Indian Geography - 1 (Gen. Studies)

Mettur Dam is built across the Kaveri.

Jog Falls is located in Karnataka state, in the Shimoga district of the Western Ghats. It's the second-highest plunge waterfall in India.

Time between two observe passages of a star over the same meridian of longitude is called Sidereal day.
Sidereal day = 23 hours 56 min. 4.09 sec.

Mawsynram is the wettest place in India.

Horticulture is defined as the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants. It is distinct from general agriculture (which includes cereal crops like wheat) and animal husbandry.

In this type of agriculture, the main motive of the farmer is to satisfy the needs of his family.

Developing a vegetational cover is the most comprehensive approach to restoring ecological balance in mined areas. Plants help stabilize soil, prevent erosion, restore nutrient cycles, and create habitat for other organisms. While preventing soil erosion is important, vegetation establishment addresses multiple ecological processes simultaneously and initiates natural succession.

Ecosystem means interdependence of living beings for survival.

Correct Answer: NHAI

 The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is an autonomous agency of the Government of India, responsible for management of a network of over 70,000 km of National Highways in India.

Red-yellow soils are typically found in areas with moderate rainfall and are associated with the Deccan Plateau region covering parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, among other states. These soils form from weathering of granite rocks under distinct climatic conditions. UP-Bihar (A) has alluvial soils, and West Bengal-Bihar (C) also has alluvial and deltaic soils.

Lumberjack is the standard occupational term for workers who cut down trees and transport them to sawmills. While terms like 'lumberman' have been used historically, 'lumberjack' is the widely recognized professional term. The occupation involves felling, cutting, and loading timber for commercial use in the forestry industry.

In demography, the sex ratio is conventionally calculated as the number of females per 1,000 males in the population. This standardized measure allows for consistent comparison across regions and time periods. Option B correctly states this definition.

The Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N latitude) passes through eight Indian states including Tripura and Mizoram in the northeast. This line divides India into subtropical north and tropical south zones. Other states on this latitude include Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.

The correct west-to-east sequence of Himalayan divisions is: Kashmir (westernmost), Himachal, U.P. (Uttarakhand), Nepal, and Assam (easternmost). This follows the geographical orientation of the Himalayan range across the Indian subcontinent.

Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is India's largest freshwater lake. It spans approximately 100-130 square kilometers depending on season. Other options are incorrect: Bhimtal is in Uttarakhand, there's no major lake called Brighu in Madhya Pradesh, and while Dal Lake is famous in Kashmir, it's much smaller than Wular.

Anamudi in Kerala is the highest peak in the Western Ghats at 2,695 meters (8,842 feet). It's located in the Anaimalai Hills of the Western Ghats range. Other options: Mullayangiri (1,930m) is Karnataka's highest peak but not the highest in entire Western Ghats, Salher (1,567m) is in Maharashtra, and Kemmanagundi (1,434m) is also in Karnataka - both are lower than Anamudi.

Dachigam National Park is situated in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Social Forestry Programme was launched in 1976 in India during the Fifth Five Year Plan. It aimed to involve local communities in tree planting and forest management to meet the growing demand for fuelwood, fodder, and small timber.

Hurricanes are the specific name for cyclonic storms that occur in the North Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the West Indies and Gulf of Mexico region. The same storm is called a typhoon in the western Pacific and simply a cyclone in the Indian Ocean.

A seismometer is the scientific instrument used to detect and record the intensity, direction, and duration of seismic waves from earthquakes or explosions. Barometers measure air pressure, hydrometers measure liquid density, and altimeters measure altitude.

Option (3) is the correct answer. 

Digboi in Assam is home to Asia's oldest oil field, discovered in 1889, and remains famous for its petroleum industry. While Assam is known for tea gardens and pineapples, Digboi specifically is renowned for its historic oil wells. The atomic power plant is not associated with Digboi.

Kothagudem Thermal Power Station is located in Kothagudem, Telangana. At the time this question was written, Telangana was part of Andhra Pradesh, so the answer reflects the historical administrative boundaries before Telangana became a separate state in 2014.

 Iron and steel was the first important metallurgical industry in India.

Madhya Pradesh

A shelter belt is a plantation of trees and shrubs designed to protect soil from wind erosion and prevent desert expansion. The strategic arrangement with shorter trees on the desert side creates a gradual windbreak effect.

This crop requires a light loamy soil with a porous sub-soil that allows the water to drain away.

Rajasthan has the largest area under wasteland in India, primarily due to its arid and semi-arid climate, desert conditions, and sandy soil. The Thar Desert covers a significant portion of the state, contributing to high wasteland classification.