UPSC Prelims 2014 Q42: Geography – Physical Geography & Geomorphology
In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following?
1. Terrace cultivation
2. Deforestation
3. Tropical climate
Select the correct answer
using the code given below.
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 only
Explanation
Soil erosion in India
| Factor | Associated with soil erosion? (official key) | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Terrace cultivation | No | Terraces check erosion on slopes |
| 2. Deforestation | Yes | Without roots and cover, soil is washed and blown away |
| 3. Tropical climate | No | A climate type by itself is not counted as the problem |
Causes and cures:
| Causes of soil erosion | Ways to check it |
|---|---|
| Deforestation | Afforestation |
| Overgrazing | Controlled grazing |
| Shifting cultivation | Terrace and contour farming |
| Faulty ploughing down the slope | Contour bunding, strip cropping |
Types of erosion by water: sheet, rill and gully erosion; the Chambal ravines are the best-known gullies.
Some argue that intense tropical rain also causes erosion; the official key counts only deforestation.
Answer: (b) 2 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Terrace cultivation prevents erosion; it does not cause it.
- (b) CORRECT. Only deforestation is associated with the problem of soil erosion.
- (c) Incorrect. Terrace cultivation is a conservation method.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false, and the key does not count tropical climate.
Key point
Soil erosion: caused by deforestation, overgrazing, shifting cultivation; checked by terracing, contour farming, afforestation. Chambal ravines = gully erosion.
Remember
Deforestation causes erosion; terraces stop it.
Common mistakes
- Treating terrace cultivation as a cause; it is a remedy.
- Marking tropical climate, which the official key rejects.
- Forgetting overgrazing and shifting cultivation as other causes.
Exam tip
Terracing, contour ploughing and bunding are cures. Never mark them as causes.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — India: Physical Environment, Ch 6 (Soils)
- NCERT Class X — Contemporary India II, Ch 1 (Resources and Development)