotic resource.
Abiotic resources are composed of non-living substances. They include air, water, land or soil,
rocks and minerals in the earth’s crust. They occur as solid, liquid or gaseous materials on the
earth and its atmosphere
2. What does the term ‘sustainable economic development’ mean? How can we eradicate irrational
consumption and over-utilisation of resources?
Ans. Sustainable economic development means ‘development should take place without
damaging the environment’ and development in the present should not compromise with the
needs of the future generations.
We can eradicate irrational consumption and over-utilisation of resources through conservation
of resources. Irrational consumption and over-exploitation of resources lead to many
socioeconomic and environmental problems. To overcome these problems and to preserve
resources for our future generation as well, proper management and conservation of resources
is essential
3. Describe the importance of judicious use of resources.
Answer:
The importance of judicious use of resources are:
1. Indiscriminate use of resources has led to an environmental and ecological crisis.
Therefore, planning is the widely accepted strategy for judicious use of resources.
2. Most of the resources are non-renewable, if exhausted, they take thousands of years to
renew.
3. Resources are available only in limited quantity which is essential for any developmental
activity. Their unavailability can lead to socio-economic problems in the world.
4. Classify resources on the basis of exhaustibility. Write examples.
Answer:
Resources can be classified into two types on the basis of exhaustibility:
1. Renewable resources: The resources which can be renewed or reproduced by physical,
chemical or mechanical processes are known as renewable resources: For example, solar and
wind energy, water, forests and wildlife, etc.
2. Non-Renewable resources: These occur over a very long geological time. Minerals and
fossil fuels are examples of such resources. These resources take millions of years in their
formation. Some of the recourses like metals are recyclable and some like fossil fuels cannot be
recycled and get exhausted with their use.
5. Why is it essential to have resource planning? Explain any three reasons
Answer:
 1. Resource planning is essential for the sustainable existence of all forms of life.
2. Resource planning is essential for India as there is enormous diversity in the availability
of resources.
3. There are some regions which can be considered self sufficient in terms of the
availability of resources and there are some regions which have an acute shortage of some vital
resources. For example, the state of Rajasthan is very well endowed with solar and wind energy
but lacks in water resources.
6. "In India, some regions are rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other
resources". Do you agree with the statement? Support your answer with any three examples.
Answer:
Yes, India has enormous diversity in the availability of resources. There are regions which are
rich in certain types of resources but are deficient in some other resources. There are some
regions which can be considered self sufficient in terms of the availability of resources and there
are some regions which have an acute shortage of some vital resources.
1. Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh are rich in minerals and coal deposits.
2. Arunachal Pradesh has an abundance of water resources but lacks in infrastructural
development.
3. Rajasthan is endowed with solar and wind energy but lacks in water resources.
4. Ladakh has a rich cultural heritage but lacks in water resources, infrastructure and
minerals.
7. Which is the main cause of land degradation in Gujarat, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh? How
can it be checked? Explain.
Answer:
1. Main Cause: Large scale overgrazing has caused severe land degradation.
2. Measures to check include:
1. Afforestation and proper management of grazing.
2. It is important to rejuvenate the grazing areas especially permanent pastures and forest
grazing lands. It should be done in a scientific manner.
3. Grazers should also be forced to make optimal use of renewable natural resources.
8. Mention any two human activities which are responsible for the process of soil erosion. Explain
the two types of soil erosion mostly observed in India?
Answer:
1. Two human activities which are responsible for the process of soil erosion are
deforestation and overgrazing.
2. Types of Soil Erosion
1. Sheet erosion: Water flows as a sheet over large areas down a slope. The top soil is
washed away. This process is known as sheet erosion. Sheet erosion is harmful since it removes
the finer and more fertile top soil.
2. Gully erosion: When soil is removed by water flowing along definite paths downs the
slope or in channels, it is called gully erosion. Gullies cut up agricultural land and make it unfit
for cultivation. Badland is a region with a large number of deep gullies or ravines, e.g.,
Chambal Valley in Madhya Pradesh.
9. What is sustainable economic development? Suggest any two ways in which resources can be
used judiciously.
Answer:
Sustainable economic development means development should take place without damaging the
environment so that the developmental process in the present should not compromise with the
needs of future generations. Two ways in which resources can be used judiciously are
1. Resource planning: Resource planning refers to the strategy for planned and judicious
 utilisation of resources. Resource planning is essential to bring about sustainable existence
which is a part of sustainable development.
