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Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems

NCERT Class 12 · Geography Based on NCERT Class 12 Geography textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter examines critical environmental and socio-economic issues in India, including water, air, land, and noise pollution, urban waste disposal, rural-urban migration, slum problems, and land degradation. It exists in the syllabus to help students understand the geographical dimensions of these problems and their impact on human life and the environment. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that human activities are the primary drivers of environmental degradation and social challenges, and sustainable solutions require community participation and integrated management.
Key Concepts (15)
Environmental pollution
The release of substances and energy from waste products of human activities.
e.g. Industrial effluents discharged into rivers, smoke from vehicles, and garbage dumped on streets.
Water pollution
Degradation of water quality due to increased concentration of suspended particles, organic and inorganic substances, making water unfit for use.
e.g. The Yamuna river in Delhi being polluted by domestic and industrial waste.
Air pollution
Addition of contaminants like dust, fumes, gas, fog, odour, smoke or vapour to the air in substantial proportion and duration that may be harmful to flora and fauna and to property.
e.g. Smog in Mumbai caused by atmospheric pollution from vehicles and industries.
Noise pollution
The state of unbearable and uncomfortable noise caused by different sources, measured in decibels (dB).
e.g. Noise from aircraft, automobiles, factories, and loudspeakers during festivals.
Solid waste
A variety of old and used articles such as stained small pieces of metals, broken glassware, plastic containers, polythene bags, ash, floppies, CDs, etc., dumped at different places.
e.g. Household garbage and industrial debris dumped in landfills or open spaces.
Urban waste disposal
The process of collecting and disposing of solid wastes from household and industrial sources, often through municipal facilities or landfill areas.
e.g. In metropolitan cities like Mumbai, about 90% of solid waste is collected and disposed; in other cities, 30-50% remains uncollected.
Rural-urban migration
Population flow from rural to urban areas caused by factors like high demand for labour in urban areas, low job opportunities in rural areas, and unbalanced development.
e.g. Ramesh migrating from his village to Ludhiana and then to Surat for work as a welder.
Slums
Residential areas of the least choice, dilapidated houses, poor hygienic conditions, poor ventilation, lack of basic amenities like drinking water, light and toilet facilities.
e.g. Dharavi in Mumbai, Asia's largest slum, where families live in cramped rooms with poor sanitation.
Land degradation
A temporary or permanent decline in productive capacity of the land, caused by natural and human-induced processes.
e.g. Soil erosion, waterlogging, salinisation, and alkalinisation of land leading to reduced agricultural productivity.
Wasteland
Land that has been degraded to the point of being unproductive, classified by processes that created them (natural or human).
e.g. Gullied/ravinous land, desertic sands, waterlogged areas, and degraded forests.
Namami Gange Programme
A Union Government initiative to clean the Ganga river by developing sewerage treatment systems, monitoring industrial effluents, afforestation, and creating public awareness.
e.g. Developing 'Ganga Grams' in Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
Watershed management
Programmes that acknowledge the linkage between land, water and vegetation and attempt to improve livelihoods through natural resource management and community participation.
e.g. The successful implementation in Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh, where 20% of the area was treated.
Acid rain
Rain with a lower pH value caused by air pollution from oxides of sulphur and nitrogen released by combustion of fossil fuels.
e.g. Rainwater analysis shows the first rain after summer has a lower pH than subsequent rains.
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM)
Part of the urban renewal mission launched by the Government of India to improve the quality of life in urban slums.
e.g. Providing sanitation facilities and clean drinking water in slum areas.
Common Property Resources (CPR)
Land or resources owned collectively by a community, such as pastures or forests, which can be managed for sustainable use.
e.g. In Petlawad block, Jhabua, villagers revitalised common property resources by planting trees and adopting social fencing.
How It Works
Water pollution process
  1. Indiscriminate use of water by increasing population and industrial expansion leads to degradation of water quality.
  2. Surface water contains small quantities of suspended particles, organic and inorganic substances.
  3. When concentration of these substances increases, water becomes polluted and unfit for use.
  4. Self-purifying capacity of water is unable to purify the water.
  5. Human activities (industrial, agricultural, cultural) are the main causes, with industry being the most significant contributor.
  6. Pollutants include sewage, industrial effluents, agricultural run-off (fertilisers, pesticides), and cultural activities like pilgrimage.
💡 Students often forget that natural sources also contribute to water pollution, but human activities are the real cause of concern.
Air pollution process
  1. Combustion of fossil fuels, mining, and industries release toxic gases into the atmosphere.
  2. Gases include oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, lead, and asbestos.
  3. These contaminants accumulate in the air in substantial proportion and duration.
  4. Causes smog (smoky fog) over cities, acid rain, and respiratory, nervous, and circulatory system diseases.
💡 The key sources are combustion of fossil fuels, mining, and industries — not just vehicles.
Noise pollution process
  1. Noise is generated from factories, mechanised construction, automobiles, aircraft, sirens, loudspeakers, etc.
  2. Traffic is the biggest nuisance due to its intensity and nature depending on vehicle type, road condition, etc.
  3. Noise intensity declines with distance from the source.
  4. Measured in decibels (dB).
  5. Hazardous in metropolitan and big cities in India.
💡 Noise pollution is location-specific and its intensity declines with distance — students often miss this point.
Urban waste disposal process
  1. Solid waste is generated from household/domestic establishments and industrial/commercial establishments.
  2. Household wastes are disposed on public lands or private contractors' sites.
  3. Industrial solid wastes are collected and disposed through municipal facilities at low-lying public grounds (landfill areas).
  4. Wastes cause health hazards through obnoxious smell, flies, and rodents carrying diseases like typhoid, diphtheria, diarrhoea, malaria, and cholera.
  5. Untreated wastes ferment slowly and release toxic biogas including methane.
  6. In metropolitan cities, about 90% of waste is collected; in other cities, 30-50% remains uncollected.
💡 Students often confuse household waste disposal with industrial waste disposal — the methods differ.
Rural-urban migration process
  1. Push factors: low job opportunities in rural areas, unbalanced development, poverty, debt.
  2. Pull factors: high demand for labour in urban areas, perceived job promises.
  3. Poor people often bypass smaller cities and directly migrate to mega cities.
  4. Migrants often end up in informal sector jobs at low wages.
  5. Spouses are left behind in rural areas to look after children and elderly.
  6. Remittances are sent back to villages for daily consumption, healthcare, education, and agriculture.
💡 The migration stream is dominated by males in developing countries — a key exam point.
Land degradation process
  1. Pressure on agricultural land increases due to limited availability and deterioration of quality.
  2. Natural processes: soil erosion, waterlogging, salinisation, alkalinisation.
  3. Human-induced processes: deforestation, overgrazing, improper agricultural practices, mining, industrial waste.
  4. Degradation leads to decline in productive capacity of land.
  5. Unchecked degradation may convert land to wasteland.
  6. Wastelands are classified by NRSC using remote sensing into natural and human-induced categories.
💡 All degraded land may not be wasteland, but unchecked degradation can lead to wasteland conversion.
Watershed management in Jhabua
  1. Watershed management programmes funded by Ministries of Rural Development and Agriculture.
  2. Acknowledge linkage between land, water, and vegetation.
  3. Community participation and Government-NGO partnership.
  4. In Petlawad block, Bhil villagers revitalised common property resources.
  5. Each household planted and maintained one tree on common property.
  6. Planted fodder grass on pasture land and adopted social fencing for at least two years.
  7. No open grazing; stall feeding of cattle adopted.
💡 The key success factor was community participation and conflict resolution by including encroachers in user groups.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing pollution with pollutants
✗ Pollution is the same as pollutants.
→ Pollution is the process or state of releasing harmful substances, while pollutants are the actual substances released (e.g., oxides of sulphur, lead).
✓ Pollution is the release of substances and energy from waste products; pollutants are the specific substances like SO2, NOx, lead, etc.
⚠ Mixing up sources of water pollution
✗ Only industrial waste causes water pollution.
→ Water pollution also comes from agricultural run-off (fertilisers, pesticides), domestic sewage, and cultural activities like pilgrimage and religious fairs.
