0% found this document useful (0 votes)

24 views50 pages

Week 2 Geography

The document discusses the Indian monsoon, its mechanisms, and its impact on agriculture and the economy. It covers the origins of monsoons, including thermal and dynamic concepts, the role of the Tibet Plateau, and the influence of jet streams and El Nino. Additionally, it addresses the variability of monsoon rainfall, including the onset, bursts, and breaks in the monsoon season.

Uploaded by

aaravgupta1234554321

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

0% found this document useful (0 votes)

24 views50 pages

Week 2 Geography

Uploaded by

aaravgupta1234554321

We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.

Available Formats

Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

You are on page 1/ 50

th

70 BPSC Mains Notes

MAINS CLASS MAINS ANSWER
PROGRAMME WRITING PROGRAMME

English Medium
02 Indian Monsoon and Agriculture, Various Types
of industries & economic development

Indian monsoon and its mechanism and

its impact on the country's economy

El Nino and La Nina

Soil and minerals in India and Bihar

Current scenario of agriculture in India and
Bihar, problems and eﬀorts of the
government to solve these problems
Agricultural problems in India and Bihar and
government eﬀorts for their solution
Organic farming and fourth agriculture road map in Bihar

Agro-climatic zones of India and Bihar

Current status of food processing industry in

India and Bihar

Tourism industry in Bihar and government

eﬀorts related to it
1 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)

Indian monsoon and its mechanism and

its impact on the country's economy
The climate of India is essentially sub-tropical monsoonal. The word 'monsoon' has been derived from
the Arabic word mausim which means 'season'. Originally, the word 'monsoon' was used by Arab navigators
several centuries ago, to describe a system of seasonal reversal of winds along the shores of the Indian Ocean,
especially over the Arabian Sea, in which the winds blow from the south-west to north-east during the summer
season and from the north-east to south-west during the winter season. In other words, monsoons are periodic
(seasonal) winds wherein there is a complete reversal of the wind direction after every six months.
Monsoons are a complex meteorological phenomenon. Experts of meteorology have developed a
number of concepts about the origin of monsoons. Some of the important concepts about the origin of monsoons
have been given as under.
The Thermal Concept of Halley

Halley, a noted astronomer in 1686, hypothesised that the primary cause of the annual cycle of the
Indian monsoon circulation was the differential heating effects of the land and the sea. According to this concept,
monsoons are the extended land breeze and sea breeze on a large scale, produced by the differential heating of
continents and ocean basins. During the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere, when the sun's rays are
vertical over the Tropic of Cancer, the huge landmass of Asia heats quickly and develops a strong low-pressure
centre near Lake Baikal (Siberia) and Peshawar (Pakistan). Moreover, the poleward shift of the Inter-Tropical
Convergence Zone (ITCZ) to a position over southern Asia reinforces the thermally induced low-pressure centre. In
comparison to this, the pressure over the adjacent water of the Indian and the Pacific Oceans is relatively high.

The Dynamic Concept by Flohn

The dynamic concept of the origin of monsoons was put forward by Flohn in 1951. According to this
concept, monsoon is the result of the seasonal migration of planetary winds and pressure belts. The ITCZ is
formed due to the convergence of north-east and south-east trade winds near the Equator. The northern and the
southern boundaries of the ITCZ are called NITC (Northern Inter-Tropical Convergence) and SITC (Southern Inter-
Tropical Convergence), respectively. There is a belt of doldrums within the Inter-Tropical Convergence,
characterised by equatorial westerlies. At the time of the summer solstice (21 June), when the sun's rays are
vertical over the Tropic of Cancer, the NITC is extended up to 30° N latitude, covering South and Southeast Asia.

In 1973, the Monsoon Expedition (Monex) was organised as a joint venture of the Soviet Union and India.
Under this expedition, four Russian and two Indian ships, equipped with modern scientific instruments, were
pressed into service in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea to investigate the phenomenon of Indian monsoons.
The period of investigation extended from May to July, 1973. On the basis of the data obtained, the Soviet
meteorologists arrived at the conclusion that the Tibet Plateau plays a crucial role in initiating the monsoon
circulation over the Indian subcontinent. In 1958, Dr. P. Koteswaram, the Director-General of the Indian
Meteorological Observatories, while participating in the international symposium on The Monsoons of the World
had expressed views that the summer-time heating of the Plateau of Tibet was the most important factor in the
causation and maintenance of monsoonal circulation. The Indian, as well as the Soviet scientists were unanimous
in their views on this point.

JET STREAM AND INDIAN MONSOON

Jet stream is the most prominent movement in upper level westerly wind flows; irregular,
concentrated, meandering bands of geostrophic wind, travelling at speeds of 300-400 kmph. The jet streams are
high altitude (9,000-12,000 m) westerly winds between middle latitudes (summer 35°N-45°N; winter 20°N-35°N) in
the Northern Hemisphere. Recent researches have shown that these winds exert considerable impact on surface
weather conditions.
The influence of jet streams on the origin and development of Indian monsoons may be appreciated
from the following description of weather phenomena during the summer and the winter seasons. The upper air
westerly jet streams are extended up to 20°N-35°N (Nagpur, Raipur latitudes) due to equator-ward shift of upper air
north polar whirl during northern winter (October to February). In the winter season, the upper air westerly jet
streams are bifurcated into two branches due to physical obstruction of the Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau. One
branch is located to the south of the Himalayas, while the second branch is positioned to the north of the
Tibetan Plateau. The upper air high pressure and anticyclonic (with clockwise air circulation) conditions are
developed in the troposphere over Afghanistan and Pakistan. Consequently, the winds tend to descend over the
north-western parts of India, resulting in the development of atmospheric stability and dry conditions. Besides,
the upper air westerly jet streams also cause periodic changes in general weather conditions because they lie over
the temperate low pressure (cyclonic wave) which moves from west to east under the influence of upper air
westerly jet streams across the Mediterranean Sea and reach Afghanistan, Pakistan and north-west India. These
storms are not frontal cyclones, but waves which move at the height of 2,000 m from the mean sea level, while at
the surface they are north-east trade winds.
EL NINO AND THE INDIAN MONSOON

In brief, a positive value of Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) indicates:

(i) a cold Peru Current;
(i) strong trade winds;
(iii) accumulation of warm water in the western Pacific, which is balanced by the Equatorial Counter Current
and high rate of evaporation;
(iv) a rise in depth of thermocline as we proceed from the western half of the Pacific and
(v) an ascending branch of Walker Circulation over Australia and Indonesia with its descending branch over
the western side of South America (coasts of Peru and Chile). Such a normal condition leads to normal
south-west monsoon.
La Nina: The strengthening of the normal circulation over the southern Pacific Ocean is known as La
Nina. This event presents a situation roughly opposite to El Nino. During the La Nina period, sea surface
temperature in the central and western Pacific Ocean fall to lower than average levels. This happens because the
South Pacific subtropical high becomes-very strongly developed during the high sun season. The result is
abnormally strong south-east trade winds. The force of these winds drags a more than normal amount of warm
water westward, bringing cooler water to the surface of western continental coasts. La Nina conditions were
recognised during 1988 and may have been related to drought experienced in some parts of North America and
Peru coast in the summer of 1988.
El Nino and the Indian Ocean: According to the meteorologists and oceanographers, the Indian Ocean
has been warming at a rate faster than thought before (1.2 °C during the past century). It is also the largest
consistent contributor to the global ocean warming trends.
Recent studies show that a warm Indian Ocean can in turn modulate the Pacific conditions including the El Nino
events. So basically, such large warming over the Indian Ocean has implications on the global climate.
The western Indian Ocean, traditionally thought to have cooler sea surface temperatures than the central and
eastern Indian Ocean, is surprisingly showing an even stronger summer warming trend over the whole of the 20
century than the central and eastern Indian Ocean.
The warming is significantly so large that it may alter the monsoon circulation, monsoon rainfall,
marine food web and fisheries (the western Indian Ocean is one of the most productive oceans) and global climate
including the El Nino.
BURST OF MONSOON

The suddenness and abruptness of the Indian monsoon is known as the burst of monsoon. The onset
over the Indian subcontinent is abrupt and dramatic. It is always accompanied by turbulent weather. The so-
called burst of monsoon is associated with certain basic changes in the general upper-air circulation over
southern Asia. In April and May, the insolation heating of the subcontinent tends to establish the south-westerly
monsoon flow from the adjacent ocean, but northward surge of the same is retarded by the westerly zonal flow

The migration of the monsoon rainfall zone is one of the major sub-seasonal variations of the summer
(or south-westerly) monsoon. Thus, the monsoon is not a continual deluge of a number of months duration, but
has inter-seasonal variability; being made of a series of discrete events, both pluvial and dry. Viewed locally, these
are the active and break monsoons, respectively, which exist on a time scale ranging from a few days to few weeks.
Thus, while the monsoon appears to have a well-defined annual cycle, closer examination shows that the
monsoon has substantial variability which becomes evident as the intensity of monsoon rains wax and wane
through the wet season. Periods during which there is a rapid succession of weather disturbances or storms
lasting a few days are referred to as active periods of the monsoon. Periods during which there is no rainfall for
few days are the break periods of the monsoon. During an active phase, the Tropical Easterly Jet Stream (TEJ)
remains very strong in the upper troposphere indicating strong convection and latent heating. But, when the
maximum cloudiness remains locked up in the foothills of the Himalayas and the monsoon rainfall zone moves
in this direction, subsidence occurs to produce a weak easterly flow in the upper troposphere. This creates the
condition of break in monsoons.
The Onset of the Monsoon

The onset of monsoon rains is viewed in monsoon literature as the burst of the monsoon, commonly
in the form of a great thunderstorm. Prediction of the onset of monsoon helps farmers to select the most suitable
crops to sow and determine when to prepare the land. Predicting the timing of the monsoon has been an onerous
task for the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), almost from its beginning. Since 1878, forecasts of monsoon
rainfall have been issued by this department regularly.
Progress of the Monsoons

The normal date of the onset of the monsoon is towards the end of May in Sri Lanka and over
Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal (Fig. 4.13). Thereafter, it bursts on the Malabar Coast in Kerala a
week later by June 1, and the isolines on the onset chart display a pronounced curve over the Bay of Bengal. The
subsequent progress of the monsoon in the country is divided by the tapering peninsula into two bifurcating
currents, i.e. (i) the Bay of Bengal Current and (ii) the Arabian Sea Current. The Arabian Sea branch gradually
advances northwards reaching Mumbai by 10 June and Central India by 15 June.
In the meantime, the progress of the Bay of Bengal branch is no less spectacular. It moves northwards into the
central Bay of Bengal and advances to nearly 20°N latitude in the Bay by the third week of May.
❑ ❑ ❑

El Nino and La Nina

What is El Niño?

• Warming of the Pacific: El Niño refers to the abnormal warming of the surface waters in the eastern
Pacific Ocean, particularly along the coast of Peru.
• Part of ENSO: It's the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, a complex
interaction between the ocean and atmosphere.
❖ Causes of El Niño:
• Weakening of Trade Winds: Normally, strong trade winds blow from east to west across the Pacific,
pushing warm surface water towards Asia. During El Niño, these winds weaken, allowing warm water
to accumulate in the eastern Pacific.
• Reduced Upwelling: The weakening of trade winds also reduces upwelling, the process where cold,
nutrient-rich water from the deep ocean rises to the surface. This disrupts the marine ecosystem and
affects fisheries.
❖ Impacts of El Niño:
• Reduced Rainfall in India: El Niño generally leads to weaker than normal monsoon rains in India,
affecting agriculture and water resources.
• Droughts and Floods: It can cause droughts in some regions and excessive rainfall in others, leading
to floods and landslides.
• Global Weather Disruptions: El Niño impacts weather patterns worldwide, affecting temperature,
rainfall, and storm activity in various regions.
• Economic Impacts: Reduced agricultural productivity, increased disaster risks, and disruptions to
fisheries can have significant economic consequences.
Figures

Key Points to Remember:

• El Niño is a complex climate phenomenon with significant global impacts.
• It affects India's monsoon and can lead to droughts and floods.

La Nina

La Niña is a climate pattern that describes the cooling of surface ocean waters along the western coast of
South America. This cooling has a significant impact on weather patterns around the globe, including
changes in precipitation, temperature, and wind patterns.

Soil and minerals in India and Bihar

Soil is a valuable natural resource. The origin of the word soil is from the Latin word solum, which means
floor. Soil is made up of many types of minerals, remains of plants and animals. The thin layer covered with
unorganized granular particles on the upper layer of the earth's surface is called soil. Naturally available soil is
influenced by many factors, such as parent material, surface conditions, natural vegetation, climate, time etc.
Vegetation determines the amount of humus (organic matter) in the soil. Humus maintains the fertility of the
soil. The process of soil formation is called Pedogenesis. Soil formation is a complex and continuous process.

