INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Class XI

Chapter 1

INDIA LOCATION

Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below. 

1. Which one of the following latitudinal extent is relevant for the extent of India’s area?   6°45′ N - 37°6'N 
2. Which one of the following countries shares the longest land frontier with India? Myanmar 
3. Which one of the following countries is larger in area than India?  China  
4. Which one of the following longitudes is the standard meridian for India?82°30'E 
5.  Does India need to have more than one standard time? If yes, why do you think so? NO
6. What are the implications of India having a long coastline? Trade, Commerce
7. How is the latitudinal spread of India advantageous to her? Varied natural vegetation ranging from polar to tropical region 
8. While the sun rises earlier in the east, say Nagaland and also sets earlier, how do the watches at Kohima and New Delhi show the same time. Ans The Indian Standard Time is calculated from a central meridian (82.5°E) to provide a uniform time for the whole country. National Consistency: All clocks and watches in India are set to this single IST, so the local time of sunrise or sunset, which is determined by the earth's rotation and a location's longitude, does not affect the time displayed on clocks. 
9. Why has 82 30 mins east has been chosen as a standard meridian? Explain its relation with gmt?Central Location: India spans a large longitudinal distance, creating a nearly two-hour difference between its eastern and western limits. Choosing 82°30′E, which is near the country's center (passing through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh), offers a balanced time standard for the entire nation. ☺Uniform Time: Using a single standard meridian avoids the confusion and inconvenience of having different local times across a vast country, creating a single, uniform time zone for all of India. ☺Practicality: This choice helps maintain a consistent time for administrative purposes, daily life, and scheduling throughout India. Relation to GMT:Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): GMT is the time at the Prime Meridian (0° longitude), which runs through Greenwich, London. Time Difference: The 82°30′E meridian is 82.5 degrees east of the Prime Meridian. Since the Earth rotates 360 degrees in 24 hours, it rotates 15 degrees per hour or 1 degree in 4 minutes. IST: Therefore, 82.5 degrees east corresponds to 82.5 * 4 = 330 minutes, or 5 hours and 30 minutes. India is located to the east of the Prime Meridian, so its time is ahead of GMT. 
10. What is the total area of India? Give its percentage?
11. What is a subcontinent? Name the countries that are included in Indian subcontinent?

Chapter 2

STRUCTURE AND PHYSIOGRAPHY

1. Where in India will you find a cold desert? LADHAK Name some important ranges of this region.

2. What is the age of the earth? 4.60 million

3. Name any two rift valleys of India? Narmada and Tapi

4. Based on its geological structure and formations India can be divided in 3 geological divisions name them?

5. What are the characteristics of peninsular block?

6. Name six physiographic division of India

7. Name three factors that influence physiography?

8. What are the characteristics of Himalayas’? compare them with peninsular region

9. Name the three major rivers of northern plains? P-15

10. Explain about the major zones of northern plains? p-15

11. What are the important geomorphological features found in the river valley plains?

12. Why is the western coastal plain is devoid of any delta?

13. Distinguish between

14. Banger and khaddar p-15

15. Bhabar and tarai

16. Explain about the three physical divisions of peninsular plateau? p-16

17. Name the three important ravines of peninsular plateaup-16

18. Distinguish between eastern Ghats and western ghats? p-16

19. What are the three physical divisions of Meghalaya plateau? p-17

20. Define the term Marusthalil? p-17

21. Explain about the features great Indian desert? p-18

22. On the basis of location active geomorphologic process coastal plains can be divided into two parts discuss.

23. Distinguish between

24. Eastern coastal plain and western coastal plain

25. Andaman and nicobar and lakshwadeep island

26. Define the term archipelago

27. What are kayals?BACKWATERS where are they located.MALABAR COAST

28. Name the famous kayals where Nehru trophy Vallamkali boat race takes place? p-18 PUNNAMADA KHAYAL IN KERELA

29. What is the importance of 10- degree channel? WATER BODY THAT DEVIDES ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR

30. Name the active volcanoes of India and also give its place. And location? Barren Island

31. Make a comparison of the island groups of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.same as question25

32. What are the important geomorphological features found in the river valley plains?

Chapter - 3

Drainage system 

1.  Define Catchment area ANS  A river drains the water collected from a specific area, which is called its ‘catchment area’. 

2. Define Drainage basin ANS  An area drained by a river and its tributaries is called a drainage basin.

3. What is water shed?ANS The boundary line  separating one drainage basin from the other is known as the watershed

4. On the basis of discharge of water orientation to the sea Indian drainage basin may be divided into two groups. ANS (i) the Arabian Sea drainage; and (ii) the Bay of Bengal drainage.

5. River basins and water sheds are marked by unity. Explain. ANS What happens in one part of the basin or watershed directly affects the other parts and the unit as a whole.

6. State the differences between the following.
   (i) River Basin and Watershed
   (ii) Dendritic and Trellis drainage pattern
   (iii) Radial and Centripetal drainage pattern
   (iv) Delta and Estuary

7. Why is river kosi known as sorrow of Bihar? ANS River Kosi, also know as the ‘sorrow of Bihar’, has been notorious for frequently changing its course. The Kosi brings huge quantity of sediments from its upper reaches and deposits it in the plains. The course gets blocked, and consequently, the river changes its course.

