UPSC Mains Previous Year Questions 2024: GS1 Geography | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: What is the phenomenon of cloudbursts? Explain. (Answer in 150 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
Cloudbursts are extreme rainfall events where precipitation exceeds 100 mm per hour over a relatively small area of 20-30 square kilometers. In recent years, regions like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh have experienced such phenomena, highlighting the growing frequency and intensity of cloudbursts in hilly areas.
Body
Mechanism of Cloudburst: Cloudbursts occur when warm, moist air ascends rapidly due to several factors

• Orographic Lift: Moist air is forced upwards by mountain ranges or hills, causing it to cool quickly and condense into heavy rain.
• Convective Processes: Warm air near the surface rises due to temperature differences, forming cumulonimbus clouds.
• When the air at higher altitudes cools abruptly, it can trap moisture, leading to concentrated rainfall in a short period. As the moisture in the clouds becomes too heavy, it is released in an intense downpour, often accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Impacts

• Flash Floods: Sudden heavy rainfall leads to overflowing rivers, causing significant damage to communities.
• Landslides: In mountainous areas, the rainfall can trigger landslides, further compounding the destruction.
• Infrastructure Damage: Roads, bridges, and buildings are often severely damaged due to the force of the rainfall.
• Loss of Life: Cloudbursts, particularly in hilly regions, can result in fatalities.

Conclusion
Cloudburst events have become more frequent in India, especially in vulnerable areas like the Himalayas and coastal regions. There is an urgent need for improved weather monitoring systems and climate adaptation strategies to minimize the impact of such natural disasters.

Q2: What is the concept of a 'demographic winter'? Is the world moving towards such a situation? Elaborate. (Answer in 150 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
"Demographic Winter" describes a phenomenon where birth rates significantly decrease, coupled with an aging population and a shrinking workforce. This trend is becoming increasingly evident in numerous countries.
Body
Causes of Demographic Winter

• Declining Fertility Rates: The global fertility rate has dropped from about 5 children per woman in 1960 to roughly 2.3 by 2021. Many developed nations have seen fertility rates fall below the replacement level of 2.1. Countries such as Japan (1.26), South Korea (0.78), and Italy (1.24) have some of the lowest fertility rates worldwide.
• Aging Population: As of 2020, approximately 9% of the global population was aged 65 or older, with projections indicating this will rise to 16% by 2050. In Europe, over 20% of the population is already over 65.
• Changing Family Dynamics: Shifts in society, such as later marriages, delayed childbearing, and the increase in single-person households, have all contributed to the decline in birth rates.
• Economic Challenges: High living expenses, expensive housing, and job instability discourage many families from having more children.

Conclusion
The trend of Demographic Winter in developed nations requires strategic policies focused on supporting families, encouraging workforce participation, and promoting immigration to maintain economic vitality and sustain social systems.

Q3: The groundwater potential of the Gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India? (Answer in 250 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
The Gangetic Valley, known for its fertile soil and abundant water supply, has supported civilizations for centuries. However, according to the Central Ground Water Board, groundwater levels in the region are rapidly declining at a rate of 0.5 to 1 meter per year.
Body
Causes of Groundwater Decline

• Rapid Urbanization: Growing urban demand leads to the over-extraction of groundwater. Unregulated drilling of borewells is a significant contributor to this depletion.
• Over-Irrigation: Excessive irrigation, a problem of abundance, damages soil health and accelerates groundwater depletion.
• Inadequate Rainwater Harvesting: Despite receiving ample rainfall during the monsoon, much of this water is not captured for groundwater replenishment.
• Climate Change and Erratic Rainfall: Unpredictable weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and higher evaporation rates due to rising temperatures hinder the natural recharge of groundwater.

Impact on Food Security

• Lower Crop Yields: A shortage of groundwater will lead to insufficient irrigation, especially during dry seasons, resulting in reduced crop yields for water-intensive crops like rice and wheat, key staples in India.
• Increased Reliance on Rainfall: As groundwater levels drop, farmers will become more dependent on erratic monsoons, making agriculture vulnerable to droughts and fluctuating rainfall patterns, which threatens food stability.
• Higher Production Costs: As groundwater resources decline, farmers may need to drill deeper wells or use more costly water extraction methods. This will raise the cost of production and make food less affordable.
• Loss of Livelihoods: Decreasing groundwater levels may force small-scale farmers to abandon farming, reducing agricultural output and threatening rural livelihoods, further undermining food security.

Solutions for Groundwater Decline

• Promote Efficient Irrigation: Encourage the adoption of water-saving irrigation systems such as drip and sprinkler irrigation.
• Implement Rainwater Harvesting: Set up rainwater harvesting systems across urban and rural areas to recharge groundwater.
• Shift Crop Choices: Encourage the cultivation of less water-intensive crops instead of crops like rice and sugarcane.
• Encourage Technological Advancements: Support the use of advanced water-efficient construction methods and farming technologies.
• Policy Interventions: Provide financial incentives to farmers who adopt water-efficient farming practices.
• Support River Rejuvenation: Implement river rejuvenation projects like Namami Gange and add artificial recharge structures to help restore groundwater levels.

