In which of the following regions of Madhya Pradesh is black soil NOT found?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — C, Baghelkhand. Black (regur/cotton) soil forms from the weathering of Deccan Trap basalt, and that basaltic cover does not extend into Baghelkhand (the Rewa–Satna–Sidhi–Shahdol region of eastern MP), which instead sits on older Vindhyan and metamorphic rock, producing red and yellow soils. The Malwa Plateau, Narmada Valley and Satpura Range all lie within or along the basaltic Deccan Trap belt and carry black soil.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Wrong as an answer — the Malwa Plateau is Madhya Pradesh's classic black-soil tract, formed on Deccan Trap basalt and historically its main cotton-growing belt.  (b) Wrong as an answer — the fertile Narmada valley is covered in deep black soil derived from the same basaltic rock as the Malwa Plateau.  (d) Wrong as an answer — the Satpura hills are themselves part of the basaltic formation, and black soil occurs along their slopes and adjoining valleys.

Concept: Black soil (regur, or 'black cotton soil') is a residual soil formed in situ by the weathering of basaltic lava rock — mainly the Deccan Trap. Its distribution in Madhya Pradesh tracks the extent of that lava cover: the Malwa Plateau, Narmada Valley and Satpura region all sit on or near the Deccan basalt and carry black soil, while Baghelkhand in the east rests on older Vindhyan and metamorphic rock, producing red-yellow soils instead.

State PCS 2021 Q5 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2021 Q5 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer