UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions 2020: GS1 Geography | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: Discuss the geophysical characteristics of Circum-Pacific Zone. (Geography)
Ans: The Circum-Pacific Belt, commonly known as The Ring of Fire, is a region around the Pacific Ocean marked by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes.

Basic Characteristics:

• Location: An almost continuous chain of volcanoes encircles the Pacific Ocean, extending from the Aleutian Islands to the southern part of Japan, across Indonesia to the Tonga Islands and New Zealand.
• Formation: The Circum-Pacific chain of volcanoes and associated mountain ranges results from the repetitive subduction of the oceanic lithosphere beneath the continents and surrounding islands of the Pacific Ocean. The Ring of Fire is a consequence of plate tectonics involving Convergent, Divergent Plate Boundary, and Transform Plate Boundary.
• Formation of Hot Spots: The Ring of Fire houses hot spots, areas deep within the Earth's mantle where heat rises. This heat triggers the melting of rock in the upper, brittle mantle, leading to the formation of magma. The magma often pushes through crustal cracks, giving rise to volcanoes. Examples include Mount Fuji in Japan, Aleutian Islands in the US, Krakatau Island in Indonesia, and more.
• Harbors Majority of Volcanoes & Earthquakes: Approximately 75% of the world's volcanoes are situated along the Ring of Fire. It also experiences about 90% of global earthquakes, including the most intense and dramatic seismic events on the planet.

Significance:

Due to being the focal point for the majority of global volcanic eruptions and earthquakes, the Circum-Pacific Belt holds immense importance in the study of the Earth's interior.

Q2: The process of desertification does not have climate boundaries. Justify with examples.(Geography)
Ans: The UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) defines desertification as the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions, resulting from a variety of factors, including climatic variations and human activities. Contrary to its name, desertification extends beyond traditional deserts and transcends climate boundaries.

Factors Leading to Desertification:

• Climate Change: Altered rain patterns, rising land temperatures, and frequent floods and droughts contribute to vegetation degradation, gradually leading to desertification.
• Loss of Natural Vegetation: Deforestation, extensive exploitation, and overgrazing of grasslands loosen the soil, causing soil erosion—a global phenomenon impacting major biomes worldwide.
• Urbanization: Rapid urbanization, with an anticipated 50% of India's population living in urban areas by 2050, intensifies resource demands, leaving vulnerable lands prone to desertification.

Desertification Knows No Climate Boundaries:

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), desertification affects approximately two-thirds of the world's countries and one-third of the Earth's land surface, inhabited by around one billion people. It is a global phenomenon, extending beyond natural deserts to vulnerable lands susceptible to the desertification process.

Two-thirds of Africa's continent consists of desert or drylands, facing frequent severe droughts, especially in the Horn of Africa and the Sahel. Regions in China, India, Syria, Nepal, and central Asian countries also experience expanding deserts, encroaching sand dunes, eroded mountain slopes, and overgrazed grasslands. Asia is the most severely affected continent in terms of the number of people impacted by desertification and drought.

Latin America and the Caribbean, despite being known for rainforests, are approximately one-fourth desert and drylands. These regions grapple with land degradation, contributing to a vicious cycle of overexploitation, degradation, increased production demands, heightened poverty, food insecurity, and migration.

Conclusion: Desertification and its consequences transcend specific climatic boundaries. The UNCCD identifies it as one of the greatest environmental challenges, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to address this issue.

Q3: How will the melting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India? (Geography)
Ans:  India, renowned for its rivers considered as blessings, possesses both perennial and non-perennial rivers. The rivers in North India have their origins in the Himalayas and Himalayan glaciers, known as perennial rivers, including Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Satluj.

Impact of Melting Glaciers on Water Resources in India:

• Global Warming Cycle: The melting of glaciers is a natural phase in the Earth's global warming cycle. However, anthropogenic activities have accelerated the rate of glacier melting in recent years.
• Consequences of Melting Glaciers:
  • Melting glaciers can lead to river overflow, causing floods, dam breaks, and expansion of river courses. This poses threats to human and animal life, habitat destruction, and crop loss.
  • Increased river flow enhances the erosion power of rivers, leading to deeper river bed erosion, potential sedimentation overload, and siltation.
  • The sediments carried by rivers drain into the sea, elevating sea water salinity. This results in the destruction of coral reefs, submergence of islands, and other adverse effects.
• Water Scarcity: While melting glaciers temporarily alleviate water scarcity in India, the government must implement measures such as river interlinking, pond formation, and improved irrigation facilities for optimal utilization. These steps are crucial for mitigating the impacts and reducing the likelihood of long-term water scarcity caused by declining availability of fresh water due to glacier melting.

