Physical & Regional Geography

- Black soil in India is formed by the weathering of fissure volcanic rock. - Climatic conditions along with the parent rock material are the important factors for the formation of black soil. - Black soils are spread mostly across interior Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh on the Deccan lava plateau and the Malwa Plateau, where there is both moderate rainfall and underlying basaltic rock. Brown Forest Soil: - Develops in temperate forest regions with moderate rainfall. - It is rich in organic matter, fertile, and well-drained. Granite and Schist: - Granite is a hard, igneous rock rich in quartz and feldspar, used in construction. - Schist is a metamorphic rock with flaky layers, formed under heat and pressure. Shale and Limestone - Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock, often a source of oil and natural gas. - Limestone is a sedimentary rock rich in calcium carbonate, used in cement production.

Statement 1 is incorrect. When we consider the distribution of water on Earth, we find that the amount of water in rivers and lakes is actually less than the amount of groundwater. This is because groundwater is stored in the Earth's crust, in the pores and spaces between rocks and soil, and it accounts for a significant portion of the Earth's fresh water. On the other hand, rivers and lakes, while visible and important for many ecosystems, actually hold a relatively small amount of the Earth's total water. Statement 2 is correct. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is indeed more than the amount of groundwater. This is because these ice caps and glaciers, particularly those in Antarctica and Greenland, hold the majority of the Earth's fresh water.

Major minerals are those specified in the first schedule appended in the MMDR Act. There is no official definition for major minerals in the MMDR Act. 1. Bentonite is a minor mineral. It is used in drilling mud, foundry sand, and civil engineering applications. 2. Chromite is a major mineral. It is the only ore of chromium, essential for stainless steel and alloy manufacturing. 3. Kyanite is a major mineral. It is a refractory mineral used in ceramics and high-temperature industries. 4. Sillimanite is a major mineral. It is also a refractory mineral with applications in metallurgy and industrial furnaces. Therefore, Chromite, Kyanite and Sillimanite are major minerals, whereas Bentonite is a minor mineral. Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Option A is incorrect. Aksai Chin is located to the east of Ladakh, whereas the Siachen Glacier is situated to the northwest of it. Option B is incorrect. Leh is located to the south of the Siachen Glacier. The glacier lies in the eastern Karakoram range, far north of Leh. Option C is incorrect. Gilgit is in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which is west of the Siachen Glacier. The glacier is not located to the north of Gilgit. Option D is correct. The Siachen Glacier is located north of the Nubra Valley in the eastern Karakoram range of the Himalayas. It is the world's highest battlefield, where India maintains a military presence. Hence, option D is the correct answer

The description provided matches the requirements for cotton cultivation. - Subtropical nature and frost sensitivity: Cotton is a subtropical crop and is sensitive to frost. A hard frost can damage the cotton plants, making them unsuitable for cold regions.
- Frost-free days: Cotton requires at least 210 frost-free days, which is typical for its growth cycle. It thrives in regions with a long growing season, free from frost.
- Rainfall requirement: Cotton needs 50 to 100 cm of rainfall. The crop is drought-tolerant, but it still requires moderate rainfall for optimal growth.
- Soil type: Cotton grows best in light, well-drained soil that can retain moisture, providing the right balance for its deep root system. Cotton is the right answer. Hence, option A is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is incorrect: Jet streams occur in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. They are fast-moving air currents found at high altitudes, typically around 10-15 kilometers above the Earth's surface, and exist in both hemispheres. Statement 2 is correct: Not all cyclones develop an eye. Only certain strong cyclones, especially intense hurricanes or typhoons, develop a well-defined eye—a calm, low-pressure area at the center of the cyclone surrounded by the strongest winds. Statement 3 is incorrect: The temperature in the eye can be several degrees Celsius warmer (typically 2–10°C) than the outer regions of the storm. This warmth is due to subsiding (sinking) air in the eye, which compresses and heats up adiabatically.
Hence, option C is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is incorrect. OMT is measured up to the depth of the 26°C isotherm, but the 129-meter depth mentioned in the southwestern Indian Ocean during January-March is incorrect. The depth of the 26°C isotherm can vary depending on the region and season. Statement 2 is correct. OMT collected during January-March helps in predicting the amount of rainfall during the monsoon. It is used to assess whether rainfall will be more or less than the long-term average, as variations in OMT influence monsoon behaviour. Hence, option B is the correct answer.

Pair 1 is incorrect. The Mekong River originates in the Tibetan Plateau and flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam before emptying into the South China Sea, not the Andaman Sea. Pair 2 is incorrect. The Thames River flows entirely within England and empties into the North Sea, not the Irish Sea. Pair 3 is correct. The Volga River is the longest river in Europe. It originates in Russia and flows into the Caspian Sea. Pair 4 is correct. The Zambezi River originates in Zambia and flows through Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique before emptying into the Indian Ocean. So, the correct pairs are 3 and 4.
Hence, option C is the correct answer.

* The summer solstice is the day with the longest period of daylight and the shortest night of the year. It occurs when one of the Earth's poles has its maximum tilt toward the Sun. * On 21st June, the summer solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the longest day of the year for that hemisphere. * The Arctic Circle, which is in the Northern Hemisphere, experiences continuous daylight throughout this day. This is because the tilt of the Earth's axis is such that the North Pole is facing towards the Sun. * Therefore, the Sun does not set below the horizon at the Arctic Circle on this day.

Bandarpunch : Yamuna - This is correct. Bandarpunch is a mountain massif of the Garhwal division of the Himalayas, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is a source of the Yamuna River. Bara Shigri : Chenab - This is also correct. Bara Shigri is the second-longest glacier in the Himalayas and it feeds the Chenab River. Milam : Mandakini - This is incorrect. The Mandakini River originates from the Chorabari Glacier, not the Milam Glacier. Siachen : Nubra - This is correct. The Siachen Glacier, one of the world's longest mountain glaciers, lies in the Karakoram Range system of Kashmir and is the source for the Nubra River. Zemu : Manas - This is incorrect. The Zemu Glacier is in Sikkim and it feeds the Teesta River, not the Manas River. So, the correctly matched pairs are 1, 2, and 4.