Soil in India
• Soil is a combination of rock debris and organic material that forms on the Earth's surface. Pedogenesis- is
the natural process of soil formation which includes various processes like weathering, leaching, calcification
etc.
• The components of soil are mineral particles, humus, water and air.
Factors affecting soil formation
• Relief, parent material, climate, vegetation and other life forms, time, human activities
• The actual amount of each of these depends on the type of soil.
Classification of soil in India
• In ancient times, soil was divided into two main categories – Uvar which was fertile and Usar which was
barren.
• On the basis of origin, color, composition and location, soils of India have been classified as follows:
→ Main types of soils on the basis of composition – sandy, clay, silt and loam etc.
→ On the basis of colour: red, yellow, black etc.
Features:
• Alluvial soils are found in extensive parts of the northern plains and river valleys.
• Covers about 40% of the total area of the country.
• Alluvial soil is of different nature from sandy, loamy.
• In the upper and middle Gangetic plains, two different types of alluvial soils i.e. Khadar and
Bhangar have developed.
• In the lower and middle Ganga plains and the Brahmaputra valley, these soils are more
Alluvial soil loamy and clayey.
• The amount of sand decreases from west to east.
• The colour of alluvial soils ranges from light gray to ash gray.
• Intensive agriculture is done on alluvial soils.
Minerals:
• More amount of potash and less amount of phosphorus is found in these.
Area:
• Widespread in the northern plains and river valleys, in the deltas of the east coast in the

Soil nutrients and their functions in plants

Elements Function
Phosphorus (P) Development of roots, energy storage, early ripening of fruits
Nitrogen (N) Growth and protein production
Potassium (K) Enhances immunity, proper absorption of water
Calcium (Ca) Cell structure and division
Sulfur (S) Helpful in protein and oil production
Magnesium (Mg) Main element of chlorophyll, helpful in absorption of iron in plants.
Iron (Fe) Respiration and chlorophene production
Molybdenum (Mo) Nitrogen fixation in pulses
Cobalt (Co) Nitrogen fixation, production of vitamin B12
Sodium (Na) Increases drought resistance, helps in opening of stomata
Zinc (Zn) Enzyme Activity and Protein Synthesis

Types of Soil in Bihar

According to study, the soil of bihar can be classified into three category on the basis of characteristics
like structural organization, generation process and regional location
1. Soil of North Bihar
2. Soil of South Bihar
3. Soil of Southern Plateau
1. Soil of North Bihar :- Soil of this region is formed due to the deposition of sediments brought by Gandak,
Burhi Gandak, Mahananda, koshi and Saryu rivers. The soil is furthers divided into four types.
(i) Piedmont swamp soil :- These can be located in the northwest corner of Bihar’s west Champaran
district (at the base of the Himalayan), it has a high moisture content. However, if not managed
properly, the soil’s, high moisture content can cause waterlogging and erosion.

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
11 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
(ii) Terai soil :– It is grey to yellow in colour and acidic in nature. The soil of terai is more fertile than
upland terai, this types of soil is found in the northern part of Bihar near by the border of Nepal and
foothill of Himalayas.
(iii) Gangetic Alluvial soil :- Most of Bihar comprises of alluvial soil, making it the most prevalent type of
soil in the state. Silt and clay deposited by rivers such as Ganges, Koshi, Gandak and their tributaries
help in shaping the landscape of this regions. The alluvial soil is exceptionally fertile, making is ideal for
growing crops like wheat, sugarcane and legumes.
(iv) Domat soil :- The name “domat” comes from the Hindi word “domat,” which means “to mix.” Domat
soil is formed when sand, silt, and clay are mixed together by water. The proportion of sand, silt and
clay in domat soil can vary, but is typically a mixture of 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay. It is found in a
broad belt in the South- western portion of the North-Bihar plain in the districts of Siwan, Gopalganj,
Vaishali, Saran, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur etc.
2. Soil of South Bihar :- It formed due to the alluvium deposited by Sone, Punpun and Falgu rivers. This type of
soil is found between North Ganga plain and Southern plateau. The soil is further divided into three types-
(i) Karail–kewal soil :- It is heavy soil (alkaline feature) which is characterised by wet paddy land or
dhandhar. It is found in Rohtas to Gaya, Aurangabad, Jehanabad, Munger and Bhagalpur. It is best suited
for rice and rabi crops like wheat, linseed, pulses and gram.
(ii) Tal soil :- It is found in backwaters belt of Ganga which is spread from Buxar to Banka district. The
colour of soil varies from light grey to dark grey and in texture from medium to heavy soil. Rabi or
springs crops like wheat, khesari, gram, peas, masoor and lentsil are harvested after water dries up and
their yield is quite high.
(iii) Balthar Soil :- It is less fertile and has less water absorption capacity. Maze, jowar, bajra and gram are
chief crops. It is found in kaimur plateau to Rajmahal hills in narrow belt. Balthar soil is not a good soil
for growing crops. The soil is low in nutrients, and it is also prone to waterlogging. However, some crops
can be grown in Balthar soil, such as millet, pulses, and oilseeds.
3. Soils of Southern Plateau :- There are two types of soil found in southern plateau of Bihar.
(i) Red and Yellow Soil :- These soils are formed from the disintegration of igneous and metamorphosed
rocks. They are less fertile and thus suitable for coarse crops and pulses. It is found in Banka, Gaya,
Aurangabad, Jamui and Munger.
(ii) Red Sandy Soil :- This soil has higher percentage of sand that makes it less fertile and suitable for bajra
and jowar crops. It is yellowish red in colour and is acidic in nature.
Soil Erosion
Soil erosion is a gradual process of movement and transport of the upper layer of soil (topsoil) by different
agents – particularly water, wind, and mass movement – causing its deterioration in the long term. In other
words, soil erosion is the removal of the most fertile top layer of soil through water, wind and tillage. Soil
compaction, low organic matter, loss of soil structure, poor internal drainage, salinisation and soil acidity
problems are other serious soil degradation conditions that can accelerate the soil erosion process.
There are 5 main types of natural soil erosion:
(1) Sheet erosion by water;
(2) Wind erosion;
(3) Rill erosion – happens with heavy rains and usually creates smalls rills over hillsides;
(4) Gully erosion – when water runoff removes soil along drainage lines
(5) Ephemeral erosion that occurs in natural depressions.
The various physical and cultural factors responsible for soil erosion are :-
• The various physical and cultural factors responsible for soil
• Human factors: deforestation, overgrazing, and mining.

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
12 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
• Natural factor: wind, glacier and water.
• Other factors: Ploughing in a wrong way and defective methods of farming
Despite these types of soil erosion, if it wasn’t for human activities, today’s soils would be less susceptible to
erosion and more resilient.
❖ Erosion includes :
1. Deforestation for Agriculture :- The increasingly high demand of a growing population for commodities
is clearing land for agriculture. Unfortunately, clearing trees and replacing them with new tree crops that
don’t necessarily hold onto the soil increases the risks of soil erosion.
2. Soil Erosion by Overgrazing :- Overgrazing is caused by intensive cattle raising. In this process, topsoil
sediments are transported elsewhere. As for the remaining soil, it can lose its infiltration capacity, which
means more water getting lost from the ecosystem and a harder time for new plants to grow.
3. Agrochemicals Cause Soil Erosion and Degradation :- The use of chemicals in the form of pesticides
and fertilizers degrade soil on vast scale the excessive use of phosphoric chemicals ends up causing an
imbalance of microorganisms in the soil moisture, stimulating the growth of harmful bacteria. As the soil
gets degraded, the risk of erosion increases and the sediments sweep (via the actions of water and wind)
into rivers and nearby regions, possibly contaminating nearby ecosystems.
4. Construction and Recreational Activities :- Setting up buildings and roads also have their share of
responsibility when it comes to soil erosion as they don’t allow for the normal circulation of water.
Instead, it runs off to flood nearby lands, speeded up erosion in these regions.
Erosion caused by water
→ Soil erosion is caused by a variety of factors, including running water. Water erosion can be caused by
raindrops, waves, or ice.
5. Erosion by the wind :- Soil erosion caused by the wind is especially prevalent in locations where natural
vegetation is scarce. It is mainly found near the sandy coasts of seas, lakes, and rivers in dry and arid
places. After becoming loose, the soil particles are blown and transported away by the wind through:
• Suspension-Smaller dirt particles are suspended in the air and drift with the wind like a thin crust, allowing
them to be carried across vast distances.
• Surface Creep-The wind just pushes or spreads the heavier soil particles that aren’t easily tossed up by the
wind along the surface.
• Thus soil erosion is an important factor for degrading agriculture climate change as well as physical and
topographic features so it needs to be conserved to ensure gain future.

Resources in Bihar

Mineral Resources
Due to its geological condition, Bihar was among the leading states of the country in terms of production
and storage of mineral resources before partition in the year 2000. But after partition, there is limited source of
these minerals in Bihar mainly in Southern Bihar which is a part of Chhotanagpur Plateau.
Bihar controls about 95% of the country's pyrite. Mineral reserves are mainly found in the south-eastern
and south-western regions of the state. Deposits of metallic minerals like bauxite and gold are found in Archaean
rocks. Archaean group of rocks are found in Jamui, Nawada, Munger, Banka, Bhagalpur and Gaya.
Non-metallic minerals are present in the rocks of Vindhya range which is mainly located in the south-
western part of Bihar. Pyrite, slate, quartz and ceramic are prominent in this. Vindhya range of rocks are present
in Rohtas, Nawada, Aurangabad and Jamui districts.

Major minerals found in Bihar

Mineral resources play an important role in the development of any state. The details of minerals found
in Bihar are as follows-
Pyrite
• Bihar is the only state in India which has extensive reserves of pyrite. According to the report of Indian
Mineral Bureau, 2017, about 95 percent of the country's accumulated reserves of pyrite are in Bihar and Bihar
alone produces 95 percent of pyrite in the country.
• It is iron sulphide.
• The primary deposits are located in the Amjhor Son valley of Rohtas district of Bihar. There are reserves
containing 47% sulfur here.
• Pyrite is also found in the upper Vindhya rock group and in Kurari, Manda and Kaririya.
• It is required more to produce sulfuric acid than to produce iron.
• Sulfur is harmful to the iron making process due to its high concentration.
• Pyrite is a source of sulfur and is used in petroleum refining, super phosphate, sulfur acid, rayon, solid rubber,
sugar making and fertilizer industries.
• 'Pyrite Phosphate and Chemicals Limited' (PPCL) was established as a Central Public Sector Undertaking in
Amjhore, Rohtas, where fertilizer is produced on a large scale by using this mineral.
Limestone
• Limestone is found in huge deposits in the Vindhyan rock groups in the western part of Bihar. In Bihar, high
quality limestone is found in Rohtas hills, Kaimur plateau and Munger.
• It is composed of either calcium carbonate or the dual components of calcium and magnesium.

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
14 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
• Apart from this, it also contains silica, aluminum, iron oxide, phosphorus and sulphur. In Bihar, limestone is
used as raw material in the manufacture of cement.
• In Rohtas, it is found mainly in the west of Son Valley and due to unlimited availability of limestone in this
district, there are also two big cement factories here. The total estimated reserves of limestone in Rohtas
district is about 21.085 million tonnes.
Gold
• There is accumulated reserves of gold at a place called Karamatia in Sono block of Jamui district in Bihar.
Apart from this, it has been confirmed that high quality gold has been found in Valmiki Nagar area of West
Champaran.
• According to the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Bihar is home to about 57% of India's gold resources.
• Geological Survey of India has also confirmed the claim of accumulated reserves of gold in Kabutara and
Nakia hill area of Rajgir.
Bauxite
• It is an important mineral which is used to produce aluminium.
• It is a rock composed primarily of hydrated aluminum oxide rather than any specific mineral.
• Bauxite reserves in Bihar are mainly found in Kharagpur hills of Munger district. Kharagpur hills are
estimated to have accumulated reserves of about 1.5 million tonnes of high grade bauxite.
• Bauxite deposits are also in Rohtas district.
Quartzite
• Quartzite deposits are mainly in the southern districts of Bihar. Large reserves of quartzite are found in the
mountain ranges of Jamui and Chakai area of Jamui district and Kharagpur hills of Munger district. Apart
from Munger and Jamui districts, quartzite is also found in Lakhisarai and Nalanda districts.
• It is mostly used in cement, fireproof, iron-steel (furnaces), electronic and electrical industries.
Saltpetre
• It is present in the form of sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate. Its major applications include fertilizer,
disposal of tree stumps, rock propellant, fireworks, glass and steel softening.
• Saraiya Pahari (Gopalganj) and Manjhi (Saran) are its primary producers. In Bihar, saltpetre is found in
districts like Muzaffarpur, Munger, Saran, Darbhanga and Begusarai.
• Bihar has been an old producer of saltpetre and during the British period, the East India Company used to
produce saltpetre and export it. Saltpetre is mainly used in explosive manufacturing.
Mica
• The mica belt in Bihar extends from the eastern part of Nawada district to Giridih district of Jharkhand state.
Apart from this, deposits of mica are also seen in Chakai, Batia and Charka Patthar area of Jamui district in
Bihar state.
• The world's highest grade ruby mica is found in Bihar and Jharkhand. Mica deposits are also in Gaya district
of Bihar.
• Apart from rubber industry, paint industry, electronic industry, mica is also used as an insulating material for
electricity and heat.
Porcelain (Chinni-Mitti)
• Ceramic is used for many purposes. In Bihar, china clay deposits are in Bhagalpur, Munger and Banka districts.

