➤ Thorn and scrub forests grow in arid and semi-arid regions such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, and parts of Punjab in north-western India.
★ These forests have drought-resistant trees like acacia and euphorbia, adapted to low rainfall areas.

➤ Meghalaya, especially Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, records the highest average annual rainfall in India and is among the wettest places on Earth.
➤ This is due to the orographic effect caused by the Khasi Hills that trap the moisture-laden Bay of Bengal monsoon winds.
★ Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives over 11,000 mm rainfall annually, making it the wettest place in India.

➤ Jamshedpur, located in Jharkhand, is known as India’s Steel City due to the presence of Tata Steel, the country’s first private steel plant established in 1907.
★ Jamshedpur is India’s first planned industrial city and a major hub for steel production.

➤ Sardar Sarovar Lake is associated with the Sardar Sarovar Dam built on the Narmada River in Gujarat, not Karnataka.
★ This option is incorrect because Sardar Sarovar is located in Gujarat, not Karnataka.

➤ During the Green Revolution, the government encouraged the use of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds by providing subsidies on seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation.
★ Subsidies and support prices were key policies that increased HYV adoption in Indian agriculture.

➤ Sambhar Lake (Rajasthan) is the largest inland salt lake in India.
➤ Chilika Lake (Odisha) is a brackish water lagoon connected to the Bay of Bengal.
➤ Dal and Wular lakes are freshwater lakes in Jammu & Kashmir.
★ Salt-water lakes like Sambhar and Chilika support salt production and fisheries, respectively.

➤ Climate is influenced by factors like latitude, altitude, ocean currents, proximity to water bodies, and relief features, not by the distance between cities.
★ Distance between two cities is not a climatic factor; it doesn’t affect temperature or rainfall patterns.

➤ The Thar Desert lies to the west of the Aravalli Range, which acts as a climatic barrier blocking moist winds from reaching the desert.
★ The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold mountains in India and defines the eastern boundary of the Thar Desert.

➤ Methane (CH₄) is a highly flammable gas found in coal mines and marshy areas, formed due to decomposition of organic matter in anaerobic conditions.
★ Methane is also called “marsh gas” and is dangerous due to its explosive nature in mines.

➤ Kerala is the first Indian state to receive monsoon rains from the Arabian Sea Branch of the southwest monsoon.
★ The monsoon typically hits the Kerala coast around June 1st, marking the beginning of India’s rainy season.

➤ Hirakud – Mahanadi
➤ Nagarjuna Sagar – Krishna
➤ Sardar Sarovar – Narmada, Tehri – Bhagirathi
➤ Rana Pratap Sagar – Chambal.
★ These dams are major multipurpose projects critical for irrigation, hydroelectricity, and flood control.

➤ K2, also known as Godwin-Austen, is the highest peak in India and the second-highest in the world, located in the Karakoram Range.
★ K2 lies in Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan and is 8,611 meters tall.

➤ Assam receives the highest rainfall among the three, followed by Bihar, and then Rajasthan, which is largely arid.
★ This order reflects the east-to-west decrease in monsoon rainfall across northern India.

➤ Fertilizer is a chemical-based industry, not directly dependent on agricultural raw materials.
➤ Agro-based industries rely on inputs from agriculture like cotton, jute, sugarcane, etc.
★ Jute, Sugar, and Edible oil are agro-based, but fertilizers are part of the chemical sector.

➤ The Nilgiri Hills in southern India are ideal for tea and coffee due to their elevation, cool climate, and rainfall.
★ Nilgiri tea is a popular variety and this region also supports high-quality coffee plantations.

➤ The Sutlej River originates from Rakshastal Lake, near Mount Kailash in Tibet, close to Mansarovar Lake.
★ It is one of the five rivers of Punjab and a major tributary of the Indus system.

➤ The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas manages pipeline transportation of petroleum, natural gas, and other related products across India.
★ Pipelines are vital for the energy sector, especially in the distribution of crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas.

➤ Rice is a major Kharif crop sown during the monsoon season (June-July) and harvested in October-November in northern India.
★ Kharif crops require warm weather and plenty of rain, which suits paddy cultivation.

➤ The water level of the Ganga is highly dependent on monsoon rains and Himalayan snowmelt, making option D incorrect.
★ River Ganga is crucial for agriculture, biodiversity, and livelihoods across northern India and its flow is strongly influenced by climatic factors.

➤ The Konkan coast is the northern part of the Western Coastal Plains, stretching from Mumbai to Goa.
★ It features narrow plains, estuaries, and ports like Mumbai and Ratnagiri, and is known for rice and coconut farming.

➤ These are part of the six traditional Indian seasons (Ritus) according to the Hindu calendar: Vasanta (spring), Grishma (summer), and Varsha (monsoon).
★ These seasons are part of India’s cultural classification of the year, not scientific climatology.

➤ ‘Loo’ is a hot and dry local wind that blows during May and June in the northwestern plains of India.
➤ It causes extreme heat waves and may lead to heatstroke.
★ ‘Loo’ is an important local wind during Indian summers, especially in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and western UP.

➤ The ‘Loo’ is a strong, hot, and dry wind that blows during the daytime in summer over the Indo-Gangetic Plain.
➤ It drastically reduces humidity and increases temperature.
★ ‘Loo’ is a classic example of a hot local wind in India’s climate system.

➤ The North Indian Plain is formed by the depositional work of the Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra and their tributaries, leading to extensive alluvial deposits.
★ Alluvial soils are very fertile and ideal for agriculture, making this region India’s agricultural heartland.

➤ Around 97% of Earth’s water is found in oceans and seas, which is saline water.
➤ The remaining 3% is freshwater, mostly locked in glaciers and underground sources.
★ Oceans hold the vast majority of Earth’s water, but it’s not directly usable for drinking or irrigation without desalination.