UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions 2021: GS1 Geography | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: Differentiate the causes of landslides in the Himalayan region and Western Ghats. [Geography]
Ans: A landslide is characterized by the downward movement of a mass of rock, debris, or earth along a slope, representing a form of mass wasting where soil and rock move under the influence of gravity. The causes of landslides can be attributed to three primary factors: geology, morphology, and human activity.

Causes of landslides in the Himalayan region:

• Geology: The Himalayas, being young and still growing, are susceptible to natural landslides due to tectonic activity and instability caused by the upward movement of plates.
• Morphological: The steep and sharp slopes in the Himalayas contribute to the occurrence of landslides.
• Anthropogenic: Human activities such as jhum cultivation and deforestation are significant contributors to landslides in the Himalayan region.

Causes of landslides in the Western Ghats:

• Geology: The Western Ghats, being one of the most stable landmasses, have minimal geological factors influencing landslides.
• Anthropogenic: Heavy mining, deforestation for settlements, road construction, and windmill projects have led to substantial fractures in the mountains, contributing to loosening structures and landslides.

Measures for the mitigation of landslides:

• Restricting construction and developmental activities, including roads and dams, in landslide-prone areas.
• Limiting agriculture to valleys and areas with moderate slopes.
• Promoting large-scale afforestation programs and constructing bunds to reduce water flow.
• Encouraging terrace farming, especially in the north-eastern hill states where Jhumming (Slash and Burn/Shifting Cultivation) is still prevalent.

Q2: Despite India being one of the countries of Gondwanaland, its mining industry contributes much less to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in percentage. Discuss. [Geography]
Ans: Despite being a part of Gondwana land and rich in minerals like coal, iron, mica, aluminium, etc., the mining sector's contribution to India's GDP has consistently declined. Currently, the mining sector contributes only 1.75% to India's GDP, in contrast to countries like South Africa and Australia, which contribute 7.5% and 6.99%, respectively.

Reasons:

• Mining poses environmental hazards, leading to widespread opposition against almost every mining project.
• Tribal communities and Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) residing in mining zones face threats to their homes. Rehabilitation and compensation for them become significant concerns.
• The auction of mines is a state government-controlled process, creating potential ambiguity, especially when different political parties hold power at the central and state levels.
• Issues like technological advancements and the availability of inexpensive funds play a crucial role. The lack of these factors significantly hampers the growth of the mining industry.
• India has predominantly been an exporter of raw materials while importing finished products manufactured from those raw materials. The low selling prices of raw materials adversely affect GDP calculations.

Q3: What are the environmental implications of the reclamation of the water bodies into urban land use? Explain with examples [Geography]
Ans: Land reclamation involves the creation of land by either draining water from muddy areas or elevating the land's level. This method is considered a viable solution for meeting the growing demand for land, providing space for construction, agriculture, and various other purposes.

However, it is a field with significant environmental consequences:

• Ecological Damage: Transforming urban land often results in the construction of residential and commercial buildings around water bodies, leading to the degradation of water ecology and nutrient influx. The case of Dal Lake and other water bodies in Srinagar exemplifies this impact. Land reclamation can alter the seabed shape and wave patterns, causing ecosystem changes.
• Frequent Floods: Reclaiming water bodies reduces their role as natural sponges for rainfall, resulting in more frequent floods. Depletion of vegetation and the transformation of soil into concrete landscapes reduce permeability, increasing runoff. Mumbai stands out as a significant example.
• Species Extinction: Reclaiming wetlands increases Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), negatively affecting aquatic and aerial fauna.
• Pollution: In some instances, water bodies are turned into landfills, contributing to pollution. The heavy pollution of Hussainsagar Lake, for instance, carries pollutants into underground water bodies. While percolation filters some pollutants, open wells or bore wells receive certain pollutants, causing groundwater pollution.

Water bodies not only harbor diverse biodiversity but also provide crucial resources and ecosystem services such as food, water, fiber, groundwater recharge, water purification, flood moderation, storm protection, erosion control, carbon storage, and climate regulation. Therefore, their conservation is imperative.

