Land Resources & Agriculture – NDA Geography PYQs

Question 1 [NDA 2006-II]
Match List I (Product) with List II (Major Producer):
A. Tea — B. Jute — C. Rubber — D. Tobacco

1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Kerala 3. Orissa 4. Tamil Nadu

(a) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1
(b) A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
(c) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
(d) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

Answer: (d) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
Tea = Tamil Nadu (4). Jute = Odisha (3). Rubber = Kerala (2). Tobacco = Andhra Pradesh (1).

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Question 2 [NDA 2008-II]
Assertion (A): The cotton industry in India suffered a major recession after Independence.
Reason (R): Most of the cotton mills had gone to West Pakistan; India retained the cotton growing areas.

(a) Both A and R true; R explains A
(b) Both A and R true; R does not explain A
(c) A true; R false
(d) A false; R true

Answer: (a) Both A and R true; R explains A
After Partition in 1947, Pakistan got most of the cotton textile mills (in what was then West Pakistan, around Lahore and other cities). India retained the cotton-growing areas of Gujarat, Maharashtra, etc. So India had the raw material but lacked the mills — causing a recession in the cotton industry. R correctly explains A.

Question 3 [NDA 2009-II]
What is the reason for India being a major producer of different varieties of fruits and vegetables?
(a) Its large population size
(b) Its large land area
(c) Variation in its agro-climatic conditions
(d) Diversity in socio-cultural phenomenon

Answer: (c) Variation in its agro-climatic conditions
India has an extraordinary range of climates — from tropical in the south to temperate in the north, from arid in the west to very wet in the northeast. Different soils, temperatures, and rainfall patterns allow a huge variety of crops to grow in different parts of India.

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Question 4 [NDA 2011-I]
Which one among the following is the best reason for the marked increase in agricultural production in India in the past decades?
(a) Increase in the area under cultivation
(b) Conversion of barren land into agricultural land
(c) Use of improved agricultural methods and technologies
(d) Priority status given to agriculture over industry

Answer: (c) Use of improved agricultural methods and technologies
The Green Revolution (1960s–1970s) and subsequent agricultural development were driven by HYV seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, and irrigation — not by bringing new land under cultivation. India’s net sown area has not increased significantly; what increased was yield per hectare through better technology.

Question 5 [NDA 2012-I]
Which one among the following crops may be grown abundantly in lowlands and river deltas where rainfall varies from 180–250 cm?
(a) Wheat and sugarcane
(b) Cotton
(c) Maize and coarse crops
(d) Rice, jute and tea

Answer: (d) Rice, jute and tea
Rice, jute, and tea all require very heavy rainfall and are grown in the deltaic lowlands and hill slopes of eastern India — particularly West Bengal and Assam. Wheat needs less rain and cooler temperatures. Cotton needs moderate rain and is not a delta crop.

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Question 6 [NDA 2012-I]
Which one among the following is the most important source of fish catch in India?
(a) Deep-sea fishes
(b) Coastal fisheries
(c) Inland natural fisheries
(d) Inland cultural fisheries

Answer: (b) Coastal fisheries
Coastal fisheries provide the largest share of India’s total fish catch. India has a long coastline of 7,516 km with rich fishing grounds. Deep-sea fishing is relatively underdeveloped. Inland fisheries are important but secondary to coastal fisheries.

Question 7 [NDA 2013-II]
Which of the following statements about jute are correct?

1. Assam produces nearly 80% of jute in India.
2. Jute grows well on loamy soil.
3. Hot and humid conditions are ideal for growing jute.
4. Jute is commonly cultivated with wheat in rotation.

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 4 only

Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
Statement 1 is wrong — West Bengal produces about 80% of India’s jute, not Assam. Statement 2 is correct — jute grows well on loamy soil. Statement 3 is correct — jute needs hot and humid conditions. Statement 4 is wrong — jute is commonly cultivated with rice in rotation, not wheat.

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Question 8 [NDA 2015-I]
Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
(a) Kerala is the largest producer of natural rubber in India.
(b) Neyveli is an important thermal power generating area of Tamil Nadu.
(c) Ratnagiri Bauxite mining area is located in Karnataka.
(d) Assam is the largest tea producing state in India.

Answer: (c) Ratnagiri Bauxite mining area is located in Karnataka
Ratnagiri is a district in Maharashtra — not Karnataka. The other three statements are correct: Kerala is the largest rubber producer; Neyveli has major thermal power stations using lignite; Assam is the largest tea-producing state in India.

Question 9 [NDA 2016-I]
Statement I: Plantation farming has mostly been practised in humid tropics.
Statement II: The soil of humid tropics is highly fertile.