Mineral Based Industries in Bihar

The state of Bihar is not very rich in terms of minerals, yet there are some minerals which are found in
abundance in Bihar. Like limestone, pyrites etc. Bihar ranks first in the country in terms of production and
availability of pyrites because 95 percent of the country's pyrites reserves are in Bihar only. In this way Bihar
naturally becomes the leading producer of the country. Abundant availability of such minerals provides
opportunities for establishment of industry in an area. There are some places in Bihar, where big industries have
been established due to abundant availability of minerals.
Cement Industry
• Bihar has immense reserves of limestone, a mineral required for making cement.
• Due to abundant availability of raw material (limestone) in Rohtas hills and Kaimur hills, cement industry
was established in Banjari and Dalmia towns of Rohtas.
• Presently Dalmia Nagar factory is closed due to financial and management problems and lack of adequate
availability of energy.
Chemical Industry
• Chemical industry in Bihar has developed a lot in Rohtas and Barauni. 'Pyrites Phosphate and Chemicals
Limited' (PPCL) was established in Rohtas which is located at a place called Amjhor in the district.
• This is a pyrites based industry and here sulfur and phosphate fertilizer is manufactured from pyrite.
• In 1982, 'Bihar Insecticide Limited' was established as a public undertaking of the Government of Bihar where
basic chemicals were produced but at present its condition is pathetic.

Previous year Questions asked in BPSC Mains:-

1. What are the physical and cultural factors responsible for soil erosion in India? (39 th)
2. Discuss the characteristics of major soil zones of India and their suitability for important crops. (42 nd)

❑ ❑ ❑

Current scenario of agriculture in India and Bihar, problems

and efforts of the government to solve these problems

Agriculture
India is an agricultural country and agriculture plays an important role in the Indian economy. According to the
census data of 2011, about 55 percent of the country's population is engaged in agriculture and related activities
and the share of agriculture and allied sector in the country's gross value added (at current prices) 2019-20 is about
17.8 percent. This is a primary activity which includes farming, animal husbandry, fisheries and forestry etc.
The main feature of Indian agriculture is that it supports almost half of the country's population and
provides raw materials to agro-based industries, which contribute significantly to the national income. Indian
agriculture is mainly based on monsoon, hence it is also called ‘monsoon gamble’.

Kharif, Rabi and Zaid crops

Kharif
• Under this, crops are sown from June to July and harvested in September-October. These are rainy season
crops.
• The production of Kharif crops is benefited by south-west monsoon rains.
• Higher temperature and more humidity are required at the time of sowing of Kharif crops.
• Major crops are- Paddy, Soyabean, Pigeon pea (Moong), Sesame, Moong, Urad, Cowpea (Lobid), Jowar, Ragi, Bajra,
Groundnut, Tobacco, Cotton etc.
Rabi
• Rabi crops are sown in October-November and harvested in April-May. These are winter crops.
• Rainfall from the west (Western Disturbance) during winter season helps in the production of Rabi crops.
• Rabi crops require relatively low temperature while growing and higher temperature and long photoperiod for
ripening.
• Major crops are wheat, barley, pea, gram, mustard, potato, lentil, linseed etc.
Zaid
• Zaid crops are generally grown in the period between Rabi and Kharif. Thus, Zaid crops are sown in March and
harvested by June. These are mainly summer crops.
• Cucumber, Kakri, Watermelon, Melon, Bitter Gourd etc. are the major crops of Zaid.

Major Farming Methods

Subsistence Farming
• Under this, maximum yield is taken from minimum land and most of the yield is used by the farmer to feed
his family members.
• This type of agriculture often depends on monsoon, natural fertility of the soil and environmental conditions
for growing crops.

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
18 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
• This is also called ‘intensive agriculture’ or ‘subsistence agriculture’. Almost half of the world's population
depends on this agriculture.
Shifting Cultivation
• This is the oldest method of agriculture. Under this, the vegetation of a particular place is cleared by cutting
or burning and then agriculture is done on it, hence it is called ‘slashing and burning system’.
• After farming on that land for a few years, the fertility of the land reduces, as a result the farmer leaves that
land and repeats the same process on another land. In this way, the farmer keeps changing the place of
farming from time to time. This method of agriculture harms the environment.
• This agriculture is mainly done in the north-eastern states of India (Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland,
Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh) and in some parts of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, shifting
cultivation method is also adopted.
Extensive Cultivation
• In this agricultural method, agricultural work is done on large land holdings with the help of large modern
machines. It requires less human labour but the amount of production per person is higher.
• Adequate amount of capital is also required to adopt this method. In developed countries like Australia,
America, this type of cultivation is done in major parts.
• After the Green Revolution in India, emphasis is being laid on extensive agriculture in Punjab and Haryana.
Commercial Farming
• In this ‘Agricultural investment’ is done keeping the profit in mind. Under this, emphasis is laid on high
production using high yielding seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides. The crops produced and the products
obtained from animals like meat, milk etc. are sold in the market or the entire produce is not consumed for
subsistence.
• This method is based on the demand of agricultural market. The level of commercialization of this
agriculture varies in different states. For example, rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab while it is
a subsistence crop in Odisha.
Plantation Agriculture
• Plantation agriculture is done over a large area with the help of more capital and labour. All the products
obtained from this are used as raw materials in industries.
Organic Farming
• Organic farming is a method of farming in which the farmer uses microbial nutrients like algae, fungus,
bacteria, mycorrhiza etc. instead of chemical fertilizers.
• Cow dung compost, vermi compost, green manure, mixed crops, other animal wastes, crop and vegetable
wastes etc. are other elements of organic agriculture.
Aquaculture
• Rearing, cultivation and consumption of aquatic organisms is called ‘Aquaculture’. It is different from fishing,
because under this agriculture, aquatic organisms are reared and cultivated under controlled conditions.
• This agriculture can be done in sea, river, waterfall, pond etc. Its different forms are algae farming, shrimp
farming, pearl farming, shellfish farming etc.
Cooperative Farming
• Under this method, farmers join together and form business organizations to carry out agricultural work on
their land. Agricultural production can be done for market demand or self-fulfillment.

Major Crops of India

Rice
• It mainly comes under Kharif or tropical crop. However, in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, due to favorable
climate, it is grown in all three crop seasons (Kharif, Rabi and Zaid). ‘Os’ (autumn), ‘Aman’ (winter) and ‘Boro’
(summer) are the three crops of rice produced in West Bengal.
• Rice cultivation requires clayey fertile soil, average temperature around 25°C and annual rainfall more than
100 cm.
• Rice is cultivated in the largest area in the total cultivable areas in India. West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab,
Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Assam etc. are the major rice producing
states.
Wheat
• This is Rabi crop. Fertile loamy soil, cool climate and annual rainfall of 50-75 cm is required for wheat
cultivation. Generally, it requires a temperature of 10°C -15°C (10°C at the time of sowing, 15°C at the time of
growth and 20°C - 25°C at the time of ripening).
• It is the second main crop after rice in the total cultivable land of India. The Green Revolution has had the
greatest impact on wheat production. Due to its effect, not only the production of wheat increased but the
level of productivity per hectare also increased.
• Major wheat producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat
and Maharashtra.
Maize
• Maize is mainly a kharif crop; It belongs to C4 plants. For this, temperature of 21°C-27°C and 50-70 cm annual
rainfall is necessary. It is grown in all three crop seasons Kharif, Rabi and Zaid.
• Maize is a plant of American origin, it was brought to India by the Portuguese.
• Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Rajasthan are the major maize producing
states in India. Apart from this, it is also grown in states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana,
West Bengal etc.
Pulses
• These are Rabi and Kharif crops. Pulses include arhar, gram, moong, lentils, peas, urad, khesari etc.
• Pulses are produced under various temperature, humidity and soil conditions. Less moisture is required for
their production, which means they can be grown even in humid conditions.
• Pulses help in nitrogen fixation in the soil and maintaining soil fertility and are an important source of
protein.
• Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are the major producing states of pulses.

Clove
• It is a spice originally produced in Indonesia. But currently it is also grown in Zanzibar, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Sri Lanka and India.
• For its production, temperature ranges in between 25°C-35°C. Rainfall more than 150 is suitable.
• Kerala and Tamil Nadu are its major producing states.
Black Pepper
• Black pepper is believed to have originally originated from the hills of the Western Ghats. Presently it is also
produced in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Brazil, Cambodia etc.
• For its production, temperature ranges in between 10°C-40°C and 125-200 cm rainfall is required.
• Kerala is the major producer of black pepper in India. Apart from this, it is also produced on a small scale in
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Agricultural (land) holding and its size

A specific size or area of land is called ‘land holding or agricultural holding’, in which the land is used wholly
or partly for agricultural production. These are mainly of five types –
• Marginal Holdings - The land holding of less than 1.00 hectare is called ‘marginal landholding’. India has the
highest number of marginal farmers.
• Small Holdings - A land holding of 1.00 to 2.00 hectares is called ‘small or minor holding’.

• Semi-Medium Holdings - Land holdings of 2.00 to 4.00 hectares are included under ‘semi-medium land
holdings’.
• Medium Holdings - The land holding of 4.00 to 10.00 hectares is called 'medium land'. According to the 2011
census, there was 21.20 percent land under it.
• Large Holdings - Land holdings of 10.00 hectares and more have been included in this. Its share is 10.59
percent.

Cropping Intensity

• The frequency of crops grown in the same field in an agricultural year is called ‘cropping intensity’. In other
words –“The number of crops grown on a land in a year is called the cropping intensity of that land”.
• Higher the value of cropping intensity, higher is the land use efficiency.
• Punjab has the highest cropping intensity among Indian states, followed by Haryana and West Bengal
respectively.
• Cropping intensity is expressed by the following formula –
𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑠𝑠 𝑠𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎
cropping intensity × 100
𝑛𝑒𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎

Agriculture Productivity
• Agricultural productivity refers to production per hectare or production per worker. Labour productivity is
higher in areas with extensive agriculture, while labour productivity is lower in areas with intensive
agriculture.
• Both natural and human factors contribute to agricultural productivity. Due to lack of adequate development
of agriculture in India, the ratio of agricultural productivity is different in different regions. Green Revolution
states have the highest productivity.

Agriculture Efficiency

• Agricultural efficiency is also similar to agricultural productivity but one main difference is that while
agricultural productivity reflects the agricultural potential of an area, agricultural efficiency symbolizes the
current level of agriculture.
Nicknames of agricultural revolutions in India
• Green Revolution – Food grain production
• White Revolution – Milk Production
• Blue Revolution – Fish Production

Green Revolution
• Green Revolution was a new process of agricultural production based on high quality seeds, chemical
fertilizers and canal irrigation. It was called ‘High Yielding Varieties Programme’ (HYVP).
• It was first widely adopted in 1966-67 in areas like Punjab and Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and
Ganganagar of Rajasthan, which led to a surprising increase in agricultural production and agricultural
productivity.
• The term ‘Green Revolution’ was first used by Dr. William Goud of America.
• Under the Green Revolution Program, under the auspices of the Rockefeller and Ford Foundation, a variety of
dwarf crop wheat was developed which –
→ Was more productive than traditional varieties;
→ Was less affected by climate change;
→ Used to get ready quickly;
→ Showed favorable reaction with fertilizers.
• Due to the positive effects of Green Revolution, the director of this program ‘Dr. Norman Borlaug was awarded
the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.
• The credit for starting green revolution in India goes to ‘M.S. Swaminathan’. M.S. Swaminathan is considered
as the ‘Father of Green Revolution’ in India.