✓ Water pollution is caused by industrial effluents, agricultural run-off, domestic sewage, and cultural activities.
⚠ Thinking all degraded land is wasteland
✗ All degraded land is wasteland.
→ Degraded land may still have some productive capacity; only when degradation is unchecked does it become wasteland.
✓ All degraded land may not be wasteland, but unchecked degradation can lead to conversion to wasteland.
⚠ Ignoring natural causes of land degradation
✗ Land degradation is only caused by human activities.
→ Natural processes like soil erosion, waterlogging, salinisation, and alkalinisation also cause land degradation.
✓ Land degradation is caused by both natural processes (e.g., erosion, waterlogging) and human activities (e.g., deforestation, overgrazing).
⚠ Confusing push and pull factors in migration
✗ Push factors are the attractions of urban areas.
→ Push factors are negative conditions in rural areas (e.g., low job opportunities, poverty) that force people to leave; pull factors are attractions of urban areas (e.g., high demand for labour).
✓ Push factors: low job opportunities, poverty, debt in rural areas. Pull factors: high demand for labour, perceived job promises in urban areas.
⚠ Assuming all urban waste is collected
✗ All urban waste in India is collected and disposed properly.
→ Only in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru is about 90% collected; in most other cities, 30-50% remains uncollected.
✓ In metropolitan cities, about 90% of solid waste is collected; in other cities, 30-50% remains uncollected, leading to health hazards.
Compare & Contrast
Medium of pollution
Water pollution
Air pollution
Water pollution involves contamination of water bodies (rivers, lakes, groundwater) by pollutants like sewage, industrial effluents, and agricultural run-off; air pollution involves contamination of the atmosphere by gases, dust, smoke, and fumes from combustion of fossil fuels, mining, and industries.
Role in rural-urban migration
Push factors
Pull factors
Push factors are negative conditions in rural areas (low job opportunities, poverty, debt) that force people to leave; pull factors are positive attractions in urban areas (high demand for labour, perceived job promises) that draw people in.
Cause of formation
Natural wastelands
Human-induced wastelands
Natural wastelands are caused by natural agents (e.g., gullied/ravinous land, desertic sands, glacial areas); human-induced wastelands are caused by human actions (e.g., degraded shifting cultivation areas, degraded forests, mining and industrial wastelands).
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1 SA (3 marks), 1 LA (5 marks) — total 10 marks typically
Most asked: Types and sources of pollution (water, air, land, noise) · Water pollution in Ganga and Yamuna rivers · Namami Gange Programme objectives · Rural-urban migration: push and pull factors · Problems of slums in India · Land degradation: causes and processes · Watershed management case study of Jhabua
Don't skip: Describe the nature of water pollution in India (5 marks); Describe the problem of slums in India (5 marks); Suggest measures for reduction of land degradation (5 marks); Explain push and pull factors of rural-urban migration with a case study (3 marks)
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. Environmental pollution is the release of substances and energy from waste products of human activities.
  2. Water pollution is caused by industrial effluents, agricultural run-off, domestic sewage, and cultural activities.
  3. The Ganga and Yamuna rivers are highly polluted due to domestic and industrial waste from cities like Kanpur, Delhi, and Varanasi.
  4. Namami Gange Programme aims to clean the Ganga through sewerage treatment, afforestation, and public awareness.
  5. Air pollution is caused by combustion of fossil fuels, mining, and industries, releasing oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and lead.
  6. Smog and acid rain are consequences of air pollution.
  7. Noise pollution is measured in decibels (dB) and is location-specific, declining with distance from the source.
  8. Urban waste disposal is a serious problem; only 90% is collected in metros, while 30-50% remains uncollected in other cities.
  9. Rural-urban migration is driven by push factors (low opportunities, poverty) and pull factors (high labour demand in cities).
  10. Slums are characterised by dilapidated houses, poor hygiene, lack of basic amenities, and overcrowding.
  11. Land degradation is a temporary or permanent decline in productive capacity of land, caused by natural and human processes.
  12. Watershed management in Jhabua district successfully prevented land degradation through community participation and social fencing.
  13. The Swachh Bharat Mission aims to improve quality of life in urban slums.
  14. Common Property Resources (CPR) can be revitalised through community efforts, as seen in Petlawad block of Jhabua.

