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All questions of India - People and Economy for UPSC CSE Exam

In the world, India is one of the
  • a)
    most urbanised.
  • b)
    least urbanised.
  • c)
    moderately urbanised.
  • d)
    most industrialised.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Gayatri Yadav answered
Level of urbanization increased from 27.81% in 2001 Census to 31.16% in 2011 Census. According to the UN the year 2007 witnessed the turning point when more than 50% of the world population were living in cities, for the first time in human history.

Average density of population in India, according to 2011 census, was
  • a)
    210
  • b)
    300
  • c)
    500
  • d)
    382
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Rajesh Gupta answered
- Density of population, is expressed as number of persons per unit area.
- It helps in getting a better understanding of the spatial distribution of population in relation to land.
- The density of population in India (2011) was 382 people per square kilometer and ranks third among the most densely populated countries of Asia following Bangladesh (1203 people per square kilometer in 2013) and Japan (350 people per square kilometer in 2011). There has been a steady increase of more than 200 people per square kilometer over the last 50 years as the density of population increased from 117 people per square kilometer.

The highest density of population, among the states of India, is found in
  • a)
    U.P.
  • b)
    Bihar.
  • c)
    Delhi. 
  • d)
    Punjab.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohit Jain answered
- The records of population density 2011 of India state that the density 2011 has increased from a figure of 324 to that of 382 per square kilometer.
- Bihar is the most thickly populated state (1106 persons/sq km.) followed by west bengal-1028 and Kerala 860.

Scattered settlements are found in
  • a)
    Bangladesh.
  • b)
    Japan.
  • c)
    Australia.
  • d)
    India.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

As the pressure of population is low; thus, man land ratio is very high, people live in large houses.

Where does Indira Gandhi Canal originate from?
  • a)
    Harike barrage
  • b)
    Bhakra nangal
  • c)
    Kosi barrage
  • d)
    Gobind sagar dam
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohit Jain answered
The correct option is A.
Aim of this ambitious project is to irrigate the thirsty desert land of Western Rajasthan with Himalaya's water and provide drinking water to crores of inhabitants of this area. Origin of this canal is from Harike barrage situated in Punjab. From Harike, 204 Km. long Indira Gandhi Feeder off-takes, which has 170 Km.

The highest number of tribes is found in
  • a)
    Goa.
  • b)
    Madhya Pradesh.
  • c)
    Mizoram.
  • d)
    Assam.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

The population of Scheduled Tribals (ST) in Madhya Pradesh is 20.27% ( 12.23 million); according to the 2001 census. Mizoram  (94.5%) has the highest proportion of Scheduled Tribes.

Migration out of the country and into the country from the other countries is called
  • a)
    national migration.
  • b)
    internal migration.
  • c)
    international migration.
  • d)
    foreign migration.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Preethi Sen answered
Migration out of the country and into the country from the other countries is called international migration. Migration within the country is called internal migration.

Which is the main reason for the male migration in India:?
  • a)
    Education
  • b)
    Business
  • c)
    Employment
  • d)
    Marriage
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Akshita Saha answered
Male migration in India is due to work and employment whereas the female population migrates mainly because of marriage.

Demographic factors that affect the distribution of population are
  • a)
    fertility rate.
  • b)
    plain areas.
  • c)
    religion.
  • d)
    industries.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Divya Mishra answered
An uneven spatial distribution of population in India suggests a close relationship between population and physical, socioeconomic and historical factors. Fertility rate, mortality rate and migration are the demographic factors that affect the distribution of population.

The state in India which has the highest concentration of Buddhists and Jains is
  • a)
    Gujarat.
  • b)
    Madhya Pradesh.
  • c)
    Maharashtra.
  • d)
    Rajasthan.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

The largest concentration of Buddhism is in Maharashtra (58.3%), where (73.4%) of the total Buddhists in India reside. The percentage of Jain population to the total population is maximum in Maharashtra (1.3%), Rajasthan (1.2%), Delhi (1.1%) and Gujarat (1.0%).