Q4: Mention the global occurrence of volcanic eruptions in 2021 and their impact on the regional environment. [Geography]
Ans: A volcano is a fissure or opening in the Earth's surface through which magma (hot liquid and semi-liquid rock), volcanic ash, and gases are expelled. Volcanic eruptions can have various implications for the local and regional environment, including earthquakes, landslides, lahars (mudflows), ash, and thunderstorms. In 2021, notable volcanic eruptions occurred at Mount Sinabung (Indonesia), Klyuchevskoy (Kamchatka, Russia), Fournaise (Réunion), Mount Etna (Italy), and Erebus (Antarctica).

Impact of volcanic eruption on the environment:

• Formation of New Rock: Volcanic eruptions contribute to the creation of new rock on the Earth's surface.
• Climate Influence: Gases and dust particles released into the atmosphere during volcanic eruptions can impact the climate.
• Global Warming: Over millions of years, extreme volcanic activity has led to global warming by releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
• Widespread Effects: While volcanoes are localized, their effects can be more widely distributed as gases, dust, and ash enter the atmosphere.
• Seismic Activity: Increased seismic activity often precedes volcanic eruptions.
• Geographic Concentration: Most active volcanoes are found on the Circum-Pacific Belt, known as the Ring of Fire.
• Disaster Risk Resilience: While volcanoes are a natural exogenic phenomenon, developing resilience to disaster risks is a crucial step in mitigating their impact.

Q5: Why is India considered as a subcontinent? Elaborate your answer. [Geography]
Ans. The Indian subcontinent, a physiographic region in South Asia, is located on the Indian Plate and extends southward into the Indian Ocean from the Himalayas.

Geologically, the Indian subcontinent shares a connection with the landmass that separated from the supercontinent Gondwana during the Cretaceous period and fused with the Eurasian landmass approximately 55 million years ago.
Geographically, it constitutes the peninsular region in South-Central Asia, bordered by the Himalayas to the north, the Hindu Kush to the west, and the Arakanese to the east.

This natural landmass in South Asia has been relatively isolated from the rest of Eurasia. The Himalayas (spanning from the Brahmaputra River in the east to the Indus River in the west), Karakoram (from the Indus River in the east to the Yarkand River in the west), and the Hindu Kush mountains (from the Yarkand River westwards) serve as its northern boundaries. The southern, south-eastern, and south-western boundaries are formed by the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian Sea.

Furthermore, India's substantial population and its diverse array of races, religions, castes, languages, and customs give it the appearance of a small continent within the subcontinent. This diversity is largely influenced by the physical characteristics of the land itself, shaping historical events like migrations and invasions. Despite numerous differences, there exist numerous similarities in the socio-cultural-economic way of life at the fundamental level.

Q6: Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions, with examples. [Geography]
Ans: A mountain range is a series of ridges formed during the same geological era and subjected to similar processes. Their distinctive feature is a long and narrow extension.

Mountain Ranges and Their Impact:

1. Andes Mountain Range:
   • Stretches from north to south along the west coast of South America, influencing weather patterns in seven countries.
   • Acts as a barrier between the Pacific Ocean and the continent, impacting rainfall and temperatures in various regions.
2. Himalayas:
   • Extends over the northern borders of India, separating the plains from the Tibetan Plateau.
   • Plays a crucial role in shaping the climate of the Indian subcontinent by preventing frigid, dry winds from reaching the region.
3. Rockies Mountain Range:
   • Stretches from Canada to central New Mexico, causing a rain shadow effect on the leeward side.
   • Blocks rain-producing weather systems, creating dry areas on the eastern slope and foothills.
4. Great Dividing Range:
   • Runs parallel to Australia's east coast, blocking moist air from the Tasman Sea and affecting rainfall in inland regions.
5. Atlas Mountains:
   • Spans north-western Africa, acting as a weather barrier between coastal areas and the Sahara Desert.
   • Causes a rain shadow effect, reducing rainfall in areas beyond the mountains.
6. Ural Mountains:
   • Extends from the Kara Sea to the Kazakh Steppe, marking the northern border between Europe and Asia.
   • Influences weather patterns, creating variations in temperature and precipitation on different sides of the range.