MCQs — 9 Questions with Answers

Q1. Which of the following is NOT a primary source of air pollution?

  • A. Combustion of fossil fuels (coal, petrol, diesel)
  • B. Industrial processing and manufacturing
  • C. Increased vegetation and afforestation activities ✓
  • D. Solid waste disposal and sewage treatment

Answer: C — Afforestation actually reduces air pollution by absorbing pollutants; the other three are recognized direct sources of air pollutants.

Q2. According to the study material, what percentage of India's communicable diseases are waterborne according to WHO?

  • A. One-tenth (10%)
  • B. One-fifth (20%)
  • C. One-fourth (25%) ✓
  • D. One-third (33%)

Answer: C — The text explicitly states that the World Health Organization shows about one-fourth of communicable diseases in India are water-borne.

Q3. The Yamuna River's pollution in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh is primarily caused by which combination of factors?

  • A. Only industrial effluents from Mathura refineries
  • B. Domestic waste from Delhi, water extraction by Haryana and UP, and agricultural runoff with micropollu­tants ✓
  • C. Religious pilgrimage activities and cultural tourism alone
  • D. Only natural erosion and decomposition of plants

Answer: B — Table 9.2 identifies three interconnected sources: domestic waste discharge, water extraction reducing river flow, and agricultural runoff containing micropollu­tants.

Q4. Which industry is identified as the most significant contributor to water pollution in India?

  • A. Mining and petroleum refining only
  • B. Agriculture and irrigation systems only
  • C. Leather, pulp and paper, textiles, and chemicals industries ✓
  • D. Transportation and shipping industries only

Answer: C — The text explicitly names leather, pulp and paper, textiles, and chemicals as the major water-polluting industries that dispose wastes into running water.

Q5. Assertion: Nitrogen oxides released from fossil fuel combustion increase nitrate content in surface waters. Reason: Agricultural fertilizers infiltrate soil and increase groundwater nitrate levels.

  • A. Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason explains Assertion
  • B. Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason does not explain Assertion ✓
  • C. Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect
  • D. Assertion is incorrect but Reason is correct

Answer: B — Both statements are factually correct (air pollution + fertilizer runoff both add nitrates), but they describe different pathways to water pollution, not a cause-effect relationship.

Q6. Which of the following best explains why the self-purifying capacity of water becomes insufficient in the Ganga River near Varanasi?

  • A. Natural erosion from upstream mountains increases suspended particles
  • B. Concentration of pollutants from industrial waste, domestic sewage, and ritual dumping exceeds the river's natural decomposition rate ✓
  • C. Low water temperature reduces microbial activity
  • D. Excessive rainfall during monsoon dilutes the water

Answer: B — The text states that when concentration of substances increases, the self-purifying capacity is unable to purify the water; Varanasi's multiple pollution sources (cities like Kanpur, Varanasi, and Patna) overwhelm this natural capacity.

Q7. The Namami Gange Programme includes all of the following objectives EXCEPT:

  • A. Developing sewerage treatment systems in towns along the Ganga
  • B. Afforestation along river banks to increase biodiversity
  • C. Complete relocation of all industries away from the river basin ✓
  • D. Creating public awareness to prevent ritual pollution of the river

Answer: C — The programme focuses on treatment, monitoring, and afforestation—not complete industrial relocation; it manages pollution at source rather than displacing industry entirely.

