UPSC CSE Prelims
Resources of India Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Showing solved Previous Year Questions for Chapter: Resources of India
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With reference to India, consider the following statements:
- Monazite is a source of rare earths.
- Monazite contains thorium.
- Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
- In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 1, 2 and 4 only
Monazite is a radioactive mineral that serves as a major source of rare earth elements and thorium. In India, its processing and export are strictly regulated by government bodies due to its strategic importance and radioactive nature. Statement 3 is incorrect because monazite is not found along the entire Indian coastal stretch but is concentrated in specific regions.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Monazite is a primary source of rare earth elements like cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Monazite contains significant amounts of thorium, making it an important mineral for nuclear energy applications.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Monazite deposits are not found along the entire Indian coast; major deposits are concentrated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a Government of India PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy, is the only authorized entity to process and export monazite under the Atomic Energy Act.
📝 Short Notes: Monazite in India
- Composition: Brown crystalline mineral containing cerium, lanthanum, thorium, and other rare earth elements
- Occurrence: Found in placer deposits along coastal sands; main deposits in Kerala (Chavara, Manavalakurichi), Tamil Nadu, and Odisha
- Economic Importance: Source of rare earths used in high-performance magnets for wind turbines, electric vehicles, and robotics
- Strategic Importance: Contains thorium (8-10%), crucial for India's three-stage nuclear power program
- Regulatory Framework: Governed by Atomic Energy Act and Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules 2004; export requires AERB license
- Processing Entity: Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) is the sole government-authorized body for monazite extraction, processing, and export
Consider the following statements:
- 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).
- CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.
- India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3 only
This question tests knowledge about groundwater management in India and the role of the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). Statement 1 provides incorrect figures about overexploited/critical districts, while Statements 2 and 3 are factually accurate regarding CGWA's formation and India's groundwater irrigation status.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: According to the National Compilation on Dynamic Groundwater Resources of India, 2017, only 17% of assessment units are overexploited and 5% are critical, totaling 22% (not 36% of districts).
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) was indeed established in 1997 under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to regulate and control groundwater development and management.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: India has the world's largest area under groundwater irrigation, accounting for approximately 60% of its irrigated agriculture, due to extensive bore-well and tube-well usage.
📝 Short Notes: Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA)
- Establishment: Constituted in 1997 under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
- Parent Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Water Resources)
- Primary Function: Regulation and control of groundwater development and management across India
- Classification Categories: Assessment units are classified as Safe, Semi-Critical (70-90% extraction), Critical (90-100% extraction), and Over-Exploited (>100% extraction)
- Groundwater Status (2017 Report): Out of 6,881 assessment units - 17% Over-Exploited, 5% Critical, 14% Semi-Critical, and 64% Safe
- India's Irrigation: India has the largest groundwater irrigation area globally, with groundwater contributing to about 60% of irrigated agriculture
- Powers: CGWA can issue directives for regulation of groundwater extraction in notified areas and impose restrictions on groundwater development
Consider the following states:
- Chhattisgarh
- Madhya Pradesh
- Maharashtra
- Odisha
With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — 3-2-4-1
The question asks for the ascending order (lowest to highest) of forest cover as a percentage of total geographical area. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, Maharashtra has the lowest percentage at 16.51%, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 25.14%, Odisha at 33.50%, and Chhattisgarh has the highest at 41.21%. Therefore, the correct ascending order is 3 (Maharashtra) - 2 (Madhya Pradesh) - 4 (Odisha) - 1 (Chhattisgarh).
📝 Short Notes: Forest Cover in Indian States
| State | Forest Cover (% of Geographical Area) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Chhattisgarh | 41.21% | Highest among the four states |
| Odisha | 33.50% | Third highest |
| Madhya Pradesh | 25.14% | Second lowest |
| Maharashtra | 16.51% | Lowest among the four states |
Key Points:
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What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isa pur and Kangsabati?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — Water reservoirs
The common feature among Aliyar, Isapur, and Kangsabati is that they are all locations of significant water reservoirs in India. Aliyar Reservoir is located in Tamil Nadu, Isapur Dam is an irrigation project in Maharashtra, and Kangsabati Dam is situated on the Kangsabati River in West Bengal. All three serve as important water storage and irrigation infrastructure.
📝 Short Notes: Major Reservoirs in India
- Aliyar Reservoir: Located in Aliyar village, Pollachi taluk, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Created by the Aliyar Dam on the Aliyar River.
- Isapur Dam: An irrigation project located in Maharashtra, designed to support agricultural activities in the region.
- Kangsabati Reservoir: Located in West Bengal, created by the Kangsabati Dam (also known as Kumari Dam) on the Kangsabati River, primarily for irrigation and drinking water supply.
- Purpose: These reservoirs serve multiple purposes including irrigation, drinking water supply, flood control, and sometimes hydroelectric power generation.
- Importance: Such water infrastructure is critical for agricultural productivity, water security, and regional development in India.
In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found?
- Cambay Basin
- Cauvery basin
- Krishna-Godavari Basin
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — 1, 2 and 3
Shale gas is natural gas trapped within shale rock formations, and India has identified several sedimentary basins with shale gas potential. The Cambay Basin in western India (Gujarat) is one of India's oldest petroliferous basins with proven shale gas reserves. The Cauvery Basin in southern India (Tamil Nadu-Karnataka) contains organic-rich shale formations suitable for unconventional gas extraction. The Krishna-Godavari Basin on the eastern coast is another major basin where shale gas exploration has been undertaken. All three basins mentioned are part of India's identified shale gas resource regions, making Option 4 the correct answer.
With reference to two non-conventional energy sources called ‘coal bed methane’ and ‘shale gas’, consider the following statements:
- Coal bed methane is the pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, while shale gas is a mixture of propane and butane only that can be extracted from fine-grained sedimentary rocks.
- In India abundant coal bed methane sources exist, but so far no shale gas sources have been found.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Coal bed methane is pure methane gas extracted from coal seams, but shale gas is primarily methane (not propane and butane only) extracted from fine-grained sedimentary shale rocks.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: India has abundant coal bed methane sources in regions like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, West Bengal and also has identified shale gas sources in Cambay, Krishna-Godavari, and Cauvery basins, though exploitation remains nascent.
Consider the following statements:
- Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds.
- Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma.
- Dharwars are famous for petroleum.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Gondwana beds are primarily coal-bearing formations formed during the Carboniferous to Jurassic period; natural gas in India is found in tertiary sedimentary rocks of Assam, Gujarat, and offshore Mumbai High, not in Gondwana beds.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Koderma district in Jharkhand is known as the "Mica Capital of India" and has abundant deposits of high-quality ruby mica (muscovite).
✅ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Dharwar rocks are ancient Precambrian metamorphic formations in Karnataka rich in gold, iron ore, and manganese; petroleum occurs in younger sedimentary basins, not in metamorphic Dharwar formations.
Which of the following is/are the characteristic/ characteristics of Indian coal?
- High ash content
- Low sulphur content
- The low ash fusion temperature
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Indian coal has high ash content (35-45%), significantly higher than global average of ~15%, making it a defining characteristic.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Indian coal has low sulphur content (~0.5%), which is environmentally advantageous compared to many international coals.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Indian coal has high ash fusion temperature (~1,500°C), not low, making it unsuitable for entrained gasifiers in IGCC plants.
Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called ‘rare earth metals’. Why?
- China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export
- Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country
- Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: China is the largest producer (controlling ~70% of global production) and has imposed export restrictions on rare earth metals, creating supply chain concerns.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Rare earth metals are found in many countries including the United States, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Russia, and South Africa, not just China, Australia, Canada, and Chile.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Rare earth metals are essential for manufacturing smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, LED screens, defence equipment, and other high-tech electronics, with demand growing rapidly.