SSC CGL 2025 Tier-I · 20 September 2025, Shift 1 · General Awareness · Question 11 of 100

We transcribed this text from the pictures on a candidate's response sheet for this shift; the answer is the key SSC colour-marked on that sheet. Solution last reviewed 13 September 2026.

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Read the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option: Assertion (A): The Northern Plains are one of the most agriculturally productive regions in India. Reason (R): These plains are composed of rich alluvial soil, have a favourable climate, and receive adequate water supply from major rivers.

(a)Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b)Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c)A is true, but R is false.
(d)A is false, but R is true.

Answer

Why

Correct — A. Both statements are true, and R is the reason for A.

NCERT's Class 9 Contemporary India explains that the Northern Plain's rich soil cover, adequate water supply and favourable climate make it agriculturally productive.

R lists the same three causes — alluvial soil, climate, river water — so R explains A.

Why the others are wrong

(b)
Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. — R is not a side fact. Soil, climate and water are the causes of the productivity A describes, so R does explain A.
(c)
A is true, but R is false. — R is true. NCERT describes the plain as formed of alluvial soil by the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems, with adequate water and a favourable climate.
(d)
A is false, but R is true. — A is true. NCERT calls the Northern Plain an agriculturally productive part of India, and a densely populated one.

Concept

The Northern Plain was formed by the interplay of three river systems, the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra, and their tributaries, which laid down alluvium.

NCERT gives it an area of about 7 lakh sq km, about 2,400 km long and 240 to 320 km broad, and calls it densely populated.

Its belts are the pebbly bhabar at the foot of the Shiwaliks, the marshy terai south of it, and the alluvial plain of older bhangar and newer khadar deposits.

In an Assertion–Reason item, test each statement alone first, then ask whether R answers why A? Here R lists the textbook's own causes, so the link holds.

Key facts

The Northern Plain is formed by the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems and their tributaries.
NCERT gives its area as about 7 lakh sq km, about 2,400 km long and 240–320 km broad.
Bhangar is older alluvium, khadar newer floodplain alluvium.
Bhabar is the pebble belt along the foot of the Shiwaliks, with the marshy terai to its south.

Study next

Divisions of the Northern Plain: Punjab, Ganga and Brahmaputra plainsDoabs of the Punjab plainsAlluvial soils and the crops they support

Common traps

Marking R as true but not the explanation when R's facts are the very causes of A.
Confusing bhangar (older alluvium) with khadar (newer).

Assertion–Reason framing also appears at 20 Sep 2025, 09:00, GA Q.9, where R fails on the cause of the Susta dispute. The Gangetic plain appears at 25 Sep 2024, 12:30, GA Q.2, on where the ITCZ lies in July.

Related PYQs

No directly related past PYQ was found.

Topic: Geography — all 179 SSC CGL questions on it, every solved shift.