Indian geography

Indian Agriculture- Current Status, Issues & initiatives.

Indian Agriculture Mainstay of Indian Economy Since independence, undergone a change from being the sector contributing the highest share to the GDP to one contributing the lowest share. Agriculture is a state subject. GDP contribution (Agriculture and allied sector) 5 pc in 1950-51 7 pc in 2008-09 and 14.6 pc in 2009-10. It was 19 pc in 2004-05. (2004-05 prices) Agricultural GDP grew by 0.4 pc in 2009-10 and -0.1 pc in 2008-09. Employment 9 pc in 1961 9 pc in 1999-2000 2 pc in 2008-09 1999-2000: Number at 237.8 million GCF Share in total GCF 2009-10: 7.7 pc (2004-05 ... Read more

Agricultural Crops of India

  Crop State Prod Prod Yield Rainfall Temp Soil % (Mil Kg/Ha cm Deg C T) Rice W. Bengal 15 87 1900 125-200 cm >23 C Deep Fertile UP 14 Clayey or loamy Andhra Pr 13 soil Punjab 11 Wheat UP 35 74 2700 80 cm 10-25 C Light loam   Punjab 20 Sandy Loam Haryana 172 Clay Loam M.P. 11 Jowar Maharashtra 47 7.7 770 30-65 cm 27-32 C Black clayey soil Karnataka 20 M.P. 10 Bajra Rajasthan 33 7.1 720 40-50 cm 25-30 C Light sandy UP 18 Shallow black Gujarat 16 Red upland soil Maharashtra 14 Maize ... Read more

Landforms

Three Geological divisions: The peninsular block The Himalayas and other Peninsular Mountains Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain   Peninsualar block is made of gneisses (metamorphic) and granites (igneous). Six physiographic divisions: The Northern and North-eastern Mountains The Northern Plain The Peninsular Plateau The Indian Desert The Coastal Plains The Islands Northern and North-Eastern Mountains Approximate length of the Great Himalayan range: 2500 KM. Width: 160-400 KM Impact of Himalayas on the climate of India? It can be divided into five sub-divisions: Kashmir (or Northwestern) Himalayas Himachal and Uttaranchal Himalayas Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas Arunachal Himalayas Eastern Hills and Mountains Kashmir Himalayas Ranges: Karakoram, ... Read more

Multipurpose Projects & Hydro-Electric Projects in India

                        Project River State     56.   Damodar Valley Project Damodar West Bengal & Jharkhand. It includes Maithon                 & Tilaiya Dam on Barakar river in Bihar, Konar                 Dam (Konar river) & Panchet Dam (Damodar).     57.   Rihand Dam   Rihand Uttar Pradesh     58.   Nagarjunasagar Project Krishna Andhra Pradesh. Consists of two canals – Lal                 Bahadur Canal (Left) & Jawahar ... Read more

Mineral Resources of India

    50. Iron Ore Chhattisgarh 24 % Dalli, Rajhra (Durg), Bailadila, Raoghat, Aridongri 51.   Goa (21%) Sanquelim, Sanguem, Quepem, Satari, Ponda, Bicholim 52.   Karnataka (20%) Bellary, Hospet, Sandur 53.   Jharkhand (17 %) Noamund, Gua 54.   Orissa (15 %) Gurumahisani, Sulaipat, Badampahar (Mayurbhanj),       Kiriburu, Meghahataburu, Bonai (Sundargarh). 55.   Maharashtra Chandrapur, Ratnagiri, Bhandara 56.   Andhra Pr. Karimnagar, Warangal, Kurnod, Cuddapah, Anantpur di   57.   Tamil Nadu Tirthmalai, Yadapalli, Killimalai, kanjamalai, & Gondumalai 58. Copper M. P (46%) Balghat (Malanjkhand) 59.   Rajasthan (33%) Khetri (Jhunjhunu & Alwar) 60.   Jharkhand (21%) ... Read more

Drainage System of India

Drainage: Flow of water through well-defined channels. Network of such channels is called a drainage system . Drainage basin: An area drained by a river and its tributaries. Watershed: Boundary line separating one drainage basin from other. River basins are larger watersheds. Drainage pattern of an area depends on the geological time period, nature and structure of rocks, topography, rocks, slope, amount of water and periodicity of flow. Important drainage patterns: Dendritic: Resembling the branches of a tree. Eg. Northern Plain rivers Radial: Originate from a hill and flow in all directions. Eg. Rivers in Amarkantak Trellis: Primary tributaries parallel ... Read more

Environment and Ecological Issues

ECOLOGY   Ecology is  defined “as a scientific study of the relationship of the living organisms with each other and with their environment.” The classical texts of the Vedic period such as the Vedas, the Samhitas, the Brahmanas and the Aranyakas-Upanishads contain many references to ecological concepts .The Indian treatise on medicine, the Caraka- Samhita and the surgical text Susruta-Samhita. contain classification of animals on the basis of habit and habitat, land in terms of nature of soil, climate and vegetation; and description of plants typical to various localities. Caraka- Samhita contains information where air, land, water and seasons were ... Read more

Development of Industries : Types of Industries;factors of industrial location, distribution and changing pattern of selected industries [iron and steel, cotton textile, sugar and petro- chemicals); Weber’s theory of industrial location-lts relevance in the modern world.

  Types of Industries Based on the value addition and tangibility broadly we can have three types of industries – primary industries,secondary industries and tertiary industries. Primary industries are usually very simple industries involving processing of raw materials to give input goods for secondary industries. Here value addition is usually minimal and they are usually material oriented.Scale of operation may be small or may be very large.Examples are: coal mining and washing, oil-refining,flour milling, metal smelting, stone crushing, etc. Secondary industries are very complex and diversified which took input from primary industries and add significant value to it in different ... Read more

Non- metallic and conventional minerals [coal,petroleum and natural gas), (c) hydro electricity and non conventional sources of energy (Solar, Wind, bio-gas),(d) energy sources Their distribution and conservation.

  Petroleum, natural gas, coal, nitrogen, uranium and water power are examples of conventional sources of energy. They’re also called non-renewable sources of energy and are mainly fossil fuels, except water power. Rising growth of population has created a tremendous pressure on the conventional resources of energy and thus the concept of sustainable development get prominent position.   Coal Coal in India occurs in two important types of coal fields. They are the Gondwana coal fields and Tertiary coal fields. Out of the total coal   reserves and production in India, Gondwana coal fields contribute 98% and the rest 2% is ... Read more

Minerals and Energy Resources : Distribution and utility of [a] metallic minerals (ion ore, copper, bauxite, manganese)

  Mineral is a naturally occurring, homogeneous inorganic solid substance having a definite chemical composition and characteristic crystalline structure, color, and hardness Minerals are valuable natural resources that are finite and non-renewable. The history of mineral extraction in India dates back to the days of the Harappan civilization. The wide availability of minerals in the form of abundant rich reserves and the ecogeological conditions make it very conducive for the growth and development of the mining sector in India.  India  is particularly rich in the metallic minerals of the ferrous group such as iron ores, manganese, chromite and titanium. It has ... Read more