2011 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2011 · GS Paper I

Question 98: Geography

A state in India has the following characteristics :

  1. 1.Its northern part is arid and semi-arid.
  2. 2.Its central part produces cotton.
  3. 3.Cultivation of cash crops is predominant over food crops.

Which one of the following states has all of the above characteristics ?

aAndhra Pradesh
bGujarat
cKarnataka
dTamil Nadu

AnswerThe answer is (b).

Gujarat fits all three characteristics. Its northern part, towards Kutch and the Rajasthan border, is arid and semi-arid. Its central part is a leading cotton producer, and cash crops such as cotton, groundnut and tobacco account for more of the cropped area than food crops. Gujarat is therefore the state that matches, and the other states match the full set less well.

  • 1. Northern Gujarat is arid and semi-arid.
  • 2. Central Gujarat is a cotton-growing region.
  • 3. Cash crops such as cotton and groundnut predominate over food crops.
Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Andhra Pradesh matches only in part; rice is among its leading crops.
  • (b) Right: Gujarat has an arid north, cotton in the centre, and cash crops predominate.
  • (c) Karnataka does not match the full set as well as Gujarat.
  • (d) Tamil Nadu's north is not arid, and rice is its leading crop.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2011, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.