The largest geographical area of India is covered by which one of the following types of soils?
- A.Inceptisols
- B.Entisols
- C.Alfisols
- D.Vertisols
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Inceptisols. In the soil classification of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, based on the USDA Soil Taxonomy, Inceptisols cover the largest share of India, close to 40 per cent of its area.
Inceptisols are young soils that have only begun to form layers (horizons). They are widespread in the Indo-Gangetic plains and many river valleys, which is why they cover so much of the country. By the ICAR classification Entisols come second at a little over a fifth of the area, followed by Alfisols and then Vertisols. Under the older Indian classification the same plains appear as alluvial soils, which are likewise the most widespread soil group.
B is wrong: Entisols, the least developed soils found on fresh alluvium and sand, rank second.
C is wrong: Alfisols, the fertile soils of humid areas, come third.
D is wrong: Vertisols, the black cotton soils of the Deccan, cover only about a tenth of India.
Exam tip: by the ICAR order, Inceptisols are first, then Entisols, Alfisols and Vertisols; by the traditional groups, alluvial soil is the largest, followed by black soil.
Practice Questions
View allWhich one of the following is a cold ocean current ?
- A.Brazilian Current
- B.Gulf Stream
- C.North Equatorial Current
- D.California Current
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It flows south along the west coast of North America, carrying cold water from higher latitudes towards the equator. As a rule, currents moving from the poles towards the equator are cold, and those moving from the equator towards the poles are warm.
Read the full explanation →Rani told her friends that last year she did boating in four different lakes, namely, Loktak, Barapani, Kolleru and Pulicat. Which of the following States did she visit?
- A.Manipur, Meghalaya, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
- B.Manipur, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
- C.Mizoram, Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
- D.Mizoram, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
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Loktak is in Manipur, Barapani in Meghalaya, Kolleru in Andhra Pradesh, and Pulicat on the Andhra Pradesh–Tamil Nadu border. Loktak is the largest freshwater lake in north-east India, famous for its floating islands of vegetation called phumdis; Keibul Lamjao, the only floating national park in the world, lies on it.
Read the full explanation →Consider the following statements on 'Fog' : 1. Fog is simply a cloud that forms close to the ground. 2. Radiation fog is associated with radiation cooling of the land at night. 3. Advection fog forms when moisture is blown over a cold surface and is chilled by contact. Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- A.1 and 2 only
- B.2 and 3 only
- C.1 and 3 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
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All three statements are correct descriptions of fog and its two main types. Fog forms when air near the ground cools to its dew point and its water vapour condenses on tiny dust and smoke particles, so it is in effect a cloud at or near ground level.
Read the full explanation →Salal Power Project is situated on which one among the following rivers?
- A.Chenab
- B.Jhelum
- C.Nubra
- D.Shyok
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The Salal hydroelectric project is a run-of-the-river project on the Chenab in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. Built and run by NHPC, Salal has an installed capacity of 690 MW and was the first project India built under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 on a western river.
Read the full explanation →India's territorial limit extends towards the sea up to
- A.10 nautical miles
- B.12 nautical miles
- C.14 nautical miles
- D.15 nautical miles
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India's territorial waters, where it has full sovereignty, extend 12 nautical miles (about 22.2 km) from the baseline of its coast.
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