THE WISDOM ACADEMYIt is ideally suited for the cultivation of cotton. Red and yellow soils are found...

THE WISDOM ACADEMY FOR CIVIL SERVICES

“YOUR SUCCESS,YOUR WAY,TO BUILD A NATION”

THE WISDOM ACADEMY www.upscwala.com 3rd floor,Keshav Prasad Building, near Jogeshwari Silk Sarees, Kumthekar Road, Pune-30 Contact no.9158393003

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CONTENTS

1. RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

2. FOREST AND WILD LIFE RESOURCES

3. WATER RESOURCES

4. AGRICULTURE

5. MINERALS AND ENERGY RESOURCES

6. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES

7. LIFE LINES OF NATIONAL ECONOMY

8. DISASTER MANAGEMENT




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RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT

Types of Resources

The things available in our environment that can be used to satisfy our needs are called resources.Things available in our environment become resources only when human beings find a way to transform them into a useful form. For a thing to become a resource: Suitable technology must exist to transform it into some useful form. Its use must be financially viable and culturally acceptable.

Resources can be classified based on their origin, exhaustibility, ownership and status of development. Resources can be living or non-living. All resources that come from living things, like forests, land and sea animals, insects and human beings, are called biotic resources. Resources in the form of non-living things, like rocks, minerals and metals, are called abiotic resources. Resources can also be classified based on whether they can be regenerated or lost forever once used. Resources like solar and wind energy, reversible chemical reactions and physical power, which can be regenerated once used, are called renewable resources. Fossil fuels like coal, natural oil and gas cannot be reproduced once used are examples of non-renewable resources. Resources like private houses, shops, farms and plantations are owned by individual persons, and are called individual resources. Resources like public parks, places of worship, schools and hospitals which are open to all members of a community are examples of community-owned resources. All resources, biotic or abiotic, individual or community-owned, ultimately belong to the country and are called national resources. Resources found on land and the vast stretches of oceans, which are not owned by any particular nation, are called international resources, and are managed by institutions related to the United Nations. Resources like mines, where minerals have already been discovered and production is on to utilise their full capacity, are called developed resources. Resources that are known to exist, but are not being fully utilised, are called potential resources. Stock is a type of resource that cannot be used due to the unavailability of suitable technology, but may be used in the future. Resources that can be used today, but are preserved to meet future requirements, are called reserves.

Development and Planning of Resources

Sustainable development means using resources wisely without damaging the environment and keeping in mind the need of future generations. Indiscriminate use of resources leads to: A rapid depletion of resources An economic divide in the society, Environmental and ecological problems like pollution, land degradation, global warming and ozone layer

depletion. The first Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in June 1992 where leaders from over 100 countries signed the Declaration on Global Climatic Change and Biological Diversity, approved the global forest principles and adopted Agenda 21.




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Agenda 21 aims to prevent environmental damage and fight poverty and diseases through global cooperation. It also aims to encourage local governments to form their own Agenda 21 based on local issues. The resources in a country are not distributed uniformly across all its regions. The mere presence of resources is not enough for the development of a region. Resource planning involves: The identification and inventory of resources Planning with the appropriate technology, skilled human resources, setting up of suitable institutions for

the implementation of resource development plans, and equitable distribution of available resources for sustained economic development

Matching these with national development plans The different activities involved in resource planning are:

Identifying and estimating the resources available by surveying and mapping Evolving technology, skilled personnel and institutions to implement resource development plans Continuously monitoring and guiding resource development plans to match the overall national

development goals. The availability of resources is limited. Irresponsible and over-use of resources can lead to several social, economic and environmental problems. We must plan for the future and start conserving our resources at all levels. Land Resources India is the 7th largest country in the world with a geographical area of about 3.28 million square kilometres. Land in India can be divided into three main relief features. Around 30% of our land is occupied by mountains, 43% is plain and 27% is in the form of plateau. Depending on their use, our land resources can be classified as forests, net sown area or total area under cultivation, fallow lands, other uncultivated land and land not available for cultivation. Fallow land can be further divided into current fallow, which is land not cultivated for one or less than one year, and other than current-fallow, which is land that has remained uncultivated for one to five years. Uncultivated land other than fallow land is divided into permanent pastures, land under miscellaneous tree crops and land left uncultivated for more than five years. Land not available for cultivation is either barren wasteland or land used for non-agricultural purposes. The area under forests is way below the required 33% as planned in the National Forest Policy formulated in 1952. Permanent pastures and grazing grounds decreased during the period. Continuous and indiscriminate use of land resources results in land degradation. Deforestation removes the green cover required to protect soil erosion. Overgrazing by cattle has converted permanent pastures into barren land, leading to land degradation. Indiscriminate deforestation and excavation done as part of mining activity and quarrying also causes land degradation. Over-irrigation of cultivated land in some parts of India leads to water logging. This increases the saline and alkaline levels in the soil, leading to land degradation. Disposal of solid and liquid waste by industries on surrounding land or water bodies has also become a major cause of land degradation and water pollution. Industrial activities like grinding of limestone, calcite and soapstone, which release dust, retards water infiltration into the soil. Some steps for land conservation are:

Afforestation, Controlled grazing and mining activity, Stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes, Proper disposal of industrial effluents after treatment and Continuous monitoring of soil conditions.




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Soil As a Resource Soil is formed over millions of years by weathering of rocks and minerals and also by natural agents like variation in temperature, climate, wind, glaciers and running water. The important factors that influence soil formation are Relief, Parent rock, Vegetation and other life forms and Time. Soil is a natural, abiotic, renewable resource containing inorganic and organic matter, like humus. Soil is an essential resource that supports a majority of plant and animal life on the Earth. Based on their physical and chemical properties, age, texture, and colour, soils in India can be classified as: alluvial, black soil, red and yellow soil, laterite, arid and forest soil. The northern plains of India are made of fertile alluvial soils, extending to Gujarat and Rajasthan, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra river systems. Alluvial soils are also found in the eastern coastal plains and deltas of the Godavari, the Mahanadi, the Krishna and the Kaveri. Alluvial soil is a mixture of sand, silt and clay. The new alluvial soils called Khadar found in the Gangetic plains have small particles and a fine texture. The old alluvial soils called Bangar found near the river valleys are coarser and contain more pieces of rocks called Kanker. The fertile alluvial soils are rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime and are ideal for growing sugarcane, wheat, rice, pulses and cereal crops. Black soil (also called regur) is found in the Deccan plateau spread over Maharashtra, Saurashtra, Malwa, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Black soil is rich in calcium carbonate, potash, magnesium, lime and good water retention properties. It is ideally suited for the cultivation of cotton. Red and yellow soils are found in southern and eastern parts of Deccan plateau, southern Gangetic plains, along the Western Ghats and some parts of Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The high iron content makes this type of soil good for cultivating various types of grams, groundnuts and castor seeds. Laterite soils are found in Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and parts of Orissa and Assam. Laterite soil is good for cultivation of tea, coffee and cashewnuts. Arid soil is found in western Rajasthan and parts of Kutch region in Gujarat that receive very little rainfall. Arid soil is low in moisture and organic content and has high salt content. Arid soil is being used for cultivation of bajra and wheat crops in some places of western Rajasthan where irrigation facility is available. Forest soils are found in the mountainous regions of the Himalayas from Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh. Wheat, rice, sugarcane, and oil seeds are cultivated in forest soils of many parts in Jammu and Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh.

Soil Erosion and Conservation

Soil is an essential natural resource that supports a majority of plant and animal life on the earth. It is a renewable resource. The loss of soil cover due to natural agents like wind and running water is called soil erosion. The roots of plants and trees keep the soil moist and hold the soil particles together. Humans destroy vegetation cover by deforestation, overgrazing, construction and mining activities. Without vegetation cover, soil becomes dry and loose, and gets easily eroded. Defective farming methods, like ploughing up and down a slope, increase the speed of water flowing down the slope increase the rate of soil erosion. Running water carves deep channels through clayey soils, called gully erosion, which converts the land into bad-land making it unsuitable for cultivation. When flowing water washes away the entire sheet of top soil in a region, it is called sheet erosion. Wind erosion occurs generally in areas of little or no vegetation. It happens in places that receive scanty rainfall. The prevention of soil erosion is called soil conservation and the ways can be:




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Terrace farming is one way to do so and involves cutting terraces along a slope. These terraces reduce the speed of water flowing down the slope and help in soil conservation.

Contour ploughing is also beneficial in reducing the flow of water down the slope and involves ploughing at right angles to the natural slope of land.

Effective farming techniques further help in soil erosion. In plain areas, strip cropping can be used for soil conservation where strips of grass are allowed to stand between crops in large fields. These strips of grass reduce the force of wind and thus prevent soil erosion.

Planting rows of trees along farmland also help break the force of wind and help in soil conservation. Shelter belts of trees, when planted along sand dunes, help stabilise them and prevent the desert from extending into land available for cultivation. Q1 : Multiple choice questions (i) Which one of the following type of resource is iron ore?

(a) Renewable (b) Biotic (c) Flow (d) Non-renewable

(ii) Under which of the following type of resource can tidal energy be put?

(a) Replenishable (b) Human-made (c) Abiotic (d) Non-recyclable

(iii) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab? (a) Intensive cultivation (b) Deforestation (c) Over irrigation (d) Overgrazing

(iv) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised? (a) Punjab (b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh (c) Haryana (d) Uttarakhand

(v) In which of the following states is black soil found? (a) Jammu and Kashmir (b) Gujarat (c) Rajasthan (d) Jharkhand

Answer : (i) (d) Non-renewable (ii) (a) Replenishable (iii) (c) Over irrigation (iv) (d) Uttarakhand (v) (b) Gujarat Q2 : Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in it. (ii) What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three main features of this type of soil. (iii) What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas? (iv) What are the biotic and abiotic resources? Give some examples. Answer : (i) Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Black soil is ideal for growing cotton.




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(ii) Alluvial soil Alluvial soils are very fertile. They are ideal for growing sugarcane, wheat and paddy. As it has morekankar nodules, old alluvial is less fertile than new alluvial. (iii) In the hilly areas, soil erosion can be controlled by ploughing across contour lines, making use of terrace farming techniques and using strips of grass to check erosion by wind and water. (iv) Biotic resources are composed of living things, and are derived from the biosphere, e.g., human beings, fisheries and livestock. Abiotic resources are composed of non-living things, e.g., metals and rocks. Q3 : Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61? (ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources? Answer : (i) Land resources in India are primarily divided into agricultural land, forest land, land meant for pasture and grazing, and waste land. Waste land includes rocky, arid and desert areas, and land used for other non-agricultural purposes such as housing, roads and industry. According to the recent data, about 54% of the total land area is cultivable or fallow, 22.5% is covered by forests, and 3.45% is used for grazing. The rest is waste land, with traces of miscellaneous cultivation. The improper use of forest land has degraded the available land area, and has made conservation of forests difficult. Human activities such as deforestation, mining and quarrying have contributed to the slow growth rate of forests. Thus, land under forest has increased by only about 4% since 1960-61. (ii) Technical and economic development have led to more consumption of resources on account of various factors. In colonial times, imperial powers would use their technological and economic superiority to establish control over other countries and thereby gain access to the latter's resources. Now, one country's resources became accessible to the citizens of its colonial ruler too, leading to increased consumption. Also, on account of technical and economic progress, populations are increasing due to low mortality at all ages. With the development of medicine and health care, fewer people die due to accidents, diseases, in childbirth etc. This too has contributed to higher consumption of resources.

Multiple Choice Questions 1. Coal, iron ore, petroleum, diesel etc. are the examples of a) Biotic resources b) Abiotic resources c) Renewableresources d) NonRenewableresources 2. Which one of the following term is used to identify the old and new alluvial respectively ? a) Khadar & Tarai b) Tarai & Bangar c) Bangar & Khadar d) Tarai & Dvars 3. Which one of the following soil is the best for cotton cultivation ? a) Red soil b) Black soil c) Laterite soil d) Alluvial soil 4. How much percentage of forest area should be in the country according to the National Forest Policy. a) 33% b) 37% c) 27% d) 31% 5. Which type of soil develops due to high temperature and evaporation ?




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a) Arid Soil b) Forest Soil c) Black Soil d) Red Soil 6. Which one of the following resources can be acquired by the Nation ? a) Potential resources b) International resources c) National resources d) Public resources 7. Which one of the following is responsible for sheet erosion ? a) Underground water b) Wind c) Glacier d) Water 8. Which one of the following method is used to break up the force of wind? a) Shelter belt b) Strip Cropping c) Contour ploughing d) Terrace farming 9 Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Madhya Pradesh ? a) Mining b) Overgrazing c) Deforestation d) Over Irrigation 10. Which one of the following statements refers to the sustainable development ? a) Overall development of various resources b) Development should take place without damaging the environment. c) Economic development of people. d) Development that meets the desires of the members of all communities. Answers key of MCQ : (1) d (2) c (3) b (4) a (5) a (6) c (7) d (8) a (9) c (10) b Short Answer Type Questions : Q1. What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in hilly areas ? Ans. 1)Terracing on hilly area 2) Buildings Dams on hilly areas 3) Afforestation Q2. When and why was the Rio-de-Janero Earth summit held ? Ans. 1992 Rio-de-Janero (Brazil) Earth summit To achieve sustainable development in order to combat environment damage, poverty and disease, it laid emphasis on global cooperation mutual needs and shared responsibilities. Q3. Write two characteristics each of Khadar and Bangar ? Ans. Khadar (New Alluvium)

1. New Alluvium soil 2. Very fertile soil, less Kankar nodules

Bangar (Old Alluvium) 1. Old Alluvium or Old soil 2. Less fertile, often contains Kankar nodules

Q4. What type of soil is found in river deltas of the eastern coast ? Give three main features of this type of soil. Ans. Alluvial Soil




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a. Most important soil b. Such a soil is the result of deposits of river. c. Very fertile soil.

Q5. What do you, mean by land use pattern ? Name the factors that determine the use of land. Ans. Utilization of land for various purposes such as cultivation grazing of animals mining construction of roads etc.

(a) Factors a. Topography b. Climate c. Human Factor d. Accessibility

Q6. Long Answer type questions 1. Classify resources on the basis of ownership into four categories. Mention the main feature of each. Ans. (1) Individual resources: Owned privately by individual. Example houses pasture etc. (2) Community Owned resources : accessible to all the members of the Community. Example : Play ground park etc. (3) National resources : within the political boundaries of the country. Example : Minerals, forests etc. (4) International resources : The oceanic resources beyond 200 Km. of the Exclusive Economic Zone belong to international institutions. Q2. What is resource planning ? Write any three utility of resources. And. Resource Planning : Resource Planning is a technique of skill of proper utilization of resources.

(a) They are beneficial to human being (b) Different types of things are made by them. (c) Resources are limited. Do not waste the great gifts of the nature.

Q3. Distinguish between the Renewable and Non- Renewable Resources. Ans. Renewable Resources

a. These Resources can be replenished and renewed. b. These Resources which may be obtained continuously.

Example : Land, water plants etc. Non Renewable Resources.

a. These Resources can’t be replenished and renewed. b. These are limited in number.

Example : Coal, Mineral-oil etc. Q4. Describe briefly the distribution of soils found in India. Ans. (1) Alluvial Soil (2) Black Soil (3) Red and Yellow Soil (4) Laterite Soil (5) Mountain Soil (6) Desert Soil Q5. What is regur soil ? Write its two features. Mention any two regions where regur soil is found. Ans. Regur soil – Black Soil Features

(a) made up extremely fine (b) have good capacity to hold moisture. (c) develop deep cracks during hot weather. (d) rich in calcium carbonate, potash and lime

Region Maharashtra – Malva Plateau ,Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh Plateau




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FOREST AND WILD LIFE RESOURCES Flora and Fauna in India Soil is an essential natural resource that supports a majority of plant and animal life on the earth. It is a renewable resource. The loss of soil cover due to natural agents like wind and running water is called soil erosion. The roots of plants and trees keep the soil moist and hold the soil particles together. Humans destroy vegetation cover by deforestation, overgrazing, construction and mining activities. Without vegetation cover, soil becomes dry and loose, and gets easily eroded. Defective farming methods, like ploughing up and down a slope, increase the speed of water flowing down the slope increase the rate of soil erosion. Running water carves deep channels through clayey soils, called gully erosion, which converts the land into bad-land making it unsuitable for cultivation. When flowing water washes away the entire sheet of top soil in a region, it is called sheet erosion. Wind erosion occurs generally in areas of little or no vegetation. It happens in places that receive scanty rainfall. The prevention of soil erosion is called soil conservation and the ways can be:

Terrace farming is one way to do so and involves cutting terraces along a slope. These terraces reduce the speed of water flowing down the slope and help in soil conservation.

Contour ploughing is also beneficial in reducing the flow of water down the slope and involves ploughing at right angles to the natural slope of land.

Effective farming techniques further help in soil erosion. In plain areas, strip cropping can be used for soil conservation where strips of grass are allowed to stand between crops in large fields. These strips of grass reduce the force of wind and thus prevent soil erosion.

Planting rows of trees along farmland also help break the force of wind and help in soil conservation. Shelter belts of trees, when planted along sand dunes, help stabilise them and prevent the desert from extending into land available for cultivation. Factors Responsible for the Depletion of Flora and Fauna The Asiatic Cheetah became extinct in India in 1952. The Himalayan Yew, a medicinal plant found in Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh. The bark, needles and roots of this plant yield a substance used to treat several types of cancer. Today, over exploitation has endangered the species. The main reason for the depletion of fauna is excessive hunting and poaching. Forests and wetlands are natural habitats of animals and the destruction of these has resulted in the depletion of our wildlife. Over-exploitation of forests has resulted in the depletion of flora. Deforestation is one of the main causes of the depletion of flora. In colonial India vast stretches of natural forests were destroyed for the expansion of railways, agriculture, commercial farming and mining. The colonial practice continued even after independence. Large infrastructure projects, like multi-purpose dams, have also resulted in massive deforestation. Mining also contributes to deforestation. Poor cultivation methods like slash and burn agriculture, or Jhuming, practised by tribal people in north-eastern and central India, have also led to deforestation. Overgrazing by cattle herds also leads to large-scale destruction of pastures and natural forests. Enrichment plantation is the practice of replacing different species of trees in an area by a single commercially valuable species.




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Teak plantations have damaged the natural forests in south India, while Chir Pine plantations in Himalayas have greatly reduced the natural oak and rhododendron forests. Factors like environmental pollution and forest fires lead to a depletion of both our flora and fauna. The environmental factors that lead to a decline in biodiversity are caused by inequitable consumption of resources and inequitable responsibility borne for the well-being of the environment. Hunting and poaching, habitat destruction, deforestation, over-exploitation, enrichment plantations, environmental pollution and forest fires are factors responsible for the decrease in India’s biodiversity. However, the responsibility for the protection and conservation of the environment is not shared by people in proportion with the resources that they consume. The depletion of flora and fauna has considerable impact on society, who are directly dependent on forests for resources and livelihood. Women have to walk long distances to collect food and firewood which leads to neglect of their children and household. Natural calamities like droughts and floods are also a result of environmental degradation and the hardest hit by these are the poorest. The flora and fauna of India are under severe threat, and require immediate measures of conservation. Conservation of Forests and Wildlife in India Conservation of plants and animals ensures the quality of air, water and soil on which we depend for our survival. Conservation of plants species is essential to maintain their genetic diversity which is extremely beneficial for our agricultural produce. Conservation of animal species is equally important for their breeding and maintenance of food chains. Conservation efforts in India resulted in Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The salient features of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972:

Making provisions for habitat protection, Publishing a list of protected species, Imposing legal restrictions on hunting, poaching and trade in wildlife, and Setting up of national parks and sanctuaries in different parts of India by giving legal protection to

the habitat. Announcing conservation projects for some specific endangered animals

Conservation efforts in India are expanding their scope to include even insects and plants in the list of protected species along with large animals. Hundreds of species of butterflies, moths, beetles and one species of dragonfly were included in the list of protected species through the Wildlife Act of 1980 and 1986. Six species of plants also found their way into this list in 1991. One conservation project in India’s wildlife conservation effort is dedicated to the Royal Bengal Tiger called Project Tiger. India and Nepal are home to about two-thirds of the tiger population in the world. The tiger population in India has decreased from 55,000 in 1900 to 1,827 in 1973. The main reason for such drastic decline in the tiger population is poaching for lucrative trade in tiger skin, claws and bones, and other body parts used in traditional medicines. The results of Project Tiger have been mixed. There are 29 tiger reserves in India. Some of the main tiger reserves are:

The Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, The Sunderbans National Park in West Bengal, The Bandhavgarh National Park in Madhya Pradesh,




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The Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan, The Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam and The Periyar Tiger Reserve in Kerala.

Types and Distribution of Forests and Wildlife Most of the forest and wildlife resources are owned by the Government of India, and managed through several departments like the Forest Department. Forests are divided into three types: Reserved Forests, Protected Forests and Unclassed Forests. Over 50% of the forests in India have been declared reserved forests. The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra have a large percentage of their forests classified as reserved forests. Around one-third of the forests in India are classified as protected forests. Most parts of the forests in Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Orissa and Rajasthan are classified as protected forests. Reserved and protected forests are together called permanent forest estates. Madhya Pradesh has the largest share of permanent forests in India, with almost 75% of its forests classified as permanent forests. All the forests and wastelands other than the reserved and protected forests are considered unclassed forests. Most of the forests in the north-eastern states of India and Gujarat are unclassed forests. Religious faith has led to the conservation of certain specific types of trees in different parts of India. Parts of forests or complete forests are protected by communities since they are considered to be abodes of gods and goddesses. Such protected forest areas are called sacred groves. Several animals are also considered sacred, and, therefore, not harmed. Another reason for community participation in conservation efforts is the concern for their own survival. Many tribal communities are actively helping government officials in their conservation efforts. Local villagers cited the Wildlife Protection Act to fight against the ongoing mining activity inside the Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan. In Alwar district of Rajasthan, people from 5 villages have declared 1,200 hectares of forest as the Bhairodev Dakav Sanctuary with a set of regulations that forbid hunting and encroachments. The Chipko Movement started in 1970 in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, where people, including women and children, hugged trees to prevent them from being cut. Farmers and citizen groups like Beej Bachao Andolan in Tehri, Uttarakhand and Navdanya are also aiming to conserve the environment by reviving traditional methods of farming. Orissa made a pioneering effort in this direction by launching the Joint Forest Management or JFM program in 1988. Under the Joint Forest Management program, local village communities participate in conservation efforts on degraded forestland. In return, the communities get the benefits of using the forest produce and a share in the timber harvested on the protected forest land. Q1 : Multiple choice questions (i) Which of these statements is not a valid reason for the depletion of flora and fauna? (a) Agricultural expansion (b) Large scale developmental projects (c) Grazing and fuel wood collection (d)Rapidindustrialisationandurbanisation (ii) Which of the following conservation strategies do not directly involve community participation? (a) Joint forest management (b) Beej Bachao Andolan




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(c) Chipko Movement (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries Answer : (i) (c) Grazing and fuel wood collection (ii) (d) Demarcation of Wildlife sanctuaries Q2 : Match the following animals with their category of existence.

Animals/Plants Category of existence

Black buck Extinct

Asiatic elephant Rare

Andaman wild pig Endangered

Himalayan brown bear Vulnerable

Pink head duck Endemic

Answer :

Animals/Plants Category of existence

Black buck Endangered

Asiatic elephant Vulnerable

Andaman wild pig Endemic

Himalayan brown bear Rare

Pink head duck Extinct

Q3 : Match the following.

Reserved forests other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities

Protected forests forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources

Unclassed forests

forest lands are protected from any further depletion

Answer :

Reserved forests forests are regarded as most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources

Protected forests forest lands are protected from any further depletion

Unclassed forests

other forests and wastelands belonging to both government and private individuals and communities

Q4 : Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives? (ii) How have human activities affected the depletion of flora and fauna? Explain. Answer : (i) Biodiversity is the variation of wildlife and cultivated species in a given ecosystem. In this interconnected web, each organism is a producer, consumer or decomposer. Other organisms, including humans, depend for their existence on such roles.




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(ii) Human activities such as poaching, deforestation, the expansion of railways, agriculture, commercial and scientific forestry, and mining are to blame for the depletion of flora and fauna. Q5 : Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Describe how communities have conserved and protected forests and wildlife in India. (ii) Write a note on good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife. Answer : (i) Indian forests are home to different communities. These communities have a complex relationship with their environment. The Mundas and the Santhal of Chhota Nagpur region worship Mahua and Kadamba trees; the tribals of Orissa and Bihar worship the tamarind and mango trees. Similarly, the Bishnois of Rajasthan hold the antelopes in high reverence. For these communities, particular flora and fauna are integral to their identity, so they take a number of steps to protect the same. Villagers around the Sariska Reserve have opposed mining activities in the region as these activities endanger wildlife. Villagers in the Alwar district of Rajasthan have banned hunting and lumbering activities in a 1200 hectare area they have marked as Bhairodev Dakav 'Sonchuri'. Such activities have helped preserve patches of virgin forest land. (ii) Good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife are plenty. Nowadays, many non-governmental organisations are working towards creating public awareness for conserving depleting forest cover and vanishing wildlife. Central and state governments in India have set up national parks and wildlife sanctuaries to protect forests and endangered species in wildlife. A recently developing practice towards conservation is the search for different conservation measures. Biodiversity is the new by-word of good practices towards conserving forest and wildlife. Various communities, especially in tribal areas, who are dependent on forests for their living are now taking an active role in this form of conservation. Q1. The diverse flora and fauna of the planet are under great threat mainly due to : (a) Global Warming (b) Lack of water availability (c) Insensitivity to our environment (d) Increasing pollution Q2. Which one of the following is an endangered species of Manipur ? (a) Blue Sheep (b) Asiatic Buffalo (c) Sangai (brow anter deer) (d) Cattle Q3. “The species that are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur” are known as : (a) Normal species (b) Vulnerable species (c) Extinct species (d) Rare species Q4. Which one of the following is a medicinal plant used to treat some types of cancer ? (a) Himalayan Yew (b) Himalayan Oak (c) Madhuca insignis (d) Hubbardia heptaneuron Q5. In which year, the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act was implemented ? (a) 1970 (b) 1971 (c) 1972 (d) 1974 Q6. Which one of the following was launched in 1973 ? (a) Project Tiger (b) Indian Wildlife Act (c) Wildlife Act (d) Indian Wildlife Protection Act Q7. Which one of the following is located in West Bengal ? (a) Corbett National Park (b) Sundarbans National Park (c) Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (d) Bandhangarh National Park




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Q8. In which one of the following states is Periyar Tiger Reserves Located ? (a) Rajasthan (b) Assam (c) Uttranchal (d) Kerala Q9. Which one of the following States has the largest area under permanent forest ? (a) Uttar Pradesh (b) Jammu & Kashmir (c) Punjab (d) Madhya Pradesh Q10 Which one of the following is a great achievement of the Chipko Movement ? (a) More trees are planted (b) Development in Himalayan region (c) Successfully resisted deforestation (d) Soil erosion get declined. Answers key of MCQ :

(1) c (2) c (3) c (4) a (5) a

(6) a (7) b (8) d (9) d (10) c

Short Answer Type Questions : Q1. In what ways the forests were harmed by the colonial government ? Ans. (1) For expansion of railways. (2) For expansion of agricultural field. (3) For expansion of commercial and scientific forestry. (4) For expansion of milling activities. Q2. What do your know about “Permanent forest estates ? Name the state which has the largest area under these forest estates. Ans. Reserved and protected forests are also referred to as “Permanent forest estates” (1) These forest states are maintained for the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce and for protective reasons. State : Madhya Pradesh (75 percent of its total forest area) Q3. Humans are dependent on the ecological system for their existence. Explain. Ans. As a part of the ecological system human beings are dependent on it for their existence. For example : (1) We breathe in air, we drink water, we grow crops in soil, etc. These are the non living components of the ecological system. (2) On the other hand plants, animals and other microorganisms recreate the quality of these non living components. Q4. Distinguish between reserved and protected forests.

Reserved Forests Protected Forests

(1) The reserved forests are regarded as the most valuable.

(1) The forests lands are protected from any further depletion.

(2) More than half of the total forests has been declared reserved forests.

(2) Almost one third of the total forest area is declared protected forests.

(3) These forests are majority found in Jammu & (3) These forests are majority found in Bihar,




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Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh, Uttranchal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal & Maharashtra.

Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan & Orissa.

Q5. Name any two North Eastern States of India having over 60 percent of Forests cover. Give two reasons. Ans. States – (i) Arunachal Pradesh (ii) Manipur There is an abundance of rainfall in N.E. States. The hilly terrain of these states protects the forests from human exploitation.

Long Answer type questions Q1. What are the negative factors that cause such fearful depletion of flora and fauna ? Ans. (1) Expansion of railways. (2) Conversion of forest land into agricultural land (3) Mining activities. (4) Large Scale development projects like river valley project etc. (5) Grazing of Pastoral animals. (6) Hunting and poaching of wild animals. Q2. Distinguish between endangered and extinct species.

Endangered Species Extinct Species

(1) These are species which are in danger of extinction.

(1) These are species which are not found after searches of known or likely areas where they may occur.

(2) The survival of such species is difficult if the negative factors that have led to a decline in their population continue to operate.

(2) They are already missing and their survival is suspicious.

(3) Examples : Blackbuck, wild ass, Indian rhino, crocodile, lion-tailed macaque etc.

(3) Examples : Asiatic cheetah, pink headed duck, Vultures etc.

Q3. How forests are useful to human beings ? Ans. (1) The raw materials for paper industry, match making, gums and resins are also extracted from the forest products. (2) They help in controlling soil erosion. (3) They help to bring rainfall. (4) They provide certain types of herbs which are in turn used to produce useful medicines. Q4. Describe the methods of forest conservation. Ans. (1) The cutting of trees in the forest must be stopped at all costs. Our government has introduced so many awareness programmes like Vanamahotsav. (2) Mass Media like newspapers, radio, television and cinema can help a lot in this direction. (3) We should bring more and more areas under forests (at least up to 33%) for the balanced development of our country. (4) The people on their parts also cooperate to check the falling of trees. “Chipko Movement” to check the careless falling of trees in the forests.