2. Resource conservation: It is the ethical use and protection of valuable resources such as
trees, minerals, wildlife, water and others. It focuses on maintaining the natural world in order
to protect the sources of resources.
10. What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in hilly areas?
Answer:
Methods of soil conservation:
1. Contour ploughing: Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water
down the slopes.
2. Terrace cultivation or cutting of steps around the slopes to provide land for agriculture
also checks the downhill flow of water and controls soil erosion, e.g., as in Western and Central
Himalayan region.
3. Strip cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow
between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind.
4. Shelterbelt plantation: Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar
way. Rows of such trees are called shelterbelts.
5. Indiscriminate grazing by cattle, especially sheep and goat including the nomadic herds,
are the major causes for soil erosion in hilly areas. It is, therefore, necessary that the pastures
and grasslands in hilly regions should properly be managed for maximum fodder production
and effective erosion control by way of improving their fertility.
11. Distinguish between red soil and laterite soil stating any three points of distinction.
Answer:
S.no. Red soil Laterite soil
Red soil develops on crystalline igneous rocks Laterite soil develops in areas with high
1.
in areas of low rainfall. temperature and heavy rainfall.
Red soil is found in parts of Odisha and
Laterite soil is mainly found in Karnataka,
Chhattisgarh, southern part of the middle of
2. Kerala and the hilly areas of Odisha and
Ganga plain and along the piedmont zone of
Assam.
the Western Ghats.
The laterite soil is formed under conditions
This type of soil is formed as a result of
of high temperature and heavy rainfall with
3. weathering of metamorphic and igneous
alternate wet and dry periods, which leads
rocks.
to leaching of soil
12. Which is the most widely spread and important soil of India? State any six characteristics
of this type of soil.
Ans. Alluvial soil is the most fertile, widely spread and important soil of India.
The six main characteristics of this soil type are :
(i) Alluvial soil is riverine soil, transported and deposited by rivers. So they are also called
transported soil.
(ii) Alluvial soil consists of various proportions of sand, silt and clay. They are coarse in upper
reaches of the river valley and finest at the deltas.
(iii) Alluvial is very fertile and regions with alluvial soil are agriculturally most productive and
densely populated.
(iv) They mostly contain adequate proportion of potash, phosphoric acid and lime.
(v) According to their age alluvial soil is divided into new alluvium or khadar which is fine,
sandy and fertile and older alluvium or bangar which is clayey, dark in colour, contains
 kankar nodules and is less fertile.
(vi) Alluvial soil forms the Northern Plains. The soil has been deposited by the three great
Himalayan river systems – the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra. They are also found
in the Eastern Coastal Plains, mainly in the deltas of the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the
Krishna and the Kaveri rivers.
This rich soil is ideal for growth of paddy, wheat, sugarcane and other cereals and pulses.

Chapter 2: Forest and Wildlife Resources

1. Define (i) ecosystem or ecological system (ii) flora and fauna.
Ans. (i) Ecosystem or Ecological system : The complex interactions, interrelationships and
interdependencies between living organisms form an ecosystem or ecological system. No
living organism, plant, animal, micro-organism or human can live in complete isolation.
They all depend upon their immediate physical surrounding or habitat for their survival.
In the process, they interact with other living organisms and are interdependent on each
other. These interrelationships create an ecosystem.
(ii) Flora and Fauna : The plant life of a region is termed as flora and the animal life is
termed as fauna. Example, Mangifera indica or mango tree is a natural flora, and tiger, the
national animal of India is example of fauna
2. Differentiate between endemic species and rare species. Give examples.
Ans. Endemic species are found in some particular areas, usually isolated by natural or geographical
barriers, for example islands. The examples of birds and animals belonging to such species are the
Andaman teal, Andaman wild pig, Nicobar pigeon and mithun in Arunachal Pradesh.
Uncommon species which are seldom found are called rare species. These species are small in number
and are found scattered in some distant areas because their number have depleted due to negative
factors. The small population of rare species may soon fall in the category of endangered or vulnerable
species if the negative factors are not controlled. The examples of rare species are the Himalayan brown
bear, wild Asiatic buffalo, desert fox, hornbill, etc.
3. Write any three measures to conserve ecosystem?
Ans. Three measures to conserve ecosystem are the following :
(i) Forest should be reserved and more and trees should be planted across the region especially in
those areas where deforestation takes place.
