Consider 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 Ma

Question

Consider 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?

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — D, Only 1, 3 and 4. Statement 1 is true: the Baghelkhand region (the Rewa–Satna–Sidhi–Shahdol belt) sits on older granite-gneiss and sedimentary rock, which weathers into red and yellow soil. Statement 3 is true: the Malwa Plateau lies on Deccan Trap basalt, which weathers into deep black (regur/cotton) soil. Statement 4 is true: the north-western part of the state, the Gwalior–Chambal belt, has alluvial soil laid down by that river system. Statement 2 is false, so it is excluded from the correct set.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is false — red and yellow soils are comparatively low in fertility (poor in nitrogen, phosphorus and humus), not 'highly fertile'; this option also wrongly drops the true statements 3 and 4.  (b) Statement 2 is false — red and yellow soils are not highly fertile — so this option is wrong on its only claim, and it omits the three true statements.  (c) Statement 4 is correct, but statement 2 is false, and this option wrongly leaves out the true statements 1 and 3.

Concept: Madhya Pradesh's soil cover tracks its underlying geology. Deccan Trap basalt across the Malwa Plateau and adjoining Nimar tract weathers into deep, fertile black (regur/cotton) soil. Older crystalline and sedimentary rock in the Baghelkhand tract weathers into comparatively less fertile red and yellow soil. Rivers of the Gwalior–Chambal belt in the north-west have deposited fertile alluvial soil.

State PCS 2022 Q71 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2022 Q71 — Madhya Pradesh GK PYQ with Answer