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WATER RESOURCES Water Sources Water is a renewable resource. Water is essential for domestic use, cultivation and also for industries. The majority of human uses require fresh water. 97 % of the water on the earth is salt water only 2.5 of the total water on the earth is exists as fresh water. Around 70 % of fresh water is frozen in glaciers and ice sheets. Only 30 % of water is stored as ground water. The source of almost all fresh water is precipitation. India receives nearly 4% of the global precipitation. Around 0.3 % of the total fresh water exists in rivers, lakes, streams, ponds and springs are natural sources of water. India has ample water resources in certain regions still India is in 133rd position in water availability per person per year. Water scarcity is posing an alarming threat in most parts of the world, including India. Water Scarcity Water scarcity is the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet the demands of water usage within a region. The increase in water demand is a contribution of various factors including growing population, increased agricultural needs, industrial use and for electricity production. Large amounts of industrial pollutants dumped in the rivers are responsible for destroying and leading to water shortage of the whole planet. Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture also get mixed with water bodies and pollute them. Overuse of tube wells for irrigation and use of bore wells for domestic use also leads to over exploitation of underground water , decreasing the level water table resulting in water scarcity. The problem of water waste is severe in countries where people are using the traditional inefficient irrigation methods for agricultural land. Government should invest to build more dams to fulfil the water demands and reduce the water shortage Multi-purpose River Projects People have always felt the need to store river water in the rainy season for use in the dry season. People in ancient India built many hydraulic structures like dams, artificial lakes, tanks and canals to store and divert water for irrigation. A dam is a structure that forms a barrier across a river to regulate the flow of water. Dams can be classified into several types based on their height and material used for construction. We have built many large dams across major rivers in India. The primary purpose of dams has always been to provide water for irrigation. Modern dams are also used to generate electricity and to supply water to industries and households. Dams are used to control flooding in flood-prone areas by regulating the flow of water downstream.




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The reservoirs created behind several dams are used for breeding fish. Dams can also be used to divert water into existing smaller streams to promote inland navigation. Several dams are popular tourist attractions and recreation spots. Dams are called multi-purpose river projects due to the many ways that they offer to manage our water resources. A dam creates an enormous reservoir of water that submerges vast stretches of the surrounding area. Major benefits of large multi-purpose projects go to big landowners and industrialists, while the local, poor, landless people have little to gain. Better irrigation facilities attract farmers to grow more water-intensive commercial crops, leading to over-irrigation and increase in soil salinity. Construction of dams cause ecological problems as well like these block the migration of fish, upsetting the ecological balance and putting several aquatic species in danger. The sudden release of large quantities of water from dams results in large-scale flooding in plain areas. Large dams obstruct the free flow of river water, resulting in disputes between different states over water sharing, and also over the sharing of costs and benefits of the project. Environmentalists associate large dams with causing of earthquakes, spread of water-borne diseases and degradation of soil. Most of the multi-purpose river projects in India so far have not met their desired objectives. Rainwater Harvesting Rain water feeds our rivers and seeps into the ground to recharge our underground water resources. Rainwater is one of the purest forms of water available in nature but is available to us only for a few months in a year. The process of collecting rain water during the wet season, to meet our fresh water requirements in the dry season, is called rainwater harvesting. In Himachal Pradesh and Jammu rain water is harvested using diversion channels called kuls or guls. Water flowing through the kuls is collected in reservoir tanks in the villages and used for irrigation as and when required. Farmers in Bengal traditionally used inundation channels cut through river embankments at times of floods to irrigate their fields. In some areas of Rajasthan, earthen embankments, called khadin, are built around farms to collect rain water during the rainy season. This saturates the soil for cultivation. In the semi-arid regions of Rajasthan, earthen check dams, called johads, are used to collect rainwater that percolates into the ground, raising the level of groundwater. One of the most widely used methods of collecting rain water is rooftop rainwater harvesting. In a rooftop rainwater harvesting system, rain water falling on the roof is collected and then filtered before being stored in tanks for immediate use. Excess water is diverted to wells to recharge groundwater. In many parts of Rajasthan, rain water collected through rooftop harvesting is collected in large underground reservoirs, called tankas. Almost all households in Shillong in Meghalaya use rooftop rainwater harvesting to meet almost 20% of their total requirement of water. Each of the 200 households in Gendathur, Karnataka, that adopted rooftop rainwater harvesting can collect 50,000 litres of rain water every year for its use. In bamboo drip irrigation, bamboos are split to make shallow channels. A complex network of such bamboo channels is used to divert and carry water from rain-fed springs to the farms. Channel sections in the farm allow the water to drip near the roots of the plants. Q1 : Multiple choice questions (i) Based on the information given below classify each of the situations as 'suffering from water scarcity' or 'not suffering from water scarcity'. (a) Region with high annual rainfall. (b) Region having high annual rainfall and large population. (c) Region having high annual rainfall but water is highly polluted.




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(d) Region having low rainfall and low population. (ii) Which one of the following statements is not an argument in favour of multi-purpose river projects? (a) Multi-purpose projects bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity. (b) Multi-purpose projects by regulating water flow help to control floods. (c) Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale displacements and loss of livelihood. (d) Multi-purpose projects generate electricity for our industries and our homes. (iii) Here are some false statements. Identify the mistakes and rewrite them correctly. (a) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have helped in proper utilisation of water resources. (b) Regulating and damming of rivers does not affect the river's natural flow and its sediment flow. (c) In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were not agitated when higher priority was given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts. (d) Today in Rajasthan, the practice of rooftop rainwater water harvesting has gained popularity despite high water availability due to the Rajasthan Canal. Answer :

(i) (a) Not suffering from water scarcity (b) Suffering from water scarcity (c) Suffering from water scarcity (d) Not suffering from water scarcity (ii) (c) Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale displacements and loss of livelihood. (iii) (a) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have caused the over exploitation of water resources. (b) Regulating and damming of rivers affect their natural flow and causes the sediment to settle at the bottom of the reservoir. (c) In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were agitated when higher priority was given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts. (d) Today in Rajasthan, the practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting is on the decline due to the Rajasthan canal. Q2 : Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) Explain how water becomes a renewable resource. (ii) What is water scarcity and what are its main causes? (iii) Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects. Answer : (i) All water that is used primarily ends up in the sea. From there, it enters the hydrological cycle in the form of water vapour. Freshwater is renewed by this cycle when precipitation occurs. Hence, water is a renewable resource. (ii) Water scarcity or water stress occurs when water availability is not enough to match the demand for water. It is caused by an increase in population, growing demand for water, and unequal access to it. (iii) Multipurpose river projects help in irrigation, electricity production, flood control, inland navigation and fish breeding. However, the reservoirs destroy local flora and fauna. Many native villages are submerged, and people lose their livelihood, with little or no hope of rehabilitation. Q3 : Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out. (ii) Describe how modern adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods are being carried out to conserve and store water.




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Answer : (i) Houses in the semi arid regions of Rajasthan have traditionally constructed tanks for storing drinking water. They are big and are a part of the well-developed rooftop rainwater harvesting system. The tanks are constructed inside the main house or the courtyard, and are connected to the sloping roofs of the houses through a pipe. The rain falling on the rooftop travels down and is stored in the tanks. The first spell of rain is not collected as this water cleans the roof and the pipes. The rainwater from the subsequent spells is collected. This water is used till the next rainy season, and is a reliable source of water even after other sources have dried up. The tanks also help in cooling the houses as rooms built around them have generally low temperatures due to conduction. (ii) Traditional methods of rainwater harvesting like 'the rooftop method' are becoming popular in India. In Gendathur village, Mysore, about 200 households have adopted the rooftop rainwater harvesting method, thereby making the village rich in rainwater. The state of Tamil Nadu has made it compulsory for all the houses to have rooftop rainwater harvesting structures. Defaulters are severely punished. Q.1 The total volume of the world’s water is estimated to exist as ocean: (a) 75% (b) 85% (c) 97% (d)87% Q.2 Roof top rainwater harvesting is the most common practice in- (a) Shillong (b) Guwahati (c) Imphal (d) Patna Q.3 On which river has Nagarjun Sager Dam been constructed? (a) River Coyana (b) River Krishna (c) River Godavari (d) river Tapti Q.4 How much %of the Earth’s Surface is covered with water? (a) About 70% (b) About 90% (c) About 60% (d) None of these Q.5 What is the rank of India in the world countries in the terms of Water availability per person p.a.? (a) 129th (b) 130th (c) 131st (d) 133rd Q.6 It is predicated that nearly 2 billion people will live in absolute water scarcity in the year of – (a) 2015 (b) 2020 (c) 2025 (d) 2030 Q.7 The first & the only state in India which has made Roof Top Rain water Harvesting Structured compulsory to all the across the state is – (a) Karnataka (b) Tamil Nadu (c) Kerala (d) none of these Answer key of MCQ Ans. 1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (a ) 5. ( d ) 6( c ) 7. ( b) SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS Q.1 State any three objectives of Rainwater harvesting?




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Ans: (a) To reduce run off water (b) To raise the water table (c) To reduce ground water pollution Q.2 What is multipurpose river valley project? State any two purposes which are fulfilled by a river valley project? Ans: Multipurpose river valley project consists a dam or series of dames on a river or rivers for fulfill many purposes like: (a) irrigation (b) electricity (c) control flood (d) check soil erosion (e) inland navigation (f) fisheries etc. Q.3 Mention three major sources of irrigation in India, which source of irrigation is more popular in southern state? and Why? Ans : (I) The three major sources pf irrigation in India are –

Canals Wells & tube wells Tanks

(II) Tank irrigation (III) Because Southern States are mostly come under Deccan plateau which are not suitable for irrigation by canals Q.4 What is “Water scarcity” what are its main causes? Ans: “Water scarcity” means shortage of water. Unequal distribution of rainfall Large & growing populatio Over exploitation of water Wastage of water by people

Q.5 Name any two multipurpose river valley projects or dams which are causes of new social movements. Why did people oppose them? Ans : Two Multipurpose project which are caused social movements –

Narmada –Bachao Andolan Tehri-Dam Andolan Sardar Sarover Dam

-Large scale displacement of local communities -Environment issues -Demand for Rehabilitation facilities from Govt. Q.6 Explain in brief – (a) Bamboo drip Irrigation System (b)Khadins & Johads (c) Guls & Kuls Ans: (1) In Meghalaya, 200 years old system of tapping stream and spring water by using Bamboo –pipes. (2) People built division channels from rivers for irrigation to their field in western Himalaya is called Guls or kuls (3) People developed inundation channels to irrigate their fields were converted into rain storage structure in particularly western Rajasthan Jaisalmer called Khadins and Johads in other parts of its state.




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Q.7.Why do we conserve water resources? Ans: i)To safeguard ours from health hazards ii) To ensure food scarcity iii)Toprotectnaturalecosystem LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS Q.1 How can rainwater be harvested? Explain. Ans : Rainwater can be harvested in the following ways By digging ponds and tanks.

By building embankments and check dams. By making arrangements for storage of rainwater on rooftops. By constructing concrete underground reservoirs. By constructing reservoirs in park and public places and covering them with concrete

slabs. Building plans should invariably be made only when there is a provision for water

harvesting. Q.2 What is the different causes of water pollution? Explain by four reasons. Ans: The different causes of water pollution are: Mix-up of domestic wastes Mix-up of Industrial wastes, (c)Use of Chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture (d) Oil slicking by ships in oceans

Q.3 Match the following

Column A Column B

1. Social movement 2. A dam 3. Jawaharalal Nehru declared the dams as the 4. Mawsynram

a) highest rainfall in the world b) temples of modern India c) a barrier across flowing water that obstructs the flow d) Narmada Bachao Andolan.




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AGRICULTURE Types of Farming Shifting cultivation allows the soil to regain its fertility naturally but gives very poor yield to farmers and leads to large-scale destruction of forests. Crops like corn, rice and millets are grown in this type of farming. Raw material from agriculture also supports a number of industries like cotton textiles, food processing and handicrafts. Primitive subsistence farming:

Involves cultivating food crops in small fields essentially to sustain the farmer’s family. Depends entirely on local soil and environment conditions and monsoons. Involves hard manual labour. Is slash-and-burn agriculture. Allows the soil to regain its fertility naturally. Gives very poor yield and leads to large-scale destruction of forests

Besides India, slash-and-burn or shifting cultivation is practised in many parts of the world and known by different names. In India, the most popular name for such shifting cultivation is Jhumming, in many of our north-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. Another system of cultivation practised in India is called intensive subsistence farming. This system is practised in densely populated areas of Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh. The main purpose of intensive subsistence farming is to get maximum yield from the available land. Extensive irrigation methods and large quantities of chemical fertilisers are used in this system of farming. Repeated division of land amongst successive generations of farmers decreases individual land holding, further encouraging farmers to use all available means to increase yield. Commercial farming is another system of cultivation. This involves the cultivation of a crop in large quantities for the purpose of selling it in the market. This system uses high yielding seeds, chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Plantations of crops like tea in Assam and north Bengal, coffee in Karnataka, rubber in Kerala, and bamboo, sugarcane, cotton and banana, are also forms of commercial farming. In these plantations, a single crop is cultivated over vast areas. The cultivation of a crop can be classified as commercial or subsistence farming, depending on the area where it is grown. Cropping Seasons in India Shifting cultivation allows the soil to regain its fertility naturally but gives very poor yield to farmers and leads to large-scale destruction of forests. Crops like corn, rice and millets are grown in this type of farming. Raw material from agriculture also supports a number of industries like cotton textiles, food processing and handicrafts. Primitive subsistence farming:

Involves cultivating food crops in small fields essentially to sustain the farmer’s family. Depends entirely on local soil and environment conditions and monsoons.