8. Explain about the Indo Brahma River? What evidence supports its existence? What factors led to its dismemberment? Pg-20

9. Name the largest tributary of Indus. Chenab 

10. Name the five tributaries of Indus.ANS The five major tributaries of the Indus River are the Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, and Sutlej rivers

11. Explain about the origin of river Ganga also name its longest  tributaries. Pg-21  A ganga originates at Gangotri at gaumukh, Yamuna is the longest tributaries

12. Explain about the three major geological events in distant past that influenced the present drainage system of peninsular India? Pg-23 

13. Name the river known as Dakshin Ganga. Godavari

14. Name two rivers that flow in rift valleys. Narmada and Tapi

15. Why is Godavari known as Dakshin ganga? Discuss Ans Godavri is known as Dakshin ganga as it has a large number of tributries and it is one of the largest river of South India.

16. Name the largest river system of Rajasthan.  Luni

17.  What are the socio-economic advantages of inter-linking of rivers in India?

18. Write three characterstics of the Peninsular river.

19. What are the important characteristic features of north Indian rivers? How are these different from Peninsular rivers?

Chapters 5

Natural vegetation

Explain the different types of forests: 

Forest type	Tropical Evergreen	Semi Evergreen forests	Tropical Deciduous forests Moist	Tropical Deciduous forests Dry	Tropical Thorn forests	Montane forests	Littoral and  Swamp forests
Rainfall	200+ cm		100- 200 cm	70-100 cm	Less than 50 cm
Temperature	22 C
Types of vegetation	(R.E.M.A) Rosewood Ebony Mahogany Aini	(W.H.K.) White- cedar Hillock and Kail	(S.A.T) Sal Amla Teak	(P.A.K.) Palas Axle wood Khair (T.A.B) Tendu Amaltas  Bel	Babool Ber Balnd Date Palm Neem Tussocky grass
Location	Western Ghats, hills of north eastern region & adaman and nicobar islands					Northern mountain forest & Southern mountain forest

Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

1. Sandalwood is an example of: Deciduous forest
2. In which one of the following  states is the Nandadevi Biosphere reserve situated?Uttarakhand
3. How many of the Biosphere reserves from India are recognised by theUNESCO?12
4. Which one of the following proportion of area of the country was targetedto be under forest in Forest Policy of India? 33
5. What is natural vegetation?ANS Natural vegetation refers to a plant community that has been left undisturbed over a long time, so as to allow its individual species to adjust themselves to climate and soil conditions as fully as possible
6. Under what climatic conditions are tropical evergreen forests develop?
7. What do you understand by social forestry?ANS Social forestry means the management and protection of forests and afforestation on barren lands with the purpose of helping in the environmental, social and rural development.
8. Define Biosphere reserves?ANS A Biosphere Reserve is a unique and representative ecosystem of terrestrial and coastal areas which are internationally recognised within the framework of UNESCO’s Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme.
9. What is the difference between forest area and forest cover?
10. What steps have been taken up to conserve forests?
11. How can people’s participation be effective in conserving forests and wildlife
12. Explain the different types of forests:  
13. India is a long tradition of conservation, give one point to support this fact. (Pg-63)
14. What are the features of the comprehensive wildlife act of 1972? (Pg-63) 
15. What are the reasons for declining of wildlife? ANS(Pg-63)Some of the important reasons of the declining of wildlife are as follows: 

•  Industrial and technological advancement brought about a rapid increase in the exploitation of forest resources. 
•  More and more lands were cleared for agriculture, human settlement, roads, mining, reservoirs, etc. 
•  Pressure on forests mounted due to lopping for fodder and fuelwood and removal of small timber by the local people.
• Grazing by domestic cattle caused an adverse effect on wildlife and its habitat. 
• Hunting was taken up as a sport by the elite and hundreds of wild animals were killed in a single hunt. Now commercial poaching is rampant. 
• Incidence of forest fire.

Chapter: 6 not taught

Natural hazards and disasters

1. What are natural hazards? (Pg-78)

2. What are the four categories of natural disasters? (Pg-79)

3. What are the various causes of earthquakes? (Pg-80)

4. What is the 5-earthquake zone? (Pg-81)

5. What are the effects of earthquakes? (Pg-81)

6. Explain 4 steps involved in earthquake mitigation. (Pg-83)

7. What are the initial conditions involved in emergence of a tropical cyclone? (Pg-84)

8. Define storm surge? 

9. How has human action lead to intensification flood? (Pg-86)

10. Explain what is draught is? What are the 4 types of draughts?  (Pg-88)

11. What is the positive consequence of flood? (Pg-88)

12. Name the waterborne disease that spread due to draught. (Pg-90)

13. What are the steps that can be taken to mitigate the impacts of drought? (Pg-91)

14. What are the 3 stages involved in disaster mitigation and management? (Pg-92)

15. When can a hazard become a disaster? 

16. ) Why are there more earthquakes in the Himalayas and in the north-eastern region of India? 

17.  What are the basic requirements for the formation of a cyclone?

18.  How are the floods in Eastern India different from the ones in Western India?

19. Why are there more droughts in Central and Western India? 

20. What is vulnerability? Divide India into natural disaster vulnerability zones based on droughts and suggest some mitigation measures. 

21. When can developmental activities become the cause of disasters?