After Hinduism, which religion in India has the maximum followers?
  • a)
    Sikhism
  • b)
    Buddhism
  • c)
    Islam
  • d)
    Jainism
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Prerna Nair answered
The religious groups of India include Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Zoroastrians, tribal and other indigenous faiths and beliefs. After Hinduism, Islam has the maximum followers in India.

A factor of low growth rate of population in India is
  • a)
    fall in death rate.
  • b)
    fall in birth rate.
  • c)
    fall in infant mortality rate.
  • d)
    increase in life expectancy.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Kunal Ghoshal answered
India's population growth rate was 1.2%, in 2013. The growth rate of population in India has been caused by annual birth rate, death rate and rate of migration.

A non- ferrous mineral is
  • a)
    iron ore.
  • b)
    copper.
  • c)
    manganese.
  • d)
    chromite.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Ferrous minerals contain a large percentage of the iron content. Non-ferrous minerals do not. Bauxite, copper, gold, lead, zinc, aluminium are some examples of non-ferrous minerals.

The Indian State/UT with highest density of population, according to 2011 census?
  • a)
    West Bengal
  • b)
    Kerala
  • c)
    Uttar Pradesh
  • d)
    Delhi
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Kavya Khanna answered
The National Capital Region area of Delhi possesses the highest of the population density 2011 among the states of India having a statistics of 11,297 per square kilometre.

The body managing Indian air ports is
  • a)
    Indian Air Port Authority.
  • b)
    Airport Authority of India.
  • c)
    Airport Managing Committee.
  • d)
    Indian Airways Authority.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Ishani Gupta answered
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) was formed on 1st April 1995 by merging the International Airports Authority of India and the National Airports Authority with a view to accelerate the integrated development, expansion and modernization of the operational, terminal and cargo facilities at the airports in the country conforming to international standards.

The richest mineral belt in India is the
  • a)
    north-eastern plateaus.
  • b)
    south-western plateaus.
  • c)
    north-western region.
  • d)
    Himalayan region.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Aryan Chavan answered
The Chhotanagpur plateau is indeed the single richest mineral belt of India. Also, it is one of the richest mineral containing area in the whole world. Chhotanagpur plateau has frequently been called the Ruhr of India after a similar mineral-rich area of that name (Ruhr) in Germany. Coal, iron ore, limestone bauxite and copper are the principle products of this belt.

Which one of the following is not included in HDI?
  • a)
    Longevity of life
  • b)
    Knowledge base
  • c)
    Standard of life
  • d)
    Economic activities
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Sparsh Malik answered
Human development includes living a long and healthy life, to be educated and have access to resources needed for a decent standard of living. These are considered important aspects of human development.

Surface water is
  • a)
    pure.
  • b)
    impure.
  • c)
    salty.
  • d)
    brackish.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Rohit Jain answered
Surface water available from rivers, canals, lakes, etc., is never pure. It contains small quantities of suspended particles, organic and inorganic substances.

In India scattered settlements are found in :
  • a)
    Himachal Pradesh
  • b)
    Uttar Pradesh
  • c)
    Tamil Nadu
  • d)
    Punjab
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Soumya Bose answered
Hilly topography and uneven terrain is the major reason responsible for scattered settlement in Himachal Pradesh.

Acid rain is caused due to
  • a)
    air pollution.
  • b)
    water pollution.
  • c)
    land pollution.
  • d)
    noise pollution.
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Kunal Verma answered
Air pollution can also cause acid rains. It is caused by airborne acidic pollutants and has highly destructive results.

Irrigation in Stage-I command area of the canal was introduced in
  • a)
    1966
  • b)
    1960
  • c)
    1972
  • d)
    1963
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Harsh Roy answered
Irrigation in Stage-I command area of the canal was introduced in early 1960s, whereas, the command area of Stage-II began receiving irrigation in mid-1980s.

