Geography 2021 Paper II 50 marks Compulsory Discuss

Q1

(a) On the outline map of India provided to you, mark the location of all the following. Write in your QCA Booklet the significance of these locations whether physical/commercial/economic/ecological/environmental/cultural, in not more than 30 words for each entry: 2×10=20 (i) Ziro Valley (ii) Khecheopalri Lake (iii) Toranmal (iv) Subarnarekha River (v) Koderma (vi) Sir Creek (vii) Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (viii) Peechi Dam (ix) Digha Beach (x) Pamban Island (b) Discuss the geo-political impact of bilateral relationship between India and Bhutan. 10 (c) Discuss the economic significance of volcanic soils of India. 10 (d) Give a reasoned account of difference between sugar industry of North and Peninsular India. 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) आपको दिए गए भारत के रेखामानचित्र पर निम्नलिखित सभी की स्थिति को अंकित कीजिए। अपनी क्यू० सी० ए० पुस्तिका में इन स्थानों में से प्रत्येक का भौतिक/वाणिज्यिक/आर्थिक/पारिस्थितिक/पर्यावरणीय/सांस्कृतिक महत्व अधिकतम 30 शब्दों में लिखिए : 2×10=20 (i) ज़ीरो घाटी (ii) खेचेओपलरी झील (iii) तोरणमाल (iv) सुवर्णरेखा नदी (v) कोडरमा (vi) सर क्रीक (vii) पेरियार वन्यजीव अभयारण्य (viii) पीची डैम (ix) दीघा बीच (x) पम्बन द्वीप (b) भारत और भूटान के बीच द्विपक्षीय संबंध के भू-राजनीतिक प्रभाव की विवेचना कीजिए। 10 (c) भारत की ज्वालामुखीय मिट्टियों के आर्थिक महत्व की विवेचना कीजिए। 10 (d) उत्तरी और प्रायद्वीपीय भारत के चीनी उद्योग के बीच अंतर का तर्क सहित वर्णन कीजिए। 10

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Directive word: Discuss

This question asks you to discuss. The directive word signals the depth of analysis expected, the structure of your answer, and the weight of evidence you must bring.

See our UPSC directive words guide for a full breakdown of how to respond to each command word.

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

The directive 'discuss' requires analytical exposition with balanced arguments. Allocate approximately 40% time to part (a) map-based locations (20 marks), 20% each to parts (b), (c), and (d) (10 marks each). Structure: precise map marking with 25-30 word significance for each location; for (b) analyze India-Bhutan ties through hydropower, security, and cultural dimensions; for (c) examine Deccan Traps' black cotton soil fertility; for (d) compare sugar industry through climate, crushing season, and cooperative vs. private mill patterns.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Correct map location and significance—Ziro Valley (Apatani cultural landscape, Ziro music festival), Khecheopalri Lake (sacred lake Sikkim, biodiversity), Toranmal (Satpura hill station, Gujarat-Maharashtra border), Subarnarekha River (gold-bearing, Jharkhand-Bengal-Odisha border dispute), Koderma (mica belt, Jharkhand), Sir Creek (Indo-Pak maritime boundary dispute, Rann of Kutch), Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary (Project Tiger, Kerala), Peechi Dam (Kerala's first irrigation project), Digha Beach (West Bengal's most popular sea resort), Pamban Island (Rameswaram, Pamban Bridge, Sethusamudram)
  • Part (b): India-Bhutan geopolitical impact—hydropower cooperation (Chukha, Tala, Mangdechhu projects providing 70% of Bhutan's revenue), security umbrella (2017 Doklam standoff, Siliguri Corridor protection), cultural ties (Buddhist heritage, Guru Rinpoche), environmental diplomacy (carbon negative status), strategic buffer against China
  • Part (c): Volcanic soil economic significance—Deccan Traps (largest flood basalt province), black cotton soil (regur) properties (self-ploughing, moisture retention, fertility), cotton-sugarcane-jowar belt, groundwater challenges, horticulture potential (grapes, pomegranates)
  • Part (d): Sugar industry regional comparison—North India (UP-Bihar): tropical climate, short crushing season (Nov-Feb), low sucrose recovery, cooperative mills, gur/khandsari dominance; Peninsular India (Maharashtra-Karnataka-TN): subtropical, longer season (Oct-May), higher recovery, private sector efficiency, coastal location advantages, forward integration

