Indian Geography

The East-West Corridor of India's National Highway network connects Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat, spanning approximately 3,400 km across the breadth of the country. This corridor is part of the Golden Quadrilateral project and the larger National Highway Development Project.

The Dehradun Valley (also known as Doon Valley) in Uttarakhand is approximately 75 km long and 15-20 km wide. It is a longitudinal valley situated between the Shivalik ranges in the south and the Lesser Himalayas in the north. The valley is drained by the Song and Ganga rivers and contains the city of Dehradun.

The Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh extends between the Dhauladhar Range to the north and the Beas River (misspelled as 'Bees' in the option) to the south. The valley is approximately 90 km long and varies in width. It contains popular towns like Dharamshala, Palampur, and Kangra. The Dhauladhar range forms a dramatic backdrop to this fertile valley.

The National Mapping Organization in Kolkata divided India into planning regions primarily on an economic basis, recognizing that economic activities, resource distribution, and development potential were more relevant for planning purposes than purely physical, political, or cultural divisions. This economic approach allowed for more functional and development-oriented regional planning.

 Option (2) is correct.

Pratibha Patil, the 12th President of India (2007-2012), was born in Nadgaon village in the Jalgaon district of Maharashtra. She was the first woman to serve as President of India. Rajasthan is her birthplace by some accounts, but she represented Maharashtra in politics.

The Small Scale Research Institute is located in Sindri, Dhanbad district. It was established to research and develop technologies for small-scale industries, supporting local entrepreneurship.

Soria Paharia (also called Sahariya) is the main tribe residing in the Raj Mahal hills region of Jharkhand. They are one of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in the region, with distinct cultural practices.

Santhal is the largest tribal community in Jharkhand, both numerically and in terms of cultural influence. They constitute a significant portion of the state's tribal population and have a rich cultural heritage.

The Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) is located in Dhanbad, Jharkhand. It was established in 1926 and is a premier institution for mining engineering and earth sciences. Dhanbad is known as the 'coal capital of India' and is home to many mining-related industries and research institutions.

The Science City in Jharkhand is located in Ranchi, the capital city. It was established to promote scientific temper and awareness among the public, particularly students, through interactive exhibits and educational programs.

According to the 2011 census, Dhanbad district had the highest population density in Jharkhand, primarily due to its industrial and mining activities attracting large workforce populations. As the coal capital of India, Dhanbad's urban concentration contributed to its high density figures.

Sal (Shorea robusta) is the designated state tree of Jharkhand. The Sal tree is ecologically and economically significant in the region, forming extensive forests in Jharkhand and providing timber, resin, and other forest products. It represents the state's rich forest heritage.

Ranchi is the correct answer as it is located on the Chhota Nagpur plateau in Jharkhand. Bhilai is in Chhattisgarh, Durgapur is in West Bengal (not on Chhota Nagpur plateau), and Ghatshila, while in Jharkhand, is not a major industrial settlement like Ranchi.

Parbatpur in Jharkhand houses India's largest methane gas well. The region has significant coal bed methane (CBM) reserves, and Parbatpur is the key site for extraction.