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Involves hard manual labour. Is slash-and-burn agriculture. Allows the soil to regain its fertility naturally. Gives very poor yield and leads to large-scale destruction of forests

Besides India, slash-and-burn or shifting cultivation is practised in many parts of the world and known by different names. In India, the most popular name for such shifting cultivation is Jhumming, in many of our north-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland. Another system of cultivation practised in India is called intensive subsistence farming. This system is practised in densely populated areas of Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh. The main purpose of intensive subsistence farming is to get maximum yield from the available land. Extensive irrigation methods and large quantities of chemical fertilisers are used in this system of farming. Repeated division of land amongst successive generations of farmers decreases individual land holding, further encouraging farmers to use all available means to increase yield. Commercial farming is another system of cultivation. This involves the cultivation of a crop in large quantities for the purpose of selling it in the market. This system uses high yielding seeds, chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Plantations of crops like tea in Assam and north Bengal, coffee in Karnataka, rubber in Kerala, and bamboo, sugarcane, cotton and banana, are also forms of commercial farming. In these plantations, a single crop is cultivated over vast areas. The cultivation of a crop can be classified as commercial or subsistence farming, depending on the area where it is grown. Major Crops India is the second largest producer of rice in the world. Rice is a kharif crop that requires a high temperature and humidity and more than 100 cm of rainfall for proper growth. Wheat is a rabi crop that requires cool weather for growth and warm weather for ripening with 50 to 75 cm of rainfall. Maize is majorly a kharif crop and grows well in old alluvial soils at moderate temperature from 21 to 27 degrees Celsius. Food grains, like jowar, bajra and ragi, are together called coarse grains or millets. Coarse grains are also used as animal feed. Jowar, also called sorghum, is the third most important food grain grown in India. This is a rain-fed crop that requires little or no irrigation. Bajra grows well in shallow black soils and sandy soils of Rajasthan. Finger millet or ragi is known for its high nutritional value. Ragi grows well in almost all types of soils, like red, black, sandy or loamy soil. Pulses are hardy crops that grow well in dry weather and are grown in rotation with other crops. This is because the roots of all pulses, have nitrogen-fixing nodules that help restore soil fertility. India is the second largest producer of sugarcane in the world. Sugarcane grows in many different kinds of soils. The crop takes almost a year to mature and requires a hot, humid climate with around 75 to 100 cm of rainfall. Groundnut, coconut, mustard, sesame, soybean, linseed, and castor, cotton and sunflower seeds are major oilseeds cultivated in India.




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Groundnut is a kharif crop, while linseed and mustard are rabi crops. Castor seeds are grown in both the rabi and kharif seasons. Sesame is a rabi crop in southern India and a kharif crop in northern India. Groundnut requires accounts for about 50% of the total oilseeds produced in India. Tea and coffee are beverage crops grown as plantation crops. A tea plant is a bush that grows in deep, fertile, well-drained soil and requires warm and humid climate with frequent showers for continuous growth. The Arabica variety of coffee grown in India is appreciated the world over for its superior quality. India ranks first in the production of fruits and vegetables in the world. Latex and is derived from a non-food plantation crop called rubber. Rubber trees grow well in regions with hot and humid climate and over 200 cm of rainfall every year. While cotton, jute and hemp are grown as fibre crops, silk is obtained from cocoons of silkworms fed on mulberry leaves. Cotton grows well in the black soil of the Deccan Plateau and is a kharif crop which requires a high temperature and light rainfall or irrigation for proper growth. Jute grows well on fertile well-drained soils in regions where flood waters renew the topsoil every year. The crop requires a high temperature for proper growth. Technological and Institutional Reforms The main problems faced by farmers in India are:

Fragmentation of land holdings by successive inheritance Primitive methods of farming Dependence on monsoon and natural fertility of soil Exploitation by local money lenders and middlemen Lack of insurance against natural calamities

The technological and institutional changes initiated in India to improve the condition of farmers include: The land reforms initiated in the first five-year plan aimed to:

abolish zamindari and consolidate land holdings. The consolidation of land holdings involved combining adjacent small fields

into single large farms and encouraging individual land owners to do cooperative farming. Agricultural reforms in the 1960s and 1970s known as the green revolution in India:

Providing high yielding varieties of seeds and fertilisers to farmers, and Developing large-scale irrigation facilities to allow them to grow two crops in a year. Continued expansion of farming areas.

White revolution:

Doctor Verghese Kurien is credited with architecting Operation Flood -- the largest dairy development programme in the world.

The government launched a comprehensive land development programme in the 1980s and 1990s:

Insurance cover to farmers against damage to crops and Setting up of rural banks and cooperative societies to provide them loans on easy rates of interest.

The government also started broadcasting radio and television programmes to educate farmers about new techniques of agriculture and give them prior warning about weather conditions. To stop the exploitation of farmers by middlemen, the government announced the procurement, remunerative and minimum support prices of all the major crops in India. The government also launched personal benefit schemes for farmers, like the Kisan Credit Card and the Personal Accident Insurance Scheme. Under the Land Ceiling Act by government no individual or family could own more than a certain quantum of land.




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Contribution of Agriculture to Economy Agriculture provides employment to around 63% of our total population. However, the share of agriculture in our gross domestic product or GDP is declining. A decrease in the share of agriculture in our GDP does not mean that our agricultural output has decreased. It means that the growth in agriculture is slowing down and is much lower as compared to the growth in industries and services. The slowing down of growth in agriculture is generating fewer employment opportunities in this sector. The government set up institutions like the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, I-C-A-R, and the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, I-A-R-I, and several agricultural, veterinary and horticulture universities. The aim of these institutions is to provide education, and research and development facilities for the modernisation and growth of agriculture in India. The government has developed better meteorological facilities for more dependable weather forecasts, and improved infrastructure in villages. Regardless of the above, farmers still face certain challenges in agriculture. One of the important steps in the green revolution in India was to make fertilisers available to farmers at subsidised or reduced rates. The subsidy on fertilisers has now been reduced and has increased the cost of production for the farmers. A reduction in import duties on agricultural items is another challenge to the Indian farmers in terms of international competition. Inadequate irrigation and power facilities for the farmers is also an issue. Rural infrastructure facilities like roads and markets also need to be further developed. MCQ Q.1 What part of Total population of India is engaged in agriculture activities: (a) 2/3 (b) 1/3 (c) 2/5 (d) ¼ Q.2 Which one of following is not Agro-based industry: (a) Cement Industry (b) Jute Industry (c) Cotton textile Industry (d) Sugar Industry Q.3 It’s type of Agriculture where farmers clear a patch of and produce rereads and other food crops to sustain that family that is: (a) Commercial farming (b) Extensive farming (c) Modern farming (d) Slash and burn farming Q4 Agriculture where a single crop is grown on large area: (a) Shifting Agriculture (b) Plantation agriculture (c) Horticulture (d) Extensive Agriculture Q.5 Which one of the following is ‘Kharif’ crop: (a) Wheat (b) Mustered (c) Maize (d) None of these Q.6 Maximum consumption of natural rubber is made of –




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(a) Auto tyres & tubes (b) Footwear (c) Beats and hoses (d) Dipped goods Q.7 India is the larger producer as well as the consumer of the world? (a) Wheat (b) Maize (c) Pulses (d) Millets Ans. 1. (a) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (c) 6(a) 7. (c) SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS Q.1 What are three cropping seasons of India? Explain any one in brief. Ans: India has three cropping seasons:-

Rabi Kharif and Zaid

(1) Rabi crops: - Shown in winter from October to December. - Harvest in summer from April to June. - Main crop-wheat, barley, peas, gram, mustard (2) Kharif crop: - Grown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country. - Harnest in September-October. - Maize jawar , bajra ,cotton, Soya been (3) Zaid crops: -sown between rabbi and kharif seasons. Crops: watermelon, Muskmelon, cucumber, fodder etc. Q.2 Discuss three main impacts of globalization on Indian agriculture. Ans: 1.Indian agriculture products are not able to compete with the developed countries. 2.Bad condition of marginal and small farmers 3.Caused land degradation due to overuse of chemicals. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS Q1.Distinguish between rabi and kharif season? Ans:- Difference between rabi and kharif season.




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Rabi Kharif

a) Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June b) Some of the important rabi crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram, and mustard. c) States from north and north-western parts such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh are important for the production of wheat and other rabi crops.

a) Kharif crops are grown with the onset of monsoon in the different parts of the country and these are harvested in September-October. b) Important crops grown during this season are paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur(arhar)moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soyabean. c) Some of the most important rice-growing regions are Assam, West Bengal, coastal regions of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra, particularly the(Kankan coast) along with Uttar Pradesh Bihar. Recently, paddy has also become an important crop of Punjab and Haryana.

Q.2. What is Horticulture? Name the fruits grown in India? Ans:- “Horticulture:-It is an art of cultivating fruits and vegetables. India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. India is the producer of tropical as well as temperate fruits.”

India is known for Mangoes - Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Oranges - Nagpur and Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya),

Bananas- Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, Lichi and guava- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, Pineapples - Meghalaya, Grapes - Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra Apples, pears, apricots, and walnuts - Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are in great demand all over

the world. India produces about 13 per cent of the world vegetables. It is an important producer of pea, cauliflower,

onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal and potato. Q3. Distinguish between Subsistence and Commercial agriculture. Ans:-

Subsistence agriculture Commercial agriculture

(a) Subsistence agriculture is practiced on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, Dao and digging sticks, and family/ community labour. (b) Farmers and their family produce cereals for themselves and for the local market. (c) It is practiced in thickly populated areas. (d) Cereals like wheat, rice, millets are mainly raised.

a) The main characteristics of this type of farming is the use of higher doses of modern inputs, e.g. high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemicals fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides in order to obtain higher productivity. b) Crops are grown on a large scale with a view to export them to other countries. c) It is practiced in sparsely populated areas. Wheat, cotton, sugarcane etc. are mainly raised.

Q.4. What are the four important fiber crops of India? Describe any one of them. Ans: four important fiber crops of India are: Cotton, Jute, Hemp and Natural silk. Cotton:- (a) India is known as the original home of the cotton plant.




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(b) India is the third largest producer of cotton in the world. (c)Cotton grows well in the drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan plateau. (d) It requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210-frost-free days and bright sun-shine for its growth. (e) It is Kharif crop and requires 6 to 8 months to mature. (f) Major Cotton producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. OR Jute:- (a) Jute is known as the golden of fiber. (b) It grows well on well-drained fertile soil in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year. (c) High temperature is required during the time of growth. (d) Major jute producing states are West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Meghalaya. (e) It is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artifacts.




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MINERALS AND ENERGY RESOURCES Types and Occurrence of Minerals Minerals are defined as naturally occurring homogeneous substances that have a definite internal structure. Some minerals are essential for our body to carry out its chemical and biological processes. A rock may contain one or several types of minerals mixed with organic material. A geographer studies about the distribution and economic importance of a mineral while, a geologist studies the formation, age and composition of minerals. The properties of a mineral depend on the elements it is made of, and the chemical and physical conditions in which it was formed. Minerals are classified as metallic minerals, non-metallic minerals and energy or fuel minerals. The metallic minerals can be further classified as ferrous minerals, or the ones that contain iron, non-ferrous minerals and precious metals, like gold, silver and platinum. Minerals occur in the earth’s crust as:

Veins and lodes in igneous and metamorphic rocks Beds or layers in sedimentary rocks Alluvial or placer deposits on valley floors Residual mass after weathering of surrounding rocks

Some metallic minerals, like gold, silver, platinum and tin, are found as alluvial deposits in the sand and soil in valleys. Such alluvial deposits are also called placer deposits. Around 70% of the surface of the earth is covered by water. The water of the seas and oceans, and the ocean floors, also have rich mineral deposits. India has rich mineral resources in some parts of its territory. To be an ore, a mineral should:

Be abundantly available Offer sufficient concentration of an element Have a commercially viable process of extraction

The places from where mineral ores are extracted are called mines. All the mineral reserves in India are owned by the government. In Meghalaya, families lay claim to coal deposits, and mine coal by digging long narrow tunnels in the ground. This practice is called rat hole mining. Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Minerals Ferrous minerals contain iron, non-ferrous minerals do not contain iron. Ferrous minerals constitute about 75% of the total production of minerals in India. India exports substantial amounts of ferrous minerals. Iron ore and manganese are two important ferrous minerals mined in India. The two main ores of iron are magnetite and hematite. Magnetite has up to 70% iron, while hematite has 50-60% iron. Karnataka and Orissa are the main iron ore producing states in India, followed by Chhattisgarh, Goa and Jharkhand. Major iron ore producing belts of India, are: the Orissa-Jharkhand belt, the Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt, the Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikmaglur-Tumkur belt and the Maharashtra-Goa belt. High-grade hematite is mined in the Badampahar mines in Mayurbhanj and Kendujhar districts of Orissa. The Durg-Bastar-Chandrapur belt is spread over parts of Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. These hills contain 14 deposits of hematite. The Bellary-Chitradurga-Chikmaglur-Tumkur belt lies in Karnataka. The Kudermukh mines in this region hold one of the largest deposits of iron ore in the world. Orissa is the main manganese-producing state in India, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.




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The Maharashtra-Goa belt is spread over parts of Goa and Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. Steel is a mixture of several minerals besides iron ore, and one such important mineral is manganese. The reserves of non-ferrous minerals in India are not as abundant as those of ferrous minerals. Copper and bauxite are two important non-ferrous minerals mined in India. Copper is widely used in the electrical, electronic and chemical industries. Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand are the main copper-producing states in India. Aluminium is a strong, yet light-weight metal derived from a non-ferrous mineral. Bauxite is the main ore of aluminium. Orissa is the main bauxite-producing state in India, followed by Gujarat, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Non-Metallic Minerals Mica is a non-metallic mineral composed of thin leaves or sheets joined together. Mica is found in many colours, from transparent to black, green, yellow, brown and red. Mica provides excellent electrical insulation with low power-loss even at very high voltages. Mica is used extensively in the electrical and electronics industries. The main mica-producing regions in India are the northern Chhota Nagpur Plateau in Jharkhand, Ajmer in Rajasthan and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh. The Koderma, Gaya and Hazaribagh belt in Jharkhand is the largest producer of mica in India. Limestone is a form of sedimentary rock almost entirely composed of calcium carbonate. Limestone is mainly used in smelting iron ore and in the manufacturing of cement. Andhra Pradesh is the main limestone-producing state in India, followed by Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and others. Mine workers face serious risks to their health and life. Indiscriminate mining leads to extensive deforestation. Dumping of mining waste results in soil and land degradation and pollution of air and fresh water bodies. We need stricter laws and implementation of personal and environmental safety regulations to keep mining a safe activity. Usable minerals are only about 1% of the earth’s crust. Minerals are limited and non-renewable resources. Continuous mining starts yielding poor quality ores at much higher cost. We need to conserve our mineral resources. Recycling and reusing material finding suitable substitutes of minerals can help us conserve our mineral resources. Energy Resources We need energy in different forms for all our daily activities. The conventional sources of energy include firewood, cattle dung cakes, minerals like coal, petroleum and natural gas, and electricity generated by flowing water or burning fuel. The non-conventional sources of energy include solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, geothermal energy, atomic energy and biogas. Firewood and cattle dung cakes are the primary sources of energy, meeting around 70% of the total energy requirement in our villages. The intense heat and pressure over millions of years has turned prehistoric plant material buried under the earth into coal. The variety of coal depends on how long the plant material has been buried, at what depth and under how much pressure. Peat is a low carbon variety that has high moisture and provides low heat output. Lignite is a soft, low-grade variety of coal that has high moisture content and appears brownish in colour. Bituminous coal is formed from plant material buried deep in the earth and subjected to very high temperature. Bituminous coal is the most important commercial variety of coal used in metallurgical applications like smelting of iron. The best and the most expensive variety of coal is called anthracite. In India, coal is found as Gondwana deposits that are over 200 million years old, and tertiary deposits that are just about 55 million years old. The Gondwana deposits in India are found in the Damodar valley in West Bengal and




