UPSC Prelims 2011 Q93: Geography – Indian Agriculture & Land Use
The lower Gangetic plain is characterised by humid climate with high temperature
throughout the year. Which one among the following pairs of crops is most suitable for this
region?
- (a) Paddy and cotton
- (b) Wheat and jute
- (c) Paddy and jute
- (d) Wheat and cotton
Answer: (c) Paddy and jute
Explanation
Best crop pair for the lower Gangetic plain's humid climate
The lower Gangetic plain has a hot, humid climate with high year-round temperatures and heavy rainfall.
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Paddy and cotton | Incorrect | Cotton needs drier conditions with less waterlogging risk, unsuited to this humid, high-rainfall zone |
| (b) Wheat and jute | Incorrect | Wheat requires a cooler, drier climate (Rabi season), not the humid tropical conditions of the lower Gangetic plain |
| (c) Paddy and jute | Correct | Both paddy (rice) and jute thrive in hot, humid, high-rainfall conditions typical of the lower Gangetic plain (West Bengal, Bangladesh region) |
| (d) Wheat and cotton | Incorrect | Both wheat and cotton need drier, less humid conditions, unsuited to this region |
Lower Gangetic plain agriculture:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Climate | Hot, humid, high rainfall year-round |
| Best-suited crops | Paddy and jute |
| Region | West Bengal and surrounding lower Gangetic delta |
Answer: (c) Paddy and jute.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Cotton needs drier conditions, unsuited to this humid region, even though paddy fits.
- (b) Incorrect. Wheat needs a cooler, drier climate, unsuited to the lower Gangetic plain's humid heat.
- (c) CORRECT. Paddy and jute both thrive in the hot, humid, high-rainfall conditions of the lower Gangetic plain.
- (d) Incorrect. Both wheat and cotton are mismatched with this region's humid tropical climate.
Key point
Paddy and jute are the crop pair best suited to the hot, humid, high-rainfall lower Gangetic plain — wheat and cotton both need drier conditions.
Remember
Lower Gangetic plain's humid climate best suits paddy and jute — not wheat or cotton.
Common mistakes
- Pairing wheat (a dry-climate Rabi crop) with a humid, tropical region.
- Pairing cotton (a drier-climate crop) with the wet lower Gangetic delta.
- Not recognising jute as the defining cash crop of this specific humid region.
Exam tip
Lower Gangetic plain = hot, humid, heavy rain → paddy + jute. Wheat and cotton both need drier conditions, ruling them out here.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII Geography — India: People and Economy — Land Resources and Agriculture
- Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India — Agricultural Statistics at a Glance 2010 (rice and jute)