The Second Green Revolution India

• The concept of Second Green Revolution developed somewhere in the mid-1990s. It was also called ‘Evergreen
Revolution’.
• Unlike the first Green Revolution, the second Green Revolution will include all crops and agricultural products.
• Second Green Revolution also covers topics like crop diversity, appropriate crop patterns, crop management,
plant and soil conservation etc.

Agriculture in Bihar
Agriculture is the key to the overall development of the state economy. The percentage of population employed in
agriculture production system in Bihar is estimated to 77% which is much higher than the national average.
Nearly 24.84% of GDP of the state (2011-12) has been from agriculture sector (including forestry and fishing)
Land Use pattern in Bihar
According to the Economic survey of Bihar, the total cultivable land of Bihar is 77.78 lakh hectare. The land use
pattern in the state of Bihar has remained almost same in recent years.

Crops in Bihar
Bihar has been divided into four primary agro-climatic zones based on soil characteristics, rainfall, temperatutec
and topography. Foodgrains like rice, paddy, wheat, jute, maize and oil seeds are the primary crops. The state
grows a variety of vegetables, including cauliflower, cabbage, tomatoes, radishes, carrots and beets. Some of the
non- cereal crops farmed include sugarcane, potatoes and barley. Gopalganj and Madhepura have the highest net
sown area. Now, modern agricultural techniques and contract farming methods are being accepted by farmers,
which is a positive development for the agriculture sector.
In Bihar, there are three distinct crop seasons: Kharif, Rabi and Zaid.

There are various aspects due to which agriculture is crucial in Bihar such as-
Backbone of Bihar
Agricultural is the backbone of Bihar’s economy, where major portion of population in engaged in
Agriculture and allied activities, directly or indirectly. It provides livelihood opportunities to millions of people.
Provides food security
Bihar is one of the most populus state, and agriculture plays a vital role in ensuring food security for its
population. The production of staple food crops such as rice, wheat maize and pulses helps met the dietary needs
of the people.
Rural Development
The development of Bihar is depends on the rural development, by development of agriculture through
high productivity will ensure high income which improves the standard of living in rural communities. It also
helps in bridging the urban-rural divide and reducing migration to cities.
Climate Resilience

Challenges faced in agriculture in Bihar

1. Natural disasters - Bihar is the only state where flood and drought occur simultaneously. North Bihar is
witnessing the ravages of floods, while southern Bihar is affected by drought. Due to water logging on over 9.41
lakh hectares of land, the agriculture sector of the state is affected. Also, in the absence of alternative means
of irrigation with the state to deal with drought, agriculture remains dependent on monsoon, which
adversely affects agricultural productivity.
2. Excessive concentration of land - Due to ill implementation of Zamindari Abolition Act, some people have
majority of the land where as most of them are landless and marginal farmers. The farmers with large plots
of land usually live in cities and do not take interest in agricultural activities, as a result, share cropping
agriculture is highly prevalent. The savings with the tenant farmer is negligible, so the investment in
agriculture is less, as a result the production per hectare is stable.
3. Lack of basic facilities related to agriculture - Agriculture is completely traditional. There is lack of
irrigation, lack of advanced technology, chemical fertilizers, advanced agricultural machinery, storage and
organized market. Apart from this, factors like illiteracy of farmers, traditional thinking, dependence on
moneylenders result in stagnation of production per hectare.
4. Heavy dependence on agricultural land - The decadal growth of Bihar's population is more than 25%. Rapid
population growth has not only increased poverty and unemployment but has also accelerated the
subdivision of land. Agriculture has become only a means of earning and living.
5. Fallow and barren land - About 12% of the land in Bihar is fallow and barren. It can be made cultivable
through irrigation, chemical fertilizers and other facilities. By doing this, not only will the agricultural sector
expand, but the stability of production will increase.

Measures taken by Bihar government

• Multi-pronged efforts are needed to increase the per hectare productivity of various agricultural crops like
paddy, wheat, pulses, vegetables etc. in Bihar.
• The state and the central government Center and along with Government of Nepal need to work together
for proper diagnosis of problems like flood, drought and water-logging. There is a need to build bigger and
stronger dams in Nepal to deal with floods.
• There is a need to give proper compensation in case of crop failure due to flood and drought.
• There is a need to make proper arrangements for irrigation facilities.

• Low agricultural mechanization • Promoting agricultural mechanization through

• Unskilled labours subsidies
Used tools • Mukhyamantri Harit Krishi Sanyontra Yojna
which enables the farmers to event agricultural
equipment

• No proper storage facility • Storage – Cold Storage Chain

• Lack of infrastructure - Agriculture Cluster
Storage
• To encourage farmers for farm technology and
farm management practices.

• Low export of good • To provide fund transfer for short term finance
• No proper market facility and easy credit for long term finance.
Marketing
• Law for producing quality of goods • Providing e-market and various markets place

• Subsistence farming system • New method of agriculture

Other
• Low agricultural input

❑ ❑ ❑

Agricultural problems in India and Bihar and

government efforts for their solution
Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy. Even at present, more than 50% of the country's
population is dependent on agriculture for livelihood. In monetary terms, its contribution to India's GDP is
around 183% in 2022-2023 (55% in 1950-51). At present, India is not only self-sufficient in food grains but is also an
important exporting country. Agriculture plays an important role in many activities related to allied activities,
such as animal husbandry, dairy industry, sugar industry and cotton textile industry. In this way, agriculture
plays an important role in the Indian economy, yet it is suffering from many problems, which are as follows-
1. Institutional problems -
• Inadequate land reforms
• Small size and scattered holdings
• Lack of just redistribution of land
2. Structural problems
• Lack of irrigation facility
• Lack of modern and innovative agricultural techniques
• Lack of required agricultural research centers and agricultural universities
• Limited use of improved seeds, pesticides and fertilizers
3. Financial problems -
• Lack of adequate agricultural credit
• Lack of resources required for scientific agriculture
• Uneconomic holdings
• Problem of proper storage and marketing
4. Natural problems -
• Dependence on monsoon
• Flood and drought, hailstorm
• Pest infestation
5. Socio-cultural problems -
• Large and rapidly growing population
• Illiteracy among farmers and agricultural labourers
• Conservative and traditional society
• Hereditary subdivision of land
6. Globalization generated a problem - competition of Indian agriculture with advanced, scientific and
subsidized agriculture of developed countries.
7. Lack of political cum administrative commitment.
To overcome the above problems the following suggestions can be made -
• Better implementation of land reforms
• Use of advanced technology in agriculture
• Research and development should be promoted in the agriculture sector

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
29 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
• Better management of rain water harvesting
• There should be a comprehensive improvement in the irrigation system
• Adequate facilities for proper storage and marketing
• Proper credit facility should be developed
• Proper use of chemical and organic fertilizers
• Proper use of pesticides
• Diversification of crops and multiple cropping should be encouraged
• Cooperative farming should be encouraged
• Farmers should be trained
• The quantity and quality of infrastructure (such as roads, electricity) should be increased
• Reduce the burden of population on agricultural land
Many programs are being run by the central to solve the problems of Indian agriculture, agricultural
development and to increase the income of farmers, which are as follows-
1. Prime Minister Krishi Sinchai Scheme - The scheme was launched on 1 July 2015. Its main objective is to
provide “water to every farm”, which means efficient use of water through efficient technology and method
and every plot has to be lashed with irrigation facilities.
2. Prime Minister Fasal Bima Yojna - The earlier insurance scheme has been immersed under this scheme.
Provision has been made for insurance at the rate of 2% premium for Kharif and 1.5% premium for Rabi.
3. E-National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) Scheme - The scheme was launched in 2016 with the objective of
minimizing the role of middlemen in agricultural marketing and providing maximum value to the farmers
for their produce. Through this, the major mandis of the country have been linked through electronic means.
4. Prime Minister Kisan Sampada Yojana - It aims to prevent wastage of agricultural products by developing
food processing units. At least 20 lakh farmers will get the benefit of this scheme and employment
opportunities will be created for 5.5 lakh people.
5. Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana- The scheme was launched in December 2018. Under this
scheme, annual cash assistance of Rs 6000 is given to small and marginal farmers in three equal installments
so that they can get convenience in agricultural inputs.
6. Development of ancillary activities related to agriculture - Under this, efforts are being made to increase
the income of farmers by encouraging animal husbandry, dairy, poultry, fisheries, beekeeping, agroforestry,
integrated farming etc.
In addition to the above, NABARD is executing programs like providing loans to primary cooperatives,
Kisan Credit Card Scheme, providing neem coated urea to farmers, soil health card scheme, loan waiver for the
development of Indian agriculture.
Hence It can be said that the government is making multi-pronged efforts for the development of
agriculture. This is the reason why Indian agriculture has not only been able to feed 1.2 billion people but it has
also become competitive at global level.

❑ ❑ ❑

Organic farming and fourth agriculture road map in Bihar

Organic farming
• Organic farming is an alternative to the conventional farming system which involves sustainable and
environment friendly agricultural practices that avoid synthetic pesticides, fertilisers and genetically
modified organisms.
• It relies on achieving high crop yields without harming natural environment, disrupting ecosystem and
posing no health hazards to the people who work on farms and use the produce.
• Organic farming is based on the application of non-synthetic farm inputs like vermi-compost, green
manure, bio-fertilisers, crop residues, etc. to enhance soil fertility.
• For pest and disease control, organic farming embraces eco-friendly methodologies, such as strategic crop
rotation, trap crops, the use of bio-pesticides, biological control of insects, mechanical traps etc.
• This holistic approach not only fosters environmental harmony but also promotes long-term health and
vitality of the agricultural ecosystem.

Need and Benefits of Organic Farming

• First and foremost, organic farming promotes biodiversity, conserves soil health and reduces water
pollution by avoiding the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers and thus ensuring the long-term
sustainability of agriculture.
• Further, embracing organic farming practices contributes to the resilience and prosperity of farmers. It
provides economic sustainability to the farmers by reducing input cost on one hand and simultaneously
creating better market access on the other.
• The growing demand for eco-friendly and chemical-free products, fetches a premium price and thus
provides better income and market access.
• The reduced dependence on chemical inputs improves the overall health of the farming community.
• Organic farming brings significant benefits to consumers by providing them with healthier and safer food
options. Organic produce is free from chemical residues and often contains higher nutritional
value, contributing to better overall health of consumers.
• The cultivation practices emphasise natural inputs and sustainable methods, resulting in nutrient-rich crops
that often have higher levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
• It potentially opens up the international market for organic products, thereby significantly enhancing the
country’s agricultural export.
• The emphasis on organic farming can also address public health concerns related to chemical residues in
food, leading to potential healthcare cost savings.
• Overall, the widespread adoption of organic farming in India presents a holistic solution that harmonises
environmental, economic and public health interests.

Status of Organic Farming

• The organic farming system in India has a rich historical foundation, dating back to ancient times.
• The National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP) launched in 2001, laid the foundation for
systematic development of the organic agricultural sector in the country.

Area under Organic Farming

• India is the sixth largest country in the world in terms of total area under organic farming. Currently,
around 2.4% of net cultivated area is either under certified or in the conversion process of organic
farming.
• As on March 31, 2023, total area under organic certification registered under the National Programme for
Organic Production reached 101.72 lakh hectares in the country.
• Among all states, Chhattisgarh (due to its large wild harvest collection area) emerged as a frontrunner,
contributing nearly 32 per cent of the country’s total area under organic farming. It was followed
by Madhya Pradesh (22.83 per cent), Maharashtra (12.63 per cent), Rajasthan (9.22 per cent), Gujarat (9.20 per
cent), Himachal Pradesh (2.10 per cent) and Odisha (1.95 per cent).
• Sikkim became the first State in the world to become fully organic with effect from 2016, other States,
including Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have also set similar targets.
• India, with 15.99 lakh organic producers, has the honour of having the highest number of organic farmers
in the world.

Organic Production
• India, with its diverse agro-climatic conditions, is endowed with significant potential to cultivate a wide array
of organic products.
• India’s organic production encompasses a diverse array of food items, ranging from cereals, pulses, millets,
oilseeds, tea, coffee, fruits, vegetables, spices, dry fruits, sugarcane, and processed food.
• The organic production is not limited to the edible sector but also extends its reach to include the cultivation
of organic cotton, fiber, medicinal, herbal and aromatic plants.
• Among different states, Madhya Pradesh is the single largest producer of organic products. It accounts for
nearly 28 per cent of the country’s organic production. It is followed by Maharashtra (27 per
cent), Rajasthan (11 per cent), Karnataka (8 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (7 per cent).
• These top ranking five states collectively account for nearly 81 per cent of the country’s organic production,
underscoring a substantial opportunity for the widespread adoption of organic farming practices in other
regions across the nation.
• In terms of commodities, fiber crops are the single largest category followed by oil seeds and sugar crops.

