7F) Indian Geography: Rocks, Soil, Minerals and Other Natural Resources (Prelims PYQs)

2022 Prelims PYQs

1] With reference to India, consider the following statements: [2022]

1. Monazite is a source of rare earths.
2. Monazite contains thorium.
3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 1, 2 and 4 only
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

2021 Prelims PYQs

1] The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of: [2021]

a) Brown forest soil
b) Fissure volcanic rock
c) Granite and schist
d) Shale and limestone

2020 Prelims PYQs

1] Consider the following minerals: [2020]

1. Bentonite
2. Chromite
3. Kyanite
4. Sillimanite
In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 4 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 2, 3 and 4 only

2016 Prelims PYQs

1] In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found? [2016]

1. Cambay Basin
2. Cauvery Basin
3. Krishna-Godavari Basin
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 3 only
c) 2 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

2014 Prelims PYQs

1] In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following? [2014]

1. Terrace cultivation
2. Deforestation
3. Tropical climate
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

2] With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coalbed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the following statements: [2014]

1. Coalbed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mnixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
2. In India, abundant coalbed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found.
Which of the statements given

a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

2013 Prelims PYQs

1] Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct? [2013]

1. They are generally red in colour.
2. They are rich in nitrogen and Potash.
3. They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.
4. Tapioca and Cashew nuts grow well on these soils.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

a) 1, 2 and 3
b) 2, 3 and 4
c) 1 and 4
d) 2 and 3 only

2] Consider the following statements: [2013]

1. Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds.
2. Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma.
3. Dharwars are famous for petroleum.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

a) 1 and 2
b) 2 only
c) 2 and 3
d) None

2012 Prelims PYQs

1] Despite having large reserves of coal, why does India import millions of tonnes of coal? [2012]

1. It is the policy of India to save its own coal reserves for future, and import it from other countries for the present use.
2. Most of the power plants in India are coal-based and they are not able to get sufficient supplies of coal from within the country.
3. Steel companies need large quantity of coking coal which has to be imported.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 Only                                   b) 2 & 3 Only
c) 1 & 3 Only                           d) 1,2, & 3

2010-1996 Prelims PYQs

1] When you travel in certain parts of India, you will notice red soil. What is the main reason for this colour? [2010]

a) Abundance of magnesium
b) Accumulated humus
c) Presence of ferric oxides
d) Abundance of phosphates

2] Which one of the following is the appropriate reason for considering the Gondwana rocks as most important of rock systems of India? [2010]

a) More than 90% of limestone reserves of India are found in them.
b) More than 90% of India’s coal reserves are found in them.
c) More than 90% of fertile black cotton soils are spread over them.
d) None of the reasons given above is appropriate in this context.

3] With reference to the mineral sources of India, consider the following pairs: [2010] Mineral  – 90% National Sources in:

1. Copper — Jharkhand
2. Nickel — Orissa
3. Tungsten — Kerala

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
a) 1 and 2 only                      b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3 only                      d) 1, 2 and 3

4] Consider the following statements: [2009]

1. India does not have any deposits of Thorium
2 Kerala’s monazite sands contain Uranium

Which of the above statements is/ are correct?
a) 1 only                                   b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2                     d) Neither 1 nor 2

5] In which one of the following states are Namchik- Namphuk Coalfields located? [2008]

a)  Arunachal  Pradesh   
b)  Meghalaya
c)  Manipur
d)  Mizoram

6] Which of the following minerals are found in a natural way in the State of Chhattisgarh? [2008]

1. Bauxite
2. Dolomite
3. Iron ore
4. Tin

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1,2 and 3 only                  b) 3 only
c) 2 only                                   d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

7] Consider the following statements: [2007]

1. Balaghat is known for its diamond mines.
2. Majhgawan is known for its manganese deposits.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
a) 1 only                                   b) 2 only
c)  Both 1 and 2                    d) Neither 1 nor 2

8] Which of the following substances are found in the beach sands of many parts of Kerala? [2006]

1. Ilmenite
2. Zircon
3. Sillimanite
4. Tungsten

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1, 2, 3 and 4                      b) 1, 2 and 3
c) 3 and 4 only                      d) 1 and 2 only

9] Match List I (Minerals) with List II (Location) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: [2004]

Codes:
     A B  C  D
a) 1  4  3  2
b) 2  3  4  1
c) 1  3  4  2
d) 2  4  3  1

10] In the above map, the black marks shows the distribution of: [2001]

a) Asbestos                            b) Gypsum
c) Limestone                         d) Mica

11] The Ravva offshore block, with great potential for oil, is located in: [1999]

a) Krishna-Godavari basin
b) Cauvery basin
c) Mahanadi basin
d) Palar-Pennar basin

12] In which one of the following areas in the given map was there a recent discovery of copper deposits by the Atomic Minerals Division of Department of Atomic Energy?
[1999]

a) 1                            b) 2
c) 3                            d) 4

13] Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [1998]

Codes:
a) I-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
b) I-A, II-D, III-B, IV-C
c) I-C, II-A, III-D, IV-B
d) I-B, II-C, III-A, IV-D

14] Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: [1997]

Codes:
a) I-A, II-C, III-B, IV-D
b) I-B, II-C, III-D, IV-A
c) I-C, II-D, III-B, IV-A
d) I-B, II-A, III-D, IV-C

15] Match List I (Ores) with List II (States where they are mined) and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: [1996]

Codes:
a) I – A, II – C, III – B, IV – D
b) I – D, II – C, III – B, IV – A
c) I – A, II – B, III – C, IV – D
d) I – D, II – B, III – C, IV – A

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