Q8. If a city disposes of 5,000 tonnes of solid waste monthly but has treatment capacity for only 3,000 tonnes, what is the monthly waste disposal deficit?

  • A. 1,500 tonnes per month
  • B. 2,000 tonnes per month ✓
  • C. 3,000 tonnes per month
  • D. 5,000 tonnes per month

Answer: B — Deficit = Generated waste − Treatment capacity = 5,000 − 3,000 = 2,000 tonnes; this reflects the urban waste crisis described in the chapter.

Q9. HOTS: Urban smog in Mumbai and air pollution diseases in industrial cities like Kanpur form a cause-effect chain. Which step in this chain is INCORRECTLY sequenced? Sequence: Fossil fuel combustion → SO₂ and NO₂ gases released → Atmospheric pollution → Smog formation → Respiratory diseases (A) All steps are correctly sequenced (B) Smog formation should occur before atmospheric pollution (C) Respiratory diseases should be listed before smog formation (D) SO₂ and NO₂ are secondary pollutants, not primary

  • A. All steps are correctly sequenced ✓
  • B. Smog formation should occur before atmospheric pollution
  • C. Respiratory diseases should be listed before smog formation
  • D. SO₂ and NO₂ are secondary pollutants, not primary

Answer: A — The sequence is scientifically accurate: combustion releases primary pollutants (SO₂, NO₂) which accumulate as atmospheric pollution, combine with moisture/fog to form smog, which inhaled causes respiratory disease.

Flashcards

What is environmental pollution?

Release of substances and energy from waste products of human activities that degrades the quality of air, water, or land.

Name the four main types of pollution classified by medium.

Air pollution, water pollution, land pollution, and noise pollution.

Which industry is the most significant contributor to water pollution in India?

Industry (particularly leather, pulp and paper, textiles, and chemicals) is the largest contributor to water pollution.

What is the self-purifying capacity of water?

The natural ability of water to purify itself by breaking down pollutants, but this capacity is exceeded when pollutant concentration becomes too high.

Name three sources of water pollution from human activities.

Industrial effluents, domestic sewage, and agricultural runoff (fertilizers and pesticides).

What causes urban smog?

Atmospheric pollution from combustion of fossil fuels and industrial emissions that combine with fog particles to create smoky fog over cities.

According to WHO, what fraction of India's communicable diseases are waterborne?

About one-fourth (1/4) of India's communicable diseases are caused by contaminated water.

What is the Namami Gange Programme?

A Union Government initiative launched to clean the Ganga River through sewerage treatment, industrial monitoring, afforestation, and public awareness.

What is solid waste in urban areas?

Old and used articles like metals, glass, plastic, ash, CDs, and other discarded materials dumped in cities from household and industrial sources.

Name two diseases commonly caused by water pollution in India.

Diarrhoea, intestinal worms, and hepatitis are the main waterborne diseases caused by contaminated water.

Important Board Questions

Define environmental pollution and name the four main types of pollution classified by the medium through which pollutants are transported. [2 marks]

Environmental pollution = release of substances and energy from human waste; Four types = Air (SO₂, NO₂, CO), Water (heavy metals, sewage), Land (pesticides, waste), Noise (aircraft, vehicles).

Explain the causes of water pollution in the Ganga River and describe how the Namami Gange Programme addresses these problems with specific objectives. [5 marks]

Causes: industrial effluents (Kanpur leather industry), domestic sewage (cities Prayagraj, Varanasi, Patna, Kolkata), ritual dumping of carcasses. Namami Gange responses: (1) sewerage treatment systems in towns, (2) industrial effluent monitoring, (3) afforestation of banks, (4) Ganga Grams development, (5) public awareness campaigns—each objective directly targets one pollution source or consequence.

