People, Development and Environment - People, Development and Environment Section 1

The biggest freshwater lake in India is Wular Lake, located in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

• It is spread over an area of about 200 square kilometers (though it varies seasonally).

• Formed due to tectonic activity, Wular Lake is fed by the Jhelum River.

• It plays a vital role in flood control, fisheries, and biodiversity support in the Kashmir Valley.

• Option A: Dal Lake 
   Also in Jammu and Kashmir, but much smaller than Wular. Famous for houseboats and tourism.

• Option B: Sukhna Lake 
   An artificial lake in Chandigarh, not natural or large in size.

• Option C: Loktak Lake 
   Located in Manipur, it is the largest freshwater lake in northeastern India, famous for its floating phumdis, but not the largest in the country.

• Option D: Wular Lake 
  Correct. It is the largest freshwater lake in India by surface area.

The Indian Standard Time (IST) is 5½ hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

• IST is calculated based on the 82.5° E longitude, which passes near Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.

• GMT is based on the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) in Greenwich, London.

So:

• When it’s 12:00 noon GMT, it’s 5:30 PM IST.

• The time difference is +5 hours 30 minutes, not a round figure like 3 or 3¼.

• Option A: -3½ hours – Incorrect. India is ahead of GMT, not behind.

• Option B: +3½ hours – Incorrect. Too little; actual difference is 5½.

• Option C: -3¼ hours – Incorrect and imprecise; India is not behind GMT.

• Option D: +5½ hours – Correct. This is the official time difference between IST and GMT.

The term 'Regur' refers to Black Cotton Soils, which are:

• Rich in clay and retain moisture well

• Ideal for growing cotton, hence the name

• Found mainly in the Deccan Plateau regions: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu

These soils are formed by the weathering of volcanic rocks, especially basalt.

• Option A: Laterite soils – Found in areas with heavy rainfall and leaching; not called Regur.

• Option B: Black Cotton soils – Correct. Also known as Regur soils, highly suitable for cotton farming.

• Option C: Red soils – Formed in dry regions, rich in iron, but different in texture and fertility.

• Option D: Deltaic Alluvial soils – Found in river deltas, not associated with the term "Regur".

Most of the Earth's active volcanoes are concentrated around the Pacific Ocean, in a region famously known as the "Ring of Fire."

• This is a horseshoe-shaped zone that follows the edges of the Pacific tectonic plate.

• It contains about 75% of the world’s active and dormant volcanoes.

• It is also a zone of frequent earthquakes and tectonic activity.

• Option A: Europe – Has a few volcanoes (e.g., Mount Etna, Vesuvius), but not the largest concentration.

• Option B: Pacific Ocean – Correct. The “Ring of Fire” surrounds this ocean and holds the majority of active volcanoes.

• Option C: Africa – Home to some volcanoes (e.g., Mount Kilimanjaro, Nyiragongo), but fewer in number.

• Option D: South America – Has volcanoes in the Andes (e.g., Cotopaxi, Ojos del Salado), part of the Ring of Fire, but not the majority concentration.