UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies
Question 47: Geography
With reference to the mineral resources of India, consider the following pairs :
| Mineral | 90% Natural sources in | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Copper | Jharkhand |
| 2 | Nickel | Orissa |
| 3 | Tungsten | Kerala |
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
About 90 per cent of India's nickel ore is in Odisha (Orissa), around the Sukinda valley, so pair 2 is right. Copper is not concentrated 90 per cent in Jharkhand: Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh also hold large deposits, so pair 1 is wrong. Tungsten has no significant deposits in Kerala, which is known for monazite and ilmenite in beach sands; tungsten is found in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and West Bengal, so pair 3 is wrong. Remember: nickel = Sukinda, Odisha.
- 1. Copper is not 90 per cent in Jharkhand; Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh hold large deposits.
- 2. Roughly 90 per cent of nickel ore is in Odisha (Sukinda valley).
- 3. Tungsten is not found in Kerala in any significant amount.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Pair 1 is wrong, since copper also occurs in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
- (b) Right: only the nickel-Odisha pair is correct.
- (c) Pairs 1 and 3 are both wrong.
- (d) Pairs 1 and 3 are wrong, so all three cannot be correct.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.