1. Analysis: Geography/EnB/Agro
  2. Geography
    1. Indian Geography
    2. World Geography
    3. Physical Geography
  3. Environment and Biodiversity (EnB)
    1. Panda and WWF
    2. Wallace Line
    3. Chipko
    4. Ozone Depletion
    5. Autotrophs
  4. Agro
    1. Coffee and Virgin soil
    2. Micronutrients
    3. Black Soil

Analysis: Geography/EnB/Agro

Geography
  • Question wise, Geography received more or less the same weightage given like last year. (13 in 2013 and 13 in 2013)
  • But internal breakup has changed- more weightage to Indian geography over physical. Place based GK type questions increased.
  • Like last year, they asked state borders related questions under Indian Geography
  • Like last year, they asked ocean current related question.
EnB
  • EnB’s importance reduced by 50%. (last year ten questions, this time only five)
  • In terms of difficulty, nothing unusual except Wallace line. And Chipko was a trap question if you didn’t know its link with alcoholism
  • two MCQs can be directly solved from NCERT/NIOS.
Agro
  • UPSC’s new found love for Agriculture is evident from its 2 Agro MCQS in CSAT 2013 and 3 Agro MCQs in CAPF 2013.
  • They’ve set one MCQ wrong (Micronutrients)
  • One MCQ can be directly solved from NCERT. (Black Soil)

Links to Answerkeys for CAPF-2013 exam

Polity 14 Covered. Click me
EnB+Agro 8 Given in this article
Geography 14 Given in this article
Economy+IR+PIN 21+4+2 to be released soon
Science 20 to be released soon
History 22 Released. Click me
Aptitude 20 to be released soon
total 125

Corrections, Additions post them in comments.

Geography

Geography topic 2012 2013
Physical geography 7 2
World geography 3 5
Indian geography 3 7
Total out of 125 13 14

Indian Geography

Places/GK based

Q1. The place located at the confluence of Alakananda and Pindar rivers is

  1. Rudraprayag
  2. Karnaprayag
  3. Devaprayag
  4. Vishnuprayag

It is Karnaprayag, answer (B)

Ref. Page 116 Urbanization in Garhwal Himalaya: A Geographical Interpretation By Surendra Singh

Q2. Which among the following is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer?

  1. Aizawl
  2. Rajkot
  3. Kolkata
  4. Imphal

Observe the school atlas. Aizwal (Mizoram) is closest to Tropic of Cancer.

Q3 consider following

  1. Idduki: thermal power
  2. Sabarigiri : Hydroelectric Project
  3. Ghatprabha : Irrigation Project
  4. Ramganga : Multipurpose Project

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 2, 3 and 4
  2. 1, 2 and 4
  3. 3 and 4 only
  4. 2 and 3 only
Idduki Kerala. has dam and generates electricity through hydropower. So pair 1 is wrong. This eliminates B.
Sabarigiri
GhatPradbha This River is one of the important tributaries of Krishna River and yes it does have irrigation project. This eliminates A and B.
Ramganga yes in Uttarakhand. It has multipurpose project. Was in news in Jun2013 for security lapses. This eliminates D

accordingly eliminate choices

(a) 2, 3 and 4

(b) 1, 2 and 4

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 2 and 3 only

hence answer is A: 2, 3 and 4

Mountain/Geology based

Q1. Incorrect Statement

  1. Shillong Plateau is an outlier of Peninsular Plateau of India
  2. Aravalli is the oldest mountain chain in India
  3. Vindhyas are fold mountains
  4. Rajmahal Highlands are composed of lava deposits
  • Statement 1 is correct: Ref Student’s Britannica Page 6
  • Statement 2 is correct according to DR Khullar’s Indian Geography book page 68
  • Statement 3 is wrong because Vindhas are examples of Block mountains. Ref Page 201 Lucent’s GK book. Hence Answer is C

Q2. Which one among the following systems contains the oldest rock formation of India?

  1. Aravalli System
  2. Archean System
  3. Cuddapah System
  4. Vindhyan System

Pearson’s GS Manul, Page 493

Archean system: a considerable area of peninsual India consists of Gneisses and Schists, which are the oldest rocks found in India. Hence answer (B)

Border Based

Map-India-Political Geography Answerkey CAPF 2013

Q1. Which one among the following States shares common boundaries with maximum number of other States?

  1. Madhya Pradesh
  2. West Bengal
  3. Chhattisgarh
  4. Andhra Pradesh

Observe the school atlas:

MP
  1. Guj
  2. Raj
  3. UP
  4. Chattisgarh
  5. MP
WB
  1. Odisha
  2. Jhar
  3. Bihar
  4. Sikkim
  5. Assam
Chattisgarh
  1. Maharahstra
  2. MO
  3. UP
  4. Jharkhand
  5. Odisha
  6. Andhra
Andhra
  1. TN
  2. Karnataka
  3. Maharahstra
  4. Chattisgarh
  5. Odisha

In short Chattisgarh wins. Answer is C

Q2. The State of Sikkim is surrounded by

  1. China, Nepal, Bhutan and West Bengal
  2. Bhutan, Nepal, West Bengal and Assam
  3. China, Nepal, West Bengal and Assam
  4. China, Bhutan, West Bengal and Assam

Observe the school atlas. Assam and Sikkim don’t touch each other. So eliminate B, C and D. we are left with answer A

World Geography

Q1 Match following

(Continent) (Desert)
A Asia 1. Atacama
B Africa 2. Mojave
C North America 3. Kalahari
D South America 4. Gobi

Match ABCD to

  1. 4231
  2. 1324
  3. 4321
  4. 1234

Lucent’s GK book- chapter on Geography=> facts about each continent. Accordingly,

Asia=Gobi; Africa=Kalahari; S.America=Atkama and that leaves Mojave with N.America. Set the arrangement

(Continent) correct
A Asia 4
B Africa 3
C North America 2
D South America 1

Hence answer C= 4321

Q2 Match the Following

A Spree 1. Bonn
B Rhine 2. Hamburg
C Seine 3. Paris
D Elbe 4. Berlin

Codes

choice A B C D
a 4 3 1 2
b 4 1 3 2
c 2 1 3 4
d 2 3 1 4

Correct pair is: Paris=Seine; Hamburg=Elbe; Berlin=Spree; Bonn=Rhine. Fit the options:

river correct city
A Spree 4 berlin
B Rhine 1 Bonn
C Seine 3 Paris
D Elbe 2 Hamburg

Hence answer is B: 4132

Q3. Which one among the following ocean currents mixes with Labrador current?

  1. Canaries current
  2. Benguela current
  3. Florida current
  4. California current

map-ocean-currents for Geography Answerkey CAPF 2013

I haven’t been able to find a reliable source for this answer. But from the map of ocean current, it appears that: California and Benguela currents can’t possible mix with Labrador because they circulate in different regions. And from the movement of Florida and Canaries current- the most probably candidate to meet Labrador current is Florida current. So, Answer is C Flordia (or may be A. Canaries)

Q4. Which one among the following is the major occupation in equatorial region?

  1. Growing of tropical crops
  2. Growing of cereals
  3. Growing of citrus fruits
  4. Animal rearing

This question is lifted verbatim from Geography by Surender Singh, TMH Publication=>Section C mock question on Page 1323. Answer is A.

We can also cross verify from NIOS Geography, Lesson 14: Equatorial lowlands=>Topic Human response.

  • Amazon: Plantation crops like Sugarcane, cocoa and bananas.
  • Africa: Yam, Coffee, Cocoa. Agriculture has become an important occupation.
  • Malaysia: Rubber an important plantation crop.

from these, we can deduct answer is A

Q5. The continent having the largest area in the equatorial belt is

  1. Asia
  2. South America
  3. Africa
  4. North America

I think South America but unable to locate a reliable source.

Physical Geography

Q1. Which of the following statements are correct?

  1. Sediments of Gondwana System were deposited under marine condition.
  2. Rocks of Gondwana System are fossiliferous.
  3. Rocks of Gondwana System contain metallic mineral deposits.
  4. Gondwana deposition took place in downfauIted trough.

Correct statement

  1. 1,2,3
  2. 1,2,4
  3. 2,4
  4. 1,3

From Vineeth Kumar’s comment:

Physical geography section:
question no 1:
answer:option (c).2,4
explanation: Gondwana rocks are faulted and make horsts and grabens.Gondwana basins are bounded by faults and deposition of sediments take place in such downfaulted basins.
That concludes 4th alternative to be correct and eliminates two alternatives(a,d).
Regarding first alternative: Gondwana group is made up of thick succession of continental sediments of fluviatile and lacustrine origin and not marine. Hence,proved
courtesy:Principles Of Engineering Geology,K.M.Bangar.

 

Q2. Which of the following statements regarding landslides is/are correct?

  1. They are sudden and sporadic.
  2. They result when the slope is gentle.
  3. Mining activity is also responsible for landslides.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 1 and 3 only
  3. 3 only
  4. 1, 2 and 3

Refer to NCERT, Class 11 India Physical geography. Chapter 7, Page 90-91

  • Landslides: Very High Vulnerability Zone=high rainfall regions with steep slopes in the Western Ghats and Nilgiris, the north-eastern regions. Thus Statement 2 is wrong. This eliminates A and D.
  • Landslides due to mining and subsidence are most common in states like Jharkhand, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, MadhyaPradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Kerala. Hence statement 3 is correct. This eliminates A.
  • It is always difficult to define in a precise statement and generalise the occurrence and behavior of a landslide.=Meaning Landslides are indeed sudden and sporadic. Statement 1 is right.

Therefore answer B: 1 and 3 only.

Environment and Biodiversity (EnB)

topic CAPF 2012 2013
EnB 10 5
  • EnB’s importance reduced by 50%.
  • In terms of difficulty, nothing unusual except Wallace line. And Chipko was a trap question if you didn’t know its link with alcoholism
  • two MCQs can be directly solved from NCERT/NIOS.

Panda and WWF

Q1. The logo of which of the following famous organizations is a Giant Panda?

  1. World Wildlife Fund or World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
  2. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
  3. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
  4. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEF)

It’s Giant Panda=WWF. Answer A

Still Reference: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/916482/WWF

Wallace Line

Q2. The Wallace’s Line distinguishes or separates the flora and fauna between

  1. Canada and USA
  2. Taiga region and Tundra region
  3. Mexico and Central America
  4. South-East Asia and Australasia

Man who does Ph.D like this?

Wallace’s line is an imaginary line postulated by AR Wallace as the dividing line between Asian and Australian flora and fauna in the Indonesian archipelago.

Hence answer is (D)

Ref: Page 57 Chloroplast DNA Variation in Indonesian Dipterocarpaceae By Sapto Indrioko.

Chipko

Q3. The Chipko Movement

  1. was an environmental movement to prevent cutting down of trees
  2. raised the question of ecological and economic exploitation
  3. is a movement against alcoholism as its broadened agenda
  4. demanded that local communities should have control over their natural resources

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. 1 and 2 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 1, 3 and 4
  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Refer to Page 132-133 of Political Science, Avnindra Kumar Verma

Women in this movement protested felling of trees by grabbing oak, rhododendron trees near their village. 1 correct
Villagers demand that outsiders should be given no forest exploiting contracts.They asked government to provide low cost material to small industries. They even wanted Development of region without disturbing ecological balance. 2 correct
The region’s forest contractors usually supplied alcohol to men. It forced women to launch sustained agitation against the habit of alcoholism. This broadened the movement’s angeda, to other social issues…..the Chipko movement which began on a single issue, became a symbol of many such movements in 1970s… 3 correct
They even demanded that only local communities should have effective control over natural resources like land, water and forest. 4 correct

Hence Answer D: 1, 2, 3 and 4 all correct

Ozone Depletion

Q4. Statement I : Ozone is produced naturally by the action of ultraviolet radiation on oxygen molecule in the upper atmosphere.

Statement II : Ozone depletion has been caused by the release of chlorofluoro carbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere

  1. Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
  2. Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
  3. Statement I is true but Statement II is false
  4. Statement I is false but Statement II is true

NCERT Class 12 Biology Chapter 12 Page 282 OR NIOS material on biodiversity- chapter 14, page 11

Both statements are individually correct. But Statement II doesn’t mention how CFC cause Ozon depletion (i.e. CFC release Chlorine atom and Chlorine reacts with Ozone.)

So, both statement individually correct but Statement II is not correct explanation of Statement I=>Answer B.

Autotrophs

Q5. Plants capable of performing photo-synthesis belong to which one among the following types of organisms?

  1. Heterotrophs
  2. Saprotrophs
  3. Autotrophs
  4. Chemoheterotrophs

NIOS material on biodiversity- chapter 5, page 2.

The green plants manufacture food for the entire ecosystem through the process of photosynthesis. Green plants are called autotrophs. Hence answer C

Agro

UPSC’s new found love for Agriculture is evident from its 2 Agro MCQS in CSAT 2013 and 3 Agro MCQs in CAPF 2013.

Coffee and Virgin soil

1. Statement I : Virgin soils of newly cleared forests give higher yield of coffee.

Statement II: Coffee is a soil nutrient exhaustive crop

  1. Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
  2. Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
  3. Statement I is true but Statement II is false
  4. Statement I is false but Statement II is true

Radical History Review: Volume 70 by Cambridge University Press, Page 171

….coffee planters preferred to cultive lands cleared from primary forest, where nutrients were plentiful.

Insatiable Appetite: The United States and the Ecological Degradation of the tropical world By Richard P. Tucker, Page 86

(In Brazil), Hundreds of old coffee trees were abandoned as planters migrated to new land and began again the process of clearing forests for humus and nutrients in their virgin soils.

From ^these, we can conclude Both statements individually correct and Statement II explains I. Hence answer is (A)

Micronutrients

Q2. The three primary soil micronutrients are

  1. carbon, oxygen and water
  2. copper, cadmium and carbon
  3. nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
  4. boron, zinc and magnesium

Refer NCERT Science Class 9 chapter 15 page 206. They’ve given table for Micro and Macro nutrients.

Micro iron, manganese, boron, zinc, copper, molybdenum, chlorine
Macro nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur

Eliminate options accordingly

  1. carbon, oxygen and water
 doesn’t fit the definition because Micronutrients=used by plants in small quantities.
  1. copper, cadmium and carbon
 Wrong. Carbon doesn’t fit definition and Cadmium is toxic. Soil Microbiology, Ecology and Biochemistry By Eldor A. Paul, maintains that Cadmium not essential but found as toxic contaminant in soil. So that eliminates #2.
  1. nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium
 wrong, all given in macro
  1. boron, zinc and magnesium
 Wrong because magnesium is macro.
  • NCERT is not helping beyond this.
  • Introduction to Agriculture, AK Vyas, Chapter 19 concurs with NCERT’s micronutrient list. (and this book is used by some UPSC players with Agri. optional)
  • I digged on google books. Most of the agriculture related college textbooks maintain the same list of Micronutrients (given in above NCERT table.)
  • Britannica lists copper, boron, zinc, manganese, and molybdenum. Again none of the options fit.

Hence two possibilities

  1. UPSC examiner wanted to ask about “Macronutrients” but typist wrote it as Micronutrients, else answer could have been C.
  2. UPSC examiner wanted to write Manganese but Typist wrote it as Magnesium. Meaning all four answers are bogus. Else answer could have been for D.

Either way, entire MCQ is wrong in its present format, unless someone wants to drag

Black Soil

Q3. Which one among the following is not correct regarding the black soils of Peninsular India?

  1. Rich in iron, lime and potash
  2. Retentive in moisture
  3. Fertile and well-suited for growing sugarcane
  4. Rich in phosphorus and organic matter

Refer NCERT Class 11 Indian Geography, Chapter6 Page71

Chemically, the black soils are rich in lime, iron, magnesia and alumina. They also contain potash..But they lack in phosphorous, nitrogen and organic matter.

Hence Statement D is incorrect. Answer D

Corrections, Additions post them in comments. Answerkey for remaining topics, coming soon.