This is a classic 'Terms in News' meets 'Static Geography' question. It rewards careful reading of the Physiography chapter in standard texts (Majid Husain/NCERT), where Didwana and Kuchaman are explicitly listed as 'playas' or saline depressions in the Thar region. The other names act as distractors to test your confidence in the primary examples.
How this question is built
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements.
Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Statement 1
Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India names of glaciers?
Origin: Weak / unclear
Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Table 2.3 > p. 24
Strength: 5/5
“Main Glaciers of the Himalayan Region • Name of The Glacier: Siachen; Location: Karakoram; Length (Km): 76; Altitude (M): 5400; Important Features: Largest in Nubra Valley of the Himalaya and second longest glacier outside the Polar region • Name of The Glacier: Biafo; Location: Karakoram (Baltistan region of Ladakh); Length (Km): 60; Altitude (M): 5128; Important Features: Flows into Shigar River • Name of The Glacier: Chogo Lungma; Location: Karakoram; Length (Km): 50; Altitude (M): 5016; Important Features: Located in Gilgit Baltistan • Name of The Glacier: Gangotri; Location: Uttarakhand; Length (Km): 28; Altitude (M): 3415; Important Features: Originates below the Chaukhamba Peak and it is also known as 'Gomukh' • Name of The Glacier: Rimo; Location: Siachen Area of Ladakh; Length (Km): 40; Altitude (M): 7385; Important Features: Drains in the Shyok River • Name of The Glacier: Hispar; Location: Gilgit-Baltistan; Length (Km): 63; Altitude (M): 5128; Important Features: World's longest glacial system • Name of The Glacier: Zemu; Location: Sikkim/Nepal; Length (Km): 26; Altitude (M): 300; Important Features: Largest glacier in Eastern Himalaya and it feeds River Teesta • Name of The Glacier: Drang Drung; Location: Himalayan Range; Length (Km): 23; Altitude (M): 4780; Important Features: It lies in the Zanskar range in Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir • Name of The Glacier: Shafat; Location: Eastern Himalayan Range; Length (Km): 14; Altitude (M): 4400; Important Features: Gives rise to the peaks of Nun and Kun The melted water flows into Suru River • Name of The Glacier: Sonapani; Location: Chandra Valley of Lahaul and Spiti region; Length (Km): 15; Altitude (M): 4000; Important Features: Longest glacier of the Pir Panjal range near the Rohtang Pass”
Why relevant
Gives a concrete pattern/list of 'main glaciers of the Himalayan region' and ties each glacier name to specific mountain ranges and states (e.g., Uttarakhand, Karakoram, Sikkim/Nepal).
How to extend
A student could check whether the four names occur in such Himalayan/Trans‑Himalayan lists or are instead located in non‑mountainous parts of India using a map or gazetteer.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Table 2.3 > p. 25
Strength: 5/5
“• Name of The Glacier: Milam; Location: Uttarakhand; Length (Km): 15; Altitude (M): 2290; Important Features: Major source of River Gori Ganga Biggest glacier in Kumaon Himalaya • Name of The Glacier: Rupal; Location: Kashmir; Length (Km): 15; Altitude (M): 6326; Important Features: Located in Greater Himalaya it flows northeastward • Name of The Glacier: Gangri; Location: Nun Kun Mountains; Himalayan Range; Length (Km): 13; Altitude (M): 7135; Important Features: Largest glacier in the Nun Kun peak • Name of The Glacier: Bara Shigri; Location: Chandra Valley of Lahaul in Himachal Pradesh; Length (Km): 11; Altitude (M): ~4570; Important Features: Second longest glacier in Himalaya Source of water for River Chenab It has deposits of antimony • Name of The Glacier: Diamir (Nanga Parbat); Location: Kashmir (Pakistan Occupied); Length (Km): 11; Altitude (M): 4203; Important Features: Diamir mountains are known as 'King of Mountains' and are the World's tallest mountains • Name of The Glacier: Pindari; Location: Kumaon Region of Uttarakhand; Length (Km): 3; Altitude (M): 3353; Important Features: Gives rise to River Pindari • Name of The Glacier: Chong Kumdan; Location: Karakoram; Length (Km): 21; Altitude (M): 7071; Important Features: Ladakh; they feed and are a threat to Shyok River and might block it • Name of The Glacier: Hispar; Location: Karakoram; Length (Km): 60; Altitude (M): 5128; Important Features: Feeds Shigar River”
Why relevant
Another list of named glaciers with explicit locations (Uttarakhand, Kashmir, Karakoram, Himachal) showing glacier names are normally linked to high‑altitude Himalayan areas.
How to extend
Compare the geographic location of Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol, Khatu to these high‑altitude regions to judge if they fit the pattern of glacier names.
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Landforms and their Evolution > GLACIERS > p. 54
Strength: 4/5
“Higher reaches of Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, are places to see some of them. Do you know where one can see river Bhagirathi is basically fed by meltwaters from under the snout (Gaumukh) of the Gangotri glacier. In fact, Alkapuri glacier feeds waters to Alakananda river. Rivers Alkananda and Bhagirathi join to make river Ganga near Deoprayag. Erosion by glaciers is tremendous because of friction caused by sheer weight of the ice. The material plucked from the land by glaciers (usually large-sized angular blocks and fragments) get dragged along the floors or sides of the valleys and cause great damage through abrasion and plucking.”
Why relevant
Explains that glaciers occur in 'higher reaches' of Uttarakhand, Himachal and Jammu & Kashmir and names specific glacier snouts (Gangotri, Alkapuri) tied to mountain headwaters.
How to extend
Use this rule (glaciers occur in Himalayan high reaches) to test whether the four names are places in such high‑elevation Himalayan zones.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Altitude of Snowline in the Himalaya > p. 23
Strength: 4/5
“• S. No: 1.; Himalayan Region: North Eastern Himalaya (Arunachal Pradesh); Altitude of Snowline: 4400 m
• S. No: 2.; Himalayan Region: Kashmir Himalaya; Altitude of Snowline: 5200 m to 5800 m
• S. No: 3.; Himalayan Region: Kumaun Himalaya; Altitude of Snowline: 5100 m to 5500 m
• S. No: 4.; Himalayan Region: Karakoram; Altitude of Snowline: 5500 m and above
The main glaciers in the northern mountains are found in the Greater Himalaya and the Trans-Himalayan mountains (Karakoram, Ladakh and Zaskar). The Lesser Himalaya have small glaciers, though traces of large glaciers are found in the Pir-Panjal and”
Why relevant
Gives the pattern that main glaciers are found in the Greater Himalaya and Trans‑Himalayan mountains and provides regional snowline altitudes.
How to extend
A student could verify whether the four names are situated above typical snowline elevations or within the Greater/Trans‑Himalayan regions on a topographic map.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Table 2.3 > p. 26
Strength: 3/5
“The glaciers of Karakoram are the remnants of the Pleistocene Age. The diurnal rate of movement of these glaciers is between 8 to 15 cm at the side and 20 to 30 cm in the middle. The glaciers of the Pir-Panjal are less numerous and smaller in size as compared to those of the Karakoram and the Greater Himalayan ranges. The glaciers of the Nanga Parbat Massif are small in size and are moving fast due to a steep slope. The glaciers are not only the source of Himalayan rivers, but also maintain a regular supply of water in these”
Why relevant
Describes where glaciers in India are concentrated (Karakoram, Greater Himalaya, Pir‑Panjal) and contrasts glacier sizes and distributions by range.
How to extend
Use this distributional rule to see if the four names belong to the named glacier‑bearing ranges or to other parts of India unlikely to host glaciers.
Statement 2
Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India names of mangrove areas?
