Indian Geography : Practice Questions and Answers

The Saila dance is a traditional folk dance of Chhattisgarh, performed by boys and young men after the harvest season during the months of October and November. Dancers carry sticks (lathis) and perform in circular formations to the beat of traditional drums. It is associated with the Gond and other tribal communities.

Pune is located on the banks of the Mula-Mutha river, formed by the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers within the city. The combined river later meets the Bhima river, which flows into the Krishna river and finally drains into the Bay of Bengal.

A canyon is a deep, narrow valley with steep sides formed by the erosive action of rivers, wind, rain, and tectonic forces over millions of years. The Grand Canyon (USA) and the Indus Gorge (India-Pakistan) are famous examples. Buttes are isolated flat-topped hills, ridges are elongated elevated landforms, and basins are low-lying areas.

The 5th Indian International Science Festival (IISF) 2019 was held in Kolkata, West Bengal. IISF is a joint initiative of science ministries and departments of the Government of India to celebrate the achievements of Indian science and technology and inspire youth towards science.

West Bengal is the highest jute-producing state in India, accounting for over 50% of the country's total jute production. Bihar and Assam are second and third respectively. The Ganga delta region of West Bengal provides the ideal alluvial soil and humid climate required for jute cultivation.

Tummalapalle is located in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh and is believed to hold one of the world's largest uranium deposits. The mine is operated by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL). Its uranium ore reserves are estimated at over 1.5 lakh tonnes.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the National Tribal Craft Mela-2019 in Bhubaneswar, the capital of Odisha. The mela is an annual event that showcases tribal art, crafts, and culture from various states of India and provides a platform for tribal artisans to sell their products directly to consumers.

Palghat Pass (also called Palakkad Gap) is located between the Nilgiri Hills to the north and the Anaimalai Hills to the south in the Western Ghats. It is a natural break in the Western Ghats through which the Bharatapuzha river flows and is strategically important for transportation between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Tropical Deciduous Forests (also called Monsoon Forests) cover the largest area in India. They grow in regions with annual rainfall of 70–200 cm and shed their leaves in the dry season. Key species include Teak, Sal, Shisham, Mahua, and Bamboo. They are divided into moist deciduous and dry deciduous sub-types.

A topographical map is a large-scale map that shows detailed surface features of an area, including both natural features (hills, rivers, forests) and man-made features (roads, buildings), along with elevation through contour lines. It differs from a relief map which shows only elevation, and a chorographic map which covers larger regions at smaller scales.

Irom Chanu Sharmila, known as the 'Iron Lady of Manipur', is from Manipur. She is renowned for her 16-year hunger strike (2000–2016) demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from Manipur. She is one of the longest hunger strikers in history.

National Chambal Sanctuary spans across Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh — making it a tri-state protected area. It is home to the Critically Endangered gharial, the red-crowned roofed turtle, and the Endangered Ganges river dolphin, along with mugger crocodiles and various migratory birds.

Shivanasamudra Falls is located on the Kaveri river in Karnataka. It is a segmented waterfall where the river splits around the island of Shivanasamudra before plunging into the gorge. It is one of the largest waterfalls in India and was the site of one of Asia's first hydroelectric power stations (1902).

Earth Hour 2017 was observed on 25th March 2017 with the theme 'Switch Off and Switch Onto Solar Energy'. Earth Hour is a global movement where people across 7000+ cities switch off lights for one hour to take a stand against climate change. It is organized by WWF annually on the last Saturday of March.

Cherrapunji lies on the windward side of the Khasi Hills, directly exposed to moisture-laden winds from the Bay of Bengal branch of the southwest monsoon, causing extremely heavy orographic rainfall. Shillong, on the leeward side, lies in the rain shadow area and receives significantly less rainfall.

RISAT-2B was launched on May 22, 2019, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC-SHAR) located in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It is India's primary rocket launch facility operated by ISRO. RISAT-2B is a radar imaging satellite used for surveillance and disaster monitoring.

Lipulekh Pass is located in Uttarakhand, at the trijunction of India, China, and Nepal. It is an important trade and pilgrimage route used for the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra. The pass has been a subject of territorial dispute between India and Nepal.

Lakshadweep was declared India's first 100% organic Union Territory in 2020 by the Ministry of Agriculture. The entire 32 sq km land area was certified under the Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana and Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). It is second overall after Sikkim, which became India's first 100% organic state in 2016.

The Indian rivers of the Indus Basin are Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi. The other major tributaries of the Indus — Jhelum and Chenab — also originate in India but flow largely through Pakistan. Betwa, Sone, and Kosi belong to the Ganga basin.

Expansion of irrigation in Maharashtra's black soil (Deccan trap) region has made sugarcane cultivation viable and profitable, leading farmers to shift from cotton to sugarcane. Sugarcane yields higher and more assured returns per acre compared to cotton, making it the preferred choice where irrigation is available.