Everything about Delhi’s air pollution | Editorial analysis for UPSC, IAS

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Everything you need to know about Delhi’s rising toxic air pollution

In the recent event of Delhi’s air pollution, toxic smog in Delhi have led authorities to declare a public health emergency. The air pollution level came down after rains lashed the city on Friday, but only marginally. According to research, toxicity in air is determined by the presence of ultra fine particles of PM2.5 or PM10.

The Supreme court has appointed a panel named “The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA)” to administer the pollution level and draft necessary reports on it.

EPCA latest reports

• EPCA Report no. 76: Regarding ban on sale and use of furnace oil and petroleum coke in NCR  PDF
• EPCA Report no. 77: Report on implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and learning from first smog emergency of 2017  PDF
• EPCA Report no. 77a: Update on air pollution in NCR  PDF

Reasons behind Delhi’s air pollution

1. Burning of paddy stubble in Punjab and Haryana ahead of new planting season is among the main causes of spike in pollution in Delhi at this time of the year.
2. Wind in Delhi blows from North–West to South–West too.
3. Pollution caused by the traffic in Delhi is another reason. Vehicular emission is increasing the hazardous effects of air pollution and smog. 
4. During winter season, air is dense. Dust particles and pollutants in the air unable to move. They get locked in the air and forms smog.
5. Industrial pollution and garbage dumps are also increasing air pollution and building-up smog in the air.
6. Large scale construction in Delhi-NCR is another culprit that is increasing dust and pollution in the air. Considering the dipping air quality, a number of construction sites have stalled work, as directed by the Delhi Government.

Intergovernmental Relationships

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met his Haryana counterpart Mohan Lal Khattar. During their meeting, both leaders decided to take a number of steps to prevent smog in the National Capital Region (NCR) next year.

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Agriculture – Chapter 4 Geography Class 10 NCERT Solutions

Multiple question answers

ns.

(i) Which one of the following describes a system of agriculture where a single crop is grown on a large area?

(a) Shifting Agriculture

(b) Plantation Agriculture

(c) Horticulture

(d) Intensive Agriculture

(ii) Which one of the following is a rabi crop?

(a) Rice (b) Gram (c) Millets (d) Cotton

(iii) Which one of the following is a leguminous crop?

(a) Pulses (b) Jawar (c) Millets (d) Sesamum

(iv) Which one of the following is announced by the government in support of a crop?

(a) Maximum support price

(b) Minimum support price

(c) Moderate support price

(d) Influential support price

2. Answer the following questions in 30 words.

(i) Name one important beverage crop and specify the geographical conditions required for its growth.

Ans. Tea is an important beverage crop. This plant grows well in tropical or sub tropical climates, and deep and fertile well-drained soil which is rich in humus and organic matter.

(ii) Name one staple crop of India and the regions where it is produced.

Ans. Rice is a staple food crop of India. It grows in the plains of north and north-east India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions.

(iii) Enlist the various institutional reform programes introduced by the government in the interest of farmers.

Ans. The various institutional reform programes introduced by the government for the benefit of farmers are:

1. Crop insurance against drought, flood, fire etc.
2. Minimum Support Price policy.
3. Subsidy on agricultural inputs and resources such as power and fertilizers.
4. Kissan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme.

(iv) The land under cultivation has got reduced day by day. Can you imagine its consequences?

Ans. A declining area of land under cultivation coupled with increasing population have many consequences. These are:

1. ∙Food shortage for the rising population.
2. ∙Rise in price of food grains.
3. ∙Unemployment and loss of livelihood for farmers.
4. ∙Shortage of supply of raw material for agro-industries.
5. ∙Adverse affect on export trade as agricultural products comprise a major section of international trade.

3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Suggest the initiative taken by the government to ensure the increase in agricultural production.

Ans. Various initiative taken by the government to ensure the increase in agricultural production are:

1. Collectivization, consolidation of holdings, cooperation and abolition of Zamindari etc. were given priority to bring about institutional reforms in the country after independence.
2. Land Reform was the main focus of our ‘First Five Year Plan’.
3. The Green Revolution was based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution were some of the strategies initiated to improve the lot of Indian agriculture.
4. Minimum Support Price policy, provision for crop insurance, subsidy on agricultural inputs and resources such as power and fertilizers, Grameen Banks, Kissan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme are also some of the reforms bought by Indian Government.