(ii) Wildlife must be protected by enacting laws and creating awareness among people.
(iii) Starting various projects to save endangered species of plants and wildlife.
4. How many types of forest are classified in India ? Explain it.
OR
Write briefly about different categories of forests in India classified by government department.
Ans. Forests are classified under the following categories :-
(i) Reserved Forests :- More than half of the total forests are declared as Reserved forests. They are
maintained for the production of timber and other forest produce and for protective reasons.
(ii) Protected Forests :- Almost one-third of the total forest area is Protected forests. This forest land is
protected from any further depletion.
(iii) Unclassed Forests :- These are other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and
private individuals and communities.
5. Give three reasons why we need to save the biodiversity of our planet?
Ans. We must conserve or save biodiversity of our planet because :—
(i) If forests are not saved, whole wildlife will be under threat; they form an important part
of food cycle which will be disturbed.
(ii) Biological loss is directly correlated with the loss of cultural diversity. Such loss
marginalised and impoverished many tribal and forest people.
(iii) Women are most affected by loss of biodiversity as in many societies they collect food and
 fuel, fodder, water etc,.
6. What has been the contribution of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act in protecting habitats in
India. Explain.
Ans. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented in 1972, with various provisions for
protecting habitats. An all-India list of protected species was also published. The thrust of the
programme was towards protecting the remaining population of certain endangered species by
bauring hunting, giving legal protection to their habitats, and restricting trade in wildlife.
Subsequently cental and many state governments established national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries. The central government also announced several projects for protecting specific
animals, which were gravely threatened, including tiger, one-harved rhinceerous, the hangul
and three types of crocodiles. Many other wild animals have been given full or partial legal
protection against hunting and trade throughout India
7. Write any three effective practices towards conserving forests and wildlife.
OR
Describe the methods of forest conservation.
Ans. (i) Through setting up of National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in this way special regions can be
declared legally the homes of wild animals. In those areas no hunting or cutting of forest can take place.
(ii) By Launching Specific Projects like Project Tiger etc. In this way important species whose life is in
danger can be protected
(iii) Bringing together Communities with government Projects this is the most effective way to conserve
forest and wildlife. Chipko movement, Beej Bachao movement and Bishnoi’s love for black buck are
some examples.
8. Why was the Project Tiger launched? What are its objectives? What are its effects upon
conservation of wildlife?
Ans. Tiger is one of the key wildlife species in the faunal web. In 1973, government authorities
realised that the tiger population had dwindled to 1827 from an estimated 55,000 at the turn
of the century. The major threat to tiger population include poaching for trade, shrinking
habitat, depletion of prey based species, growing human population and deforestation. Among
these poaching for trade of skins and bones is the primary reason behind dwindling of tiger
population to such an extent, that it is on the verge of extinction.
Since India and Nepal provide habitat to about two-thirds of the surviving tiger population in
the world, these two countries became prime targets for poaching of tiger and illegal trading.
Thus, the central government announced the Project Tiger with the objective of protecting this
species which was gravely threatened.
‘Project Tiger’ one of the well-publicised wildlife campaign in the world, was launched in
India in 1973.
The objectives of Project Tiger are as follows :
(i) Banning hunting and poaching of tiger.
(ii) Restricting trade of tiger skin, bones. etc.
(iii) Giving legal protection to their habitats by creating tiger reserves, e.g., Corbett National
Park in Uttarakhand and Sunderbans in West Bengal. There are 27 tiger reserves in India
covering an area of 37,761 sq. km.
Forest and Wildlife Resources
(iv) To increase the tiger population through natural breeding within the reserves.
(v) To conduct periodic censuses of tiger population.
Initially the Project Tiger showed success as the tiger population rose to 4002 in 1985
and 4334 in 1989. But in 1993, the population of the tiger had dropped to 3600. Presently,
their number has further dwindled at an alarming figure.
Tiger conservatin has been viewed not only as an effort to save an endangered species,
 but with equal importance as a means of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude
9. Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India.
