1996 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 1996 · General Studies
Question 73: Geography
Which one of the following areas of India produces largest amount of cotton?
aNorth-western India and Gangetic West Bengal
bNorth-western and Western India
cWestern and Southern India
dPlains of Northern India
AnswerThe answer is (b).
North-western India (Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan) together with Western India (Gujarat and Maharashtra) accounts for most of India's cotton, grown on the black cotton soil of the Deccan and Gujarat and on irrigated land in the north-west. Gujarat and Maharashtra are the leading states. Remember: cotton belt - black soil of the Deccan plateau, plus irrigated Punjab.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Gangetic West Bengal is a jute region, not a leading cotton region.
- (b) Right: north-western and western India grow the most cotton.
- (c) Includes western India but swaps the north-west for the south, which grows less.
- (d) Leaves out Gujarat and Maharashtra, the largest producers.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1996, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.