RAS question
Barmer-Sanchor basin in Rajasthan is known for:
Correct answer: (A) Crude oil and natural gas.
The Barmer-Sanchor basin in Rajasthan is known for crude oil and natural gas.
Explanation
The Barmer-Sanchor basin is Rajasthan's key petroleum-producing region because it has proved hydrocarbon reserves and producing oil and gas fields. The Directorate of Petroleum, Government of Rajasthan, records crude oil production from the Mangla field and lists Mangla, Bhagyam, Aishwariya and other oil/gas fields in the Barmer-Sanchore basin. It also states that natural gas production has begun from the Raageshwari Deep Gas Field and other associated-gas fields of the Barmer basin. This supports option A directly: the basin is associated with crude oil and natural gas, not with precious stones, coal or gold.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Diamond deposits do not fit the Barmer-Sanchor basin, which is identified with petroleum resources instead.
- (C) Coal deposits are not the identifying resource of the Barmer-Sanchor basin; coal is placed in the Barsingsar area of Bikaner instead.
- (D) Gold mining is not supported for this basin; the Directorate of Petroleum, Government of Rajasthan, discusses crude oil and natural gas production.
Concept
This tests Rajasthan's economic geography, especially the location of mineral and energy resources. It recurs in RAS because western Rajasthan's petroleum basins link physical geography with state revenue, industry and resource mapping.