Analyse the relationship between industrial activities, agricultural practices, and water quality degradation in the Yamuna River. How does this case study illustrate the self-purifying capacity concept? Support your answer with specific examples and explain why the WHO reports that one-fourth of India's communicable diseases are waterborne. [6 marks]

Industrial activities: Delhi domestic sewage discharge + Mathura chemicals; Agricultural: Haryana/UP irrigation extraction + micropollu­tant runoff from fertilizers/pesticides. Self-purifying capacity concept: river's natural decomposition ability (microbial action, dilution, sedimentation) is exceeded when pollutant concentration exceeds threshold—demonstrated by Yamuna's inability to recover despite flowing downstream. Waterborne diseases (diarrhoea, hepatitis, intestinal worms) result because contaminated water reaches human consumption sources; explain the pathway: pollutants → drinking water → pathogenic bacteria/microbes → disease. Use Table 9.2 Yamuna data and WHO statistic to support multi-step argument about how industrial + agricultural pollution overwhelms natural cleansing mechanisms, causing disease.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems

Q1. Assertion (A):

Water pollution in India has increased primarily due to industrial expansion and population growth rather than natural sources.

Reason (R):

Natural sources like erosion and decomposition are minor compared to human activities such as sewage disposal and industrial waste.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true, and the reason correctly explains why pollution has increased—human activities overwhelmingly outweigh natural sources as stated in the chapter.

Q2. Assertion (A):

The Ganga river is more polluted than the Yamuna river in India.

Reason (R):

The Ganga flows through one of the most populous regions of India, receiving domestic waste from major cities like Kanpur, Varanasi, and Kolkata.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — While both statements are true (the reason is factually correct about population and cities), the assertion cannot be confirmed as definitively true from the chapter—pollution severity cannot be directly compared between the two rivers. The reason does not explain why Ganga is more polluted.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Air pollution causes diseases related to respiratory, nervous, and circulatory systems.

Reason (R):

Air pollutants such as carbon monoxide and particulate matter directly enter the bloodstream through lung absorption.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true (stated in the chapter), but the reason is oversimplified and mechanistically incorrect—the chapter does not explain the physiological mechanism of disease causation in this detail. The reason provides incorrect medical explanation.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems

Case Study:

A city in Uttar Pradesh has 15 lakh residents and limited sewage treatment infrastructure. The city's primary water source is a river that also receives effluent from a leather tanning industry and agricultural runoff from surrounding farms. Recent water quality tests show elevated levels of ammonia, nitrates, chlorides, and heavy metals like lead and mercury. Local health officials report increased incidence of diarrhea, intestinal worms, and hepatitis among residents. The city's drinking water treatment plant can filter suspended solids but cannot remove dissolved heavy metals or nitrates effectively.

Q1. Based on Table 9.1, which sources of pollution are contributing to the elevated contaminant levels detected in the city's water?

  • A. Only industrial pollution from the tanning factory
  • B. Only agricultural runoff from surrounding farms
  • C. Industrial pollution, sewage disposal, and agricultural runoff combined ✓
  • D. Natural sources including erosion and decomposition

Answer: C

Q2. The water treatment plant's inability to remove heavy metals and nitrates suggests:

  • A. The river has no self-purifying capacity remaining
  • B. The treatment technology is insufficient for the types and concentrations of pollutants present ✓
  • C. The city should stop using river water immediately
  • D. Heavy metals and nitrates do not cause health problems

Answer: B

Q3. The increased disease rates (diarrhea, worms, hepatitis) in the city are consistent with the chapter's statement that:

  • A. Approximately one-tenth of communicable diseases in India are water-borne
  • B. Approximately one-fourth of communicable diseases in India are water-borne ✓
  • C. Noise pollution primarily causes gastrointestinal diseases
  • D. Air pollution is responsible for all waterborne diseases

Answer: B

Q4. To address this multi-source pollution problem following the Namami Gange Programme model, the city should prioritize:

  • A. Building more drinking water treatment plants downstream
  • B. Relocating all residents away from the river
  • C. Developing sewerage treatment systems and monitoring industrial effluents at the source ✓
  • D. Increasing the river's water flow to dilute pollutants

Answer: C

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for Geographical Perspective on Selected Issues and Problems

Real CBSE board exam questions from past papers — free to attempt.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/3 · 5 marks

Why is urban waste disposal becoming a serious problem in India ? Suggest measures to solve this problem.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/3 · 1 mark

Which one of the following has classified 'wastelands' in India?

