UPSC Static Quiz – Geography : 16 May 2025

Solution: a)

• Assertion (A) is true. There is considerable scientific evidence and observation indicating increased intra-seasonal and inter-annual variability of the Indian Summer Monsoon, characterized by shifts in rainfall patterns, including more intense rainfall events concentrated over shorter periods and longer dry spells in between, impacting agriculture and water resources.
• Reason (R) is also true. While ENSO has traditionally been a major driver of ISMR variability (El Niño generally correlating with weaker monsoons), studies suggest this relationship might be weakening or becoming more complex. Factors like global warming altering atmospheric circulation patterns and the increasing influence of regional phenomena like the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are recognized as contributing factors to the changing characteristics and increased variability of the monsoon. The interplay of these factors makes monsoon prediction more challenging and contributes to the observed variability mentioned in (A).
• R provides a valid explanation for A.

Solution: c)

• Statement 1 is correct. Laterite soils form under conditions of high temperature and heavy seasonal rainfall with alternating wet and dry periods, leading to intense leaching. This process removes silica and bases, leaving behind concentrations of iron and aluminum oxides. These soils are typically acidic and deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter (humus).
• Statement 2 is correct. Black soils (Regur) are rich in clay (montmorillonite) and known for their moisture retentivity. Their black colour is widely attributed to the presence of fine iron compounds (like titaniferous magnetite) and humus derived from the parent basaltic rock.

Solution: a)

• Statement 1 is correct. The Duncan Passage is a strait in the Indian Ocean that separates Rutland Island (to the north, part of the Great Andaman group) from Little Andaman (to the south).
• Statement 2 is incorrect. Barren Island is indeed India’s only confirmed active volcano and is generally classified as a stratovolcano (or composite volcano). However, it is located in the Andaman Islands group, east of Middle Andaman, not in the Nicobar Islands.
• Statement 3 is incorrect. The Jarawa tribe is one of the indigenous Andamanese peoples and primarily inhabits the South Andaman and Middle Andaman Islands. The Nicobar Islands are inhabited by Nicobarese and Shompen tribes.

Solution: d)

• Statement 1 is correct. The Sundarbans, spanning West Bengal and Bangladesh, constitute the largest single block of tidal halophytic mangrove forest in the world and are famously home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, which has adapted to this unique environment.
• Statement 2 is correct. Vivipary is a characteristic reproductive strategy of many mangrove species. The embryo grows and develops while attached to the parent plant, forming a propagule before dropping into the water, which increases its chances of successful establishment in the challenging intertidal environment.
• Statement 3 is correct. Pichavaram, one of India’s significant mangrove wetlands, located in Tamil Nadu, is known for its dense mangrove cover. Species of Rhizophora (like Rhizophora mucronata), characterized by their prominent stilt or prop roots, are indeed dominant components of this ecosystem, along with other genera like Avicennia.

Solution: a)

• Assertion (A) is true. Shifting cultivation, known locally as Jhum in Northeast India, involves clearing and burning forest patches for temporary cultivation. While it’s an integral part of the culture and livelihood for many tribal communities, when practiced unsustainably (especially with shortened cycles), it is associated with deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion/degradation.
• Reason (R) is also true. Traditionally, Jhum cultivation involved long fallow periods (10-20 years or more) after cultivation, allowing sufficient time for the forest and soil fertility to recover. However, due to factors like population growth and reduced land availability, these fallow cycles have significantly shortened in many areas (sometimes to 3-5 years), preventing adequate ecological regeneration and exacerbating the negative impacts mentioned in (A).
• R provides the correct explanation for A.