Soils and soil conservation — UPSC Prelims PYQs
12 questions in this bank come from Soils and soil conservation, spanning UPSC Prelims papers from 2013 to 2023. Every question here carries all four options, the correct answer and a full explanation.
It has appeared in 7 of the last 16 papers, most heavily in 2013 with 3 questions. That is a steady presence rather than a guaranteed one.
The themes examined most often within it are Soil Composition and Fertility (4), Soil conservation methods (3), Soil Salinity in Farming (3), Soil Formation and Irrigation (2) and Decomposition and Nutrient Cycling (1). Those counts are of questions in which the theme is examined, not merely mentioned.
Questions here are spread across Environment & Ecology (7), Geography (4) and Science & Technology (1). Between them they draw on 18 distinct themes, so this is a broader area than a single revision note can cover. That is 0.8% of the 1433 questions in the bank — useful for deciding how much revision time it deserves.
Its weight has held steady, at roughly 1.0 questions a year across the last five papers.
It was not examined in 9 of those papers. Each question below links to its full explanation and to related questions on the same theme from other years, so a weak area can be worked through in one pass rather than hunted for paper by paper.
UPSC Prelims 20231 question
UPSC Prelims 20212 questions
- Environment & Ecology
How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming? 1. Permaculture farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are predominant. 2. Conventional chemical farming can cause an increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such a phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming. 3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions. 4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- Geography
The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of:
UPSC Prelims 20202 questions
- Environment & Ecology
Consider the following statements: 1. 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA). 2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act. 3. India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Environment & Ecology
Steel slag can be the material for which of the following? 1. Construction of base road 2. Improvement of agricultural soil 3. Production of cement Select the correct answer using the code given below:
UPSC Prelims 20182 questions
- Environment & Ecology
Which of the following is/are the possible consequence/s of heavy sand mining in river beds? 1. Decreased salinity in the river 2. Pollution of groundwater 3. Lowering of the water-table Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- Environment & Ecology
With reference to agricultural soils, consider the following statements: 1. A high content of organic matter in soil drastically reduces its water holding capacity. 2. Soil does not play any role in the sulphur cycle. 3. Irrigation over a period of time can contribute to the salinization of some agricultural lands. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20151 question
UPSC Prelims 20141 question
UPSC Prelims 20133 questions
- Science & Technology
Many transplanted seedlings do not grow because
- Geography
Which of the following adds nitrogen to the soil? 1. Excretion of urea by animals 2. Burning of coal by man 3. Death of vegetation Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
- Geography
Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in: