GENERAL STUDIES 

(GEOGRAPHY )MAINS

NCERT BASED QUESTIONS

2013 mains

Q.       Bring out the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats.

Q.       Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degree north and on the western side of the continents. Why?

Q.       There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why?

Q.       What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences in its support.

Q.       What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place?

2014 mains

Q.       Why are the world's fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of Fold Mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes.

Q.       Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos.

2015 mains

Q.       Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in macro-climatic changes.

Q.       Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation?

2016 mains

Q.       “The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides.” Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation.

2017 mains

Q.       Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects.

NCERT CONCEPT + CURRENT EVENTS +

BIT OF EXTRA READING

2013

Q.       Discussion the various social problems which originated out of the speedy process of urbanization in India.

Q.       Analyze the factors for highly decentralized cotton textile industry in India.

Q.       Do you agree that there is a growing trend of opening new sugar mills in the Southern states of India? Discuss with justification.

Q.       It is said the India has substantial reserves of shale oil and gas, which can feed the needs of country for quarter century. However, tapping of the resources doesn't appear to be high on the agenda. Discuss critically the availability and issues involved.

Q.       With growing scarcity of fossil fuels, the atomic energy is gaining more and more significance in India. Discuss the availability of raw material required for the generation of atomic energy in India and in the world.

Q.       Bring out the causes for the formation of heat islands in the urban habitat of the world.

Q.       The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world?

Q.       Adaptation of PPP model for infrastructure development of the country has not been free from criticism. Critically discuss the pros and cons of the model.

Q.       Examine the impact of liberalization on companies owned by Indian. Are the competing with the MNCs satisfactorily?

Q.       India needs to strengthen measures to promote the pink revolution in food industry for better nutrition and health. Critically elucidate the statement.

Q.       Establish the relationship between land reform, agriculture productivity and elimination of poverty in Indian Economy. Discussion the difficulty in designing and implementation of the agriculture friendly land reforms in India.

Q.       Food security bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India. Critically discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along with the concerns it has generated in WTO.

Q.       How important are vulnerability and risk assessment for pre-disaster management. As an administrator ,what are key areas that you would focus in a disaster management

Q.       What are the consequences of illegal mining? Discuss the ministry of environment and forests' concept of “GO AND NO GO” zones for coal mining.

Q.       Write a note on India's green energy corridor to alleviate the problems of conventional energy.

Q.       What do you understand by run of the river hydroelectricity project? How is it different from any other hydroelectricity project?

Q.       Enumerate the National Water Policy of India. Taking river Ganges as an example, discuss the strategies which may be adopted for river water pollution control and management. What are the legal provisions for management and handling of hazardous wastes in India?

2014

Q.       Why did the Green Revolution in India virtually by-pass the eastern region despite fertile soil and good availability of water?

Q.       Account for the change in the spatial pattern of the Iron and Steel industry in the world.

Q.       Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain.

Q.       How does India see its place in the economic space of rising natural resource rich Africa?

Q.       Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.

Q.       Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree?

Q.       Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?

Q.       The right to fair compensation and transparency land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement act, 2013 has come into effect from 1 January 2014. What implication would it have on industrialisation and agriculture in India?

Q.       National urban transport policy emphasizes on moving people instead of moving vehicles. Discuss critically the success of various strategies of the government in this regard.

Q.       Explain how private public partnership agreements, in longer gestation infrastructure projects, can transfer unsuitable liabilities to the future. What arrangements need to be put in place to ensure that successive generations' capacities are not compromised?

Q.       Normally countries shift from agriculture to industry and then later to services, but India shifted directly from agriculture to services. What are the reasons for the huge growth of services vis-a-vis industry in the country? Can India become a developed country without a strong industrial base?

Q.       Drought has been recognised as a disaster in view of its party expense, temporal duration, slow onset and lasting effect on various vulnerable sections. With a focus on the September 2010 guidelines from the National disaster management authority, discuss the mechanism for preparedness to deal with the El Nino and La Nina fallouts in India

Q.       Should the pursuit of carbon credit and clean development mechanism set up under UNFCCC be maintained even through there has been a massive slide in the value of carbon credit? Discuss with respect to India's energy needs for economic growth.