Q4: Account for the present location of iron and steel industries away from the source of raw material, by giving examples. (Geography)
Ans: The iron and steel industry is commonly referred to as a basic industry because it serves as the primary supplier of raw materials for other sectors, such as machine tools used in further production.

Traditional Location Factors:

• Proximity to Raw Materials: Historically, iron and steel plants were situated near raw material sources like iron ore, coal, manganese, and limestone. An example is the TISCO plant in Jamshedpur.
• Changing Realizations: However, later insights revealed that factors such as access to markets, affordable labor, proximity to ports, and government policies hold more significance than raw material inputs.

Impact of Various Factors:

• Cheap Labor: In the USA, the iron and steel industry has shifted to southern states like Alabama due to factors such as inexpensive labor and global supply chain considerations. Traditional hubs like the Pittsburgh area are now declining, earning the nickname "rust bowl."
• Market: Japan, deficient in iron ore and coal, relies on imported raw materials. Japanese steel plants are predominantly market-oriented, exemplified by the 'Tokyo-Yokohama' and 'Osaka-Kobe-Heemeji' iron and steel regions.
• Port Access: The Vizag Steel Plant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, is a port-based facility, providing a strategic advantage since its inception in 1992.
• Government Policy: In India, the second-largest crude steel producer, the Fourth Plan period witnessed the establishment of new steel plants in southern states, away from primary raw material sources, to foster regional parity. An example is the Salem steel plant in Karnataka.

Changing Dynamics: Iron and steel industries located away from raw material sources are more cost-effective and can be situated near markets due to the abundance of scrap metal, a principal input. Recognizing evolving industry trends, India launched the National Steel Policy in 2017 to cultivate a technologically advanced and globally competitive steel sector that stimulates economic growth.

Q5: The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multi-dimensional inter-related problems of droughts, floods, and interrupted navigation. Critically examine.(Geography)
Ans: 

Interlinking Rivers in Northern India: The northern plains of India, in contrast to the southern states, are blessed with abundant water resources from perennial rivers originating in the Himalayas. The ambitious river interlinking project aims to connect 60 rivers, facilitating the transfer of water from surplus basins to deficit ones. Notable linkages include Ken-Betwa, Daman Ganga-Pinjal, and Mahanadi-Godavari.

Anticipated Benefits:

• Hydropower Generation: The project asserts a total power generation capacity of 34 GW, contributing to India's increasing energy needs and its commitment to the Paris Climate Deal.
• Flood Control: The primary goal is to conserve seasonal flows for irrigation, hydropower generation, and flood control. For instance, surplus flows from the Kosi, Gandak, and Ghagra will be transferred westward.
• Drought Mitigation: Water transfer to drought-prone regions is a key objective. Proposed links with the Ganga and Yamuna aim to provide surplus water to arid areas in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
• Round the Year Navigation: Addressing low water levels in southern rivers, the project envisions year-round waterway connectivity, developing 10,000 km of navigable routes to reduce transportation costs.
• Irrigation Benefits: Interlinking rivers is expected to enhance the country's total irrigation potential, offering additional irrigation to 35 million hectares in water-scarce regions.

Concerns Surrounding the Project:

• Perennial Rivers' Reliability: Recent rainfall data analysis reveals growing monsoon shortages in basins with surplus water and scarcities in others.
• Federal Challenges: Historical dissent among states regarding water-sharing, exemplified by disputes like Cauvery and Mahadayi.
• Neighboring Countries: Convincing neighboring nations, especially lower riparian states like Bangladesh, poses a significant challenge.
• High Environmental Costs: Dam construction could submerge Himalayan forests and displace communities on a large scale. For instance, the Ken-Betwa project would consume 23 sq miles of forest land, adversely impacting ecological factors like delta formation, mangrove growth, and aquatic life.

The viability and necessity of river interlinking should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, giving due attention to resolving federal issues and mitigating environmental impacts. Simultaneously, emphasis on local solutions, such as improved irrigation practices and watershed management, is crucial.

Q6: Account for the huge flooding of million cities in India including the smart ones like Hyderabad and Pune. Suggest lasting remedial measures. (Geography)
Ans: 

Urban Flooding Challenges in India: Urban flooding has become a prevalent issue in India, with cities like Hyderabad and Pune experiencing catastrophic flooding in recent years. Studies indicate that over 50% of smart cities in India are susceptible to floods.

