SSC CGL Preparation – Day 16

Geography – Resources of India

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🧭 Introduction: What Are Natural Resources?

Natural resources are materials or substances occurring in nature which can be exploited for economic gain and development. In India, these include:

• Land resources
• Water resources
• Mineral resources
• Forest resources
• Energy resources

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🌍 Classification of Natural Resources

Type	Examples	Category
Renewable	Solar, Wind, Water, Forests	Can be replenished
Non-renewable	Coal, Petroleum, Minerals	Limited reserves
Biotic	Forests, Animals	From living organisms
Abiotic	Minerals, Water, Air	Non-living resources

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⛰️ 1. Land Resources in India

• India has ~3.28 million sq km of land area.
• Uses: Agriculture (~54%), Forests (~22%), Urban/Industrial (~8%)
• Issues: Soil erosion, deforestation, urbanization
• Soil Types (important for agriculture):
  • Alluvial Soil: Indo-Gangetic plain; very fertile
  • Black Soil: Deccan plateau; cotton cultivation
  • Red Soil: Eastern & Southern India; less fertile
  • Laterite Soil: High rainfall areas; used for plantation crops
  • Desert Soil: Rajasthan; poor fertility

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💧 2. Water Resources

• India receives water mainly from rainfall and rivers.
• Major rivers: Ganga, Brahmaputra, Yamuna, Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi, Narmada, etc.
• Uses: Irrigation, drinking, industry, hydro power
• Water Conservation Efforts:
  • Rainwater harvesting
  • Interlinking rivers
  • Watershed management
• Challenges:
  • Seasonal and uneven distribution
  • Overuse and pollution
  • Floods and droughts

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🪨 3. Mineral Resources

India is rich in metallic and non-metallic minerals.

A. Metallic Minerals

Mineral	Key States	Uses
Iron ore	Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh	Steel industry
Bauxite	Odisha, Gujarat	Aluminum production
Manganese	Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka	Steel and batteries
Copper	Rajasthan, Jharkhand	Electrical wires

B. Non-metallic Minerals

Mineral	Key States	Uses
Limestone	MP, Andhra Pradesh	Cement industry
Mica	Jharkhand, Bihar	Electronics and cosmetics
Gypsum	Rajasthan	Fertilizers, cement

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🌳 4. Forest Resources

• India’s forest cover is ~22% of total geographical area.
• Forests provide:
  • Timber and fuelwood
  • Biodiversity habitat
  • Oxygen and climate regulation
• Types of Forests:
  • Tropical Evergreen (Western Ghats, NE India)
  • Tropical Deciduous (Central India)
  • Thorn Forest (Rajasthan)
  • Montane Forests (Himalayas)

🌲 Conservation Efforts:

• Joint Forest Management (JFM)
• National Forest Policy
• Afforestation programs

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⚡ 5. Energy Resources

A. Conventional Sources:

Resource	Usage	Issues
Coal	Electricity, industry	Pollution, non-renewable
Petroleum	Transport, fuel	Imports, limited reserves
Natural Gas	Cooking, industry	Cleaner but limited

B. Non-Conventional Sources:

Type	States/Regions	Advantages
Solar	Rajasthan, Gujarat, Ladakh	Renewable, low emission
Wind	Tamil Nadu, Gujarat	Sustainable, clean
Hydro Power	Himachal, Uttarakhand	Clean, long-lasting
Biomass	Rural areas	Converts waste to energy

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🧠 Important for SSC CGL: Quick Facts

• Largest Iron ore producer: Odisha
• Largest Bauxite reserves: Odisha
• Biggest coal reserves: Jharkhand
• Major oil fields: Bombay High (offshore), Digboi (Assam), Ankleshwar (Gujarat)
• Renewable energy target (India): 500 GW by 2030
• National Water Mission and National Solar Mission: Key Government Schemes

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📝 Expected SSC CGL Questions from this Topic

1. Which state is the leading producer of bauxite in India?
2. Name the major non-conventional sources of energy in India.
3. What are the major soil types and their crops?
4. What are the uses of mica?
5. Which mineral is used in aluminum production?