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Demonstrates precise geographical knowledge: correctly identifies Ziro in Lower Subansiri district, distinguishes Sir Creek's eastward vs. westward boundary claims, explains Deccan Traps' Cretaceous-Paleogene origin, accurately contrasts sucrose recovery rates (North: 9-10% vs. Peninsular: 11-12%), and cites specific hydropower projects in India-Bhutan contextShows general awareness with minor errors: vague location descriptions (e.g., 'northeast' for Ziro without specificity), conflates volcanic with alluvial soil properties, oversimplifies sugar differences as merely 'climate', or lists India-Bhutan relations without analytical depthContains significant factual errors: misplaces locations (e.g., Toranmal in Western Ghats instead of Satpura), confuses Sir Creek with Rann of Kutch proper, describes volcanic soils as 'found in Himalayas', or presents outdated/wrong information about sugar industry structure
Map / diagram20%10All 10 locations marked with cartographic precision within acceptable tolerance; clear symbols/labels; spatial relationships evident (e.g., Pamban Island's position relative to Sri Lanka, Sir Creek's estuarine location); optional value-added sketch for part (d) showing sugar belt distribution or part (b) showing Chumbi Valley strategic position7-8 locations correctly placed with 2-3 positional errors (e.g., misplaced longitude for Koderma, confused Peechi with Idukki); symbols adequate but lacking precision; no supplementary diagrams for parts (b)-(d)Fewer than 6 correct locations; major errors (e.g., Subarnarekha flowing westward, Digha on Odisha coast); illegible or missing labels; complete absence of any diagrammatic support where spatial understanding is critical
Indian regional examples20%10Rich regional specificity: for (a) cites Apatani plateau cultivation system, Sikkim's Khangchendzonga Biosphere inclusion of Khecheopalri; for (b) references 2007 Friendship Treaty, Doklam's 2017 73-day standoff; for (c) names specific districts (Ahmednagar, Solapur for cotton; Sangli for sugar); for (d) compares specific cooperatives (Kolhapur) vs. UP's private millsGeneric regional references without specificity: 'northeast' without tribal context, 'western India' for volcanic soils without Deccan Traps mention, 'southern states' for sugar without Maharashtra-Karnataka distinction, India-Bhutan relations limited to 'good neighbors'Absent or incorrect regional examples: no state/district identification, confused regional attributions (e.g., volcanic soils in Gangetic plain), or irrelevant international comparisons that ignore Indian context entirely
Spatial analysis20%10Demonstrates sophisticated spatial reasoning: for Sir Creek, analyzes maritime boundary geometry and EEZ implications; for volcanic soils, explains latitudinal-climatic controls on soil moisture and cropping patterns; for sugar, uses locational triangle (raw material-weight loss-perishability); for India-Bhutan, analyzes Siliguri Corridor's chicken-neck vulnerability and Himalayan watershed controlBasic spatial awareness without analytical depth: mentions 'border area' for Sir Creek without dispute mechanics, notes 'west India' for volcanic soils without geological explanation, lists sugar factory locations without locational logic, describes Bhutan as 'mountainous neighbor' without strategic geographyAbsence of spatial thinking: treats locations as isolated points without connectivity, ignores distance-decay in industry location, fails to recognize topographical controls on international relations, or presents non-spatial explanations for inherently geographical phenomena
Application / policy20%10Integrates policy relevance effectively: for (a), mentions Ramsar status potential for Khecheopalri, Sethusamudram project's Pamban implications; for (b), analyzes BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement, India's 'Neighborhood First' and Bhutan's 'India First' policies; for (c), discusses soil health card scheme, drip irrigation in black cotton soils; for (d), evaluates FRP vs. SAP pricing, ethanol blending policy, and Vasantdada Sugar Institute's roleLimited policy connection: mentions generic 'tourism potential' or 'border security' without specific schemes, notes 'agricultural importance' without contemporary policy instruments, or lists relations without bilateral mechanism analysisNo policy application: purely descriptive answer ignoring contemporary relevance, or irrelevant policy references (e.g., discussing China's Belt and Road in India-Bhutan context without connecting to India's counter-strategy)

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