UPSC Community Blog

Three broad approaches Empirical - Based on observed data, articularly on temperature and precipitation. Genetic - Attempts to organise climates according to their causes. Applied - Classification is for specific purpose. Koeppen’s Scheme of Classification of Climate Koeppen identified a close relationship between the distribution of vegetation and climate – Developed in 1918. Empirical classification based on mean annual and mean monthly temperature and precipitation data. The capital letters: A, C, D and E delineate humid climates and B dry climates . A (Tropical) - Average temperature of the coldest month is 18° C or higher. B (Dry Climates) - Potential evaporation exceeds precipitation. C (Warm Temperate) - The average temperature of the coldest month of the (Mid-latitude) climates years is higher than minus 3°C but below 18°C. D (Cold Snow Forest Climates) - The average temperature of the coldest month is minus 3° C or below. E (Cold Climates) - Average temperature for all ...

Solar Energy Solar energy is fast becoming popular in rural and remote areas. Sun can be used in solar cells to produce electricity. Benefits a lot of tropical countries. 7% more effective than coal or oil based plants and 10% more effective than nuclear plants. Gujarat and Rajasthan has great potential. Solar heaters, solar cookers, solar dryers besides being used for community lighting and traffic signals. Wind Energy Wind mills, the high speed winds rotate the wind mill which is connected to a generator to produce electricity. Located in coastal regions and in mountain passes. Tamil Nadu from Nagarcoil to Madurai, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Maharashtra & Lakshadweep. Nagarcoil and Jaisalmer - effective use of wind energy. Wind farms - Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, UK, USA and Spain. Nuclear or Atomic Energy Nuclear fission in nuclear reactors and emit power. USA & Europe - Greater Producer of Nuclear power. Uranium occur in Dharwar rocks. In Indi...

Common use for a long time. Firewood Fossil fuel such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. minerals are limited. Coal Most abundantly available fossil fuel. Thermal Power used as domestic fuel to generate electricity. India is highly dependent on coal for meeting its commercial energy requirements Variety of forms depending on the degrees of compression and the depth and time of burial. Lignite - Low grade brown coal , soft with high moisture content. Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir. Neyveli in Tamil Nadu generate electricity, been buried deep and subjected to increased temperatures is bituminous coal (80% of total coal deposit, non – cooking grade) . Metallurgical coal is high grade bituminous coal. Anthracite - highest quality hard coal. Gondwana coal , which are metallurgical coal, in Damodar valley (West Bengal- Jharkhand Coal belt) Important field - Raniganj, Jharia, Dhanbad and Bokaro Jharkhand. Godavari, Mahanadi, Son and Wardha valleys. Tertiary coals ...

During partition about one-third of the irrigated land in undivided India went to Pakistan. After Independence Switching over from cash crops to food crops. Intensification of cropping over already cultivated land. Increasing cultivated area by bringing cultivable and fallow land under plough. Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP ) and Intensive Agricultural Area Programme (IAAP) were launched. Two consecutive droughts resulted in food crisis. So import food. Wheat (Mexico) and rice (Philippines) - high yielding varieties (HYVs) were available for cultivation by mid-1960s. ‘Green Revolution’ - Increasing the cropped area, Number of crops grown, improving irrigation facilities, use of fertilizers and high yielding variety of seeds, Agro-Processing industry & Small scale Industry. Made country self-reliant in foodgrain production. initiated agro-climatic planning in 1988 to induce regionally balanced agricultural development in the country. need for diversification of agr...

  Cereals 54% of total cropped area in India. 11% cereals of the world and ranks third in production after China and U.S.A. Fine grains (rice, wheat) and coarse grains (jowar, bajra, maize, ragi). Rice Staple diet of the tropical and sub-tropical region. 21.6% of rice. Ranked second after China in 2016. Need high temperature (Above 25°C) , High Humidity & High Rainfall (Above 100 cm) .  Grown in different agro-climatic regions. Alluvial clayey soil, which can retain water. China leads, next India, Japan, Sri Lanka & Egypt. West Bengal & Bangladesh – 2 to 3 crop grown in year (‘aus’, ‘aman, & ‘boro’). India, plains of north & north-eastern India, coastal areas & the deltaic regions. Less rainfall area Grown with help of canal irrigation & tubewells (Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh and northern of Rajasthan). Himalayas and northwestern parts grown kharif crop during southwest Monsoon season. Leading rice producing - West Bengal, Uttar Prade...

50% of persons are engaged in agricultural activity. Two-thirds of India’s population is agricultural activity. Two-thirds of India’s population is still dependent on agriculture. Favourable topography of soil and climate are vital for agricultural activity. The land on which the crops for agricultural activity. Crops are grown is known as arable land. Agriculture – Art of cultivation. Sericulture – Commercial rearing of silk worms. Pisciculture – Breeding of fish. Viticulture – Cultivation of grapes. Horticulture - Growing vegetables, flowers and fruits for commercial use Farm System Input – Seeds, fertilizers, machinery. Operation – Ploughing, sowing, irrigation, weeding and harvesting. Output – crops, wool, dairy and poultry products. Land Use Categories Forest : Area under actual forest cover is different from area classified as forest. Area which the Government has identified and demarcated for forest growth. Barren and Wastelands : Barren hilly terrains, desert lands, ravine...