Q.       Environmental impact assessment studies are increasingly undertaken before project is cleared by the government. Discuss the environmental impacts of coal-fired thermal plants located at Pitheads.

2015

Q.       Smart cities in India cannot sustain without smart villages. Discuss this statement in the backdrop of rural urban integration.

Q.       Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?

Q.       Critically evaluate the various resources of the oceans which can be harnessed to meet the resource crisis in the world.

Q.       India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.

Q.       What are the economic significances of discovery of oil in Arctic Sea and its possible environmental consequences?

Q.       How far do you agree that the behavior of the Indian monsoon has been changing due to humanizing landscapes? Discuss.

Q.       There is a clear acknowledgement that Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are a tool of industrial development, manufacturing and exports. Recognizing this potential, the whole instrumentality of SEZs requires augmentation. Discuss the issues plaguing the success of SEZs with respect to taxation, governing laws and administration.

Q.       How can the 'Digital India' programme help farmers to improve farm productivity and income? What steps has the Government taken in this regards?

Q.       Livestock rearing has a big potential for providing non-farm employment and income in rural areas. Discuss suggesting suitable measures to promote this sectors in India

Q.       In view of the declining average size of land holdings in India which has made agriculture non-viable for a majority of farmers, should contract farming and land leasing be promoted in agriculture? Critically evaluate the pros and cons.

Q.       What are the impediments in marketing and supply chain management in industry in India? Can e-commerce help in overcoming these bottlenecks?

Q.       The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India's preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects.

Q.       To what factors can the recent dramatic fall in equipment costs and tariff of solar energy be attributed? What implications does the trend have for the thermal power producers and the related industry?

Q.       The Namami Gange and National mission for clean Ganga (NMCG) programmes and causes of mixed results from the previous schemes. What quantum leaps can help preserve the river Ganga better than incremental inputs?

2016

Q.       With a brief background of quality of urban life in India, introduce the objectives and strategy of the 'Smart City Programme'.

Q.       Major cities of India are becoming more vulnerable to flood conditions. Discuss.

Q.       In what way micro-watershed Development projects help in water conservation in drought prone and semi-arid regions of India.

Q.       Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport in India.

Q.       Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations.

Q.       South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context. Comment.

Q.       The effective management of land and water resources will drastically reduce the human miseries. Explain.

Q.       What are 'Smart Cities? Examine their relevance for urban development in India. Will it increase rural-urban differences? Give arguments for Smart Villages' in the light of PURA and RURBAN Mission.

Q.       How globalization has led to the reduction of employment in the formal sector of the Indian economy? Is increased informalization detrimental to the development of the country?

Q.       What is water-use efficiency? Describe the role of micro-irrigation in increasing the water-use efficiency.

Q.       What is allelopathy? Discuss its role in major cropping systems of irrigated agriculture.

Q.       Given the vulnerability of Indian agriculture to vagaries of nature, discuss the need for crop insurance and bring out the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY).

Q.       Discuss the role of land reforms in agricultural development. Identify the factors that were responsible for the success of land reforms in India.

Q.       The frequency of urban floods due to high intensity rainfall is increasing over the years. Discussing the reasons for urban floods. highlight the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.

Q.       With reference to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines, discuss the measures to be adopted to mitigate the impact of the recent incidents of cloudbursts in many places of Uttarakhand.

Q.       Rehabilitation of human settlements is one of the important environmental impacts which always attracts controversy while planning major projects. Discuss the measures suggested for mitigation of this impact while proposing major developmental projects.

Q.       Give an account of the current status and the targets to be achieved pertaining to renewable energy sources in the country. Discuss in brief the importance of National Programme on Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

2017

Q.       The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up new avenues employment but has also created new problems. Substantiate this statement with examples.

Q.       Petroleum refineries are not necessarily located nearer to crude oil producing areas, particularly in many of the developing countries. Explain its implications.

Q.       What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the won population residing in Monsoon Asia?

Q.       In what way can flood be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in India?

Q.       How does the cryosphere affect global climate?

Q.       Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulse because of which the year 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by the United Nations.

Q.       In spite of adverse environmental impact, coal mining is still inevitable for development.” Discuss.

Q.       How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth?

Q.       Examine the developments of Airports in India through Joint Ventures under Public-Private Partnership(PPP) model. What are the challenges faced by the authorities in this regard.

Q.       “Industrial growth rate has lagged behind in the overall growth of Gross-Domestic-Product(GDP) in the post-reform period” Give reasons. How far the recent changes in Industrial Policy are capable of increasing the industrial growth rate?

Q.       What are the major reasons for declining rice and wheat yield in the cropping system? How crop diversification is helpful to stabilize the yield of the crop in the system?

Q.       Explain various types of revolutions, took place in Agriculture after Independence in India. How these revolutions have helped in poverty alleviation and food security in India?

Q.       What are the reasons for poor acceptance of cost effective small processing unit? How the food processing unit will be helpful to uplift the socio-economic status of poor farmers?

Q.       On December 2004, tsumani brought havoc on 14 countries including India. Discuss the factors responsible for occurrence of Tsunami and its effects on life and economy. In the light of guidelines of NDMA (2010) describe the mechanisms for preparedness to reduce the risk during such events.

Q.       'Climate Change' is a global problem. How India will be affected by climate change? How Himalayan and coastal states of India will be affected by climate change?

Q.       Not many years ago, river linking was a concept but it is becoming reality in the country. Discuss the advantages of river linking and its possible impact on the environment.

2018

Q.       “The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system.” How can it be made effective in urban areas?

Q.       What is the significance of Industrial Corridors in India? Identify industrial corridors, explain their main characteristics.

Q.       Define blue revolution, explain the problems and strategies for pisciculture development in India.

Q.       Why is India taking keen interest in resources of Arctic Region?

Q.       What are the consequences of spreading of 'Dead Zones' on marine ecosystem?

Q.       Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics.

Q.       Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation?

Q.       With growing energy needs should India keep on expanding its nuclear energy programme? Discuss the facts and fears associated with nuclear energy.

Q.       Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy is the sine qua non to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Comment on the progress made in India in this regard.

Q.       Sikkim is the first 'Organic State' in India. What are the ecological and economical benefits of Organic State?

Q.       Assess the role of National Horticulture Mission (NHM) in boosting the production, productivity and income of horticulture farms. How far has it succeeded in increasing the income of farmers?

Q.       How has the emphasis on certain crops brought about changes in cropping patterns in recent past? Elaborate the emphasis on millets production and consumption.

Q.       Examine the role of supermarkets in supply chain management of fruits, vegetables and food items. How do they eliminate number of intermediaries?

Q.       Describe various measures taken in India for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) before and after signing 'Sendai Framework for DRR (2015-2030)'. How is this framework different from 'Hyogo Framework for Action, 2005?

Q.       What are the impediments in disposing the huge quantities of discarded solid wastes which are continuously being generated? How do we remove safely the toxic wastes that have been accumulating in our habitable environment?

Q.       What is wetland? Explain the Ramsar concept of 'wise use' in the context of wetland conservation. Cite two examples of Ramsar sites from India.

2019

Q.       How is efficient and affordable urban mass transport key to the rapid economic development of India?

Q.       Discuss the factors for localization of agro-based food processing industries of North-West India.

Q.       Can the strategy of regional-resource based manufacturing help in promoting employment in India?

Q.       What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?

Q.       How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism?

Q.       Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology.

Q.       How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and the coastal environment? Give suitable examples?

Q.       Assess the impact of global warming on coral life system with examples.

Q.       How can biotechnology improve the living standards of farmers?

Q.       How far is the Integrated Farming System (IFS) helpful in sustaining agricultural production?

Q.       Elaborate on the impact of the National Watershed Project in increasing agricultural production from water-stressed areas.

Q.       Elaborate on the policy taken by the government of India to meet the challenges of the food processing sector.

Q.       Disaster preparedness is the first step in any disaster management process. Explain how hazard zonation mapping will help in disaster mitigation in the case of landslides.

Q.       Vulnerability is an essential element for defining disaster impacts and its threat to people. How and in what ways can vulnerability to disasters be characterized? Discuss different types of vulnerability with reference to disasters.

Q.       Define the concept of carrying capacity of an ecosystem as relevant to an environment. Explain how understanding this concept is vital while planning for sustainable development of a region.

Q.       Coastal sand mining, whether legal or illegal, poses one of the biggest threats to our environment. Analyse the impact of sand mining along the Indian coasts, citing specific examples.