In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found? 1. Cambay Basin 2. Cauvery Basin 3. Krishna-Godavari Basin Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3 ✓ UPSC's answer
Why the answer is (d)
• Shale gas is natural gas trapped in fine-grained shale rock, extracted by hydraulic fracturing.
• India's identified shale resources lie in the Cambay (Gujarat), Cauvery, Krishna–Godavari, Assam–Arakan, Gondwana and Indo-Gangetic basins; the US EIA estimates about 96 tcf recoverable.
• All three listed basins — Cambay (1), Cauvery (2) and Krishna–Godavari (3) — hold shale gas.
• Hence 1, 2 and 3, option (d).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- KG basin also has shale gas.
- (b) 3 only
- Cambay and Cauvery basins also have shale gas.
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- Cambay basin also has shale gas.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2016, held on 7 August 2016. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.