The world's mountain ranges provide essential ecosystem services, including biodiversity, water resources, clean air, cultural diversity, and spiritual values. They also serve as sources of inspiration and enjoyment for millions of people.

Q7: How do the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain. [Geography]
Ans. 

Glacial Melting and Climate Change Consequences: Human activities, particularly the emission of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses since the industrial revolution, have led to the rapid melting of glaciers worldwide. This phenomenon is causing glaciers to retreat on land, calve into the sea, and contribute to various environmental challenges.

Consequences of Melting:

• The Arctic and Antarctic, acting as the world’s refrigerator, balance out global heat absorption. Melting ice and warming waters affect sea levels, salinity, and precipitation patterns.
• Global average sea levels have risen by around 7-8 inches since 1900, posing a threat to coastal cities and small islands due to increased coastal flooding and storm surges.
• Permafrost in the Arctic, holding significant amounts of methane, contributes to a greenhouse gas feedback loop. Accelerated ice loss leads to faster permafrost melting, potentially resulting in a climate catastrophe.
• The loss of ice jeopardizes the rich biodiversity in the region, as many land and sea animals depend on glaciers as their natural habitats.

Solution:

The clear solution lies in the implementation of stringent climate change mitigation policies. To save glaciers, reducing CO₂ emissions within the next ten years is crucial. Additional targeted measures may also be necessary to address the ongoing environmental challenges.

Q8: Discuss the multi-dimensional implications of uneven distribution of mineral oil in the world. [Geography]
Ans: Petroleum is not uniformly distributed worldwide, with slightly less than half of the world's proven reserves located in the Middle East (including Iran but excluding North Africa). Canada, the United States, Latin America, Africa, and the region comprising Russia, Kazakhstan, and other former Soviet Union countries follow in terms of reserves.

Implications of Uneven Distribution:

• Economic: The uneven distribution impacts the trade balance and foreign exchange reserves, leading to economic consequences like inflation for importing countries.
• Political: Historical and present conflicts often revolve around nations seeking control over resource-rich territories, contributing to geopolitical tensions. Examples include conflicts in Africa driven by the desire for diamond and oil resources and the USA's involvement in West Asian geopolitics.
• Employment & Migration: Regions with oil reserves, such as the Middle East, offer more job opportunities, leading to significant diasporas, like the large Indian community in the Middle East.
• Uneven Growth: Unequal oil distribution has resulted in disparate global growth, with increased import prices directly impacting government spending on welfare objectives.
• Energy Security: Uneven distribution creates energy insecurity in oil-deficient countries, affecting their strategic autonomy.

The uneven distribution of petroleum resources has broad implications, encompassing economic, political, employment, migration, and energy security aspects. This underscores the importance for countries like India to diversify their energy sources both in content and geography.

Q9: What are the main socio-economic implications arising out of the development of IT industries in major cities of India? [Geography]

Ans: 

Role of Information Technology in India's Economy:

Information Technology (IT) is a general-purpose technology with the potential to significantly contribute to economic growth and overall socio-economic development. In 2020, the IT industry comprised approximately 8% of India's GDP.

Concentration of IT Industries and Socio-Economic Implications:

• IT industries are primarily concentrated in major cities like Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, etc., leading to faster development in these urban centers but causing broader socio-economic implications.
• Socio-Economic Implications:
  • Uneven development and economic disparity: Major IT hubs develop faster than semi-urban and Tier I, II cities, contributing to a significant wage gap between IT workers and others.
  • Accentuating the digital divide: The hosting cities attract most developmental activities, leaving rural areas with insufficient infrastructure and hindering access to essential services, affecting socio-economic progress.
  • Increased migration and cultural change: Youth migrating to major IT cities leave their parents in rural areas, leading to a breakdown of joint family culture and the emergence of nuclear family dynamics in India.

Expanding Opportunities and Ensuring Inclusivity:

The potential for India's technology services industry to reach USD 300-350 billion in annual revenue by 2025 lies in harnessing emerging technologies such as cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity. However, investments in these technologies should be evenly distributed, establishing IT-BPO industries in North East cities and Tier 1 and 2 cities. Achieving a knowledge economy requires even and inclusive development.