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Jharkhand and the Mahanadi, Godavari, Son and Wardha valleys. Tertiary deposits of coal are found in the north-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Coal is bulky and expensive to transport in large quantities so, most power plants and heavy industries relying on coal are located near coal fields. Petroleum provides fuels like petrol and diesel, industrial lubricants and raw material for a number of industries including textiles, fertilisers and cosmetics. Petroleum deposits are found in anticlines and fault traps in rock formations. Off-shore oil fields in Mumbai High account for 63% of the total petroleum production in India. This is followed by 18% of the production coming from Gujarat and 16% from Assam. Ankaleshwar in Gujarat, and Digboi, Naharkatiya and Moran-Hugrijan in Assam are other major oil fields in India. Assam is the oldest oil-producing state in India. Natural gas is a mixture of gases, primarily methane, which is found trapped in rocks. Natural gas is used as auto fuel (CNG), to generate electricity and in the fertiliser industry. Large deposits of natural gas have been found in the Krishna-Godavari basin, Mumbai High, the Gulf of Cambay and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The natural gas fields in Mumbai High and Bassein are linked to the power and fertiliser plants in western and northern India by the 1700-kilometre long Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur or HVJ Natural Gas Pipeline. Electricity and Non-Conventional Sources of Energy The electricity generated by the energy of flowing water is called hydroelectricity which is a renewable resource of energy. Large hydropower plants like Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley Corporation and Kopili are called multi-purpose river projects. Electricity generated from the heat of burning fuel minerals like coal, petroleum and natural gas is called thermal electricity and hence is produced using non-renewable fossil fuels. India has over 310 thermal power plants. Nuclear or atomic energy is also used to generate electricity. India currently has 6 operational nuclear power plants in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat. The increasing prices, shortage in supply and environmental concerns against using fossil fuels can severely affect our energy security. The answer to the problem of energy security lies in using non-conventional sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy, biogas, tidal energy and geothermal energy. The secret of using solar power lies in photovoltaic technology. This technology uses panels made of photovoltaic cells that trap solar energy and convert it into electricity. The use of solar energy in rural India can reduce dependence on firewood and cattle dung cakes. Wind turbines convert the energy of the blowing wind into electricity. The largest wind farm in India is in Tamil Nadu, spread from Nagercoil to Madurai. Animal, human and farm waste produce biogas on decomposition, which is a better fuel than kerosene, cattle dung cakes, firewood and coal. Biogas plants that operate on animal waste are called gobar gas plants in India. Oceanic tides are used to generate electricity called tidal energy. The National Hydropower Corporation has set up a 900 megawatt tidal energy plant in the Gulf of Kutch that provides excellent conditions for harnessing tidal energy. The heat trapped in the depths of the earth is called geothermal energy. Experimental projects to utilise geothermal energy have been set up at the Parvati Valley near Manikaran in Himachal Pradesh, and the Puga Valley in Ladakh. Conservation of Energy Energy requirements are rising in all parts of India. We are largely dependent on fuel minerals like coal, petroleum and natural gas to fulfil our energy requirements.




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Minerals are non-renewable resources. Thus, the supply of coal, petroleum and natural gas is limited. Heavy dependence on fuel minerals for energy is not a sustainable plan to meet our future energy requirements. A sustainable path of energy development involves:

Finding renewable, non-conventional sources of energy Conservation of the energy available today

A lot of energy is wasted in our country through inefficient means of usage. We can conserve fuel minerals like petroleum and natural gas by forming car pools and using public transport instead of private vehicles. And also, by using better, renewable fuels like biogas in place of coal for cooking. We can conserve energy by switching off all lights, fans and electrical devices when not required and using power saving devices Multiple choice questions (i) Which one of the following minerals is formed by decomposition of rocks, leaving a residual mass of weathered material? (a) coal (b) bauxite (c) gold (d) zinc (ii) Koderma, in Jharkhand is the leading producer of which one of the following minerals? (a) bauxite (b) mica (c) iron ore (d) copper (iii) Minerals are deposited and accumulated in the stratas of which of the following rocks? (a) sedimentary rocks (b) metamorphic rocks (c) igneous rocks (d) none of the above (iv) Which one of the following minerals is contained in the Monazite sand? (a) oil (b) uranium (c) thorium (d) coal Answer : (i) (b) bauxite (ii) (b) mica (iii) (a) sedimentary rocks (iv) (c) thorium Q2 : Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) Distinguish between the following in not more than 30 words. (a) Ferrous and non-ferrous minerals (b) Conventional and non-conventional sources of energy. (ii) What is a mineral? (iii) How are minerals formed in igneous and metamorphic rocks?




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(iv) Why do we need to conserve mineral resources? Answer : (i) (a) Minerals containing iron are called ferrous minerals, e.g., iron ore and manganese. Minerals which do not contain iron are called non-ferrous minerals, e.g., bauxite, lead and gold. (b) Conventional sources of energy are generally exhaustible and polluting, e.g., firewood, coal and petroleum. Non conventional sources of energy are usually inexhaustible and non-polluting, e.g., solar, wind, tidal and atomic energy. (ii) A mineral is a homogeneous, naturally occurring substance with a definable interior structure. Minerals are formed by a combination of elements, and the mining of some minerals is very profitable. (iii) In igneous and metamorphic rocks, molten/liquid and gaseous minerals are forced upwards into the cracks. They then solidify and form veins or lodes. (iv) Mineral resources need to be conserved because they are limited. It takes billions of years for them to be replenished in nature. Continued extraction of ores leads to increasing costs of extraction and a decrease in quality as well as quantity. Q3 : Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Describe the distribution of coal in India. (ii) Why do you think that solar energy has a bright future in India? Answer : (i) The distribution of coal in India is more abundant on the eastern side of the country. In India, coal occurs in rock series of two main geological ages - Gondwana and tertiary. While Gondwana coal is about 200 million years old, tertiary deposits are approximately 55 million years old. The major resources of Gondwana (metallurgical) coal are located in the Damodar valley (West Bengal, Jharkhand), Jharia, Raniganj and Bokaro. The Godavari, Mahandi, Son and Wardha valleys also contain coal deposits. Tertiary coals occur in the north-eastern states of Meghalaya, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. (ii) Being a tropical country, India has an abundance of sunlight. Hence, there are huge possibilities of tapping solar energy. Solar energy is a non-conventional source of energy, but it is gaining popularity in rural and remote areas whose households' dependence on firewood and dung cakes is reduced as a result. This in turn helps in conserving environment and ensuring an adequate supply of manure in agriculture. MCQs Q.1 How many percent minerals intake represents in our total intake of nutrients – (a) 0.3 (b) 3.0 (c) 0.5 (d) 5.0 Q.2Magnetite is the finest iron or with a new higher content iron- up to – (a) 60% (b) 70% (c) 80% (d) 90% Q.3 State which is the largest producer of Manganese is – (a) Karnataka (b) Jharkhand (c) Madhya Pradesh (d) Orissa Q.4 Which is the oldest oil producing state in India: (a) Gujarat (b) Maharashtra (c)Assam (d) none of this Q.5 India now ranks as a super power in the world, that is: (a) Wind Super Power (b) Solar Super Power (c) Hydel superpower (d) Tidal Super Power




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Answer Key of MCQ Ans.1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (a) SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS Q1 “Discovery and use of iron brought a radical change in human life” prove it with three examples. Ans: a) Revolution in agriculture-different type of tools invented like axe, hook, plough etc. b) Revolution in industry-different tools and machines like spinning. c) Revolution in transportation- bullock-cart, ships, boats etc. Q2 Describe the various forms in which minerals occur. Ans: a) In igneous and metamorphic rocks ( cracks, crevice, faults or joints) b) In beds or layers of sedimentary rocks due to deposition, accumulation and concentration. c) Decomposition of surface rocks d) Alluvial deposits in sands of valleys and the base of hills as “ Placer Deposits” Q3 Why is mining activity often called a “Killer Industry”. Give three reasons. Ans: a) High risk involved b) Due to poisonous fumes, mines are vulnerable to workers for pulmonary diseases. c) Risk of collapsing mines roofs, and fires in coal mines. d) Water sources get contaminated Q4 Give three reasons in the favour of use of ‘Atomic energy’. Ans:

Coal and natural oil are exhaustible.

Nuclear power plants are easy to handle

Most developed countries are utilizing this energy successfully

It can be useful in fields of medicines and agriculture

Hydel energy is not satisfactory due to environmental issues Q5 why does solar energy in Rajasthan have greater potential as non –conventional source of energy? Ans: a) Hot and dry region b) Clear sky almost whole year c) Cheaper installation d) Renewable and pollution free energy source. e) Government motivation LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS Q.1 What are the Petroleum producing areas in India. Explain. Ans . Most of the petroleum producing areas in India are associated with anticlines and faults traps in the rock formations of the tertiary age. In the region folding, anticlines or domes, it occurs where oil is trapped in the crest of the uphold. Petroleum is also found in fault traps between porous rocks. Major petroleum producing areas of India are …

ASSAM- Digboi, Naharkatia, Moran-Hugrijan, Namdang region

GUJRAT- Ankeleshwar, Lunez, Navgan

MUMBAI HIGH

Godavari – Mahanadi basin




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Q2: Distinguish between Natural Gas and Bio Gas. Ans: NATURAL GAS

It is a mixture of combustible gaseous hydrocarbons occurring in the rocks of earth crust.

This is commercial energy.

It is used as raw material in the petrochemicals.

It is transported from one place to another through pipeline.

Mostly used in urban areas.

BIO GAS

It is derived by decomposition of waste of animals and plants with the help of microorganism in presence of water.

Non commercial energy

It is produced in tanks

It is found in rural areas Q.3 What is Non - Conventional sources of energy? Discuss two sources of such types of energy. Ans: Sources of energy which are renewable, eco-friendly and newer one are called non conventional sources of energy i.e. wind energy, geothermal energy, tidal energy etc. GEOTHERMAL ENERGY: Geothermal energy refers to the heat and electricity produced by using the heat from the interior of the earth. Where the geothermal gradient is high , high temperature is found at shallow depth . There are several hot springs in India which could be used to generate electricity. Two projects, one is MANIKARAN in Himachal and second in PUGA VALLEY in Ladakh has been set up in India to harness Geothermal energy. TIDAL ENERGY: Oceanic tides can be used to generate electricity .During high tides water flows into the inlet and get trapped when it is closed. After the fall of tide the water flows back to the sea via pipe lines that carry it through power generating turbines. In India gulf of Kutch provides ideal conditions for tidal energy. Q4 India now ranks as a “WIND SUPER POWER “in the world. Why? Ans:

India gets advantage of trade winds, western lies and monsoon winds.

Wind energy completely pollution free and non exhaustible that’s why it becomes popular.

India has an ambitious program to install 250 wind driven turbines with total capacity of 45 mega watts spread over 12 suitable locations.

India’s potential wind power generation is of 50000 megawatts of which ¼ can be easily harnessed.

Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have favorable conditions for wind energy. Wind power plant at LAMBA in Gujarat, is the largest in Asia.

Q5. How can we conserve energy resources in India? Explain. Ans : Following efforts can be made to conserve energy resource in India: i Using public transport instead of individual vehicles. ii Switching of electricity when not in use. iii Using power saving devices. iv More and more use of non conventional source of energy as they are renewable and eco-friendly. v In automobiles electrical motors should be introduced. vi Intensified exploration and research of new sources of energy.




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MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES Introduction to Manufacturing Industries The process of using raw material to produce more valuable goods in large quantities is called manufacturing. Industries that manufacture finished products from primary material are called manufacturing industries in the secondary sector. Manufacturing industries play a crucial role in the overall, and especially the economic development of a country. A country’s economic strength is measured by the growth of its manufacturing industries. India is traditionally an agricultural country. The growth in manufacturing industries has modernised farming, has generated a large number of employment opportunities. This has reduced the dependence of people on agriculture, allowed us to export our goods to other countries and build up our reserves of foreign exchange and hence led to overall growth and prosperity. Agriculture and industry mutually benefit each other. India has a large number of agro-based industries that depend on agricultural produce for raw material. Agriculture plays an important role in expanding our manufacturing industry. Manufacturing industry provides farmers with fertilisers, pesticides, and different types of farming machines and equipment. To stay competitive in the global market, we must ensure that the quality of our goods is at par with the best. Location and Classification of Industries The key factor influencing all decisions about setting up a manufacturing industry, including its location, is the cost. The main costs in a manufacturing industry are for procuring raw material, producing goods and distributing finished goods in the market. The ideal location for a factory will be a place that has easy and low-cost availability of raw material, capital, land, labour, power, transport, and market. A manufacturing industry promotes the urbanisation of its neighbourhood. Already urbanised areas also attract industries, since they provide ready facilities for transport, banking, labour, consultancy, etc. If an urban centre offers sufficient facilities and advantages, several industries come up there together to form an industrial agglomeration. These industries together form an agglomeration economy. Before independence, most industries in India were located in port cities to enable easy overseas trade. Manufacturing industries are classified based on their source of raw material, role, capital investment, ownership pattern, and bulk of supplies like raw material and finished products. Based on their source of raw material, manufacturing industries can be classified as agro-based industries and mineral-based industries. Based on their source of raw material, manufacturing industries are classified as agro-based industries and mineral-based industries. Based on the weight or bulk of the raw material used and the finished products, manufacturing industries can be classified as heavy and light industries. Based on their role, manufacturing industries can be classified as basic or key industries, and consumer industries. Based on the capital investment, manufacturing industries can be classified as small-scale and large scale-industries. Based on ownership, manufacturing industries can be classified as public sector, private sector, joint sector and cooperative industries. While public sector industries are owned and run by the government, private sector companies are owned by individuals or business houses. Joint sector companies are jointly owned and managed by the government and the private sector. Cooperative industries are owned by people actually involved in the production, like raw material producers, suppliers and workers.




