Consider the following statements: 1. Cotton textile mills have been established in the Malwa Plateau of Madhya Pradesh. 2. The Malwa Plateau is covered with black soil. Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
- (a)Only 1 is correct
- (b)Only 2 is correct
- (c)Both 1 and 2 are not correct
- (d)Both 1 and 2 are correct
Correct — D, both statements are correct. The Malwa Plateau — the basalt (Deccan Trap) upland of western Madhya Pradesh around Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Mandsaur and Ratlam — is covered with black (regur/cotton) soil, formed by the weathering of volcanic basalt rock. That black soil's fine texture and moisture retention historically made the region a strong cotton-growing belt, and cotton textile mills were established there (notably in Indore, from the early 20th century) to process the local crop.
- (a)Only 1 is correct — Understates the facts — the Malwa Plateau's black soil cover (statement 2) is also correct, not just the textile-mills claim.
- (b)Only 2 is correct — Understates the facts — cotton textile mills genuinely were established in the Malwa region (statement 1 is also correct), not just the soil claim.
- (c)Both 1 and 2 are not correct — Wrong on both counts — the Malwa Plateau does carry black soil, and cotton mills were indeed set up there; both statements are factually established.
The Malwa Plateau sits on Deccan Trap basalt; weathering of this volcanic rock produces black soil (regur/cotton soil) — rich in clay and moisture-retentive, ideal for cotton cultivation. That agricultural base historically supported a cotton-textile industry in the region, with mills established in cities like Indore from the early 1900s.
This is a classic 'link the soil to the industry it enables' statement pair. Students often doubt statement 2 because black soil is more readily associated with Maharashtra's Deccan Plateau, forgetting that the same Deccan Trap basalt extends into western Madhya Pradesh as the Malwa Plateau.
- Malwa Plateau = basalt (Deccan Trap) upland of western MP — Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Mandsaur, Ratlam.
- Black soil (regur/cotton soil) forms from basalt weathering; it is moisture-retentive and suited to cotton.
- Cotton textile mills were established in the Malwa region, notably at Indore, from the early 20th century.
- Indore, Ujjain, Dewas, Ratlam and Mandsaur remain among MP's principal cotton-textile centres.
- Assuming black soil is exclusive to Maharashtra's Deccan Plateau and does not extend into MP's Malwa Plateau
- Confusing 'cotton-growing region' with 'cotton-milling region' — the Malwa Plateau has both
MPPSC often pairs a Madhya Pradesh region's soil type with the industry it supports as a two-statement 'both/only one/neither correct' MCQ.
MPPSC_2022_PRE_PaperI_Q712022Consider the following statements regarding the soils of Madhya Pradesh: 1. Red and yellow soils are found in Baghelkhand. 2. Red and yellow soils are highly fertile. 3. Deep black soil is found in Malwa Plateau. 4. Alluvial soil is found in the north-western part of the State. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
- (a) Only 1 and 2
- (b) Only 2
- (c) Only 2 and 4
- (d) Only 1, 3 and 4
Answer(d) Only 1, 3 and 4
Same concept — this 2022 MPPSC question independently confirms statement 3, 'black soil is found in the Malwa Plateau,' the same fact tested here.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Black soil (regur) is formed primarily by the weathering of which rock?
- (a)Granite
- (b)Basalt
- (c)Sandstone
- (d)Limestone
Answer(b) Basalt — weathering of Deccan Trap basalt produces black (regur) soil.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which of the following Madhya Pradesh cities is NOT among the principal centres of the cotton textile industry?
- (a)Indore
- (b)Ujjain
- (c)Mandsaur
- (d)Jabalpur
Answer(d) Jabalpur — not among Malwa's cotton-textile centres (Indore, Ujjain, Mandsaur are).