Ans. Indian forests are home to some of the traditional communities who are dependent on
forests for their livelihood. These local communities are struggling to conserve forests along
with government officials in some areas and in many areas, villagers themselves are protecting
habitats and explicitly rejecting government involvement. In Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan,
villagers have fought against mining and destruction of forest by citing the Wildlife Protection
Act. The inhabitants of five villages in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have declared 1,200
hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav ‘Sonchuri’, enforcing their own set of rules and
regulations, They donot allow hunting, and are protecting the wildlife against any outside
encroachments. On account of nature worship prevalent mainly among the tribals, several
virgin forests have been preserved in their pristine form as ‘Sacred Groves’. The Bishnois of
Rajasthan are well known for protecting black bucks (chinkara), an New Wave Social Science–X
(Term 1) endangered species, and herds of black buck, nilgai and peacocks can be seen as an
integral part of the community and nobody harms them. The famous Chipko Movement in the
Himalayas led by local communities, especially women, successfully resisted deforestation in
several areas. They have also shown that community afforestation with indigenous species can
be enormously successful. Traditional conservation methods are revived through the Beej
Bachao Andolan in Tehri and Navdanya. The Joint Forest Management programme furnishes a
good example for involving local communities in management and restoration of degraded
Forests
Chapter 3 : Water Resources
1. Explain the working of underground tanks as a part of roof top rainwater harvesting system
practised in Rajasthan.
Answer:
1. In semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, almost all the houses traditionally had
underground tanks for storing drinking water.
2. The tanks could be as large as a big room; one household in Phalodi had a tank that was
6.1 metres deep, 4.27 metres long and 2.44 metres wide.
3. The tankas were part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system and
were built inside the main house or
the courtyard.
4. They were connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe.
5. Rain falling on the rooftops would travel down the pipe and was stored in these
underground ‘tankas’.
2. Describe any three traditional methods of rainwater harvesting adopted in different parts of
India.
Answer:
1. In hilly and mountainous regions, people build diversion channels like 'gul' or 'kul' in
Western Himalaya for agriculture.
2. Rainwater harvesting is a technology used to collect, convey and store rain for later use
from relatively clean surfaces such as a roof, land surface or rock catchment. Roof-top
rainwater harvesting was commonly practised to store drinking water, particularly in Rajasthan
and Gujarat.
3. In West Bengal, people develop inundation channels to irrigate their fields
4. In semi-arid regions, agricultural fields are converted into rainfed storage structures
that allow the water to stand and moisten the soil like the ‘khadins’ in Jaisalmer and ‘Johads’ in
other parts of Rajasthan.
3. Mention any four main objectives of multipurpose river valley projects. Name any two
Multipurpose Projects of India.
Answer:
Four main objectives of multipurpose river valley projects are:
1. Control floods and supply water during a drought.
2. Provide irrigation facilities.
3. Generate electricity.
4. Supply water for domestic and industrial uses.
Two Multipurpose Projects of India are:
1. Chambal Valley Project.
2. Bhakra Nangal Dam.
4. In recent years, multipurpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny and
opposition. Explain why.
Answer:
In recent years, multipurpose projects and large dams have come under great scrutiny and
opposition for a variety of reasons.
1. Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow. River’s diversion and
barricading due to the building of dams affect migration and spawning of aquatic life.
2. The reservoirs lead to decomposition of soil and land degradation.
3. The dams have triggered floods due to sedimentation in the reservoir and release of
excess water during heavy rains.
4. Large-scale displacement of local communities, local people who give up their land for
the projects hardly receive any benefit.
5. Reservoirs greatly influence the landscape of the river valleys, including the proportion
of land to water area as well as the drainage network pattern. Changes in the landscape are
also a result of changes in soils, vegetative cover and wildlife.
6. Multi-purpose projects and large dams have also been the cause of many new
environmental movements like the ‘Narmada Bachao Andolan’ and the ‘Tehri Dam Andolan’
etc.
5. Water is available in abundance in India even then scarcity of water is experienced in major
parts of the country. Explain the reasons.
Answer:
1. India receives 114 cm rainfall annually and it is far less than Israel, which receives only
25 cm rainfall annually.
2. Israel does not face the problem of water scarcity, but our country is facing this problem
every year. The reason is that we are unable to manage and conserve rainwater.
3. The availability of water resources varies over space and time, mainly due to the
variations in seasonal and annual precipitation, but water scarcity is most cases is caused by
over exploitation, excessive use and unequal access to water among different social groups.
4. Once Cherrapunji was famous because it received the highest rainfall in world. Today
this area faces an acute water shortage. This is a consequence of extensive deforestation and no
efforts towards rainwater harvesting.
6. Explain any three causes for water scarcity in most parts of India.
Answer:
Reasons for rising in the scarcity of water are:
1. The fast-growing population has increased the demand for water used for drinking and
domestic purposes.
2. The rising demand for food and cash crops require a large amount of water for
agriculture.
 3. Water pollution is one of the main causes. There are many sources, for example,
pesticides and fertilizers that wash away from human waste or industrial waste and pollute the
groundwater. This process makes the water unusable.
4. Industrialization has been increased and industrial processes require large amounts of
water.

7. Explain any five reasons for water pollution in India.

Answer:
The five reasons for water pollution in India are as follows:
1. Industries discharge various chemicals and hazardous waste into water sources such as
lakes, ponds, and canals without treating them. All these industrial wastes are toxic to life forms
that consume this water.
2. Agriculture: Modern agricultural practices use chemicals in form of fertilizers,
pesticides, and herbicides which flow into rivers or seep into groundwater. Intensive and ever
increasing usage of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides and other chemicals is adding a
new dimension to such pollution.
3. Households: Man uses water for drinking, preparation of food, bathing, for cleaning the
house, etc. Most of the used water is drained out through municipal drains and poured into a
river or lake.
4. Offshore drilling and oil spills Exploring for oil and gas under the sea bed, involves
some risks to the marine environment. The consequences of the oil spill are of great
environmental concern.
5. Religious faith and social practices also add to the pollution of our river waters.
Carcasses of cattle and other animals are disposed of in the rivers. Dead bodies are cremated
on the river banks. Partially burnt bodies are also flung into the river. All this is done as a
matter of religious faith and in keeping with ancient rituals. These practices pollute the river
water and adversely affect water quality
8. List any three advantages and three disadvantages of multipurpose river project.
Answer:
Advantages:
1. These are the main source of power generation.
2. They provide us neat, pollution free and cheapest energy which is the backbone of
industry and agriculture.
3. These projects control the floods because water can be stored in them. These projects
have converted many, "rivers of sorrows" into rivers of boon'.
Disadvantages:
1. Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow causing poor sediment flow
and excessive sedimentation at the bottom of the
reservoir, resulting in rockier stream beds and poorer habitats for the rivers’ aquatic life.
2. Dams also fragment rivers making it difficult for aquatic fauna to migrate, especially for
spawning.
3. The reservoirs that are created on the floodplains also submerge the existing vegetation
and soil leading to its decomposition over a period of time.
9. Explain any three reasons responsible for water scarcity in India?
Answer:
1. The problem has been compounded with increased concretization due to urban
development that has choked groundwater resources. Water is neither being recharged nor
stored in ways that optimize its use while retaining the natural ingredients of water. In addition,
the entry of sewage and industrial waste into water bodies is severely shrinking the availability
 of potable water.
2. A large population means more water to produce more food. Hence, to facilitate higher
food-grain production, water resources are being overexploited to expand irrigated areas for
dry-season agriculture.
3. Most farmers have their own wells and tubewell in their farms for irrigation to increase
their production. But it may lead to falling groundwater levels, adversely affecting water
availability and food security of the people. Thus, in spite of abundant water, there is water
scarcity.
10. What is Bamboo Drip Irrigation? Mention any two features of it.
Answer:
Bamboo Drip Irrigation system is a 200 years old system of tapping stream and spring water by
using bamboo pipe and transporting water from higher to lower regions through gravity.
Bamboo drip irrigation system is practiced in Meghalaya.
Features:
1. 18-20 liters of water enters the bamboo pipe system, get transported over hundreds of
meters and finally reduces to 20-80 drops per minute at the site of the plant.
2. The flow of water into the pipes is controlled by manipulating the pipe positions. The
channel sections, made of bamboo, divert water to the plant site where it is distributed into
branches.
Chapter 4 : Agriculture
1. Write down the features of commercial farming.
Answer:
Some features of commercial farming are
1. In commercial Farming crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in the market,
that is, forcommercial purposes
2. use of higher doses of modern inputs, e.g. high yielding variety seeds, chemical
fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides in order to obtain higher productivity.
3. It requires a lot of expenditure.
4. It uses hired labour and employ modernized methods of farming.
5. The degree of commercialization of agriculture varies from region to another.
6. For example, rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, but in Orissa it is
subsistence farming.
7. Plantation is also a type of commercial farming.

2. Explain any five technological and institutional reforms in Indian agriculture.

Answer:
Institutional reforms are:
1. Collectivization: Collectivization was to consolidate individual land and labour into
collective farms.
2. Consolidation of holdings: It means the redistribution of all or any of the lands in an
estate or sub-division of an estate so as to reduce the number of plots.
3. Abolition of zamindari: The Zamindari Abolition Act, 1950, was one of the first major
agrarian reforms of the Government of India after the independence in 1947. It helps the
farmers to come out from the big of Low standard living, poverty and exploitation by the
Moneylenders, Landlords and intermediaries.
Technological reforms are:
1. Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire, diseases and the
 establishment of Grameen banks, Cooperative societies and banks for providing loans.
2. Issuing of Kisan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme, etc.
3. Why is agriculture called the backbone of the Indian economy? Explain.
Answer:
Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy because:
1. In India, about 5% of people were engaged in the agriculture sector in 2010-2011.
2. Near about 70 percent of the population in India is dependent on agriculture for its
livelihood.
3. It provides raw materials to industries. Cotton, Jute, Sugar, Vanaspati industries and
plantations depend on agriculture directly and also the cottage industries like handloom
weaving, oil crushing, rice husking and such depend upon agriculture for raw materials.
4. It helps in earning foreign exchange for the country through export of agricultural
produce. Agricultural products like tea, sugar, oil seeds, tobacco, spices, etc., constitute the
main items of export in India.
5. The proportion of agricultural goods which are exported amount to 50% of total Indian
exports and manufactured goods with agricultural content contribute to another 20% and the
total comes to 70% of India’s exports.
6. Agriculture is a primary activity, which produces most of the food that we consume for
our teeming population.

4. Describe any three institutional reforms taken by the Indian Government in the field of
agriculture.
Answer:
The institutional reforms made in the field of agriculture are:
1. Collectivization: Collectivization is to consolidate individual land and labour into
collective farms.
2. Consolidation of holdings: It means the redistribution of all or any of the lands in an
estate or sub-division of an estate so as to reduce the number of plots.
3. Abolition of zamindari: The first most important agrarian reform after independence
was the abolition of the Zamindari system. It helps the farmers to come out from the big of Low
standard living, poverty and exploitation by the Moneylenders, Landlords and intermediaries.
5. Which crop is known as the golden fibre? Explain any two geographical conditions essential for
the cultivation of this crop. Mention its any four uses.
Answer:
Jute is called golden fibre for its colour and high cash value in India. It is a Kharif crop and is
sown in March-April on lowlands and in May-June on uplands.
The two major geographical conditions essential for the cultivation of this crop are as under:
1. It grows well in the drained fertile soil of the flood plains where the soil is renewed every
year.
2. It requires a high temperature during the time of growth. Monthly average temperature
to the extent of 26° celsius is ideal.
3. Among major regions of jute production, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Odisha and
Meghalaya are important.
Uses:
1. It is used in making carry bags, carpets, ropes, yarn and other artefacts etc.
2. Its stick is also used for fuel in the rural belt.
3. It is cropped for commercial purpose which earns a livelihood for the farmer.
4. Now, it is proposed to replace polythene space in India to promote the pollution-free
environment.
6. Name the important beverage crop introduced by the British in India. Explain the geographical
conditions needed.
Answer:
An important beverage crop introduced by the British in India is tea. The geographical
conditions needed for tea are as follows:
1. Tea requires 10-30°C of temperatures and above 200 cm of annual rainfall.
2. The soil should be deep and fertile, well-drained, rich in humus and organic matter.
3. Frequent showers should be evenly distributed throughout the year for the growth of
tender leaves.
4. Tea cultivation needs well-drained land. The stagnation of water is not good for tea
plants. Heavy rainfall but no stagnancy of water, such mountain slopes are good for tea
cultivation.
7. Describe the institutional and technical changes introduced in the field of agriculture in India in
the recent years.
Answer:
1. Land reforms: Collectivisation, consolidation of holdings, cooperation and abolition of
zamindari.
2. Agricultural reforms: Green revolution and the White revolution.
3. Land development programmes: Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood,
cyclone etc.
4. Establishment of Grameen Banks, Cooperative Societies and banks for providing loans.
5. Issuing of Kisan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme etc.
6. Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers on radio and TV.