(ii) Describe the impact of globalization on Indian agriculture.

Ans. The impact of globalization on Indian agriculture has been felt since colonial times. Raw cotton and spices were important export items from India. In 1917, Indian farmers revolted in Champaran against being forced to grow indigo in place of food-grains, in order to supply dye to Britain’s flourishing textile industry. Thus, globalization has had its boons and banes for Indian agriculture.

Post liberalization, Indian farmers face new challenges in the form of competition from highly subsidized agriculture of developed nations. This prompts the need for making Indian agriculture successful and profitable by improving the conditions of small and marginal farmers, countering the negative effects of Green Revolution, developing and promoting organic farming, and diversifying cropping pattern from cereals to high-value crops.

(iii) Describe the geographical conditions required for the growth of rice.

Ans. The geographical conditions required for growth of rice are as follows :-

1. It is a kharif crop and requires hot and humid climate for cultivation. Temperature above 25°C and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm are favorable for growth of rice.
2. Rich alluvial soils of the floodplains and deltaic areas which are renewed every years are ideal for rice cultivation.
3. Rice requires abundant rainfall or good water supply through irrigation and flooded fields during the earlier part of its growing season in June-July.
4. Plenty of cheap labour as most of the farming involves manual labour.

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Water Resources – Chapter 3 Geography Class 10 NCERT Solutions

1. Multiple choice questions.

(i) Based on the information given below classify each of the situations as ‘suffering from water scarcity’ or ‘not suffering from water scarcity’.

(a) Region with high annual rainfall.

(b) Region having high annual rainfall and large population

(c) Region having high annual rainfall but water is highly polluted.

(d) Region having low rainfall and low population.

Ans:

a. Not suffering from water scarcity

b. Not suffering from water scarcity

c. Suffering from water scarcity

d. Suffering from water scarcity

(ii) Which one of the following statements is not an argument in favour of multipurpose river projects?

(a) Multi-purpose projects bring water to those areas which suffer from water scarcity.

(b) Multi-purpose projects by regulating water flow helps to control floods.

(c) Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale displacements and loss of livelihood.

(d) Multi-purpose projects generate electricity for our industries and our homes.

Ans:

(c) Multi-purpose projects lead to large scale displacements and loss of livelihood

(iii) Here are some false statements. Identify the mistakes and rewrite them correctly.

(a) Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have helped in proper utilization of water resources.

Ans. Multiplying urban centres with large and dense populations and urban lifestyles have resulted in over-exploitation of water resources.

(b) Regulating and damming of rivers does not affect the river’s natural flow and its sediment flow.

Ans. Regulating and damming of rivers affect the river’s natural flow and its sediment flow.

(c) In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were not agitated when higher priority was given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts.

Ans. In Gujarat, the Sabarmati basin farmers were agitated when higher priority was given to water supply in urban areas, particularly during droughts.

(d) Today in Rajasthan, the practice of rooftop rainwater water harvesting has gained popularity despite high water availability due to the Rajasthan Canal.

Ans. Today in Rajasthan, the practice of rooftop rainwater harvesting has declined in popularity because of high water availability due to the Rajasthan Canal.

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) Explain how water becomes a renewable resource.

Ans. Water keeps on circulating in nature through various states of matter; in the form of liquid water, vapour and ice. Due to this, the water which disappears because of evaporation comes back in the form of rains. Thus, water becomes a renewable resource.

(ii) What is water scarcity and what are its main causes?

Ans. Shortage of water for a sustained period is called water scarcity. Growing population, overexploitation and unequal distribution of water among social groups are the main causes of water scarcity.

(iii) Compare the advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose river projects.

Ans. Advantages of multi-purpose projects:-

1. They help in flood control.
2. They help in supplying water to water deficient area.
3. They help in better supply of drinking water.
4. They also help in electricity generation.

Disadvantages of multi-purpose projects:-

1. Construction of a large dam results in large scale displacement of people.
2. It affects the livelihood of the displaced.
3. Vast area of land is inundated in the catchment area which leads to large scale environmental consequences.