Exports of Organic Products

• Organic farming in India is mainly export intensive. During the fiscal year 2022-23, the organic export
volume of India reached an impressive 312,800.51 metric tonnes.

Challenges
• Despite the positive trends, organic farming in India faces several challenges. Limited awareness and
education among farmers about organic practices, high initial costs of certification and lack of a well
established market infrastructure for organic products are some of the hurdles that need to be addressed.
• During the transition period to organic farming, initially yields may temporarily decrease, which poses
financial challenge to the growers.
• Farmers often encounter difficulties in managing pests and diseases by using natural methods and
traditional farming practices which creates scepticism about the effectiveness of organic methods.
• The issues related to quality control operations while upholding stringent standards, further complicate
the organic farming landscape.
• Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive approach involving education, policy support, research,
and infrastructure development to ensure the sustainable growth of organic farming in India.
Way Forward
• The demand for organic products has been rising rapidly due to increasing health consciousness and
environmental concerns.
• To take advantage of the potential of the country, strategic emphasis is imperative. First and
foremost, addressing the issue of low productivity under organic farming necessitates increased research
and development on farming techniques and better dissemination of knowledge to enhance the efficiency
and profitability of organic farming.
• The integration of technology can play a pivotal role in the future of organic farming in the country.
• Precision farming techniques, IT-based monitoring system and data analytics can optimise resource
utilisation, provide real-time information to the farmers, and improve crop yield.
• Further, investing in research and development is crucial to make organic farming more efficient and
attractive to a new generation of farmers.

Fourth agriculture road map in Bihar

On October 18, 2023, President Draupadi Murmu inaugurated the Fourth Agriculture Roadmap of Bihar (2023-28) by
unveiling the stone slab through remote at the Bapu Auditorium of the Samrat Ashoka Convention Centre.
Background

• Chief Minister Nitish Kumar started the first agricultural roadmap of the state in the year 2008. The second
agricultural roadmap was launched by the then President Pranab Mukherjee and the third agricultural road
map was launched by President Ramnath Kovind.
• Farmers have benefited a lot from the agricultural roadmap in Bihar. The production and productivity of
paddy, maize, wheat and potatoes has increased. From 2008 to 2012, work was done under the first agricultural
roadmap. In the year 2011-12, a farmer from Nalanda left China behind by producing the highest amount of
paddy per hectare. Earlier the record per hectare was in the name of China. A village in Nalanda district also
made a world record in the production of potatoes.
• From 2012 to 2017, work was done under the second agricultural roadmap, as a result of which the production
of fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs and fish has increased significantly. Farmers have benefited greatly from
increased productivity.
• Work was scheduled under the third agricultural roadmap from 2017 to 2022, but its tenure was extended by
one year to 2023. Fourth agricultural roadmap has been started for the remaining work and further work and
expansion. Under this, work will be done quickly, so that farmers can get more benefits.
• Fish production in Bihar has increased two and a half times. Now Bihar has become self-sufficient in fish
production. Bihar has received Krishi Karman Awards for the production of rice, wheat and maize. The
production of potato, cabbage, brinjal and tomato has also increased significantly. The production of
Makhana has also increased significantly in Bihar.
• In the Fourth Agricultural Roadmap, along with agriculture, arrangements have also been made for proper
care of animals. Animal hospitals are being opened in every 8 to 10 panchayats, so that animals can be
properly cared for and treated. A large part of North Bihar is the Chaur region. There is water there for 9
months in a year. There is 9 lakh hectare land area. Under the agricultural roadmap, a scheme has been
started for 6 such districts.
• To meet the goals of the Fourth Agriculture Roadmap, the Cabinet approved Rs 1 lakh 62 thousand crore.
Agriculture is the basis of the livelihood of 75 percent people in the state. The Fourth Agriculture Roadmap
has taken all things into consideration and has been made very comprehensive. This will not only increase

❑ ❑ ❑

Agro-climatic zones of India and Bihar

What are the Climatic
Zones?is one of the most important factors influencing the agricultural landscape of a region. It plays a vital
Climate
role in developing the crop ecology of a region and is responsible for regional variations in agriculture. The
influence of climatic elements is reflected in the weather, crop productivity and cropping pattern in different
parts of the country. In 1989, the Planning Commission of India in collaboration with the National Remote
Sensing Agency divided India into agro-climatic zones based on soil type, rainfall, temperature, water resources. In
addition to the level of resources and land productivity, the relative pressure on land and environmental factors
have also been taken into account in preparing the classification required to identify the regions.
The geographical area of India is divided into 15 agro-climatic regions. These are further divided into more
homogeneous 72 sub-zones. The 15 agro-climatic zones are:
• Zone 1 – Western Himalayan Region: Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh
• Zone 2 – Eastern Himalayan Region: Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal and all North-Eastern states
• Zone 3 – Lower Gangetic Plains Region: West Bengal
• Zone 4 – Middle Gangetic Plains Region: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
• Zone 5 – Upper Gangetic Plains Region: Uttar Pradesh
• Zone 6 – Trans-Gangetic Plains Region: Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Rajasthan
• Zone 7 – Eastern Plateau and Hills Region: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and West Bengal
• Zone 8 – Central Plateau and Hills Region: MP, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
• Zone 9 – Western Plateau and Hills Region: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan
• Zone 10 – Southern Plateau and Hills Region: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
• Zone 11 – East Coast Plains and Hills Region: Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry
• Zone 12 – West Coast Plains and Ghat Region: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra
• Zone 13 – Gujarat Plains and Hills Region: Gujarat
• Zone 14 – Western Dry Region: Rajasthan
• Zone 15 – The Islands Region: Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep

Zone 1 – Western Himalayan Region

• It includes Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Kumaun-Garhwal areas of Uttarakhand.
• It shows great variation in relief. The summer season is mild (July average temperature 5°C-30°C) but the
winter season experiences severe cold conditions (January temperature 0°C to -4°C).
• The amount of average annual rainfall is 150 cm. Zonal arrangement in vegetation is found with varying
heights along the hill slopes.
• Valleys and duns have thick layers of alluvium while hill slopes have thin brown hilly soils.
• The region has perennial streams due to high rainfall and snow-covered mountain peaks of Ganga,
Yamuna, Jhelum, Chenab, Satluj and Beas.
• They provide irrigation water to canals and cheap hydel power for agriculture and industries.
• Maize, wheat, potato, barley are important crops.
• Temperate fruits like apples and pears are produced in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal
Pradesh.
Zone 2 – Eastern Himalayan Region
• The Eastern Himalayan region consists of Sikkim, Darjeeling area (West Bengal), Arunachal Pradesh,
Assam hills, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura.
• It is characterised by rugged topography, thick forest cover and sub-humid climate (rainfall over 200 cm;
temperature July 25°C-33°C, January 11°C-24°C).
• The soil is brownish, thick layered and less fertile.
• Shifting cultivation (Jhum) is practised in nearly 1/ 3 of the cultivated area and food crops are raised
mainly for sustenance.
• Rice, potato, maize, tea and fruits (orange, pineapple, lime, litchi etc.) are the main crops.
Zone 3 – Lower Gangetic Plains Region
• This region spreads over eastern Bihar, West Bengal and Assam valley. Here the average amount of annual
rainfall lies between 100 cm-200 cm. Temperature for July month varies from 26°C-41°C and for January
month 9°C-240C.
• The region has adequate storage of groundwater with a high water table. Wells and canals are the main
sources of irrigation.
• The problem of waterlogging and marshy lands is acute in some parts of the region.
• Rice is the main crop that at times yields three successive crops (Aman, Aus and Boro) in a year.
• Jute, maize, potato, and pulses are other important crops. Planning strategies include improvement in rice
farming, horticulture (banana, mango and citrus fruits), pisciculture, poultry, livestock, forage production
and seed supply.
Zone 4 – Middle Gangetic Plains Region
• It incorporates eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (except the Chotanagpur plateau). It is a fertile alluvial
plain drained by the Ganga River and its tributaries.
• The average temperature of July month varies from 26°C- 41°C and that of January month 9°C-24°C.
• The amount of annual rainfall lies between 100 cm and 200 cm. The region has vast potential of
groundwater and surface runoff in the form of perennial rivers which is utilised for irrigation through
tube wells, canals and wells.

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
37 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
• Rice, maize, millets in Kharif season; wheat, gram, barley, peas, mustard and potato in Rabi season are
important crops.
Zone 5 – Upper Gangetic Plains Region
• This region encompasses the central and western parts of Uttar Pradesh.
• The climate is sub-humid continental with July month’s temperature between 26°-41°C, January month’s
temperature between 7°- 23°C and average annual rainfall between 75 cm- 150 cm.
• The soil is sandy loam. It has 131 per cent irrigation intensity and 144 per cent cropping intensity.
• Canal, tube wells and wells are the main source of irrigation. This is an intensive agricultural region where
wheat, rice, sugarcane, millets, maize, gram, barley, oilseeds, pulses and cotton are the main crops.
Zone 6 – Trans-Gangetic Plains Region
• The Trans Ganga Plain consists of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh and Ganganagar district of
Rajasthan.
• The climate has semi-arid characteristics with July month’s temperature between 26°C and 42°C, January
temperature ranging from 7°C to 22°C and average annual rainfall between 70 cm and 125 cm.
• Private tube wells and canals provide principal means of irrigation.
• Important crops include wheat, sugarcane, cotton, rice, gram, maize, millets, pulses and oilseeds etc.
Zone 7 – Eastern Plateau and Hills Region
• It comprises the Chotanagpur plateau, Rajmahal Hills, Chhattisgarh plains and Dandakaranya.
• The region enjoys 26°C-34°C of temperature in July, 10°C-27° C in January and 80 cm-150 cm of annual
rainfall.
• Soils are red and yellow with occasional patches of laterites and alluviums.
• The region is deficient in water resources due to plateau structure and non-perennial streams.
• Rainfed agriculture is practised growing crops like rice, millets, maize, oilseeds, ragi, gram and potato.
Zone 8 – Central Plateau and Hills Region
• This region spreads over Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, Bhander plateau, Malwa plateau and Vindhyachal
hills.
• The climate is semi-arid in the western part to sub-humid in the eastern part with temperature in July
month 26°C-40°C, in January month 7°C-24°C and average annual rainfall from 50 cm- 100 cm.
• Soils are mixed red, yellow and black growing crops like millets, gram, barley, wheat, cotton, sunflower, etc.
• The region has a dearth of water resources.
Zone 9 – Western Plateau and Hills Region
• This comprises the southern part of the Malwa plateau and Deccan plateau (Maharashtra).
• This is a region of the respective soil with July temperature between 24°C-41 °C, January temperature
between 6°C- 23°C and average annual rainfall of 25 cm-75 cm.
• Net sown areas are 65 per cent and forests occupy only 11 per cent.
• Only 12.4 per cent of the area is irrigated.
• Jowar, cotton, sugarcane, rice, bajra, wheat, gram, pulses, potato, groundnut and oilseeds are the principal
crops.
• The area is known for its oranges, grapes and bananas.
Zone 10 – Southern Plateau and Hills Region
• It incorporates southern Maharashtra, Karnataka, western Andhra Pradesh and northern Tamil Nadu.
• The temperature of July month lies between 26°C to 42°C, that of January month between 13°C-21°C with
annual rainfall between 50 cm-100 cm.

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
38 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
• The climate is semi-arid with only 50 per cent of the area cultivated, 81 percent of dryland farming, and
low cropping intensity of 111 per cent. Low-value cereals and minor millets predominate.
• Coffee, tea, cardamom and spices are grown along the hilly slopes of the Karnataka plateau.
Zone 11 – East Coast Plains and Hills Region
• This region includes the Coromandel and Northern Circar – the important Coastal plains of India.
• Here the climate is sub-humid maritime with May and January’s temperatures ranging from 26°C-32°C
and 20°C-29°C respectively and annual rainfall of 75 cm-150 cm.
• The soils are alluvial, loam and clay facing the menacing problem of alkalinity.
• The region accounts for 20.33 per cent of rice and 17.05 per cent of groundnut production of the country.
• Main crops include rice, jute, tobacco, sugarcane, maize, millets, groundnut and oilseeds.
Zone 12 – West Coast Plains and Ghats Region
• This region extends over the Malabar and Konkan coasts and the Sahyadris and is covered by laterite and
coastal alluvials.
• This is a humid region with annual rainfall above 200 cm and average temperatures of 26°C-32°C in July
and 19°C-28°C in January.
• Rice, coconut, oilseeds, sugarcane, millets, pulses and cotton are the main crops.
• The region is also famous for plantation crops and spices which are raised along the hill slopes of the
Ghats.
Zone 13 – Gujarat Plains and Hills Region
• This region includes Kathiawar and fertile valleys of the Mahi and Sabarmati rivers.
• It is an arid and semi-arid region with average annual rainfall between 50 cm-100 cm, and monthly
temperature between 26°C-42°C in July and 13°C-29°C in January.
• Soils are regur in the plateau region, alluvium in the coastal plains and red and yellow soils in Jamnagar
• Groundnut, cotton, rice, millets, oilseeds, wheat and tobacco are the main crops.
• It is an important oilseed producing region.
Zone 14 – Western Dry Region
• It comprises western Rajasthan west of the Aravallis.
• It is characterised by hot sandy desert, erratic rainfall (annual average less than 25 cm), high evaporation,
contrasting temperature (June 28°C- 45°C, and January 5°C-22°C), absence of perennial rivers, and scanty
vegetation.
• Groundwater is very deep and often brackish.
• Famine and drought are common features.
• The land-man ratio is high. Forest area is only 1.2 per cent. Land under pastures is also low at 4.3 per cent.
• Cultivable waste and fallow lands account for nearly 42 per cent of the geographical area.
• Net irrigated area is only 6.3 percent of the net sown area which is 44.4 percent of the geographical area.
• Bajra, jowar, and moth are the main crops of Kharif and wheat and gram of Rabi.
• Livestock contributes greatly to desert ecology.
Zone 15 – The Islands Region
• The island region includes Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep which have typically equatorial climates.
• The annual rainfall is less than 300 cm, the mean July and January temperatures of Port Blair being 30°C
and 25°C respectively.
• The soils vary from sandy along the coast to clayey loam in valleys and lower slopes.
• The main crops are rice, maize, millets, pulses, areca nut, turmeric and cassava.

Agro-climatic zones in Bihar

There are four agro-climatic zones in Bihar
based on soil, rainfall, temperature and
topography. These agro-climatic zones are of
the following types.
• Zone-1 North-western alluvial plain.
• Zone-2 North-eastern alluvial plain.
• Zone-3 (a) South- western alluvial
plain.
• Zone-3 (b) South- eastern alluvial plain.
Out of the four agro-climatic zones of Bihar,
Zone-1 and 2 are located to the north of the
river Ganga. Whereas, Zone-3 is entirely
located to the south of Ganga. However, floods
in Bihar cause heavy damage to the northern
agro-climatic zones i.e. Zone-1 and 2.
In terms of rainfall, Zone-3 receives the least rainfall while agro-climatic zones-1 and 2 receive medium and high
rainfall respectively. However, Zone-2 (1105.9 mm) receives the highest rainfall during monsoon.
❖ Agro-climatic Zone-1
Geographically, Zone-1 is sloping towards south-east direction, with
alluvial plains having very low slope. Saran, Vaishali and
Samastipur situated in this zone are waterlogged. The western part
of this zone is under the influence of Adhwara rivers. For example,
Gandak, Burhi Gandak and Ghaghara. Geologically, this zone has
calcareous nodules. The six broad soil association groups of this
zone are as follows:-
1. Sub-Himalayan and forest soils
2. Recent alluvial lowland soils
3. Young alluvial calcareous soils
4. Young alluvial calcareous saline soils
5. Young alluvial non-calcareous, non-saline soils
6. Recent alluvial calcareous soils
Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
40 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
❖ Agro-climatic Zone-2
This agro-climatic zone is marked by alluvial plains formed by the
sediments carried by the Kosi, Ganga, Mahananda and their
tributaries. Moreover, the region is also marked by floods caused
by the Kosi river. Topographically, the general slope of the plains is
towards the south-east. Unlike agro-climatic zone-1, the soil of this
region is non-calcareous but rich in acidic minerals. Salinity and
alkalinity are high in Saharsa, western parts of Purnia and Katihar
district.
❖ Agro-climatic Zone-3

The plains of this region have alluvium and red and yellow
soils formed by the Ganges River and rivers flowing from the
south, which have their origin in the Chotanagpur Plateau.
This region-3 is marked by backwaters known as tal land
extending from Buxar to Bhagalpur. Locally, the tal land is
known as diara land. The region has the following broad soil
association groups.
1. Recent alluvial calcareous soil.
2. Tal land soil, light brown, dark brown, medium to heavy textured soil.
3. Old alluvial red-yellow, yellow-brown calcareous soil.
4. Old alluvial grey, grey-yellow, heavy textured soil with fissured nature.
5. Recent alluvial yellow to red-yellow non-calcareous non-saline soil.
6. Old alluvial yellow to red-yellow soil of foothills.
7. Old alluvial saline and saline-alkaline soil.

Agro
climatic Districts Soil Main crops
zone
Agro PurviChamparan, PaschimChamparan Motihari, Medium acidic, Rice, Wheat,
Climatic Gopalganj, Siwan, Vaishali, Seohar, Muzaffarpur, heavy textured, Maize, Arhar
Zone-I Samastipur, Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Darbhanga, sandy loam to
clayed.
Agro Purnea, Katihar, Saharsa, Madhepura, Araria, Light to medium Maize, Mustard,
Climatic Kishanganj, Supaul, Khagaria, Begusarai textured, slightly Jute, Sugarcane
Zone – II acidic, sandy to
silty loam.
Agro Patna, Gaya, Buxar, Jehanabad, Nawada, Nalanda, Old alluvium to Rice, Gram,
Climatic Rohtas, Bhojpur, Aurangabad, Kaimur, Banka, Munger, sandy loam. Wheat
Zone - III Jamui, Lakhisarai, Shekhpura, Bhagalpur

❑ ❑ ❑

Current status of food processing industry in India and Bihar

Food processing is the transformation of raw ingredients into food, or of food into other forms (i.e., food
processing may denote direct manufacturing of food or value addition to existing food).
Food processing typically takes harvested crops or butchered animal products and uses these to produce long-
shelf-life food products.
Food processing dates back to the prehistoric ages when crude processing incorporated slaughtering, fermenting,
sun drying, preserving with salt, etc. Modern food processing adopts the latest technologies and practices.
Why are food processing industries
1.significant?
India is a land famous for food production. More than 50% of the Indian population work in Agriculture-
related activities. If there are good food processing industries in India, raw materials like grains or meat can
be converted into food for domestic and foreign consumption.
2. Food processing units act as a link between agriculture and industries.
3. Food processing industries can absorb a major share of workers from the agriculture sector, who face
disguised unemployment. It can lead to better productivity and GDP growth.
4. Food processing prevents food wastage and helps in attaining food security.
5. Processed food requires less space for storage.
6. Processed food can be exported. This may help us in getting foreign exchange reserves.
What is the scope of India in the food processing industry? (Have you ever wondered why UPSC specifically
mentioned food processing as a topic in Mains syllabus? – Because it is a sector that has huge potential for growth
in the future!)
The Indian food industry is heading for huge growth, increasing its contribution to the world food trade every
year due to its immense potential for value addition, particularly within the food processing industry.
Indian food and grocery market is the world’s sixth-largest, with retail contributing 70% of the sales.
The Indian food processing industry accounts for 32% of the country’s total food market. It is one of the largest
industries in India and is ranked fifth in terms of production, consumption, export, and expected growth.
Major points

1. India’s position as a major food producer: India ranks 1st in the production of – milk, ginger, banana, guava,
papaya, mango, etc. It ranks 2nd in the production of rice, wheat, potato, sugarcane, cashew nut, tea, etc. It is
among the top 5 countries in the production of coffee, tobacco, spices, seeds, etc. With such a huge raw
material base, we can easily become the leading supplier of food items in the world.
2. Resource advantage of India: Different soil types and different climate types for the cultivation of diverse
food crops, long coastal lines suitable for fishing, a huge resource of domestic animals, etc.
3. Increasing employment: Expected to create more than 10 lakh new jobs.
4. Curbing Migration: Employs in rural areas, hence reducing migration from rural to urban. Resolves issues of
urbanization.
5. Curbing food inflation: Removes issues of wastage or middle man. Curbs food inflation. Indirect relief on
non-food inflation too.
6. Crop Diversification: Because of the long shelf life, farmers can diversify their products.
7. The demand potential: Expected to reach 250b$ turnout by 2015 and 350b$ by 2020. Youth population, middle
class, rising income, nuclear families, media penetration, etc. cited as positive factors.

Obstacles in the growth of food processing

1. Industries
Small-size companies: Indian food processing companies are small and can’t compete with global giants that
invest heavily in R&D.
2. Lack of good laboratories in India: Food export to the US and EU demands high-quality standards. India lacks
good laboratories to check heavy metals and other toxic contaminants in food.
3. Lack of skilled workforce. We have only a few graduates in Food Technology.
4. Lack of the right vision and support from the government at the right time.
5. Lack of good transportation facilities. Roads are overburdened.
6. Lack of storage facilities and good production techniques.
7. Lack of organized retail.
8. Limitations in supply chains.
9. Limitations in the quality.
10. Lack of modern regulations.
Government Initiatives
The government of India is now encouraging food processing industries by providing :
1. 100% FDI in this sector.
2. Agri Export Zones.
3. National Mission on Agriculture.

Major Schemes by the Government

1. Vision 2015 for food processing: The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) has sponsored a study to
suggest a roadmap for the growth of the food processing sector. M/S Rabo Bank has conducted a study and
submitted a Vision Document suggesting a strategy & action plan for the food processing sector in India
namely Vision 2015. Vision Document suggested a strategy to ensure faster growth of the sector. The adopted
Vision 2015 provides for enhancing the level of processing of perishables from 6% to 20%, enhancing value
addition from 20% to 35%, and increasing India’s share in the global food trade from 1.5% to 3% by the year
2015. To achieve these targets, an investment of Rs.100 thousand crores was estimated by the year 2015, out of
which Rs.10,000 crores was to come from the Government. Accordingly, the Ministry of FPI formulated its 11th
Plan schemes to attract the required investment in the sector.
2. National Mission on Food Processing: The MOFPI launched a new Centrally Sponsored Scheme(CSS) –
National Mission- on Food Processing (NMFP) on 1st April 2012 for implementation through States/UTs. The
NMFP envisages the establishment of a National Mission as well as corresponding Missions at the State and
District level. The basic objective of NMFP is the decentralization of implementation of food processing-
related schemes to ensure substantial participation of State Governments/UTs. The mission is expected to
improve the Ministry’s outreach significantly in terms of planning, supervision, and monitoring of various
schemes apart from playing a more meaningful role in policy formation.
3. Mega food parks: The Scheme of Mega Food Park aims to provide a mechanism to link agricultural
production to the market by bringing together farmers, processors, and retailers to ensure maximizing value
addition, minimizing wastage, increasing farmers’ income, and creating employment opportunities,

Food processing industry in Bihar

Food processing in Bihar has significant potential for growth, given the state's rich agricultural resources. Bihar is
one of India’s top producers of various crops, such as rice, maize, sugarcane, vegetables (like potatoes, tomatoes,
and peas), and fruits (like mangoes, litchis, and guavas). However, food processing in the state is still
underdeveloped compared to other regions of India.

Key Areas of Food Processing in Bihar

1. Fruits and Vegetables: Bihar has a large production of fruits like mangoes, litchis, and guavas, and
vegetables like potatoes and peas. Processing these into juices, jams, pickles, canned products, and dehydrated
items can add value and extend shelf life. Bihar’s potential in the fruit processing sector, especially for litchis,
is particularly notable.
2. Rice and Grains: Bihar is one of the largest producers of rice and maize. Value-added products like rice flour,
puffed rice, and other processed grain-based foods can have high demand, both locally and for export.
3. Sugar and Molasses: Bihar produces significant amounts of sugarcane. The sugar industry, including the
production of jaggery (gur), is a key area for food processing. There is also potential for producing ethanol
from molasses, which has applications in the biofuel industry.
4. Dairy: Bihar is among the largest producers of milk in India, and dairy processing offers opportunities for
producing products like cheese, butter, ghee, and curd. However, the sector faces challenges in terms of
modern infrastructure and technology.
5. Meat and Poultry Processing: Bihar has a growing poultry and meat industry, and there is untapped
potential for processed meat products like sausages, ready-to-cook meals, and packaged poultry products.
6. Spices and Condiments: Bihar produces various spices like mustard, ginger, and garlic. Processing these into
ready-to-use spice mixes, oils, and pastes could cater to both local and international markets.