  • Indian Space Research Organisation
  • Indian Institute of Remote Sensing
  • Regional Remote Sensing Centres
  • National Remote Sensing Centre

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/2 · 5 marks

''Human-made processes are more responsible than natural processes for increase in wasteland.'' Support the statement and suggest measures to reduce this problem.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/1/1 · 1 mark

Water Pollution: Industries produce several undesirable products including industrial wastes, polluted waste water, poisonous gases, chemical residuals, numerous heavy metals, dust, smoke, etc. Most of the industrial wastes are disposed off in running water or lakes. Consequently, poisonous elements reach the reservoirs, rivers and other water bodies, which destroy the bio-system of these waters. Major water polluting industries are leather, pulp and paper, textiles and chemicals.

Explain how industries are the major contributor of water pollution in India.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/1/2 · 1 mark

Which one of the following is a natural process of land degradation ?

  • Mining activities
  • Gully erosion
  • Industrial waste
  • Shifting cultivation

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/1 · 1 mark

The Watershed Management Programme in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh was funded by which one of the following ministries ?

  • Ministry of Agriculture
  • Ministry of Urban Development
  • Ministry of Human Development
  • Ministry of Finance

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/1 · 1 mark

Water Pollution: Water pollution is a source of various water-borne diseases. The diseases commonly caused due to contaminated water are diarrhoea, intestinal worms, hepatitis, etc. The World Health Organization shows that about one-fourth of the communicable diseases in India are water-borne. Though river pollution is common to all rivers, yet pollution of the river Ganga flowing through one of the most populous regions of India has caused great concerns among all. To improve the condition of the river, National Mission for Clean Ganga was initiated. The Namami Gange Programme has been launched for the same.

Describe the main cause of water pollution.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/3 · 1 mark

The Watershed Management Programme in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh was funded by which one of the following ministries?

  • Ministry of Agriculture
  • Ministry of Urban Development
  • Ministry of Human Development
  • Ministry of Finance

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/5/1 · 1 mark

Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in the irrigated area of desert ?

  • Soil salinity
  • Soil erosion
  • Ravine erosion
  • Pastures degradation

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/5/1 · 1 mark

Water Pollution: Various types of chemicals used in modern agriculture such as inorganic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides are pollution generating components. These chemicals are washed down to rivers, lakes and tanks. These chemicals also infiltrate the soil to reach the ground water. Fertiliser induces an increase in the nitrate content of surface waters. Manufacturing and improper domestic waste disposal also cause water pollution in India.

Explain the role of agricultural practices in water pollution.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/5/2 · 3 marks

Water Pollution: Various types of chemicals used in modern agriculture such as inorganic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides are pollution generating components. These chemicals are washed down to rivers, lakes and tanks. These chemicals also infiltrate the soil to reach the ground water. Fertiliser induces an increase in the nitrate content of surface waters. Manufacturing and improper domestic waste disposal also cause water pollution in India.

(19.1) Explain the role of agricultural practices in water pollution.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/5/3 · 1 mark

Water Pollution: Various types of chemicals used in modern agriculture such as inorganic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides are pollution generating components. These chemicals are washed down to rivers, lakes and tanks. These chemicals also infiltrate the soil to reach the ground water. Fertiliser induces an increase in the nitrate content of surface waters. Manufacturing and improper domestic waste disposal also cause water pollution in India.

(18.1) Explain the role of agricultural practices in water pollution.

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Class 12 Geography Previous Year Questions, Chapter-wise

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