Aspirant Academy
ENHI

RAS question

Consider the following pairs — soil conservation/moisture-conservation technique and its specific application context in Rajasthan: 1. Mulching → Reduces soil moisture evaporation in sandy soils of western Rajasthan 2. Contour farming → Controls water erosion on slopes of Aravalli and Vindhyan uplands 3. Gypsum application → Reclaims saline-alkali soils around Sambhar and Pachpadra lake areas 4. Contour bunding → Applied only in the Chambal ravine zone, not elsewhere in Rajasthan. Which of the pairs above are CORRECTLY matched?

Correct answer: (A) 1, 2, and 3 only.

In Rajasthan, mulching in western sandy soils, contour farming on Aravalli and Vindhyan slopes, and gypsum application in saline-alkali lake-area soils are correctly matched soil and moisture-conservation practices, while contour bunding is not confined to the Chambal ravines.

  1. (A)

    1, 2, and 3 only

  2. (B)

    1 and 3 only

  3. (C)

    2, 3, and 4 only

  4. (D)

    1, 2, 3, and 4

Explanation

Pairs 1, 2 and 3 are correctly matched. Mulching fits western Rajasthan's sandy soils because the Rajasthan soil-conservation schedule lists maintenance of surface mulches among measures for improving sandy soils and for checking wind and water erosion. Contour farming is correctly linked with sloping Aravalli and Vindhyan uplands: the same schedule names contour cultivation as a measure against water erosion, including sheet erosion, gullies and ravine formation. Gypsum is appropriate for saline-alkali reclamation around Sambhar and Pachpadra because the schedule includes application of gypsum and other correctives for reclaiming usar lands. Pair 4 is false: the Act lists mends, dauls and bundhis as general soil and water conservation measures, not as Chambal-only interventions.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (B) It omits pair 2, although contour cultivation is specifically listed as a soil-and-water conservation measure against water erosion and therefore matches sloping uplands.
  • (C) It includes pair 4 and excludes pair 1, even though bunding-type works are not framed as Chambal-only while surface mulches are listed for sandy-soil improvement.
  • (D) It accepts pair 4, but the cited conservation schedule treats mends, dauls and bundhis as general erosion-control works rather than as measures confined to the Chambal ravine zone.

Concept

This tests applied soil conservation in Rajasthan: matching each technique to the soil or terrain problem it addresses. RAS repeats this area because sandy soils, salt-affected lake margins, upland water erosion and ravines are standard Rajasthan geography contexts.

Source

Related questions