The largest slum of Asia is
  • a)
    Kalkaji.
  • b)
    Dharavi.
  • c)
    Fujiyama.
  • d)
    Atambo.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Dharavi, in Mumbai (India) is the largest and highly populated slum area in Asia, with 1 million people.

Which is the state with the largest concentration of Christians in India?
  • a)
    Goa
  • b)
    Gujarat
  • c)
    Kerala
  • d)
    Karnataka
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Anisha Chopra answered
Chistians are mostly concentrated inrural areas of Kerala, Goa and in the hills of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and Chotanagpur area.

Which of the following statements accurately describes the difference between the area under actual forest cover and the area classified as forest in land revenue records?
  • a)
    Actual forest cover is always larger than the designated forest area.
  • b)
    The designated forest area can increase without a corresponding increase in actual forest cover.
  • c)
    Actual forest cover and designated forest area are always the same.
  • d)
    The government does not classify any land as forest unless it has actual trees.
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Nandita Joshi answered
Understanding Actual Forest Cover vs. Designated Forest Area
The distinction between actual forest cover and designated forest area is crucial for environmental management and policy-making.
Actual Forest Cover
- Refers to the land area currently covered by trees and forest vegetation.
- It can fluctuate due to natural factors (like wildfires or pests) and human activities (like deforestation or reforestation).
Designated Forest Area
- This is the area classified as forest in land revenue records, which may include regions that do not have significant tree cover.
- It is a legal designation and may not accurately reflect the ecological state of the land.
Why Option B is Correct
- The designated forest area can indeed increase without a corresponding increase in actual forest cover.
- This may occur due to policy changes or administrative decisions that reclassify land as forest, even if the land remains devoid of trees.
- For example, a government may designate an area as forest for conservation purposes, even if it is barren or has been cleared for agriculture.
Other Options Explained
- Option A is incorrect: Actual forest cover can be less than the designated forest area due to degradation.
- Option C is false: Actual forest cover and designated forest area often differ significantly.
- Option D is misleading: Land can be classified as forest even without mature trees present, based on legal definitions rather than ecological status.
Conclusion
Understanding these differences is essential for effective forest management and conservation strategies. It highlights the importance of accurate assessments of forest cover versus legal classifications.

Source of water pollution is
  • a)
    growing of crops.
  • b)
    use of pesticides and fertilisers.
  • c)
    combustion of coal.
  • d)
    urban run-off.
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

Soumya Bose answered
Sources of water pollution are sewage disposal, urban run-off, toxic effluents from industries, run-off over cultivated lands and nuclear power plants.

Of the total surface water available, the northern plains have
  • a)
    60%
  • b)
    61%
  • c)
    59%
  • d)
    55%
Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Arjun Ghoshal answered
The north India has highest surface water in the form of rivers etc. because the rivers of north India are perenial in nature. They are snow-fed rivers of Himalayas. Rainfall is also high in the catchment area of these rivers.

Which of the following states has the lowest female literacy rate in India?
  • a)
    Jammu and Kashmir
  • b)
    Arunachal Pradesh
  • c)
    Rajasthan
  • d)
    Bihar
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

According to Census 2011, Kerala has the highest total literacy rate and female literacy rate whereas Lakshadweep had the highest male literacy rate. Bihar has the lowest total literacy rate and male literacy rates while Rajasthan has the lowest female literacy rate.

There is no Scheduled caste population in:
  • a)
    Mizoram
  • b)
    Nagaland
  • c)
    Manipur
  • d)
    Assam
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?

Nidhi Solanki answered
Correct answer is option B.
Nagaland along with Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep Islands have no Scheduled Castes.
Among UTs Delhi has the maximum number of Scheduled Castes.

The total number of Indian states with high proportion of irrigated area is
  • a)
    6.
  • b)
    7.
  • c)
    8.
  • d)
    9.
Correct answer is option 'C'. Can you explain this answer?

Arnab Gupta answered
The areas with more than 40 percent of net irrigated area are called areas of high proportion of irrigated area. Punjab with 91% is at top followed by Haryana with 85%.

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