3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Discuss how rainwater harvesting in semi-arid regions of Rajasthan is carried out.

Ans. In the semi-arid and arid regions of Rajasthan, particularly in Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer, almost all the houses traditionally had underground tanks or tankas for storing drinking water. Rainwater that falls on the sloping roofs of houses is taken through a pipe into an underground tanka which circular holes in the ground built in the main house or in the courtyard. The tanks could be as large as a big room. The first rainwater was usually not collected as this would clean the roofs and the pipes. Thereafter it was then collected. The rainwater can be stored in the tankas till the next rainfall season making it an extremely reliable source of drinking water when all other sources are dried up, particularly in the summers season.

(ii) Describe how modern adaptations of traditional rainwater harvesting methods are being carried out to conserve and store water.

Ans. Fortunately, in many parts of rural and urban India, rooftop rainwater harvesting is being successfully adapted to store and conserve water. In Gendathur, a remote backward village in Mysuru, Karnataka, villagers havve installed, in their household’s rooftop, rainwater harvesting system to meet their water needs. Nearly 200 households have installed this system and the village has earned the rare distinction of being rich in rainwater. Tamil Nadu is the first state in India which has made roof top rainwater harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state. There are legal provisions to punish the defaulters.

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Resources and Development – Chapter 1 Geography Class 10 NCERT Solutions

1. Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following type of resource is iron ore?

(a) Renewable (b) Biotic (c) Flow (d) Non-renewable

(ii) Under which of the following type of resource can tidal energy be put?

(a) Replenishable (b) Human-made (c) Abiotic (d) Non-recyclable

(iii) Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?

(a) Intensive cultivation (b) Deforestation (c) Over irrigation (d) Overgrazing

(iv) In which one of the following states is terrace cultivation practised?

(a) Punjab (b) Plains of Uttar Pradesh (c) Haryana (d) Uttarakhand

(v) In which of the following states is black soil found?

(a) Jammu and Kashmir (b) Gujarat (c) Rajasthan (d) Jharkhand

Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

1.  Name three states having black soil and the crop which is mainly grown in it.

Ans. Black soil is found in the plateaus of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Black soil is ideal for growing cotton.

2.  What type of soil is found in the river deltas of the eastern coast? Give three main features of this type of soil.

Ans. The rivers that forms the deltas of eastern coast are:- the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri. These river deltas consists of alluvial soil.

The main feature of alluvial soil are:-

• The alluvial soil consists of sand, clay and silt.
• This soil is very fertile and rich in potash, lime and phosphoric acid.
• Based on their age, alluvial soils are of 2 types – old alluvial (Bhangar) and new alluvial (Khadar).

3.  What steps can be taken to control soil erosion in the hilly areas?

Ans. Ploughing along the contour lines can decelerate the flow of water down the slopes. Steps can be cut out on the slopes making terraces. Terrace cultivation restricts erosion. Strips of grass are left to grow between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. Planting lines of trees which are called shelter belts. They help in stabilization of sand dunes and in stabilizing the desert in western India.

4  What are the biotic and abiotic resources? Give some examples.

Ans. Biotic Resources:- are those resources which are obtained from biosphere and have life such as human beings, flowers, animals, fisheries, livestock etc.

Abiotic Resources:- are those resources which are made up of non-living things. For example – rocks and metals.

3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Explain land use pattern in India and why has the land under forest not increased much since 1960-61?

Ans.  The use of land is determined in two ways –

1. physical factors such as topography, climate, soil types etc.
2. human factors such as population density, technological capability and culture and traditions etc.

Forest area in the country is far lower than the desired 33 per cent of geographical area. And the reason it has not increases is because of the growing demand of the population that has resulted in increased demand for land for various purposes like agriculture and other non agricultural purposes like building roads, infrastructure etc.

(ii) How have technical and economic development led to more consumption of resources?

Ans. Technical and economic development has led to more consumption is the following manner:-

1. With the advancement in technology more and more advanced, sophisticated equipment have been invented. As a result production has increases and that has ultimately increased consumption as well.
2. When a country is economically developed, the needs of their people also increases. That leads to more demand and supply, finally leading to more consumption of resources

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