Origin: Weak / unclear
Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > MAngrove (forests). > p. 49
Strength: 5/5
“Mangroves are the distinctive ecosystems found along the shallow coasts 30o N or S and the equator. Mangroves are found in tidal fats, estuaries and muddy coasts in tropical and subtropical areas. Communities of mangroves, termed mangals, play an important role on many tropical coasts. Tey are highly productive ecosystems which are capable of exporting energy and materials to adjacent communities. Tey support a diverse heterotrophic food chain, act as nurseries in the life cycle of some organisms, and ofer some protection against coastal erosion and storm surge attack. At present, like many types of wetland, they are under severe anthropogenic pressures.”
Why relevant
Defines where mangroves occur: along shallow coasts, tidal flats, estuaries in tropical/subtropical areas.
How to extend
Compare locations of the four names on a map — if they are inland/desert rather than tidal coasts/estuaries, they are unlikely to be mangrove areas.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Table 5.5 > p. 19
Strength: 4/5
“5.3). The average annual rainfall in this zone is less than 50 cm, the diurnal and annual range of temperature are high. Acacia, cacti, jhar and khejra, kanju, and wild palms are the main trees of the desert.• 11. Tidal (Mangrove): These forests are found along the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal in the states of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, and along the coastal areas of Kutch, Kathiwar, and Gulf of Khambat. Their main concentration is found in areas where tides are frequent. The mangrove which attains a height up to 30 m is the most important tree.”
Why relevant
Specifies tidal (mangrove) forests occur along Bay of Bengal states and in Kutch/Kathiawar — i.e., specific coastal regions and states.
How to extend
Check whether the four names lie in those listed coastal states or in other (inland) states to assess plausibility.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Mangroves in India-2019 > p. 52
Strength: 4/5
“• S.No.: 1.; Mangrove: Kendrapara; State/UT: Odisha; Total Area (in km2): 201.49 • S.No.: 2.; Mangrove: Uttar Kannada; State/UT: Karnataka; Total Area (in km2): 8.50 • S.No.: 3.; Mangrove: Goa; State/UT: Goa; Total Area (in km2): 26 • S.No.: 4.; Mangrove: Godavari Delta; State/UT: Andhra Pradesh; Total Area (in km2): 188.06 • S.No.: 5.; Mangrove: Gulf of Kutch; State/UT: Gujarat; Total Area (in km2): 794.77 • S.No.: 6.; Mangrove: Krishna Delta; State/UT: Andhra Pradesh; Total Area (in km2): 137.08 • S.No.: 7.; Mangrove: Guntur; State/UT: Andhra Pradesh; Total Area (in km2): 68 • S.No.: 8.; Mangrove: Bhadrak; State/UT: Odisha; Total Area (in km2): 34.87 • S.No.: 9.; Mangrove: North Andaman; State/UT: Andman & Nicobar Islands; Total Area (in km2): 424.52 • S.No.: 10.; Mangrove: Thiruvarur*; State/UT: Tamil Nadu; Total Area (in km2): 12.85 • S.No.: 11.; Mangrove: Thanjavur; State/UT: Tamil Nadu; Total Area (in km2): 12.25 • S.No.: 12.; Mangrove: Udupi, N.”
Why relevant
Provides an explicit list/table of named major mangrove areas and their states — none of these four names appear in the examples shown.
How to extend
Use the principle that named major mangrove areas are listed by region/state; absence from such lists suggests these names are not (major) mangrove areas.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > 4,8,4. Mangrove profile in India > p. 49
Strength: 4/5
“• The mangroves of Sundarbans are the largest single block of tidal holophytic mangroves in the world. The major species of this dense mangrove forest include Heritiera fimbriata, Rhizophora spp., Bruguiera spp., Ceriops decandra, Sonneratia spp., and Avicennia spp. Nypa fruticans are found along the creeks. This mangrove forest is famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger and crocodiles. Mangrove areas are being cleared for agricultural use. • On the west coast of India, mangroves, mostly scrubby and degraded occur along the intertidal region of estuaries and creeks in Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. • The mangrove vegetation in the coastal zone of Kerala is very sparse and thin. • In Gujarat (north-west coast), mangroves Avicennia marine, Avicennia officinalis and Rhizophora mucronata are found mainly in Gulf of Kachchh and the Kori creek.”