1. Infrastructure: The state lacks modern infrastructure in food processing, which includes cold storage,
transportation, and processing units.
2. Technology: Limited access to advanced technology and machinery hampers the growth of the food
processing sector.
3. Skill Development: There is a need for skilled manpower to operate and manage food processing units
effectively.
4. Finance and Investment: Lack of sufficient investment in the sector, both from government and private
entities, has hindered its expansion.
Government Initiatives:
The government has launched various schemes to boost food processing, such as:
• Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY): Aimed at supporting farmers through the
development of infrastructure for food processing and providing financial assistance to entrepreneurs.
• Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (BIIPP): The state government is encouraging
investment in food processing through subsidies, tax exemptions, and other incentives for businesses.
If infrastructure and training programs are improved, Bihar could become a significant hub for food processing in
India, boosting employment, economic growth, and agricultural value addition.
❑ ❑ ❑

Tourism industry in Bihar and government efforts related to it

A large number of tourists from all over the world visit Bihar and explore its many tourist attractions. Every year
6 million tourists from all over the world visit Bihar. The tourism sector of Bihar also finds mention in history.
During the reign of Chandragupta Maurya, Megasthenes (350-290 BC) visited the region. He recorded his
observations in Indica. Megasthenes' son Dionysius visited Pataliputra during the rule of Ashoka. In the seventh
century, I Ching and Xuanzang traveled to Nalanda to study.
Tourism has improved with the formation of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation. Tourism has
improved with the formation of Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation. Its main objective is to make all
the tourism resources of Bihar commercially viable. Under this, development works like tourist information
centers, hospitality services, heritage hotels, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks have been done.
The state of Bihar offers thematic tourist destinations for all types of tourism, such as Buddhist circuits
(tourism), Sikh circuits, Jain tourism, etc. Each thematic tourist destination is discussed in detail in the
paragraphs below:
❖ Sikh Tourism Circuit
Bihar holds a special place in the hearts of Sikhs as it is the birthplace of the 10th Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind
Singh Ji Maharaj. He was the first person to successfully unite the devotees of Guru Nanak.
❖ Patna Sahib:
• The tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna on 22 December 1666.
• He was the son of the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.
• Takht Sri Harmandir Ji Sahib, also known as Patna Sahib, is a magnificent gurdwara at his birthplace.
❖ Gurdwara Shri Handi Sahib :
• Gurdwara Shri Handi Sahib is located near Danapur, a popular Sikh pilgrimage site.
• While on his way to Punjab, the tenth Sikh Guru, Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, stayed here with a large
group of his followers. The locals are said to have welcomed Guru Sahib and the Sangat with open heart.
The tradition of serving Khichdi as Langar here has been going on since the day when an elderly lady
served Khichdi to Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the Sangat.
• By visiting the Sikh Circuit of Bihar you can visit other Gurdwaras and Sikh shrines that commemorate
events from the lives of Sikh Gurus. These places of worship are not only important Sikh pilgrimages; they
are also extremely popular tourist destinations.
❖ Jain Tourism Circuit
• Bihar is a holy place for Jains as it was the birthplace of their last Tirthankara. One can get an insight
into the life and journey of Lord Mahavira by visiting some of the Jain pilgrimage sites in Bihar. He
renounced his material possessions, meditated for many years and preached the Jain way of life for self-
liberation here. Traveling along this circuit also allows one to visit several additional holy sites in honour
of other Jain monks. Some of the important places to visit are
❖ Jain Temple, Kundalpur :
• Kundalpur is located near the Nalanda ruins.
• The Digambara sect of Jains believe that the 24th and last Tirthankara Lord Mahavira was born here.
• The village has many Jain temples.
• Due to its proximity to the historic city of Rajgir, the place is a popular pilgrimage and holiday
destination.
❖ Samosharan Temple
• Lord Mahavir gave his last sermon here

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
46 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
• It is a magnificent marble temple standing majestically on a rectangular platform in the middle of a lotus
pond.
• It marks the place of cremation of the mortal remains of Lord Mahavira.
• It is believed that this temple was built by King Nandivardhan, the elder brother of Lord Mahavira.
• The main deity of this beautiful temple is a very old “Charan Paduka” of Lord Mahavira.
❖ Pavapuri
• Pawapuri or Pavapuri, a holy place of Jains, also known as Appapuri, meaning "sinless city", is located in
Nalanda district of Bihar state in eastern India.
• Jal Mandir, a famous and sacred pilgrimage site of Jains is located in Pawapuri.
• The temple is dedicated to the 24th Tirthankara Mahavira (religious preacher of Jainism), being the place
of his cremation.
• Mahavira attained nirvana in Pawapuri in 527 BC.
❖ Jain Temple, Vaishali:
• This is the birthplace of Lord Mahavir Jain.
• The Jain temple and Dharamshala located in Lachhuar, built in 1874, are revered by Jains.
• There is a temple of Lord Mahavir inside the Dharamshala. The idol installed in this temple is more than
2,600 years old.
• This idol made of black stone weighs about 250 kg.
❖ Buddhist tourism circuit
• The state of Bihar in India is most associated with the life of the Buddha, leading to a route of pilgrimages
known as the Buddhist Circuit. The state of Bihar is where Gautama Buddha first began to seek solutions
to human suffering and eventually achieved enlightenment.
• The Mahabodhi Temple is currently located at the famous site of Buddha's spiritual enlightenment under
the Mahabodhi Tree, and is a popular destination for Buddhist pilgrims and travellers from around the
world. UNESCO has also designated the temple as a World Heritage Site. The central government also
announced the Buddhist Circuit Project in 2016 under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme.
• The Buddhist route starts from the country's capital Patna, where a notable museum houses an
impressive collection of Hindu and Buddhist artifacts, as well as a terracotta urn believed to contain the
ashes of Lord Buddha. The main places of the Buddhist circuit in the state are given below:
❖ Bodh Gaya:
• It was earlier known as Uruvela.
• It is the most important pilgrimage site among Buddhists.
• Buddha attained enlightenment on the banks of the Niranjana River and the tree that sheltered and
protected him is called the Bodhi Tree.
• A large statue of a seated Buddha is located here.
• UNESCO has classified the Mahabodhi Temple as a World Heritage Site.
❖ Vaishali:
• Buddha gave his last sermon here.
• The Second Buddhist Council was organized here by King Kalashoka.
❖ Patna :
• It was the capital of many great dynasties including the Mauryas and the Guptas.
• It was earlier called Pataliputra.
• The city of Pataliputra was developed by Udayin.
• King Ashoka held the Third Buddhist Council here in 250 BC.
• The Pataliputra Fort was built by Ajatashatru.

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
47 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
❖ Kesariya Stupa:
• It is the tallest stupa in India measured from the base in East Champaran.
• This stupa is a symbol of the glorious past of the Buddhist era. Its base is polygonal and covered with
polygonal shaped bricks from the top.
❖ Ruins of Vikramshila:
• The centre of learning during the Pala dynasty, the historic Vikramshila University was located at
Antichak in Kahalgaon subdivision, 38 km from Bhagalpur. King Dharmapala founded this university.
• Dharmapala was inspired by two factors to establish this institution.
• First was the rocky hill of Bateshwar Sthan, which was not only a major Tantric place but also a
picturesque spot situated around the confluence of the Kosi and Ganga rivers.
• Secondly, the place was a site of pilgrimage, visited by a large number of people during Varshavardhana,
as the Ganga here was Uttar Vahini (north flowing).
Sufi Tourism Circuit
In the medieval period, Pataliputra (Patna) attracted many Sufi saints, who taught in a very humanistic way,
making the area a place of pilgrimage for followers of all religions.
❖ Bihar Sharif:
• Bihar Sharif Museum: The first Bihar Museum was established here in the late 19th century by
Alexander Meyrick Broadley, making it the oldest museum in Bihar and not only the oldest museum in
Bihar but one of the oldest museums in the whole of India.
• The Bihar Sharif pillar inscriptions of the Gupta Empire were found in front of the northern gate of the
Bihar Fort (Bihar Sharif).
• The pillar was removed and installed on a brick platform in front of the Bihar Court House and later
moved to the Patna Museum.
❖ Baba Maniram Arena :
• Langot Mela at Baba Maniram Akhara, built by Raja Bitthal to teach the youth the art of war, is another
important spot in the city.
❖ Big Hill:
• The tomb of Syed Ibrahim Malik Baya is situated on top of a large hill, also known as Hiranya Parvat,
which also houses a large park, a temple and other buildings.
❖ Big Dargah :
• The tomb was completed in 1569.
• The dargah of Sufi saint Sheikh Makhdoom Sharfuddin Ahmed Yahya Maneri is located near the ruins of
Odantpuri.
❖ Phulwari Sharif:
•Hazrat Peer Mujibullah Qadri founded Khanqah Mujibia.
• The holy hair of Prophet Hazrat Mohammad's beard is preserved here.
• The Sangi Mosque located here was built by Humayun.
❖ Maner Sharif:
• It was also an important centre of education.
• Verses from the Quran are engraved on the roofs
• Maner Sharif has two revered Muslim tombs:
• That of the Sufi saint Makhdoom Yahya Maneri, known as the Badi Dargah (great shrine).
• Makhdoom Shah Daulat, also known as the Choti Dargah.
❖ Ramayana Tourism Circuit

Patna Boring Road Chauraha Centre Mob. 9031053260 | Patna Rajiv Nagar Centre Mob. 8252405793 | Patna Dinkar Galamber Centre Mob. 7322004164 |
Patna Musallahpur Hat Mob. 7250740458 | Gaya Center Mob. 8252507118 | Purnia Centre Mob. 8092086324 | Bihar Sharif Centre Mob. 7004382832 | Ara
Center Mob. 7255092722 | Muzaffarpur Centre Mob. 7707093072 | Siwan Center Mob. 7739620596 | Motihari Centre Mob. 9430052874 | Sasaram Centre
Mob. 8084994876 | Bhagalpur Centre Mob. 9431690496 | Delhi Mukherjee Nagar Centre Mob. 8603855800 | Delhi Karol Bagh Centre Mob. 9870288703
48 BPSC MAINS NOTES (GEOGRAPHY)
• Bihar plays an important role in the history and development of Hinduism.
• This mythical land is where most of the stories of Lord Rama and Goddess Sita in the Valmiki epic took
place, which has contributed to the Hindu religious and social fabric.
• Many places mentioned in this narrative are in Bihar and are considered holy sites for Hindus.
• Temples depicting the stories of Rama and Sita can be found in this circuit.
❖ Ahilya Temple:
• This temple is dedicated to Ahalya, the wife of Gautama Rishi.
• It is believed that she was turned into stone due to a curse given by her husband, and was liberated only
due to the presence of Lord Rama in the area.
• This temple is a great example of traditional Indian architecture.
• It is said that there are footprints of Goddess Sita on the flat stone located inside the temple.
• It is said to be the most historic place of worship in Darbhanga.
• Sita Kund in Munger: It is believed that this is the place where Sita took a bath after proving her
chastity, which absorbed her heat.
• Sitamarhi: Janaki Temple, believed to be the birthplace of Sita, is located here.
• Singheshwar Sthan in Madhepura: It is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva.
❖ Ecotourism circuit
Bihar is a popular ecotourism destination due to its abundant wildlife and natural beauty. The Eco Circuit
includes everything from seeing magnificent large animals to admiring the natural beauty of Bihar. The purpose
of touring this circuit is to give visitors information about these ecologically vulnerable places, the local
population, and conservation activities.
• Horse Bowl Lake: A beautiful place near Rajgir. The lake is shaped like a horse and is surrounded by
mountains on three sides. It is located near the Vishwa Shanti Pagoda.
• Kaimur Wildlife Sanctuary: This wildlife sanctuary is located in the Rohtas Plateau and Kaimur Plateau
of the Kaimur Range in the southwestern part of Bihar. Bengal tigers are also found in this sanctuary.
Other important places are
→ Karkat Waterfall
→ Telhar Waterfall
→ Anupam Lake
• Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary:
→ Bhimbandh Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the south-west of Munger district.
→ Bhimbandh is located south of the Ganges river, on the northern edge of the Chota Nagpur Plateau
and in the west of Santhal Pargana.
→ It is surrounded by densely populated non-forested areas on all sides. There are many hot water
springs in the valley parts and foothills, the best of which are Bhimbandh, Sita Kund and Rishi Kund.
→ There are many hot water springs here which maintain almost a constant temperature throughout
the year.
→ It is more famous for birds than for terrestrial animals.
• Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary: This sanctuary is located in Bhagalpur, extending from
Sultanganj to Kahalgaon. It is the only protected area for the Gangetic dolphin.
• Kakolat Falls: The 160-foot-high Kakolat Falls is located in Nawada district near the Jharkhand border.
❖ Initiative of Government of Bihar in Tourism
For the holistic growth of Bihar and its people government has taken following initiatives in tourism sector-
Main Objective :- Increase contribution in GSDP of Bihar equal to national level contribution (6.8% of GDP)

