Answer: B

Explanation:

The largest state of India by area is Rajasthan, while the smallest state is Goa. The largest state of India by population is Uttar Pradesh, while the smallest is Sikkim and Goa. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer.

Answer: B

Explanation:

The north-eastern plateau of India is an extended part of the peninsular plateau. It is believed that during the origin of the Himalayas, due to the north-east movement of the Indian Plate, it was separated by the formation of a rift valley between the Rajmahal Hills and the Meghalaya Plateau. Later it was covered by alluvium deposited by the river. Today, Meghalaya and the Karbi Anglong Plateau (Assam) are isolated from the main peninsular plateau for this reason. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Like the Chhotanagpur plateau, the Meghalaya plateau is also a storehouse of minerals like coal, iron, sillimanite, limestone and uranium. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.

Most of the rainfall in the north-eastern plateau region comes from the south-west monsoon. As a result, the Meghalaya plateau has a highly eroded surface. Cherrapunji is a place covered with bare rocks and there is almost no vegetation here. Nokrek is the highest peak of the Meghalaya plateau. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

In ancient times, soil was divided into two main categories – fertile, which was fertile, and waste, which was infertile. In the 16th century, soils were classified on the basis of their innate characteristics and external characteristics, such as texture, color, slope of the land and moisture content in the soil. On the basis of formation, the main types of soils were- Sandy. Clayey, clayey and loamy etc. On the basis of colour, they were red, yellow, black etc. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

After independence, scientific surveys of soil were conducted by many institutions. The Soil Survey of India, established in 1956, carried out extensive soil studies in selected areas such as the Damodar Valley. The National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning, under the auspices of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), conducted many studies on the soils of India. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Answer: C

Explanation:

Udhagamandalam or Ooty is a hill town in the state of Tamil Nadu located in the Nilgiri Hills. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

The Western Ghats are higher than the Eastern Ghats. The altitude of the Western Ghats ranges from 900 to 1600 meters compared to the average altitude of 600 meters of the Eastern Ghats. The expansion of the Western Ghats is continuous whereas the expansion of the Eastern Ghats is not continuous. These are irregular and have been cut by the rivers falling into the Bay of Bengal. Mountain rainfall occurs in the Western Ghats. This rainfall occurs due to the rising of moist air on the western slopes of the Ghats after colliding with it. Hence, statements 2 and 3 are correct

Shevarai and Javedi hills are situated to the south-west of the Eastern Ghats. The highest peak of the Eastern Ghats is Jindhgada (1690 m) and Mahendragiri is another important peak of this Ghats. This ghat has suffered a lot of erosion. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Answer: B

Explanation:

The vast Indian desert lies to the northwest of the Aravalli Hills. The annual rainfall here is less than 150 mm, resulting in an arid and vegetationless area. Because of these qualities it is called ‘desert’. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

Although the geological rock structure of this region is an extension of the peninsular plateau, its surface features are formed by physical weathering and wind action due to extremely dry conditions. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Most of the rivers here are short-lived. The Luni river flowing in the southern part of the desert is an important river here which originates from the Aravalli hills. Hence, statement 3 is correct.