ICSE Class 10 Geography Syllabus

What is alluvial soil and why is it the most important soil in India?

Soil deposited by rivers in floodplains and deltas; it is very fertile, rich in potash and lime, and covers the densely-farmed northern plains.

Distinguish between khadar and bhangar alluvial soils.

Khadar is new, light-coloured, fertile alluvium renewed by floods each year; bhangar is older, darker, higher alluvium often containing kankar (lime nodules).

Why is black soil (regur) ideal for growing cotton?

It is moisture-retentive, rich in lime, iron, magnesia and alumina, and made of weathered lava; it is also called black cotton soil.

Why is red soil red, and what is its main limitation?

Red from iron oxide in weathered crystalline rocks; it is low in nitrogen, phosphorus and humus, so needs fertilisers/irrigation for good yields.

What conditions form laterite soil and what is it used for?

Formed by intense leaching in high-rainfall, high-temperature tropical areas; poor in fertility but used as building bricks and for tea, coffee and cashew.

What is soil erosion and name its two chief natural agents in India.

The removal of fertile topsoil; chief agents are running water (sheet and gully erosion) and wind.

Name three methods used to conserve soil in India.

Contour ploughing, terrace/strip farming, afforestation/shelter belts, and check dams/gully plugging (any three).

What is the rainfall criterion that broadly determines India's natural vegetation belts?

The amount of annual rainfall: tropical evergreen (>200 cm), deciduous (100-200 cm), thorn/scrub (<70 cm).

Why are tropical evergreen forests called 'evergreen', and where are they found in India?

Because heavy rainfall (>200 cm) means trees shed leaves at different times so the forest is always green; found in Western Ghats, NE India and the Andamans.

Why are tropical deciduous forests (monsoon forests) commercially the most important in India?

They yield valuable hardwood timber such as teak, sal and sandalwood, and trees shed leaves in the dry season making felling and extraction easier.

What special root adaptation do mangrove (tidal/littoral) forests have and why?

Breathing roots (pneumatophores) that rise above water to absorb oxygen in the waterlogged, saline tidal mud; e.g., Sundari trees of the Sundarbans.

Name two ways the Indian government conserves forests.

Afforestation/social forestry programmes and creating reserved forests, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and biosphere reserves (any two).

Distinguish between perennial and seasonal irrigation by source.

Perennial irrigation supplies water all year (canals from snow-fed rivers, dams, tube wells); seasonal/inundation irrigation depends on monsoon-fed wells and tanks.

Why is well and tube-well irrigation most common in the northern plains?

The plains have soft alluvial soil that is easy to dig, a high water table, and level land that makes wells and tube wells cheap and effective.

Why is tank irrigation common in peninsular (southern) India?

The hard, impermeable rock and uneven relief allow natural depressions to store rainwater, while rivers are seasonal, so tanks are a reliable local source.

What is rainwater harvesting and why is it important for water resources?

Collecting and storing rainwater (rooftop or surface) for use or to recharge groundwater; it conserves water and raises falling water tables.

What is a multipurpose river valley project? Give one Indian example.

A dam project serving several purposes at once - irrigation, hydroelectricity, flood control, navigation and fishing; e.g., Bhakra-Nangal on the Sutlej.

Name the three main types of iron ore mined in India in order of quality.

Magnetite (best, ~70% iron), haematite (most used, ~60-70%), and limonite/siderite (inferior).

Why is manganese important and what is its chief use?

It is essential for making strong, hard steel (removes oxygen and sulphur) and for dry batteries; India is a leading producer.

Name the four ranks of coal in increasing order of carbon content and quality.

Peat, lignite (brown coal), bituminous, and anthracite (highest carbon and best quality).

Why is bauxite important and what metal is extracted from it?

Bauxite is the chief ore of aluminium, a light, corrosion-resistant metal used in aircraft, utensils and electrical cables.

What is the difference between metallic and non-metallic minerals? Give one example of each.

Metallic minerals yield metals (e.g., iron ore, bauxite); non-metallic minerals do not contain metals (e.g., limestone, mica).

Why is mica valuable and in which industry is it mainly used?

Mica is an excellent electrical insulator that resists heat; it is used in the electrical and electronics industry; India is a leading producer of high-quality mica.

Distinguish between subsistence and commercial (intensive) agriculture.

Subsistence farming produces food mainly for the farmer's own family with simple tools; commercial farming produces crops for sale in the market on a large scale.

State the geographical conditions required for growing rice.

High temperature (above 25 C), heavy rainfall (above 100 cm) or assured irrigation, level low-lying land, and fertile alluvial/clayey soil with abundant cheap labour.

Why is sugarcane grown more in the peninsula (Maharashtra) at higher yield than in the north?

The peninsula has a longer growing season, no frost, and a maritime climate, giving higher sucrose content and yield than the frost-prone north (though north grows a larger area).

What is a plantation crop? Name two grown in India.

A single cash crop grown on a large estate for sale/export with heavy capital and labour; e.g., tea, coffee, rubber (any two).

Why is the iron and steel industry called a 'basic' or 'key' industry?

Because its product (steel) is the raw material for almost all other industries - machinery, transport, construction and tools - so it underpins industrial growth.

Distinguish between agro-based and mineral-based industries with one example each.

Agro-based industries use farm produce as raw material (e.g., cotton textiles, sugar); mineral-based industries use minerals (e.g., iron and steel, aluminium).

Why is the cotton textile industry concentrated in Maharashtra and Gujarat (Mumbai-Ahmedabad)?

Nearby black-soil cotton, a humid coastal climate, port facilities, capital, power and a large market and skilled labour favour the industry.

Compare the four main means of transport in India by their key advantage.

Roadways give door-to-door reach; railways carry bulky goods/passengers cheaply over land; waterways are cheapest for heavy bulky cargo; airways are fastest over long distances and difficult terrain.

What are biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes? Give one example of each.

Biodegradable waste decomposes naturally by microbes (e.g., food/paper); non-biodegradable waste does not decompose easily (e.g., plastic, glass, metal).

What is the difference between waste segregation and composting in waste management?

Segregation is separating waste at source into wet/dry (biodegradable/non-biodegradable); composting is the controlled biological decay of organic waste into manure.

What are the '4 Rs' of effective waste management?

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle - minimising waste generation and converting waste back into useful products.