❑ ❑ ❑

Indian Monsoon
No ratings yet
Indian Monsoon
7 pages
Unit 9
No ratings yet
Unit 9
14 pages
Monsoon in More Detail
No ratings yet
Monsoon in More Detail
14 pages
Mechanism of Indian Monsoon UPSC
No ratings yet
Mechanism of Indian Monsoon UPSC
13 pages
Monsoon 1
No ratings yet
Monsoon 1
44 pages
Dynamics of Indian Climate
100% (1)
Dynamics of Indian Climate
10 pages
Indian Monsoons
No ratings yet
Indian Monsoons
107 pages
Monsoon in India - 6818503 - 2022 - 08 - 29 - 08 - 45
No ratings yet
Monsoon in India - 6818503 - 2022 - 08 - 29 - 08 - 45
9 pages
Chapter 18, Monsoon
No ratings yet
Chapter 18, Monsoon
22 pages
Ch4 Climate
100% (1)
Ch4 Climate
102 pages
Document of Mon
No ratings yet
Document of Mon
50 pages
Indian Climate: Tropical Monsoon Characteristics
100% (1)
Indian Climate: Tropical Monsoon Characteristics
8 pages
G D Goenka Public School, Sector-22, Rohini Class-Ix Subject-Geography Chapter-4-Climate
No ratings yet
G D Goenka Public School, Sector-22, Rohini Class-Ix Subject-Geography Chapter-4-Climate
8 pages
Class 09 Climate
No ratings yet
Class 09 Climate
8 pages
Climate of India - 64441254 - 2025 - 07 - 25 - 19 - 04
No ratings yet
Climate of India - 64441254 - 2025 - 07 - 25 - 19 - 04
46 pages
Climate
No ratings yet
Climate
10 pages
India's Monsoon: Key to Agriculture
No ratings yet
India's Monsoon: Key to Agriculture
3 pages
Indian Monsoon Mechanism Explained
100% (1)
Indian Monsoon Mechanism Explained
14 pages
Theories For Mechanism of Monsoon
No ratings yet
Theories For Mechanism of Monsoon
5 pages
Climate Patt 1
No ratings yet
Climate Patt 1
25 pages
Monsoon: 1. Classical Hypothesis
No ratings yet
Monsoon: 1. Classical Hypothesis
7 pages
Climate
No ratings yet
Climate
9 pages
Indian Climate and Weather
No ratings yet
Indian Climate and Weather
10 pages
BCV654A Module 1 PDF
No ratings yet
BCV654A Module 1 PDF
49 pages
Bcv654a WCRW Mod1 Notes
No ratings yet
Bcv654a WCRW Mod1 Notes
50 pages
3 - 2 - Jet Stream
No ratings yet
3 - 2 - Jet Stream
3 pages
CBSE Notes Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 - Climate
No ratings yet
CBSE Notes Class 9 Geography Chapter 4 - Climate
1 page
Monsoon
No ratings yet
Monsoon
8 pages
CLIMATE-of-india 1 1661179868270
No ratings yet
CLIMATE-of-india 1 1661179868270
13 pages
Ch4 Reading Material
No ratings yet
Ch4 Reading Material
4 pages
Name: Ameya Vikram Singh Chilwal
No ratings yet
Name: Ameya Vikram Singh Chilwal
13 pages
3 1 Mechanism of Monsoon
No ratings yet
3 1 Mechanism of Monsoon
12 pages
Monsoon - 24 Jun 2019: Factors in Uencing South-West Monsoon Formation
No ratings yet
Monsoon - 24 Jun 2019: Factors in Uencing South-West Monsoon Formation
5 pages
Monsoon
No ratings yet
Monsoon
85 pages
Climate in India
No ratings yet
Climate in India
10 pages
Adobe Scan 10-Feb-2025
No ratings yet
Adobe Scan 10-Feb-2025
23 pages
Indian Monsoon
No ratings yet
Indian Monsoon
14 pages
Jet Streams 18 Daily Class Notes
No ratings yet
Jet Streams 18 Daily Class Notes
9 pages
Monsoon gs1
No ratings yet
Monsoon gs1
10 pages
9.5.2.4 N Climate
No ratings yet
9.5.2.4 N Climate
19 pages
Climate of India
No ratings yet
Climate of India
3 pages
In Depth - Monsoon: Respite For Agriculture
No ratings yet
In Depth - Monsoon: Respite For Agriculture
4 pages
India's Diverse Climate Patterns
No ratings yet
India's Diverse Climate Patterns
55 pages
Vision Mains T2 A (2024)
No ratings yet
Vision Mains T2 A (2024)
21 pages
India's Diverse Monsoon Climate
No ratings yet
India's Diverse Monsoon Climate
7 pages
WCRH Module 1
No ratings yet
WCRH Module 1
23 pages
The Indian Monsoon
No ratings yet
The Indian Monsoon
4 pages
Indian Climate and Monsoon 77
No ratings yet
Indian Climate and Monsoon 77
10 pages
STD 10 Climate of India
No ratings yet
STD 10 Climate of India
19 pages
Physical Settings
No ratings yet
Physical Settings
36 pages
6 Climate and Natural Vegetation of India
No ratings yet
6 Climate and Natural Vegetation of India
10 pages
Mechanism of Indian Monsoon - UPSC
100% (1)
Mechanism of Indian Monsoon - UPSC
20 pages
Climate 2
No ratings yet
Climate 2
28 pages
Climate Study for Exam Prep
No ratings yet
Climate Study for Exam Prep
78 pages
For CL 9 CH 4 CLIMATE
100% (1)
For CL 9 CH 4 CLIMATE
21 pages
Climate of India Upsc Notes 56
No ratings yet
Climate of India Upsc Notes 56
6 pages
Climate of India
No ratings yet
Climate of India
4 pages
Climate
No ratings yet
Climate
30 pages
Week4 History
No ratings yet
Week4 History
65 pages
(E) 70th Lekhni History All Test Model Ans
No ratings yet
(E) 70th Lekhni History All Test Model Ans
44 pages
Current Concept (1-30 April 2025) English-1
No ratings yet
Current Concept (1-30 April 2025) English-1
72 pages
Letters 01 To 10
No ratings yet
Letters 01 To 10
10 pages
Sej - Technical - Overview - May 2023 (1) .PPTX Sej (Sumber Energi Jaya)
No ratings yet
Sej - Technical - Overview - May 2023 (1) .PPTX Sej (Sumber Energi Jaya)
21 pages
Ground Anchors
100% (1)
Ground Anchors
47 pages
Our Final Warning Mark Lynas Instant Download
100% (3)
Our Final Warning Mark Lynas Instant Download
27 pages
Culture and Landscape of India-R2
No ratings yet
Culture and Landscape of India-R2
47 pages
(Sillitoe R. - SEG-SP16!1!2012) Copper Provinces
No ratings yet
(Sillitoe R. - SEG-SP16!1!2012) Copper Provinces
18 pages
Landslide Hazard & Risk The Malaysian Experience and Developing Threshold For Early Warning Based On Wide Area Landslide Events
No ratings yet
Landslide Hazard & Risk The Malaysian Experience and Developing Threshold For Early Warning Based On Wide Area Landslide Events
33 pages
Archaeology in Oklahoma
No ratings yet
Archaeology in Oklahoma
20 pages
10 Countries With Highest Iron Reserve
No ratings yet
10 Countries With Highest Iron Reserve
2 pages
2.soil Mechanics & Foundation
No ratings yet
2.soil Mechanics & Foundation
55 pages
Dinosaur Activity Pack for Kids
No ratings yet
Dinosaur Activity Pack for Kids
80 pages
3.3 Bozzi GNGTS Final
No ratings yet
3.3 Bozzi GNGTS Final
4 pages
Geotechnical Study at Dangote Cement
No ratings yet
Geotechnical Study at Dangote Cement
1 page
English: Quarter 1 - Module 3 Lesson 1
100% (1)
English: Quarter 1 - Module 3 Lesson 1
6 pages
Las 2 Post Activity
No ratings yet
Las 2 Post Activity
1 page
DAY 6 - Loss Circulation & Stuck Pipe Sharing Session
100% (3)
DAY 6 - Loss Circulation & Stuck Pipe Sharing Session
27 pages
The Status of The Riparian Forests in The Naryn Valley of Kyrgyzstan: Conservation and Sustainable Development
No ratings yet
The Status of The Riparian Forests in The Naryn Valley of Kyrgyzstan: Conservation and Sustainable Development
16 pages
Cotilla 2021
No ratings yet
Cotilla 2021
102 pages
Lecture02 Deformation Strain 2023 Part One
No ratings yet
Lecture02 Deformation Strain 2023 Part One
26 pages
Homonyms List with Example Sentences
No ratings yet
Homonyms List with Example Sentences
3 pages
Parametric Study of Different Types of Diaphragm Wall Using Soil - Structure Interaction For Section Optimization
No ratings yet
Parametric Study of Different Types of Diaphragm Wall Using Soil - Structure Interaction For Section Optimization
7 pages
Ôn Thi HSG Anh 11
No ratings yet
Ôn Thi HSG Anh 11
28 pages
Els11 q2 Mod3 Introduction To Life Science
50% (2)
Els11 q2 Mod3 Introduction To Life Science
25 pages
Basin With Multiple Sediment Sources: Tectonic Evolution, Stratigraphic Record and Reservoir Potential of The Bunguran Trough, South China Sea
No ratings yet
Basin With Multiple Sediment Sources: Tectonic Evolution, Stratigraphic Record and Reservoir Potential of The Bunguran Trough, South China Sea
46 pages
Doing Things With Being Undone: Visual Culture
No ratings yet
Doing Things With Being Undone: Visual Culture
23 pages
Masud Perbas Assignment On Bangladesh Tourism Saitn Martin
No ratings yet
Masud Perbas Assignment On Bangladesh Tourism Saitn Martin
10 pages
An Analysis of Development Project Compliance With Environmental Impact Assessment (Eia) Provisions in Kogi State, Nigeria
No ratings yet
An Analysis of Development Project Compliance With Environmental Impact Assessment (Eia) Provisions in Kogi State, Nigeria
147 pages
Rock Identification Guide
No ratings yet
Rock Identification Guide
10 pages
Curve Surveying in Civil Engineering
No ratings yet
Curve Surveying in Civil Engineering
116 pages
DAPUS
No ratings yet
DAPUS
4 pages
Petroleum Geology
No ratings yet
Petroleum Geology
9 pages

Week 2 Geography

Uploaded by

Week 2 Geography

Uploaded by

th

70 BPSC Mains Notes

Indian monsoon and its mechanism and

its impact on the country's economy

El Nino and La Nina

Soil and minerals in India and Bihar

Agro-climatic zones of India and Bihar

Current status of food processing industry in

Tourism industry in Bihar and government

Indian monsoon and its mechanism and

The Dynamic Concept by Flohn

JET STREAM AND INDIAN MONSOON

In brief, a positive value of Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) indicates:

El Nino and La Nina

Key Points to Remember:

Soil and minerals in India and Bihar

Soil nutrients and their functions in plants

Types of Soil in Bihar

Major minerals found in Bihar

Mineral Based Industries in Bihar

Previous year Questions asked in BPSC Mains:-

Current scenario of agriculture in India and Bihar, problems

Kharif, Rabi and Zaid crops

Major Farming Methods

Major Crops of India

Agricultural (land) holding and its size

The Second Green Revolution India

Challenges faced in agriculture in Bihar

Measures taken by Bihar government

• Low agricultural mechanization • Promoting agricultural mechanization through

• No proper storage facility • Storage – Cold Storage Chain

• Subsistence farming system • New method of agriculture

Agricultural problems in India and Bihar and

Organic farming and fourth agriculture road map in Bihar

Need and Benefits of Organic Farming

Status of Organic Farming

Area under Organic Farming

Exports of Organic Products

Fourth agriculture road map in Bihar

Agro-climatic zones of India and Bihar

Zone 1 – Western Himalayan Region

Agro-climatic zones in Bihar

Current status of food processing industry in India and Bihar

Obstacles in the growth of food processing

Major Schemes by the Government

Food processing industry in Bihar

Key Areas of Food Processing in Bihar

Tourism industry in Bihar and government efforts related to it

You might also like