Common Causes of Urban Flooding:

• Inadequate Drainage Infrastructure: Cities such as Hyderabad and Mumbai rely on century-old drainage systems that cover only a small part of the core city.
• Terrain Alteration: Irreversible damage occurs due to terrain flattening and alterations by property builders, owners, and public agencies.
• Reducing Seepage: Cities are increasingly becoming impermeable to water due to both increased urbanization and the use of non-porous materials.
• Lax Implementation: Despite regulatory provisions like rainwater harvesting and sustainable drainage systems, weak adoption at the user end and lax enforcement contribute to the problem.

Remedial Measures to Address Urban Floods:
Addressing urban floods requires tailored approaches due to different geological factors influencing floods in various cities. The following steps can help mitigate frequent urban flooding:

• South Indian Cities (e.g., Hyderabad, Chennai): Clearing critical areas like water bodies from encroachments to reduce the impact of sudden downpours caused by cyclonic activities.
• Himalayan Areas: Developing check dams, small-scale levees, and sandbag embankments to counter flash floods resulting from cloud bursts during the monsoon season.
• Plain Areas (e.g., Patna, Kolkata): Constructing 'sponge cities' with more gardens, parks, wetlands, and floodplains. Implementing modern technologies to divert surplus water, recharge aquifers, and prevent changes in river hydrology.
• Urban Planning Shortcomings: Addressing issues arising from poor urban planning and enhancing coordination among various departments through government initiatives and public-private partnerships.

Efforts are required to combat urban flooding, considering city-specific challenges and implementing proactive measures to create resilient urban environments.

Q7: India has immense potential for solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate. (Geography)
Ans: 

Solar Energy Potential in India: Solar energy stands out as a renewable and inexhaustible source, distinguishing itself from finite fossil fuels. India is particularly fortunate to possess immense solar energy potential, with an annual energy incident of 5,000 trillion kWh over its land area, and most regions receiving 4-7 kWh per sq. m per day.

Despite the Earth's varying sunlight distribution, India's diverse geography makes it unevenly suitable for solar power generation. Approximately half of the country lies in the tropical region, while the other half is in the temperate region, impacting the suitability for solar energy generation.

The South Western parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh are considered highly suitable for solar power generation due to their tropical location. Conversely, areas like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are less suited for solar power generation, being primarily in temperate regions.

Aside from solar radiation intensity, the installation of solar power plants is influenced by factors such as the quality of local physical terrain, environmental conditions, and the distance from the site to the nearest substations for grid connectivity.

As of May 2020, Karnataka leads the country in solar power production, boasting a total installed capacity of approximately 7100 MW. Telangana holds the second position with 5000 MW, followed by Rajasthan with 4400 MW.

India, recognized as a solar-rich nation, takes a global lead through its involvement in the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The states in India with significant solar power production contribute substantially to achieving the country's goal of reaching 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022.

Q8:  Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change.(Geography)
Ans: 

Forest Resources and Climate Change in India: As per the 'India State of Forest Report 2019,' the combined forest and tree cover in India amounts to 80.73 million hectares, constituting approximately 24.56% of the country's total geographical area. These forests and trees play a crucial role in delivering essential ecosystem goods and services, and any significant alteration to these resources directly or indirectly impacts climate change.

Various types of forests serve as sources of diverse wood and non-wood forest resources, providing essential items such as food, fiber, edible oils, drugs, minerals, tendu, and honey. However, despite being protected by laws, nearly 78% of the forest area in India faces challenges like heavy grazing and unregulated use. Illegal mining and slash-and-burn agriculture further threaten these resources. The mounting pressure due to population growth has led to over-exploitation, exacerbating the effects of climate change.

Forests play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and enriching the environment with oxygen. The unchecked utilization of forest resources and deforestation disrupts the carbon cycle, contributing to a rise in global temperatures. This disruption affects wind patterns and precipitation levels, contributing to climate change impacts.

Climate change intensifies the risk of drought in certain regions and makes others susceptible to extreme precipitation and flooding. Rising temperatures accelerate the melting of icebergs, leading to increased sea levels and the submergence of coastal areas and islands. Unchecked utilization of forest resources has also resulted in wildfires, storms, insect outbreaks, invasive species, and diseases, contributing to increased human-animal conflicts.

Recognizing the interconnectedness of climate change and forests, addressing unchecked human activities in forested areas becomes crucial, requiring a holistic approach at both local and global levels. Initiatives such as mandatory plantation along highways, road dividers, vacant land along railway tracks, combined with promoting sustainable forest resource usage, are essential steps in addressing these challenges.