Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – May 3, 2019

Pair 1 is correct.

Zoji La is a high mountain pass in Jammu and Kashmir, India, located on the Indian National Highway 1D between Srinagar and Leh in the western section of the Himalayan mountain range. Zoji La pass provides a vital link between Ladakh and Kashmir Valley.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947, Zoji La was seized by Pakistani supported invaders in 1948 in their campaign to capture Ladakh.

Pair 2 is correct.

The Nathula Pass or Nathu La Pass links the state of Sikkim in India with the Tibetan Autonomous Region in China. The Nathula Pass creates a portion of a branch of the old Silk Road.

Pair 3 is correct.

The Shipki pass or Shipki La Pass is a mountain pass and boundary check post on the border between India and China. The Sutlej River moves into India from Tibet via this pass.

Pair 4 is incorrect.

Bomdila Pass connects Arunachal Pradesh with Bhutan and Lhasa (the capital of Tibet). This mountain pass is situated to the east of Bhutan in the Greater Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh. Owing to the snowfall and adverse weather in the winter season it remains closed.

Some important mountain passes:

# Mountain Passes Connection Places

1. Aghil Pass Ladakh region of India with the Xinjiang (Sinkiang) Province of China
2. Chang – La Ladakh with Tibet
3. Khardung – La Nubra velley to Leh Town
4. Lanak – La India and China (Akasai Chin Area of Jammu and Kashmir)
5. Bara Lacha La Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmire
6. Rohtang Pass Kullu Valley with Lahul and Sipti Valleys of Himachal Pradesh
7. Niti Pass Uttarakhand with Tibet

Pair 1 is correct.

Sandalwood is a tree of Moist Deciduous forests. The Moist Deciduous forests are more pronounced in the regions which record rainfall between 100-200 cm. These forests are found in the northeastern states along the foothills of Himalayas, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and Odisha.

Other varieties of trees found in the Moist Deciduous forests are Teak, Sal, Shisham, Hurra, Mahua, Amla, Semul, Kusum etc.

Pair 2 is incorrect.

Palas is a tree found in the Dry Deciduous Forests. Dry Deciduous forests cover vast areas of India where, rainfall ranges between 70-100 cm. The tree varieties found in Tropical thorn Forests are babool, ber, and wild date plam, khair, neem, khejri etc. Tropical Thorn Forests occur in the areas which receive rainfall less than 50 cm. Dry Deciduous forests are found in rainier areas of the Peninsula and the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Pair 3 is incorrect.

Rhododendrons is an example of Alpine forest. It occurs between an altitudes of 3000-4000 m. Silver firs, junipers, pines and birch are some notable species of Alpine forest.

Karnataka has 166,000 ha of area under mulberry cultivation. Karnataka holds the top rank in producing raw silk, coffee, and sandalwood oriented goods.

Karnataka forms a part of the Deccan Plateau, it lies on the western edge of the plateau. The predominant soil in the eastern tract of Karnataka is the red soil. Laterite soils occur in the western parts in the districts of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, Hassan and Mysore. They support tea, coffee, rubber and coconut plantations. The traditional soil groups of Karnataka and the soils of the major landforms of Karnataka are given below.

The main minerals found in Karnataka are gold, silver, copper, iron-ore, manganese, limestone, dolomite, asbestos, bauxite, chromite, kaolin and granite rock. More than 90% of the gold produced in India is produced in the southern part of Karnataka. Kolar Gold Fields (in Kolar District) and Hatti Gold Mines (in Raichur District) are among the oldest gold mines in the world. Besides these, gold reserves have been found in Dharwad and Chitradurga also.

Raichur is also known for its silver deposits. Karnataka also has the largest reserves of Manganese ore in the country.

Duncan Passage is located between South Andaman and little Andaman. It is a strait in the Indian Ocean. It is about 48 km (30 miles) wide; it separates Rutland Island (part of Great Andaman) to the north, and Little andaman to the south. West of Duncan Passaqe is the Bay of Bengal; east is the Andaman Sea.

Statement 1 is correct.

The Western Himalayas Extends till west of River Kali (around 80°E Longitude).

Statement 2 is correct.

The dominant vegetation in the western Himalayas is Coniferous forests and alpine vegetation. The Natural vegetation reflects the impact of lower rainfall.

Statement 3 is incorrect.

Snowline is lower than Eastern Himalayas. Precipitation in western Himalayas is comparatively low and occurs mostly as snowfall whereas in eastern Himalayas the precipitation is greater and occurs mostly in the form of rain. Therefore, net accumulation of snow is more in Western Himalayas.

Snowline is the boundary on a mountain beyond which there is perpetual (permanent) snow.

Statement 1 is incorrect.

Meteorological drought is a situation when there is a prolonged period of inadequate rainfall marked with mal-distribution of the same over time and space.

According to India Meteorological Department, meteorological drought over an area is defined as a situation when the seasonal rainfall received over the area is less than 75% of its long term average value. It is further classified as “moderate drought” if the rainfall deficit is between 26-50% and “severe drought” when the deficit exceeds 50% of the normal.

Statement 2 is correct.

Agricultural drought is also known as soil moisture drought, characterized by low soil moisture that is necessary to support the crops, thereby resulting in crop failures. If an area has more than 30 percent of its gross cropped area under irrigation, the area is excluded from the drought –prone category.

Jute is known as golden fibre. Jute grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year. High temperature is required during the time of growth.

At present, India produces about three-fifth of jute production of the world. West Bengal accounts for about three-fourth of the production in the country.

It is also grown in Bihar, Assam and other adjoining areas. Being concentrated only in a few states, this crop accounts for only about 0.5 per cent of total cropped area in the country.

It is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts. Due to its high cost, it is losing market to synthetic fibres and packing materials, particularly the nylon.