Why relevant
Emphasises mangroves occur on coasts (west coast, east coast, Gujarat, Andaman) and notes inland or non-coastal regions have sparse or no mangroves.
How to extend
Determine whether the four names are located in coastal districts versus inland districts to evaluate whether they fit typical mangrove locations.
INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Littoral and Swamp Forests > p. 46
Strength: 3/5
“They consist of a number of salt-tolerant species of plants. Crisscrossed by creeks of stagnant water and tidal flows, these forests give shelter to a wide variety of birds.
In India, the mangrove forests spread over 6,740 sq. km which is 7 per cent of the world's mangrove forests. They are highly developed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Sunderbans of West Bengal. Other areas of significance are the Mahanadi, the Godavari and the Krishna deltas. These forests too, are being encroached upon, and hence, need conservation.”
Why relevant
Lists major mangrove concentrations (Andaman & Nicobar, Sunderbans, Mahanadi/Godavari/Krishna deltas) — implying mangroves concentrate in specific coastal/deltaic zones.
How to extend
Verify if the four names are in deltaic/coastal zones named here; if not, they are less likely to be mangrove areas.
Statement 3
Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India designated Ramsar sites?
Origin: Weak / unclear
Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > The Thar Desert > p. 46
Strength: 4/5
“Some of the older sand dunes are of 150 m height. The region has playas (saline lake beds), locally known as dhands, scattered throughout the region. Examples: The Sambhar, Kuchaman, Didwana, Pachpadra, Phalodi (Rajasthan), Kharagoda (Gujarat), Lunkaransar are major sources of the common salt.”
Why relevant
Identifies Didwana and Kuchaman as playas (saline lake beds) in Rajasthan — the type of wetland that can be of international interest.
How to extend
A student could check lists of Ramsar sites for saline lakes in Rajasthan (or check if these specific playas were recently notified) to see if such playa-type sites are designated.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > 1. The Plains of Rajasthan > p. 38
Strength: 4/5
“They lie to the west of the Aravallis and include the Marusthali and the Bagar of Rajasthan. The Rajasthan plains cover a total area of about 175,000 sq km. This plain has a general slope from north-east to south-west. In the lower reaches of the Luni river (Gujarat), this plain is only 20 m above sea level. A substantial part of this plain has been formed by the recession of the sea as is evidenced by the presence of salt water lakes (Sambhar, Degana, Didwana Kuchaman, Lunkaransar-Tal, and Pachpadra). The Sambhar Lake occupying an area of about 300 sq km during the rainy season lies about 65 km to the north-west of Jaipur city.”
Why relevant
Notes Didwana and Kuchaman among named salt water lakes/places in the Rajasthan plains (alongside Sambhar and others), indicating these are notable wetlands in that region.
How to extend
Using a map or Ramsar site list for India, a student could look up Ramsar designations in Rajasthan to see whether these named lakes appear.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Sambhar Lake > p. 31
Strength: 5/5
“Situated about 70 km to the west of Jaipur city, it is the largest salt lake of India. On the eastern end, the lake is divided by a 5 km long dam made of stones. To the east of the dam are salt evaporation ponds where salt is being produced for more than a thousand years. The water depth varies from a few cm during the dry season to about 3 m after the monsoon rains. Sambhar has been designated a Ramsar site (recognised wetland) of international importance. Thousands of Siberian birds reach the lake during the winter season.”
Why relevant
Gives a concrete example that a major Rajasthan salt lake (Sambhar) has been designated a Ramsar site, showing that Rajasthan saline lakes are candidates for Ramsar listing.