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The total share of industries in India’s GDP is 27% where manufacturing industries contribute only 17% to our GDP. The National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council or NMCC has been set up to achieve a growth of 12% in the manufacturing industry by adopting appropriate policies and improving productivity Agro-Based Industries and Mineral Based Industries Manufacturing industries that use minerals as raw material are called mineral-based industries. The iron and steel industry is the basic industry on which all other industries depend. The production and per capita consumption of steel is a measure of a country’s economic development. The main raw materials used in the iron and steel industry are iron ore, coal and limestone. The raw materials and finished products of iron and steel industries are quite bulky, these industries must be located near the mining areas of the required minerals and must be connected by a good transport network. India is the ninth largest producer of crude steel and the largest producer of sponge iron in the world. India is also a leading exporter of steel in the world. The per capita consumption of steel in India is only 32 kilograms. There are 10 primary integrated steel plants in India. These integrated plants handle all stages of steel production, from procurement of basic raw material to producing finished rolled and shaped steel. India has many mini steel plants that produce customised alloy steel using scrap iron or sponge iron as raw material. China has become the world’s largest producer and consumer of steel, leaving India far behind. Most steel manufacturing industries are located in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau region because of the availability of inexpensive, high-grade raw material and abundant cheap labour. The main challenges faced by the industry in realising its full potential are limited supply of expensive coking coal, erratic power supply, low output of labour and poor infrastructure. The future of India’s iron and steel industry is bright due to India’s liberalisation policy and foreign direct investment in the industry. Aluminium is a lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal with excellent malleability and ductility. Aluminium is a good conductor of heat and electricity, and can be alloyed with other metals to make it stronger. Aluminium is increasingly being used as a substitute for steel, copper, zinc and lead in several industries. The process of deriving metallic aluminium from its ore is called aluminium smelting. Aluminium smelting is the second most important metallurgical industry in India. Bauxite is the chief ore of aluminium. Bauxite is refined to produce alumina, which is smelted to derive metallic aluminium. India has 8 aluminium smelting plants located in Orissa, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra. The production of aluminium requires the transport of bulky raw materials and large amounts of electricity, assured supply of power and good transport connectivity are the main criteria for the location of an aluminium smelting plant. The Indian chemical industry is the third largest in Asia and the 12th largest in the world. The Indian chemical industry contributes 3% to our national GDP. The main inorganic chemicals produced in India include sulphuric acid, nitric acid, alkalis, soda ash and caustic soda. Sulphuric acid is used in the production of fertilisers, plastics, synthetic fibres, adhesives, paints and dyes. Soda ash is used in manufacturing soap, glass, detergents and paper. Petrochemicals are materials derived as the by-products of petroleum refining. Petrochemicals are used to manufacture synthetic fibre, synthetic rubber, dyes and paints, fertilisers, adhesives and medicinal drugs. Industrial Pollution and Environment Degradation




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Industries have caused severe pollution of our natural resources. Industries cause environmental degradation through four main types of pollution i.e. air pollution, water pollution, land pollution or soil degradation, and noise pollution. Smoke contains undesirable gases like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide, besides solid and liquid particulate matter, in the form of dust and spray mist, which cause air pollution. Air pollution affects the health of humans, animals and plants alike and also causes damage to buildings. Water pollution is caused by the discharge of untreated chemical waste like dyes, detergents, acids, heavy metals like lead and mercury, pesticides, fertilisers, and plastics from industries, into fresh water bodies like rivers and lakes. Solid wastes like fly ash, phospo gypsum, and iron and steel slag also cause water pollution. The industries that cause major amount of water pollution are paper and pulp industries, oil refineries, tanneries and electroplating industries. The discharge of hot water from thermal power plants into rivers before cooling is called thermal pollution of water. Radioactive waste, hazardous chemicals, glass, plastic, industrial effluents and non-biodegradable garbage are the main agents of land pollution. Rain water falling on polluted land dissolves and carries many of the pollutants further into the ground and pollutes groundwater. Loud noise can lead to irritation, loss of hearing, and an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. Industrial machinery, construction activities, generators, and equipment like saws and pneumatic drills are mainly responsible for noise pollution. One of the most important steps for the control of environmental degradation is treating hot and polluted wastewater from industries before releasing it into our rivers and lakes. Wastewater treatment involves:

Primary treatment through screening, grinding, flocculation and sedimentation. Secondary treatment through bacterial action to digest harmful chemicals. Tertiary stage of stirring with chemicals to neutralise remaining harmful waste.

Treated wastewater can be recycled for reuse in industrial processes. Rainwater harvesting can be used to meet the requirements of water for industrial processes. Legal provisions must be made to regulate the use of groundwater for industrial use. Smoke stacks, filters, scrubbers, and electrostatic and inertial separators remove a large amount of harmful particles from industrial smoke. The emission of smoke itself from industries can be reduced by using more efficient fuels like oil and natural gas in place of coal. Industrial and generator silencers, and sound-absorbing material are available to reduce the noise level in industries. Industrial workers can use earphones and earplugs for individual protection of health and hearing. National Thermal Power Corporation or NTPC is a major electricity generation and distribution company in India. NTPC has demonstrated how conservation of environment and natural resources can happen simultaneously with industrial growth by:

Adopting latest technical knowhow Minimising waste Providing green cover Reducing environmental pollution Continuous monitoring




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Q1 : Multiple choice questions (i) Which one of the following industries uses limestone as a raw material. (a) Aluminium (b) Cement (c) Sugar (d)Jute (ii) Which one of the following agencies markets steel for the public sector plants? (a) HAIL (b) SAIL (c) TATA Steel (d) MNCC (iii) Which one of the following industries uses bauxite as a raw material? (a) Aluminium (b) Cement (c) Jute (d) Steel (iv) Which one of the following industries manufactures telephones, computer, etc? (a) Steel (b) Electronic (c) Aluminium (d) Information Technology Answer : (i) (b) Cement (ii) (b) SAIL (iii) (a) Aluminium (iv) (b) Electronic Q2 : Answer the following briefly in not more than 30 words. (i) What is manufacturing? (ii) Name any three physical factors for the location of the industry. (iii) Name any three human factors for the location of an industry. (iv) What are basic industries? Give an example. (v) Name the important raw materials used in the manufacturing of cement? Answer : (i) Manufacturing is the process in which goods are produced after processing the various raw materials. The raw materials themselves may be manufactured products. (ii) Physical factors essential in deciding the location of an industry are - availability of raw materials, availability of capital and the proximity to the market. (iii) Human factors essential in deciding the location of an industry are - availability of cheap labour, availability of services such as consultants and financial advice, and resources for maintaining labour. (iv) Basic industries are those which supply their raw materials to industries which manufacture other goods. An example is the iron and steel industry which supplies steel to the automobile industry.




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(v) The important raw materials used in the manufacturing of cement are: limestone, silica, alumina and gypsum. Apart from these, coal, electric power and rail transportation are also needed. Q3 : Write the answers of the following questions in 120 words. (i) How are integrated steel plants different from mini steel plants? What problems does the industry face? What recent developments have led to a rise in the production capacity? (ii) How do industries pollute the environment? (iii) Discuss the steps to be taken to minimise environmental degradation by industry? Answer : (i) Integrated steel plants are different from mini steel plants in many aspects. An integrated steel plant is large and handles everything in one complex - from integrating raw materials to steel making, rolling and shaping. On the other hand, a mini steel plant is smaller, has electric furnaces, uses steel scrap and sponge iron, and has re-rollers that use steel ingots as well. It produces mild and alloy steel of given specifications. The problems faced by this industry are: (a) high production costs and limited availability of coking coal; (b) lower productivity of labour; (c) irregular supply of energy; and (d) poor infrastructure. Recent developments that have led to a rise in the production capacity of this industry are liberalisation and Foreign Direct Investment, with help from private entrepreneurs. (ii) Industrial pollution of the environment is of four types: air, water, land and noise. Air pollution is caused by smoke released by chemical and paper factories, brick kilns, refineries and smelting plants, and burning of fossil fuels in factories ignoring pollution norms. Water pollution is caused by the discharging of organic and inorganic industrial wastes and affluents into rivers. This form of pollution is caused by paper, pulp, chemical, textile, dyeing, petroleum refineries, tanneries and electroplating industries. The major solid wastes released into rivers in India are fly ash, phospo-gypsum, and iron and steel slags. Thermal pollution of water is another form of water pollution, caused by the emission of hot water from factories and thermal plants into rivers and ponds. Dumping of solid wastes renders the soil infertile and useless too. Lastly, noise pollution results from industrial and construction activities, machinery, generators, and saws, pneumatic and electric drills. (iii) The steps to be taken to minimise environmental degradation by industry are as follows: (a) To control water pollution, industrial effluents need to be treated on all three levels (primary, secondary and tertiary); the use of water for processing should be minimised via reuse and recycling; rainwater can be harvested to meet water requirements, and ground water usage should be regulated by law. (b) For the minimisation of air pollution, smoke stacks should be fitted to factories with electrostatic precipitators, fabric filters, scrubbers and inertial separators. Also, smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal. (c) Noise pollution can be controlled by fitting generators with silencers, redesigning machinery to reduce noise, and using earplugs and earphones besides other noise absorbing material. MCQ Q.1. In 1857 where the first cotton mill of India was founded A.Mysore B.Madras C.Surat D.Bombay




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Q.2. Largest producer of Jute and Jute made goods A. Bangladesh B. India C. Sri Lanka D. Brazil Q.3. Iron and steel is a A. an agro base industry B. a chemical industry C. basic industry D. tertiary industry Q4. Durgapur is situated in A. Jharkhand B. Orissa C. Chhattisgarh D. West Bengal Q.5 Chemical industries usually are located near A. Iron and steel industries B. Thermal power plant C. Oil refineries D. Automobile industry Q6. STP is the Abbreviation of A. System tech park B. Software Technology Park C. State thermal plant D. Software Technology Picket Q7. NTPC is the Abbreviation of A. National Textile Production Company B. National Technology Production Company C. National Thermal Power Corporation D. National Tuberculosis Prevention Corporation Q8. Atomic power plant causes A. Water Pollution B. Noise Pollution C. Air Pollution D. Heat Pollution Q9. Manufacturing industries includes A. Crop production B. Fish production C. Plantation D. Sugar Production Q10. Manufacturing industries includes A. Converting raw material into ready good B. Transporting raw material C. Producing raw material D. Procuring raw material Answers key of MCQ :(1) d (2) b (3) c (4) d (5) c (6) b (7) c (8) d (9) d (10) a SHORT TYPE QUESTION ANSWERS Q: ‗Industrialisation and urbanization go hand in hand‘. Explain. Ans: (i) Cities provide market and also provide services such as banking, insurances, transport, labour, consultants and financial advice etc. to the industries. (ii) Industrial workers need houses and other facilities.The provision of these facilities can convert a small town into big cities. Q: What is agglomeration economies? Ans: Cities provide market and other facilities like banking, insurance, transport, labour, consultants, and financial advice etc. to the industry. Many industries tend to come together to make, use of the advantages offered by the urban institutions. This is known as agglomeration economies. Q: Name three physical factors and three human factors that affect the location of industries. Ans: Physical factors and three human factors that affect the location of industries are:




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(i) Availability of raw materials (ii) Availability of power resources (iii) Suitable climate (iv) Availability of water Human factors that affect the location of industries are: (i) Availability of labour (ii) Availability of market (iii) Government policies Q: What is the large scale and small scale industries? Give examples. Ans: Those industries that employs large number of workers in each unit and having large production level are known as large scale industries. e.g. cotton textile industry.The industry that employs small number of workers in each unit and having small production level is known as small scale industry. e.g. readymade garment industries. LONG TYPE QUESTION ANSWER Q: Which factors are responsible for the decentralization of cotton textile mills in India? Ans: (i) Cotton textile have a very high demand throughout the country. (ii) Major inputs like banking, electricity, transportation are available in almost every part of the country. (iii) Textile industry is labour intensive industry and labour is easily available in India. (iv) Textile industry requires less technological inputs and can be carried out using simple tools and machines. Q: ‗Cotton textile industry has close links with agriculture. Explain. Ans: (i) The industry has close links with agriculture and provides a living to farmers, cotton bull pluckers and workers engaged in ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing, designing, packaging, tailoring and sewing. (ii) Agriculture provides raw material to the industry i.e. raw cotton. Q: What are the major problems of cotton textile industry? Ans: (i) Lack of good quality long staple cotton (ii) Erratic power supply (iii) Out dated machinery and technology (iv) Low output of workers (v) Stiff international competition Q: What were the major objectives of National Jute Policy 2005? Why is the internal demand for jute increasing? Ans: (i)To increase the productivity (ii) To improve the quality (iii) Ensuring good prices to the jute farmers (iv) Enhancing the yield per hectare The internal demand for jute has been on the increase because - (i) Government policy of mandatory use of jute packaging (ii) The growing global concern for environment friendly biodegradable materials. Q: India is an important iron and steel producing country in the world yet , we are not able to perform to our full potential. Give any four reasons. Ans: (i) High Costs and Limited availability of coking coal. (ii) Lower productivity of labour (iii) Shortage of power (iv) Poor infrastructure. (v) Low Investment in Research and Development. Q: Why is iron and steel industry called a basic industry? Ans: Iron and steel industry is called the basic industry because: (i) It is the industry which lays the foundation of rapid development of other industries such as heavy Engineering, defence equipment, automobiles, aeroplanes etc. (ii) It is also helpful in providing employment.




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(iii) It also helps in the development of agriculture. Q: What is importance of the manufacturing industries? Ans: 1. Employment generation: Manufacturing industry is the main source of employment for large number of skilled as well as unskilled workers. 2. Foreign exchange: Export of manufactured goods bring foreign exchange to India. 3. Reduction of pressure on land: Manufacturing industry produces products of daily needs and helps the common people to fulfill their basic needs. It reduces pressure on agricultural sector for employment. 4. Removal of economic problems: Industrial development is a precondition for the removal of economic problems like poverty, unemployment and economic inequality. It also helps in bringing down regional disparities by establishing industries in tribal and backward areas. Q: What is the importance of Jute Industry? Ans: 1. Employment- The jute industry supports 2 61 Lakh workers directly another 40 lakh small and marginal farmers who are engaged in cultivation of jute and Mesta. 2. Products: Jute industry provides products of daily use like jute bags, ropes, mats etc. 3. Foreign Exchange: Exports of raw jute and manufactured goods bring foreign exchange 4. Promotion of Small Scale Industry: Many products of the jute industry are manufactured by cottage and small scale industry. So it promotes decentralization of industry. Q: The sugar industry is now shifting from north to south. Mention main reasons. Ans: North India is regarded as the main centre of the sugar industry and Uttar Pradesh is the leading producer. Over the time the sugar industry is shifting towards south India. The main reasons behind shifting of the sugar industry towards south India are: (i) The sugar contents in the cane is higher i.e. 10.5% in Maharashtra and other southern states. (ii) Climate is suitable for the cultivation of sugarcane. (iii) South has better export facilities as compared to North. (iv) Cooperative sugar mills are more successful in management in south India. (v) The Peninsular climate helps to extend the crushing season by two months in the south India than north India. .

LIFE LINES OF NATIONAL ECONOMY




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Means of Transport and Communication Goods are transported from supply to demand locations by people called traders. Transport is a key factor that influences India’s rapid economic development. Based on the medium it uses, the means of transport can be divided into land transport, water transport and air transport. Land transport includes roadways and railways and pipelines used to transport liquid and gaseous material over long distances. Water transport can be classified as inland transport and overseas transport. Inland transport happens along coastline between two domestic ports or through inland waterways. Overseas transport involves sending goods from one country to another. Air transport can be classified as domestic and international. Private and government-run domestic airways connect different cities of India. International airways connect India with destinations in all parts of the world. Modern advances in science and technology have not left any part of the world inaccessible. Thus, the world appears a much smaller place today. Trade requires some means of exchanging ideas and connecting with people. This is where communication comes in. While transport physically transfers people and goods from one place to another, means of communication allow people in different locations to connect with each other without actually travelling. Some common means of communication are radio, television, cinema, newspapers, the Internet, fax and phone services. A dense, efficient network of transport, and extensive, reliable means of communication are the true lifelines of trade and economic development for India and the rest of the world. Roadways The road network in India is amongst the most widespread in the world. The length of all the roads in India adds up to around 2.3 million kilometres. Roadways have some practical advantages over railways:

Road is easier to construct at a lower cost. Roads are easier to lay on undulating land and steep slopes, like in a mountainous region. Is cheaper and transports a small number of people or goods over short distances. Roads door-to-door connectivity. Provides direct feeder links to other places of goods transport, like seaports, airports and railway stations.

