Geography 2023 Paper II 50 marks Compulsory Describe

Q1

(a) On the outline map of India provided to you, mark the location of all of 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) Nathula (ii) Hutti (iii) Ross Island (iv) Moreh (v) Ramappa (vi) Namdapha National Park (vii) Sela Tunnel (viii) Ennore Port (ix) Ramagundam (x) Betwa River (b) Describe the origin, distribution and economic significance of Gondwana system of rocks in India. 10 (c) Examine the role of Indian Earth Observation Satellite Technology in enhancing weather forecasting and disaster management. 10 (d) Discuss the impact of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 on forest conservation in India. 10

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

(a) आपको दिए गए भारत के रेखा मानचित्र 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) नाथुला (ii) हट्टी (iii) रॉस द्वीप (iv) मोरेह (v) रामप्पा (vi) नामदफा राष्ट्रीय उद्यान (vii) सेला सुरंग (viii) एन्नोर बंदरगाह (ix) रामगुंडम (x) बेतवा नदी (b) भारत में गोंडवाना प्रणाली की चट्टानों की उत्पत्ति, वितरण और आर्थिक महत्व का वर्णन कीजिए। 10 (c) मौसम पूर्वानुमान और आपदा प्रबंधन को बढ़ाने में भारतीय पृथ्वी अवलोकन उपग्रह प्रौद्योगिकी की भूमिका का परीक्षण कीजिए। 10 (d) भारत में वन संरक्षण पर राष्ट्रीय हरित अधिकरण अधिनियम, 2010 के प्रभाव की विवेचना कीजिए। 10

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Directive word: Describe

This question asks you to describe. 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

Begin with precise map marking for part (a), allocating 40% time to ensure accurate location plotting and 30-word significance statements for each of the 10 entries. For part (b), describe Gondwana origin through continental drift, distribution across Damodar, Mahanadi and Godavari valleys, and economic significance for coal reserves. Part (c) requires examining INSAT, Cartosat and RISAT series applications in cyclone prediction and flood management. Part (d) should discuss NGT's fast-track environmental clearances, compensatory afforestation mandates and wetland protection orders with specific forest conservation case laws.

Key points expected

  • Part (a): Correct map marking of Nathula (Sikkim-China trade pass), Hutti (Karnataka gold mines), Ross Island (Andaman colonial history), Moreh (Manipur-Myanmar border trade), Ramappa (Telangana UNESCO temple), Namdapha (Arunachal biodiversity hotspot), Sela Tunnel (Arunachal strategic connectivity), Ennore Port (Tamil Nadu coal terminal), Ramagundam (Telangana NTPC/Singareni), Betwa River (MP-UP tributary of Yamuna)
  • Part (b): Gondwana origin in Permian-Carboniferous glaciation, continental drift evidence; distribution in Gondwana basins (Damodar, Son-Mahanadi, Godavari, Wardha, Satpura); economic significance for 98% Indian coal, fireclay, sandstone
  • Part (c): INSAT-3D/3DR for weather forecasting, Cartosat for terrain mapping, RISAT for all-weather disaster monitoring; specific applications in Cyclone Fani/Amphan prediction, Uttarakhand flood management, agricultural drought assessment
  • Part (d): NGT Act 2010 provisions (Section 14, 15, 20); impact on forest clearance through compensatory afforestation (CAMPA funds), wetland protection (Ousteri lake case), ban on illegal mining in Aravalli/Alwar forests

Evaluation rubric

DimensionWeightMax marksExcellentAveragePoor
Concept correctness20%10Accurately describes Gondwana sedimentary formation through Permian glaciation and Glossopteris flora evidence; correctly explains satellite orbits (geostationary vs sun-synchronous) and NGT's quasi-judicial powers under Constitutional Articles 21 and 48A; no factual errors in geological periods or legal provisionsBasic description of Gondwana as coal-bearing rocks with some confusion between Lower and Upper Gondwana; general mention of remote sensing without distinguishing optical and SAR sensors; vague awareness of NGT but conflates with NEPA 1986Fundamental errors such as calling Gondwana igneous/metamorphic, confusing Earth observation with communication satellites, or stating NGT is under Ministry of Environment rather than independent statutory body
Map / diagram20%10All 10 locations in part (a) precisely plotted with correct relative positioning—Nathula in Sikkim Himalaya (not confused with Shipkila), Hutti in Raichur district (not Kolar), Ross Island in Andamans (not Nicobars), Moreh on Manipur-Myanmar border, Ramappa in Mulugu district, Namdapha in Changlang district, Sela Tunnel near Tawang, Ennore north of Chennai, Ramagundam in Peddapalli district, Betwa joining Yamuna near Hamirpur; clear legend and indexing7-8 correct locations with minor errors such as placing Hutti in southern Karnataka or confusing Betwa with Ken/Bind rivers; some indexing issues but general regional accuracy maintainedFewer than 6 correct locations; major errors like placing Nathula in Arunachal, Ross Island in Lakshadweep, or Ramagundam in Karnataka; illegible or unindexed map rendering evaluation impossible
Indian regional examples20%10Rich specificity: for (a) cites Nathula's reopening 2006 under Silk Road initiative, Hutti's 3.5g/tonne ore grade, Ross Island's penal colony history; for (b) names specific coalfields—Jharia, Bokaro, Raniganj, Talcher, Singareni; for (c) cites ISRO's SCATSAT-1 for ocean wind vectors, Bhuvan portal; for (d) references specific NGT orders—Almitra Patel case on solid waste, Art of Living festival on Yamuna floodplainsSome regional naming but generic references—mentions 'eastern coalfields' without specificity, 'remote sensing satellites' without Indian names, 'NGT banned mining' without locating specific forest regionsVirtually no Indian examples; uses generic global references (Amazon deforestation, US GPS) or entirely omits regional specificity that defines UPSC Geography answers
Spatial analysis20%10Demonstrates spatial reasoning: for (a) explains why Moreh matters for India's Act East Policy connectivity corridor, why Sela Tunnel reduces distance to Tawang by 10km and avoids 13,700ft pass; for (b) correlates Gondwana distribution with ancient river systems and rift valley geometry; for (c) analyses how polar-orbiting satellites achieve revisit frequency for disaster monitoring; for (d) maps NGT jurisdiction zones against forest cover change patternsSome spatial awareness but descriptive rather than analytical—lists locations without explaining their relative significance or connectivity functions; mentions distribution without explaining controlling geological structuresNo spatial analysis whatsoever; treats locations as isolated points without regional context, ignores directional relationships (north-south, upstream-downstream), fails to link physical geography with human significance
Application / policy20%10Strong policy integration: for (c) links INSAT-3DR's 6-channel imager to IMD's nowcasting and DAMINI app for lightning alerts; for (d) analyses NGT's 2014 order on coal block deallocation, 2017 ban on petcoke, 2021 directive on Great Nicobar; connects to National Action Plan on Climate Change, Sendai Framework implementation, and Forest Rights Act 2006 interface with tribal claimsMentions policies superficially—knows NGT exists and satellites help weather forecasting but cannot articulate specific operational mechanisms, recent judgments, or inter-agency coordination (ISRO-IMD-NRSC)No policy awareness; fails to mention any contemporary scheme (National Hydrology Project, SVAMITVA scheme for drone mapping), recent NGT landmark judgments, or integration with Disaster Management Act 2005

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