RAS question
Alluvial soil in Rajasthan is found in which areas?
Correct answer: (A) Eastern plains (Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Jaipur).
Alluvial soil in Rajasthan is found mainly in the eastern plains, including Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur and Jaipur, and along river banks.
Explanation
Alluvial soil is associated with Rajasthan's eastern plains and riverine areas. The Rajasthan Forest Department project document places the eastern plains across most parts of Alwar, Bharatpur, Jaipur, Dholpur, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Bundi and Kota, and states that these eastern plains have rich alluvial soils drained by seasonal rivers. That directly supports option A: the listed Alwar-Bharatpur-Dholpur-Jaipur belt belongs to the eastern plains. Alluvial soil is also found in Dausa, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur and along river banks, and has high fertility. The key is to connect soil type with physiography: plains and river drainage favour alluvial deposits, while plateau, hill and desert regions are linked to other soil types in the options.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Hadoti Plateau is not the alluvial-soil belt here; Hadoti is identified with black soil, and the Rajasthan Forest Department describes Hadoti as a plateau with black volcanic rocks.
- (C) Southern hills do not match the eastern alluvial plains; hilly areas are associated with brown or laterite soil rather than alluvial soil.
- (D) Western desert is a sandy region, not the main alluvial-soil answer; the Rajasthan Forest Department describes the western sandy plain as covered by aeolian sand and dunes.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan physiography and soil distribution, a recurring RAS geography theme because soil regions are often asked through district belts and landform clues. The exam expects candidates to map eastern plains, plateau, hills and desert to their typical soil types.