From all-weather metalled roads made of concrete, cement or coal tar, to unpaved, unmetalled roads that go out of use in the rainy season. Based on their capacity to sustain traffic, roads are classified into the following six types: The Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways, National Highways, State Highways, District Roads, Border Roads and Other Roads. The Golden Quadrilateral reduces travelling time between the major cities of India. The National Highways Authority of India, NHAI, will construct six-lane super highway connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata. These roads will form four sides of a quadrilateral, and hence the name. The east-west corridor connects Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat. The north-south corridor connects Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu. Indian national highways are constructed and maintained by the Central Public Works Department, or CPWD. In India, every national highway is given a unique number. Within a state, the roads linking the state capital with different district headquarters are called state highways. State highways are constructed and maintained by the Public Works Department, or PWD, of the state concerned.




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The roads connecting a district headquarter to other destinations in the district are called district roads. These roads are constructed and maintained by the Zila Parishad concerned. The roads that run close to India’s international border in the north and north-eastern parts of the country are called Border Roads. Border Roads are constructed and maintained by the Border Roads Organisation that was set up in 1960. Other roads are mostly rural roads that connect villages with nearby towns. The Government of India has launched a special programme called the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojna to develop such rural roads and connect each village to a town by a motorable road. The length of roads per hundred square kilometres of area is called road density. Jammu and Kashmir has the lowest road density at 10 kilometres, while Kerala has the highest at 375 kilometres. The average road density of Indian states is 75 kilometres. India roadways are facing many challenges like:

The roads and national highways in India are not enough to accommodate the large volume of road traffic. This leads to frequent traffic jams.

50% of the roads in India are unmetalled and become difficult during the monsoons. Roads and bridges in most Indian cities are quite narrow.

Railways and Pipelines In India, railways are the primary mode of transport for passengers and goods. The first train service began from Boribunder, now known as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai, to Thane, 60 kilometres away in 1853. The development of railways has not only helped in uniting India, but also promoted the growth of agriculture and economy. The Indian railway network is spread over 63,221 route kilometres, connecting 7,031 railway stations all over the country, divided into 16 railway zones. The vast Indian railways network is serviced by 7,739 locomotives, 29,236 coaches and 2,16,717 wagons. The distance between the two rails forming a railway track determines the gauge of the railway line. Indian railways operate on narrow gauge, meter gauge and broad gauge lines. Broad gauge forms the biggest part of the Indian railway network. The Indian Railways have undertaken a programme, called Project Unigauge, to convert all metre gauge and narrow gauge railway lines into broad gauge lines. The construction of railways depends largely on local terrain, and economic and administrative factors. The vast level lands of the northern plains with the huge population and resources were the most favourable areas for the expansion of railways. In the hilly peninsular region, railway lines were laid through hills, valleys and tunnels. The lofty mountains in the Himalayan region with lesser population and economic opportunities are not favourable for the construction of railways. The sandy deserts of Rajasthan, the swamps of Gujarat, and the heavily forested regions of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand are some of the challenges railways have overcome for expansion in these regions. The Konkan railway route is prone to landslides and sinking of railway lines. Considering the volume of passengers and goods transported, Indian Railways is more important to India’s economy than all other means of transport. Our railways are facing certain challenges like:

Many passengers travel on trains without a proper ticket leading to a huge revenue loss to the railways Misuse of the safety feature to stop the train People disrupt railway traffic and damage railway property in the name of demonstrations.




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Pipelines are networks of pipes that bring water into our house and take wastes away. Now pipelines are being used to transport several industrial materials. There are three important gas and oil pipeline networks in India. An oil pipeline runs from the oil fields in Digboi in Assam to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh via Guwahati, Barauni and Allahabad. The main branches of this oil pipeline are Guwahati to Siliguri, Barauni to Haldia via Rajbandh, and Rajbandh to Maurigram. Another oil pipeline runs from oil fields in Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar in Punjab. This oil pipeline passes through Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi and Sonipat. It has several branches leading to Koyali and Chakshu, etc. A natural gas pipeline runs from the Hazira gas fields in Gujarat to Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh, while passing through Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh. Its branches supply gas to Kota in Rajasthan and several places like Barbala and Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh. Pipelines are difficult and expensive to construct. But once constructed, they require very little maintenance and save a lot of money by eliminating transport losses and delays. Waterways and Airways Sea trade has been practised in India since ancient times. Transport by waterways is the most fuel-efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly way to carry heavy goods from one place to another. Large rivers and backwaters provide around 14,500 kilometres of inland waterways in India where, only 3,700 kilometres of these are accessible to mechanised boats. Inland waterways in India are provided by the rivers Ganga, Brahmputra, Godavari, Krishna, Brahmani, Barak, canals like the East-West canal, West Coast canal, Buckingham canal, Damodar Valley Corporation canal and the Sunderbans area. National waterway number 1 on the Ganga connects Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh to Haldia in West Bengal covering a distance of 1,620 kilometres. National waterway number 2 on the Brahmaputra connects Sadiya in Arunachal Pradesh to Dhubri in Assam covering a distance of 891 kilometres. National waterway number 3 on the West Coast canal in Kerala connects Kottapurma in the north to Ashtamudi Kayal in the south, covering a distance of 205 kilometres. The major international trade from India is carried out from its ports that allow docking facilities for large vessels. India has a long coastline of around 7,516 kilometres along which lie 12 major and 181 medium and small ports. Around 95% of India’s international trade is carried out from these 12 major ports which are:

The Kandla Port in the Gulf of Kutch handles exports and imports for the fertile plains and industrial belts spread over Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The Mumbai Port is the largest port in India. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port at Navi Mumbai was constructed to decongest traffic at the old Mumbai port. The Mormugao Port in Goa handles around 50% of the total iron ore exports from India. The New Mangalore Port in Karnataka handles excellent quality iron ore from the Kudermukh mines. The Kochi Port is a natural harbor and the last port on the south-west coast. The Tuticorin Port in Tamil Nadu handles cargo bound for India as well as our neighbouring countries like Sri

Lanka and the Maldives. The Chennai Port which is one of the oldest artificial ports in India, and second only to Mumbai in terms of

volume of trade and cargo handled. The Vishakhapatnam Port is the country’s deepest, most protected landlocked port. The Paradip Port in Orissa is the main centre for the export of iron ore. The Haldia Port was developed to decongest the Kolkata Port. The tidal port of Kolkata has a rich Ganga-Brahmaputra hinterland and is an inland port services by the river

Hooghly.




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Air travel is the quickest and one of the most comfortable means of transport. The main advantage of using airways is that it can easily cross all kinds of terrain - from mountains, deserts, rainforests and wetlands to oceans. Nationalised air transport in India began in 1953 with the launch of Air India and Indian Airlines. Air India operates international flights from India. Indian Airlines and its fully owned subsidiary Alliance Air operate domestic flights in India. Indian Airlines operates international flights to some countries in south-east Asia, south Asia and the Middle East. A lot of private airlines operate domestic flights in India. Helicopter is another means of air travel that does not require long runways to take off or land, unlike airplanes. This form of air transport is especially useful in the north-eastern parts of India where densely forested mountains crisscrossed by rivers make it difficult to construct roads and railways. Pawan Hans Helicopter Company Limited provides helicopter services to government enterprises like ONGC and passenger services in mountainous area that are difficult to access. Air travel is still very expensive in India and out of the reach of a large part of the population. Air transport is especially useful in the north-eastern parts of India where special arrangements have been made to make air travel services available to the common people. Means of Communication Goods are transported from supply to demand locations by people called traders. Transport is a key factor that influences India’s rapid economic development. Based on the medium it uses, the means of transport can be divided into land transport, water transport and air transport. Land transport includes roadways and railways and pipelines used to transport liquid and gaseous material over long distances. Water transport can be classified as inland transport and overseas transport. Inland transport happens along coastline between two domestic ports or through inland waterways. Overseas transport involves sending goods from one country to another. Air transport can be classified as domestic and international. Private and government-run domestic airways connect different cities of India. International airways connect India with destinations in all parts of the world. Modern advances in science and technology have not left any part of the world inaccessible. Thus, the world appears a much smaller place today. Trade requires some means of exchanging ideas and connecting with people. This is where communication comes in. While transport physically transfers people and goods from one place to another, means of communication allow people in different locations to connect with each other without actually travelling. Some common means of communication are radio, television, cinema, newspapers, the Internet, fax and phone services. A dense, efficient network of transport, and extensive, reliable means of communication are the true lifelines of trade and economic development for India and the rest of the world. International Trade and Tourism The exchange of goods between people, companies, states or countries is called trade. The trade within a locality or between towns or villages of a state is called local trade. The trade between two states is called state-level trade. The trade between two countries is called international trade.




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International trade is the measure of the health of a country’s economy and has two components. The goods purchased from other countries are called imports while the goods sold to other countries are called exports. The difference between the exports and imports of a country is called its balance of trade. When the value of the exports of a country is more than the value of its imports, the country is said to have a favourable balance of trade. When the value of the imports of a country is more than the value of its exports, the country is said to have an unfavourable balance of trade. The major products showing a rising trend in exports from India are agriculture and allied products, ores and minerals, gems and jewellery, chemicals and allied products, engineering goods and petroleum products. The main categories of products imported into India are petroleum and petroleum products, pearls and gemstones, inorganic chemicals, coal, coke and briquettes and machinery. The bulk imports group accounts for around 39% of the total imports by India and includes fertilisers, cereals, edible oils and newsprint. India is a leading software producing country and generates large amounts of foreign exchange through the export of information technology. Tourism is an important form of international trade. The Indian tourism industry employs around 15 million people to take care of around 2.6 million foreign tourists who visit India every year. Foreign tourists visit India for heritage tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, medical tourism and business tourism. Tourism not only promotes national integration, it also gives tremendous boost to local handicraft industries and helps foreign tourists to understand and appreciate our cultural heritage. Q1 : Multiple choice questions (i) Which two of the following extreme locations are connected by the east-west corridor? (a) Mumbai and Nagpur (b) Silcher and Porbandar (c) Mumbai and Kolkata (d)NagpurandSiligudi (ii) Which mode of transportation reduces trans-shipment losses and delays? (a) Railways (b) Roadways (c) Pipeline (d) Waterways (iii) Which one of the following states is not connected with the H.V.J. pipeline? (a) Madhya Pradesh (b) Maharashtra (c) Gujarat (d) Uttar Pradesh (iv) Which one of the following ports is the deepest land-locked and well-protected port along the east cost? (a) Chennai (b) Paradwip (c) Tuticorin (d) Vishakhapatnam (v) Which one of the following is the most important modes of transportation in India? (a) Pipeline (b) Railways




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(c) Roadways (d) Airways (vi) Which one of the following terms is used to describe trade between two or more countries? (a) Internal trade (b) International trade (c) External trade (d) Local trade Answer : (i) (b) Silcher and Porbandar (ii) (c) Pipeline (iii) (b) Maharashtra (iv) (d) Vishakhapatnam (v) (b) Railways (vi) (b) International trade Q2 : Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) State any three merits of roadways. (ii) Where and why is rail transport the most convenient means of transporation? (iii) What is the significance of the border roads? (iv) What is meant by trade? What is the difference between international and local trade? Answer : (i) Merits of roadways: (a) They are cheaper than railways in terms of construction costs. (b) Roads can go through dissected and undulating land areas and through steep mountains. (c) They are economical as loading costs are low and door-to-door service can be availed of. (ii) In the northern plains, rail transport is the most convenient mode of transportation. This is because this region has vast level lands that are good for laying tracks, and huge population and high agricultural productivity, making rail transport a profitable venture. (iii) Border roads are strategically important as they improve accessibility to areas like the northern and north eastern border areas which have a difficult terrain. (iv) Trade is the movement of goods and services between regions for economic gain. Trade between two or more countries is termed as international trade, while trade occurring in a region within the same country is called local trade. Q3 : Answer the following questions in about 120 words. (i) Why are the means of transportation and communication called the lifelines of a nation and its economy? (ii) Write a note on the changing nature of the international trade in the last fifteen years. Answer : (i) The means of transportation and communication are called the lifelines of a nation and its economy because they are the preconditions for progress and development. Goods and services cannot move on their own from supply houses to demand locales. This necessitates the need for transportation. Thus, a country's economy depends not only on the production and sale of goods and services, but on their transport as well. Globalisation has been possible on account of easier and fast-developing communication channels between the countries of the world. Hence, it complements trade as well as transport. India is well-connected with the rest of the world due to these two things - transport and communication, which have contributed vastly to the development of our national economy. They have also added extensively to growing amenities and facilities improving our lifestyles.




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(ii) The changing nature of the international trade for India, in the last fifteen years, has been impressive. Exchange of information and knowledge has surpassed exchange of goods and commodities. Through its advanced software knowledge and excellence in the field of information technology, India has emerged as a viable contender at the international level and is earning huge amounts of foreign exchange through the same. Tourism too has added to India's upgraded position in international trade. In 2004, there was a 23.5% increase in foreign tourist arrivals as against the number in 2003. Thus, international trade for India has undergone a cognisable change in the past fifteen years. MCQ 1. Six Lane Highways are called (i) National Highway (ii) International Highway (iii) State Highway (iv) Golden quadrilateral super highways 2. Golden quadrilateral super highways are maintained by (i) Zila Parishad (ii) PWD (iii) CPWD iv) NHAI 3. Villages are connected to a major town through this scheme of roads (i) MNREGA (ii) PMGSY (iii) SJGRY (iv) AAY 4. Border Roads are constructed by (i) CRPF (ii) BSF iii Indian Army (iv) BRO 5. Provides door-to-door connectivity (i) Airways (ii) Roadways (iii) Railways (iv) Waterways 6. Bulk carrier across nations (i) Airways (ii) Roadways (iii) Railways (iv) Waterways 7. Bulk carrier within India (i) Airways (ii) Roadways (iii) Railways (iv) Waterways 8. Principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India (i) Airways (ii) Roadways (iii) Railways (iv) Waterways 9. Width of two tracks of Broad Gauge is (i) 1.676 m (ii) 1.000 m iii) 0.762 m(iv) 0.610 m 10. Natural harbour in India (i) Hooghly (ii) Paradip (iii) Chennai (iv) Mumbai 11. Biggest natural port in India (i) Chennai ii) Tuticorin (iii) Marmagao iv) Mumbai 12. Largest producer of feature film in the world (i) Britain (ii) USA Iii France iv India 13. AIR stands for (i) All India Radio (ii) Indian Airlines (iii) Indian Railways (iv) None of these