Conclusion
The decline in groundwater levels in the Gangetic Valley poses a serious threat to India’s food security. Immediate and sustained efforts are necessary to manage groundwater resources effectively and to adapt agricultural practices to ensure a stable and secure food supply for the future.

Q4: What are aurora australis and aurora borealis? How are these triggered? (Answer in 250 words) (Answer in 250 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
An aurora is a captivating natural light phenomenon that occurs in the night sky. These displays are typically visible only in polar regions and are most prominent in areas near the North and South Poles. Though they mainly occur at higher latitudes, auroras can occasionally extend to lower latitudes under certain conditions.
Body
Types of Auroras

• Aurora Australis (Southern Lights): This aurora is seen in the Southern Hemisphere, particularly around the Antarctic Circle. It is visible in regions like Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica, and parts of South America.
• Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights): Occurring near the Arctic Circle, the aurora borealis is caused by the interaction of solar particles with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. It produces a colorful light display, often in green, red, and purple, and can be observed in countries such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Canada, and Alaska.

Triggers of Auroras

• Solar Winds: These are streams of charged particles emitted by the Sun. When they collide with Earth’s magnetic field, they cause the auroral light displays.
• Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs): CMEs are massive bursts of solar plasma that carry intense magnetic fields. When these ejections reach Earth, they can intensify auroral activity by increasing the number of charged particles in our atmosphere.
• Magnetosphere Disturbances: The Earth's magnetosphere plays a crucial role in auroras. Disturbances in this protective magnetic field, caused by solar wind, trigger auroral displays.
• Atmospheric Interactions: When charged particles, such as electrons and protons, are directed toward the poles by Earth’s magnetic field, they collide with atmospheric gases. These collisions excite the gases, causing them to emit light, creating the aurora.

Conclusion
Auroras are the result of complex space weather phenomena, highlighting the dynamic relationship between Earth's magnetic field and solar activity. Recently, the aurora borealis was visible in Hanle village, located in Ladakh, demonstrating the global reach of this natural spectacle.

Q5: What is a twister? Why are the majority of twisters observed in areas around the Gulf of Mexico? (Answer in 250 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
A twister, also known as a tornado, is a powerful windstorm characterized by a twisting, funnel-shaped cloud. This cloud is made up of a rotating column of air that extends from the Earth's surface to a cumulonimbus cloud, or occasionally a cumulus cloud. While tornadoes can form anywhere in the world, they are especially frequent in the Gulf of Mexico region.
Body
Several factors contribute to the high frequency of tornadoes in the Gulf of Mexico:

• Warm, Moist Air: The Gulf of Mexico provides a steady source of warm, moist air that rises, creating favorable conditions for thunderstorms to develop.
• Cold, Dry Air: Cold, dry air from the Rocky Mountains or Canada often moves southward, where it meets the warm, moist air, leading to atmospheric instability and an increased likelihood of tornado formation.
• Wind Shear: Differences in wind speed and direction at various altitudes cause wind shear, which produces horizontal spinning motions crucial for the development of tornadoes.
• Geographical Features: The flat terrain of areas like the Great Plains and Mississippi River Valley heats quickly, creating ideal conditions for tornadoes to form.
• Tropical Storms and Hurricanes: The Gulf region is prone to tropical storms and hurricanes, which can trigger tornadoes when they make landfall.

Conclusion 
In summary, twisters, or tornadoes, are violent windstorms created by rotating columns of air. The Gulf of Mexico sees frequent tornado activity due to the clash of warm, moist air with cold, dry air, along with favorable geography and seasonal weather patterns.

Q6: What is regional disparity? How does it differ from diversity? How serious is the issue of regional disparity in India? (Answer in 250 words)
Ans: 
Introduction
Regional disparity refers to the unequal distribution of economic resources, development, infrastructure, and opportunities among different regions within a country. On the other hand, diversity refers to the variety of cultural, linguistic, geographical, and social characteristics present in a population or region.
Body
Key Differences Between Regional Disparity and Diversity:

Seriousness of Regional Disparity in India:

• Economic Inequality: The per capita income of India's five wealthiest states is nearly 338% higher than that of the poorest states.
• Educational Gap: Kerala has a literacy rate of 96.2%, while Bihar's rate is only 61.8%, according to the 2011 Census.
• Healthcare Disparities: Rural areas have only 0.36 hospitals per one lakh people, compared to 3.6 hospitals in urban areas.
• Transportation and Connectivity: Developed regions benefit from better transportation infrastructure, enhancing trade and mobility.
• Digital Divide: According to NSSO data, only 24% of rural households have Internet access, while 66% of urban households are connected.
• Migration Patterns: Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are the largest sources of inter-state migrants, while Maharashtra and Delhi are the largest destinations.

Conclusion
The Indian government has initiated several programs to address regional disparities, such as the Backward Regions Grant Fund, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, and the National Rural Livelihoods Mission. Tackling these disparities is crucial for fostering balanced development, ensuring that every region can equally benefit from economic growth and opportunities.