UPSC Community Blog

Peninsular rocks contain most of the reserves of coal, metallic minerals, mica and many other non-metallic minerals. Sedimentary rocks on the western and eastern flanks of the peninsula, in Gujarat and Assam have most of the petroleum deposits. Rajasthan - non-ferrous minerals. Alluvial plains of north India - Economic minerals. The North-Eastern Plateau Region Chhotanagpur (Jharkhand), Odisha Plateau, West Bengal and parts of Chhattisgarh. Minerals: iron ore coal, manganese, bauxite, mica. Major iron and steel industry. The South-Western Plateau Region Karnataka, Goa and contiguous Tamil Nadu uplands and Kerala. Rich in ferrous metals and bauxite. High grade iron ore, manganese and limestone. lacks in coal deposits except Neyveli lignite. Kerala deposits of monazite and thorium, bauxite clay, Goa has iron ore deposits. The North-Western Region Aravali in Rajasthan and part of Gujarat. Rajasthan is rich in building stones. Gujarat - Petroleum deposits. Copper, Zinc, Dolomite and limest...

“homogenous, naturally occurring substance without any human interference, which has definable internal structure (Chemical Composition) . Not easily accessible in Arctic ocean bed and Antarctica. Rocks are combinations of homogenous substances called minerals Identified on the basis of their physical properties such as colour, density, hardness and chemical property such as solubility. Types of Minerals Metallic: Raw form, conduct heat and electricity. characteristic lustre or shine. Ferrous: Iron ore, Manganese and Chromites contain iron. Non-ferrous: does not contain iron. Non-metallic minerals do not contain metals. Ex: Limestone, mica and gypsum. Non-metallic minerals are either organic in origin such as fossil fuels also known as mineral fuels (Energy Mineral). Extraction of Minerals Process of taking out minerals from rocks buried under the earth’s surface is called mining. lie at shallow depths are taken out by removing the surface layer open-cast mining. Deep bores, called sha...

Trade between two countries through sea, air or land routes. India’s contribution in the world trade is as low as 1% of the total volume. In 1950-51 worth Rs. 1,214 crores, which rose to Rs. 44,29,762 crores in 2016-17 Export and import are the components of trade. balance of trade of a country is the difference between its export and import. Favourable balance of trade - value of export exceeds the value of imports. unfavourable balance of trade - value of imports exceeds the value of exports. (India in unfavourable balance of Trade) India has emerged as a software giant at the international level and it is earning large foreign exchange through the export of information technology. Changing Patterns of the Composition of India’s Export Decline in traditional items is largely due to the tough international competition. China and other East Asian countries are our major competitors. Gems and jewellery contributes a larger share of India’s foreign trade. Changing Patterns of the Compo...

Indian postal network is the largest in the world, handles parcels as well as personal written. First-class mail - Cards and envelopes. Second-class mail - book packets, registered newspapers and periodicals. Six mail channels have been introduced Rajdhani Channel Metro Channel Green Channel Business Channel Bulk Mail Channel and Periodical Channel. India has largest telecom networks in Asia. Government has made special provision to extend twenty-four hours STD facility to every village in the country. Newspapers are published in about 100 languages and dialects. Largest producer of feature films in the world. Central Board of Film Certification is the authority to certify both Indian and foreign films. Digital India - IT (Indian Talent) + IT (Information Technology) = IT (India Tomorrow). Personal Communication System Internet is the most effective and advanced one. Through internet and e-mail provides an efficient access to information at a comparatively low cost. Mass Communica...

  Waterways Cheapest means of transport and is most suitable for carrying heavy and bulky material. Inland India has inland navigation waterways of 14,500 km in length. Contribute 1% to the country’s transportation Only 5685 km are navigable by mechanized vessels. development, maintenance and regulation of national waterways in the country, the Inland Waterways Authority was set up in 1986 National Water ways Backwaters (Kadal) of Kerala has special significance in Inland Waterway – Nehru Trophy Boat Race (VALLAMKALI) Inland water ways - Mandavi, Zuari and Cumberjua, Sunderbans, Barak and backwaters of Kerala Oversea 95 % of the country’s trade volume (68 % in terms of value) is moved by sea. Coastline of 7,516.6 km. 12 major and 200 notified non-majors (minor/intermediate) ports. Kandla Port in Kuchchh First port developed soon after Independence to ease Volume of trade on the Mumbai port, in the wake of loss of Karachi port to Pakistan after the Partition. Kandla also known as D...

  Railways Principal mode of transportation for freight and passengers. Indian Railways have been a great integrating force for more than 150 years. First introduced in 1853, Bombay to Thane 34 km. Now, 66,030 km as on 31 March 2015. Distribution pattern influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors. Indian Railway is now reorganized into 16 zones . 1 Central Mumbai CST 2 Eastern Kolkata 3 East Central Hajipur 4 East Coast Bhubaneswar 5 Northern New Delhi 6 North Central Allahabad 7 North Eastern Gorakhpur 8 North East  Frontier Maligaon  (Guwahati) 9 North Western Jaipur 10 Southern Chennai 11 South Central Secunderabad 12 South Eastern Kolkata 13 South East  Central Bilaspur 14 South Western Hubli 15 Western Mumbai (Church  Gate) 16 West Central Jabalpur Broad gauge - 60510 km in March 2016. Metre gauge - 3880 km in March 2016. Narrow gauge - 2297 km in March 2016. Extensive programme to convert the metre and narrow gauges to broad gauge...

  Means of Transportation Land Transport Pathways and unmetalled roads. Metalled roads and railways. Ropeways, cableways and pipelines were devised. Roadways About 56 lakh km One of the second largest road networks in the world After Independence, twenty-year road plan (1961) was introduced to improve the conditions of roads in India. Construction cost of roads is much lower than that of railway lines, Roads can traverse comparatively more dissected and undulating topography, Roads can negotiate higher gradients of slopes and as such can traverse mountains such as the Himalayas, Road transport is economical in transportation of few persons and relatively smaller amount of goods over short distances, It also provides door-to-door service, thus the cost of loading and unloading is much lower, Road transport is also used as a feeder to other modes of transport such as they provide a link between railway stations, air and sea ports. Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways : 5,846-km long 4...