(a) Both true; II explains I
(b) Both true; II does not explain I
(c) Statement I true; Statement II false
(d) Statement I false; Statement II true

Answer: (c) Statement I true; Statement II false
Statement I is correct — plantation farming (tea, coffee, rubber) is indeed practised mainly in humid tropical regions. Statement II is wrong — humid tropical soils are generally laterite soils which are POOR in fertility due to intense leaching. So the reason for plantation farming in humid tropics is climate — NOT soil fertility.

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Question 10 [NDA 2017-I]
Which of the following statements about coffee plantation in India are correct?

1. Needs warm and moist climate with dry weather during ripening.
2. Rolling fields having good drainage.
3. Strong sunshine above 35°C.
4. Karnataka is the leading producer.

(a) 1 and 4 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2 and 4

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 4
Statement 1 is correct — coffee needs warm and moist climate but requires a dry period during ripening. Statement 2 is correct — rolling hills with good drainage are ideal. Statement 3 is wrong — temperatures above 35°C are harmful for coffee; it needs moderate temperatures (15–28°C). Statement 4 is correct — Karnataka is the leading coffee-producing state.

Question 11 [NDA 2017-I]
Which one among the following is the correct order of tiger reserves from North to South?
(a) Corbett-Simlipal-Sariska-Periyar
(b) Periyar-Sariska-Simlipal-Corbett
(c) Corbett-Sariska-Simlipal-Periyar
(d) Periyar-Simlipal-Sariska-Corbett

Answer: (c) Corbett-Sariska-Simlipal-Periyar
Corbett is in Uttarakhand (far north). Sariska is in Rajasthan. Simlipal is in Odisha. Periyar is in Kerala (far south). North to south order: Corbett → Sariska → Simlipal → Periyar.

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Question 12 [NDA 2017-I]
Which of the following are the major coral reef areas of India?

1. Gulf of Kachchh 2. Gulf of Mannar 3. Lakshadweep 4. Andaman and Nicobar Islands

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
All four are major coral reef areas in India. Gulf of Kachchh has fringing reefs. Gulf of Mannar has patch reefs between India and Sri Lanka. Lakshadweep has coral atolls. Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the largest coral reef area in India.

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Question 13 [NDA 2017-II]
Golden rice is a genetically modified crop where the incorporated gene is meant for biosynthesis of:
(a) Omega-3 fatty acids
(b) Vitamin A
(c) Vitamin B
(d) Vitamin C

Answer: (b) Vitamin A
Golden rice is genetically engineered to produce beta-carotene (a precursor to Vitamin A) in the edible parts of the rice. It was developed to address Vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. The “golden” colour comes from the beta-carotene in the grain.

Question 14 [NDA 2018-I]
Which of the following conditions is/are essential for tea cultivation?

1. Tropical and sub-tropical climate
2. Heavy rainfall ranging from 150–250 cm
3. Soil should contain good amount of lime

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 only

Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Tea needs tropical and subtropical climate (1 = correct) and heavy rainfall of 150–250 cm (2 = correct). Tea needs ACIDIC soil — NOT lime. Lime makes soil less acidic, which is harmful for tea. Statement 3 is wrong.

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Question 15 [NDA 2019-II]
Which one of the following is a Rabi crop in the northern states of India?
(a) Rice
(b) Bajra
(c) Barley
(d) Ragi

Answer: (c) Barley
Barley is a Rabi crop — sown in winter (October-November) and harvested in spring (March-April). It grows in the same season as wheat and requires cool, dry conditions. Rice and bajra are Kharif crops. Ragi is primarily a Kharif crop in southern India.

Question 16 [NDA 2020-I]
Dry land farming in India is largely confined to areas with rainfall less than:
(a) 100 cm
(b) 85 cm
(c) 80 cm
(d) 75 cm

Answer: (d) 75 cm
Dry land farming (rainfed farming without irrigation) is practised in areas with less than 75 cm of annual rainfall. These areas include parts of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and the Deccan Plateau. Farmers grow drought-resistant crops like millets, pulses, and oilseeds.

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Question 17 [NDA 2021-I]
In which one of the following countries is intensive subsistence agriculture NOT predominantly practised?
(a) India
(b) Japan
(c) Canada
(d) Indonesia

Answer: (c) Canada
Canada uses large-scale commercial mechanised farming — not intensive subsistence agriculture. India, Japan, and Indonesia have dense populations and practise intensive subsistence farming where maximum output is extracted from small pieces of land.

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Question 18 [NDA 2024-II]
Any land that is left fallow for more than five years is termed as:
(a) Current fallow
(b) Fallow other than current fallow
(c) Cultivable wasteland
(d) Barren and wasteland

Answer: (c) Cultivable wasteland
In India’s land use classification: Current fallow = land left fallow for less than one year. Fallow other than current fallow = land left fallow for 1–5 years. Cultivable wasteland = land left uncultivated for more than five years but can be brought back to cultivation. Barren and wasteland = land that cannot be cultivated at all.