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14. Terminal stations of East-West corridor (i) Mumbai and Nagpur (ii) Nagpur and Siligudi (iii) Mumbai and Kolkata iv) Silcher and Porbandar 15. Which mode of transportation reduces trans-shipment losses and delays? (i) Railways (ii) Pipeline (iii) Roadways (iv) Waterways Answers key of MCQ :(1) d (2) d (3) b (4) d (5) b (6) d (7) c (8) c (9) a (10) d (11) d (12) d (13) a (14) d (15) b SHORT TYPE QUESTION ANSWERS Q.What is international trade?What do you mean by Balance of trade‘?What is the importance of trade? Ans. Trade between two countries is called international trade. It includes exchange of commodities, services, information and knowledge. Relation or difference between nation‘s exports and imports is called balance of trade. It is of two types: (i) Surplus trade: when the value of exported goods and services is more than the value of imported goods and services. It is called favorable trade balance. (ii) Trade Deficit: when the value of exported goods and services is less than the value of imported goods and services. It is called unfavorable trade balance. The importance of trade is: 1. No country can survive without international trade because resources are space bound. 2. Advancement of international trade of a country leads to its economic prosperity because such a trade provides so many jobs to workers as well as business to traders. 3. It is through international trade that we earn much of our foreign exchange which is required for importing many essential goods. 4. Foreign trade helps in transfer of technology. Q. Mention the different means of transport in India. Ans. Means of transport in India are:- (i) Roadways, (ii) Waterways, (iii) Airways, (iv) Pipelines, (v) Railways. Q. What are the means of mass communication? Explain features of any two media. Ans. These are those means of communication through which one can communicate with several people at the same time. For example- Radio, newspaper and T.V.(Television):- Newspaper and T.V.(Television):- (i) It is one of the largest and essential networks in the world. (ii) It provides entertainment and keeps the viewers well informed about the world. Radio:-(i) It is the cheapest and the most effective means of communication. (ii) Besides entertainment, it also provides information and promotes social education. Q. What are the different types of roads in India? Ans. There are six types of roads:- 1. Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways or Expressway National Highways 2. National Highways 3. State Highways 4. District Roads




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5. Other Roads or Rural Roads or Village Roads 6. Border Roads Q. What do you mean by pipeline transport? Ans. Transportation of liquid, gases or slurries through pipes made of durable metal or a plastic tube is called pipeline transport. It is the most convenient mode of transport for crude oil, petroleum products and natural gas even solids like iron ore in slurry form to refineries, fertilizer factories, industries and big thermal power plants. For example:. From oil field in From Salaya in Gujarat to Jalandhar in Punjab, via Viramgam, Mathura, Delhi and Sonipat. It has branches to connect Koyali (near Vadodara, Gujarat) Chakshu and other places. Gas pipeline from Hazira in Gujarat connects Jagdishpur in Uttar Pradesh, via Vijaipur in Madhya Pradesh. It has branches to Kota in Rajasthan, Shahajahanpur, Babrala and other places in Uttar Pradesh (HVJ). LONG TYPE QUESTION ANSWER Q. What do you mean by tourism? Ans. Tourism comprises the activities of the people traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environments for more than one consecutive day for leisure, business and other purposes. Tourists visit other places for heritage tourism, religious activities, eco tourism, adventure tourism, cultural tourism, medical tourism and business tourism. Q. What are the advantages of transport? Ans. 1. Facilitates easy and free movement of people from one place to another. 2. Helps to carry goods and materials from one place to another 3. Helps in production and distribution of goods. 4. Connect markets with the production centers. 5. Promotes easy accessibility of goods and services. 6. Helps in development of trade and commerce. 7. Helps to increase the volume of the Trade. Q. What are the chief import and export items in India? Ans. Import Items:- 1. Agriculture and allied products (2.53 %), 2. Ores and minerals (9.12 %), 3. Gems and jewellery (26.75%) 4. Chemical and allied products (24.45%), 5. Engineering goods ( 35.63%) Petroleum products (86.12%) Export Items:- 1. Petroleum and petroleum products (41.87%) 2. Pearls and precious stones (29.26%) 3. Inorganic chemicals (29.39%), 4. Coal, coke and briquettes (94.17% ) 5. Machinery (12.56%). Q. What are the problems faced by Indian roadways? Ans. 1. Road network is inadequate for increasing volume of traffic. 2. About half of the roads are unmetalled. 3. The National Highways are inadequate and are poorly maintained.




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4. The roadways are highly congested in cities and are lacking safety measures. 5. Most of the bridges and culverts are old and narrow. 6.Lack of proper security measures. Q. What are the features of railways in India? Ans. 1. Very useful for carrying heavy and bulky goods and materials. 2. Comparatively cheaper than Roadways and Airways for long distances. 3. Gives employment to a large number of people. 4. The Indian Railways are the largest public undertaking run by the Central Government 5. The principal (Main) mode of transportation for freight and passengers in India. 6. Railways conduct multifarious activities like business, sightseeing and pilgrimage along with transportation of goods. 7. Acts as an Integrating force by bringing people close to each other. 8. Suitable for long distances and Provides comfort of a home. Q. What are the Problems Faced by Indian Railways? Ans. 1. Requires huge investment at the time of installation. 2. Maintenance and upkeep is very costly. 3. Construction is difficult and costly in uneven and high hills and deserts. 4. Not suitable for transportation of perishable goods. 5. Ticket-less travelers. 6. Thefts and damaging of railway property. 7. Unnecessarily chain pulling to stop train. 8. conversions. 9. Sinking and slipping of tracks in rains. 10. Modernization and Electrificat

DISASTER MANAGEMENT A disaster is a destructive event that occurs suddenly and involves loss of life and property. Disasters can be of two types, natural and man-made.




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Earthquakes, volcanic activity, tsunamis, floods, cyclones, landslides, avalanches and droughts are natural disasters and man has no control over them. The man-made disasters are triggered by human beings. Some of the man-made disasters are: bomb explosions, terrorism, war or civil war, leakage of poisonous chemicals, breach in dams, air or water pollution, industrial accidents and epidemics. Whether natural or man-made, these disasters hamper normal routine of the society and usually affect a large number of people. Disasters can also lead to huge loss of life and property. When a disaster strikes a society, external help is usually needed in the form of aid to cope with its impact. Disaster Management refers to the measures taken for the safety and protection of life and property from natural or man-made disasters. This means being prepared for disasters, fighting disasters effectively, ensuring the safety of life during disasters and helping in rebuilding society after the disaster. Earthquakes An earthquake is a sudden tremor or movement of the earth's crust, which usually originates at or below the surface. The outer layer of the earth is solid and is divided into many sections known as plates. These plates, float over the molten magma that flows beneath the earth’s crust. Many of the earthquakes occur on the edges of these plates along fault lines where the plates collide or try to slide past each other. Apart from natural causes like the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates and volcanic eruptions, there are other man-made causes of earthquakes. These include vibrations caused by big rocks falling down hills because of erosion, hollow parts of mines falling down due to dissolution of minerals by water and, in the present times, due to nuclear explosions. The point of origin of the earthquake within the crust or mantle is called the seismic focus. Since the focus is often deep below the surface, the location of the earthquake is often referred to as the point on the surface of the earth, vertically above the seismic focus. This point is called the epicentre. Scientists, who study earthquakes or seismology, measure earthquakes with a device called the seismometer; a device which also records is known as a seismograph. They use an instrument to measure the magnitude of the earthquake, called a ‘Richter Scale’. Such under-sea earthquakes, give rise to giant waves called the tsunami, which cause great deal of destruction along the coasts. Measures for protection against earthquakes:

Proper early warning system, The information about earthquakes and their intensity should be shared with the public through radio,

television and newspapers Construction of buildings based on earthquake-resistant techniques Construct buildings over pillars made of concrete and iron that are built deep in the ground Water, ration, first-aid kits, radios, flash lights, battery, blankets, jackets and fire extinguishers should be

stored in safe places. Measure on the personal front:

Remain calm If inside a building or a house, take cover under a solid surface like a table, or stand in the doorway If one is outside, move to an open space away from trees, electric poles and buildings




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Switch off the gas and electric supply in the house during a quake and do not use elevators After the quake is over, the affected people should be given immediate medical help People should be vaccinated to stop epidemics from spreading Transport and communication facilities should be restored as soon as possible Police and paramilitary forces should be deployed to protect properties which had to be abandoned from

theft.

Volcanoes, Tsunamis and Cyclones The earth is filled with molten magma at very high temperature. This molten magma is under enormous pressure and is on the constant lookout for an opening. When it finds one, all the molten rocks or lava, along with gases and steam flow out on to the earth’s surface. This is called a volcano. When extraordinary levels of pressure develop within the earth, the lava and gases explode causing great destruction to the surrounding areas. Such violent eruptions are also accompanied by earthquakes. Depending on their activity, there are three types of volcanoes: active, dormant and extinct. The active volcanoes erupt from time to time. The dormant ones were active in the past, though they have not shown any activities for a long time. The extinct ones on the other hand, do not have any recorded history of being active. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions cause a sudden disturbance at the base of the ocean, causing abrupt displacement of water. Such activities produce very high waves which are called Tsunamis, also known as killer waves or tidal waves. A cyclone is an egg-shaped air formation that moves in the form of swirling winds. It has low air pressure at its centre but very high pressure at the surface. Since air moves from a region of high pressure to a region of low pressure, cyclones cause high winds and heavy rainfall. Since satellites help us in tracking the course of cyclones, the Indian Meteorological Department issues cyclone warnings in India. All About Floods Flooding damages crops and contaminates sources of fresh water thus leading to shortage of food and drinking water. Apart from damaging life and property, floods can also lead to epidemics. Any flood is preceded by a threat period known as the Probability Period, which allows the authorities to issue warnings and plan evacuation. Floods occur when land gets submerged under water due to various causes like excessive rain, overflowing rivers, increase in water in reservoirs, cyclones, tsunami, sea tides and melting of glaciers. Floods caused by cloud bursts, bursting of dams, or tsunamis are called flash floods. Any flood is preceded by a threat period known as the Probability Period. This allows the authorities to issue warnings and plan evacuation. Artificial reservoirs should be built with sluice gates and sand bags should be used to block the flow of water. Low grounds or viaducts can be created to carry water in a certain direction or underground. Trees should be planted in the catchment areas to stop soil erosion. Land Slides and AvalanchesDroughts




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A drought occurs when there is acute shortage of water. Droughts that happen in India can be broadly divided into two categories. They are severe and general droughts. Droughts are severe when rainfall in an area is below 50% of the average rainfall. When an area receives rainfall that is 25% less than the average rainfall, it is termed as a General Drought. Based on their features and causes, droughts have been divided into three types. They are the Seasonal Drought, the Water Drought and the Agricultural Drought. Seasonal Drought occurs when there’s little rain for a prolonged period. Lack of water in water resources such as rivers, lakes and ponds is called a Water Drought and lack of crops is called an Agricultural Drought. The most common factor for a drought is scarce rain or no rain at all. Destruction of forests is another reason for droughts. Over use of agricultural land is another cause of droughts. Less vegetation also leads to droughts. Depleting ground water level accompanied by the absence of rain also leads to a drought. We can store rain water to prevent droughts. We should plant more trees to avoid droughts. Nearly 35% of land should be earmarked as green belts. Water supply to the agricultural fields in the parched regions can be increased by rainwater harvesting, canal irrigation and building contour bunds. Planting trees, harvesting rainwater, building dams to store excess rain water and crop insurance are some of the measures that we can take to cope with droughts. Atomic, Biological and Chemical Disasters Human disasters are man-made and involve elements of human intent, negligence, or the failure of a man-made system. Since weapons are created by man, disasters linked to it are called man-made disasters. The government plays an important role in managing such attacks. It tries to solve the problem of the terrorist attacks through discussions at the national and international levels. When the government receives intelligence about possible terror attacks, it issues warnings to the general public. It also educates the people on a national scale about the dos and don’ts of avoiding as well as handling such attacks. Another type of man-made disaster is biological disaster. Such disasters are caused by microorganisms that cause epidemics. These have spread due to man-made conditions. Most of these have been infectious diseases such as malaria, plague, diphtheria, tuberculosis and influenza. People can control the spread of these diseases by ensuring hygienic conditions and taking preventive measures. The government has taken a number of steps to contain the spread of these diseases such as fumigation to control the spread of the malarial mosquito. In addition to biological disaster, chemical disaster is another man-made disaster. Chemical and radioactive leakages are also the result of human error and result in far reaching damages. While natural disasters may be difficult to control, human disasters can be easily controlled if some stringent measures are taken up to prevent them on time. General Human Disasters - 1 Fires disasters are mostly man-made and caused due to negligence and lack of maintenance. Fires can occur both indoors and outdoors. Fires are not restricted to buildings only. Forests are also prone to man-made fires which occur due to the carelessness of man.




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It is possible to take measures to prevent fires and limit the damage caused by them. Not keep inflammable matter at home and always keep a fire extinguisher handy. Remember to switch off all the electrical gadgets as well as the gas before going outside. Keep match boxes out of reach of children and restrain smoking in the house. Call the fire brigade immediately so that not a single moment is wasted. Try to crawl because smoke is always less near the floor.

The government has its own share of do’s and don’ts. It contributes to the safety of its people through stringent checks against violation of safety norms. Disasters Involving Modes of Transport Human disasters include accidents that occur while traveling by road, rail and air. Accidents mostly occur when rules are broken by people. However, road accidents can be prevented by following traffic rules. The legal age to start driving is eighteen. Once you get your license, strictly follow the rules which were ingrained in you during the training. Another mode of transport in India is the Indian Railways, which has the largest rail network in Asia and the second largest in the world. Train accidents are usually caused by derailment, signal failure or fires caused by inflammable material. One should always pay attention to signals, and look out while crossing unmanned level crossings. Air travel has gained popularity in recent years in India due to the introduction of low cost carriers. Plane accidents occur due to human error as well as extreme climactic conditions. Some human-made air disasters can be caused by poor maintenance of the aircraft, fire outbreaks and tired or inexperienced pilots. There are also eventualities like hijacking. Disasters involving road, rail and air are usually caused by human errors and can be easily avoided by following rules and regulations. Stages of Disaster Management Disaster management prepares us to deal with such situations by preventing any calamity, minimising the effects, and taking timely action for normalising the situation. Disaster Management is a chain of activities carried out before, during and after the disaster occurs. To effectively deal with disaster in all its stages, disaster management is broken down in to four important stages. These are advance preparation, relief to the victims, restoration of normalcy and prevention plan for the future. Role of Administration On the national level, the role of the administration is to initiate rescue and relief operations depending on the gravity of the disaster. At the Central level, the Government has nominated nodal ministries to manage various types of disasters which help in streamlining rescue operations. There is a National calamity management committee which is presided over by the Cabinet Secretary. The calamity management group also deals with Disaster Management responsibilities and functions under the Central Aid Commissioner.




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In addition to these administrative committees, technical support is provided by organizations like the Central Weather Science Department (for cyclone and earthquake), Defence Research and Development Organisation and the Civil Defence General Director. At the State Level, a committee under the Chief Minister or the Chief Secretary views and takes care of relief operations. At the district level, the District Magistrate and the District Administration are responsible for executing relief operations. The Block Development Officer manages the operations at the block level in case of any disaster. At the village level, the Sarpanch of a village heads the disaster management committee and assists the various organizations working in the field

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