How to extend
A student can use this pattern (Rajasthan salt lakes can be Ramsar sites) to prioritize checking Didwana/Kuchaman/Sargol/Khatu in official Ramsar or government lists.
Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > India and wetland convention > p. 398
Strength: 3/5
“• r India became a contracting party to the Ramsar Convention in 1982 and has been implementing conservation programs for wetlands, mangroves and coral reefs, • e India presently has 60 sites designated as Wetlands of International Importance. • o There is close\coordination between implementing units of Ramsar with that of CBD at the national level. India took a lead role in the formulation of Ramsar guidelines on integration of wetlands into river basin management”
Why relevant
States India is a contracting party with many (presently 60) Ramsar sites — implying numerous sites overall, so new/lesser-known wetlands could be among them.
How to extend
A student should consult the current official Ramsar list for India (or a government inventory) to verify whether these specific localities are included.
Statement 4
Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India saline lakes?
Origin: Weak / unclear
Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > The Thar Desert > p. 46
Strength: 5/5
“Some of the older sand dunes are of 150 m height. The region has playas (saline lake beds), locally known as dhands, scattered throughout the region. Examples: The Sambhar, Kuchaman, Didwana, Pachpadra, Phalodi (Rajasthan), Kharagoda (Gujarat), Lunkaransar are major sources of the common salt.”
Why relevant
Explicitly lists 'playas (saline lake beds)' in the region and gives examples including Kuchaman and Didwana as such dhands (saline lake beds).
How to extend
Check a map/gazetteer to confirm Kuchaman and Didwana locations lie in the arid Thar/RAJASTHAN playa belt; if so, this supports them being saline lakes.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 3: The Drainage System of India > Sambhar Lake > p. 31
Strength: 4/5
“Situated about 70 km to the west of Jaipur city, it is the largest salt lake of India. On the eastern end, the lake is divided by a 5 km long dam made of stones. To the east of the dam are salt evaporation ponds where salt is being produced for more than a thousand years. The water depth varies from a few cm during the dry season to about 3 m after the monsoon rains. Sambhar has been designated a Ramsar site (recognised wetland) of international importance. Thousands of Siberian birds reach the lake during the winter season.”
Why relevant
Describes Sambhar as the largest salt lake in Rajasthan and notes local salt-production from evaporation ponds, illustrating the common presence of saline lakes in that region.
How to extend
Use regional climate and proximity to Sambhar to infer that nearby basins or dhands (e.g., Sargol or Khatu if nearby) are likely saline and used for salt production.
CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 3: Drainage > LAKES > p. 22
Strength: 4/5
“Lakes in the region of inland drainage are sometimes seasonal; for example, the Sambhar lake in Rajasthan, which is a salt water lake. Its water is used for producing salt. Most of the freshwater lakes are in the Himalayan region. They are of glacial origin. In other words, they formed when glaciers dug out a basin, which was later filled with snowmelt. The Wular lake in Jammu and Kashmir, in contrast, is the result of tectonic activity. It is the largest freshwater lake in India. The Dal lake, Bhimtal, Nainital, Loktak and Barapani are some other important freshwater lakes. 22 CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I”
Why relevant
Gives a general example that inland drainage region lakes in Rajasthan can be seasonal salt lakes (citing Sambhar) and that such lakes are used for producing salt.
How to extend
Locate Sargol and Khatu on a map to see if they fall in the inland drainage/arid Rajasthan zone; if so, they may also be seasonal saline lakes.
Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 3: MAJOR BIOMES > Lake ecosystem > p. 26
Strength: 3/5
“Tere are many artifcial or man made lakes in India. Out of these the 'Sudarshan Lake' of Girnar (Gujarat) made in 300 B.C. is perhaps the oldest artifcial lake of the country. Te lakes may be (i) freshwater lake (Dal, Wular etc.), and (ii) brackish or saline lake (Chilka, Asthamudi, Vembanad, etc.). On the basis of nutrient contents, the lakes may be categorized as: (i) oligotrophic (very low nutrients), (ii) eutrophic (highly nutrient rich) like Dal Lake. Most of the Indian lakes are eutrophic. Lakes irrespective of their size, are generally more than three meters in depth. Te ecology of lakes is diferent from that of rivers, estuaries, wetlands, seas and oceans.”
Why relevant
Defines lake categories including 'brackish or saline lakes' and distinguishes them from freshwater lakes, providing a classificatory rule for identifying lake type.
How to extend
Combine this definition with local salinity indicators (salt production, evaporation ponds, arid setting) to classify Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu as saline or not.
Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 6: Soils > iv) Saline and Alkaline Soils > p. 19
Strength: 3/5
“(iv) Saline and Alkaline Soils
Soil salinity and alkalinity are found in the relatively less rainfall recording areas where the rate of evaporation is generally higher than the rate of precipitation. They also develop in the Khadar lands and the canal irrigated areas. Under such conditions, the ground water level rises and saline and alkaline efflorescence consisting of salts of sodium, calcium, and manganese appear on the surface as a layer of white salt through capillary action. According to one estimate, about 80 lakh hectares (2.4% of the country's reporting area) has been adversely affected by saline and alkaline formations.”
Why relevant
Describes the environmental conditions (low rainfall, high evaporation) under which salinity/alkalinity develop in soils and surface depressions.
How to extend
Verify that the places in question lie in low-rainfall/high-evaporation areas (e.g., Rajasthan desert); if yes, such conditions favour formation of saline lakes/dhands.
Pattern takeaway:
UPSC uses the 'Cluster of Names' format to intimidate. Usually, 1 or 2 names are standard textbook examples (Didwana, Kuchaman), while the others (Sargol, Khatu) are obscure or secondary. You only need to identify the 'Anchor Names' to crack the code. Do not panic if you don't know 100% of the list.
How you should have studied
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Directly solvable from Majid Husain (Ch 2: Physiography) or NCERT Class XI (Physiography), which list Didwana and Kuchaman as examples of salt lakes.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Physiography of India > The Great Indian Desert > Inland Drainage Systems & Saline Lakes (Playas/Dhands).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the full list of Rajasthan's saline depressions: Sambhar, Pachpadra, Lunkaransar, Phalodi, Degana, Tal Chhapar, and Pokhran. Understand the difference between 'Dhand' (alkaline lakes) and 'Rann' (marshy salt flats).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: When reading regional geography, create a 'Local Terminology' list. UPSC loves asking about specific regional landforms (e.g., Karewas in Kashmir, Kayals in Kerala, Dhands in Rajasthan, Chos in Punjab). If you see a list of local names, map them immediately.
Concept hooks from this question
👉 Major Himalayan glaciers and their locations
💡 The insight
Knowing principal glacier names and their regional locations is essential to judge whether a given place-name is a glacier.
High-yield for physical geography questions: exam items often ask to match glacier names with ranges or states. Mastering this helps eliminate distractors and connect glacier names to Himalayan subregions (Karakoram, Kumaon, Sikkim, etc.).
📚 Reading List :
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Table 2.3 > p. 25
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Table 2.3 > p. 24
🔗 Anchor: "Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India names of glaciers?"
👉 Glaciers as perennial sources of rivers
💡 The insight
Glaciers commonly serve as named sources or snouts of major Himalayan rivers, linking glacier identity to river origin.
Important for questions on river origins and drainage systems; recognizing glacier–river links (e.g., Gangotri→Bhagirathi→Ganga) aids integrated answers across physical geography and water resources topics.
📚 Reading List :
- FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Landforms and their Evolution > GLACIERS > p. 54
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Table 2.3 > p. 25
🔗 Anchor: "Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India names of glaciers?"
👉 Glacier retreat, measurement and monitoring
💡 The insight
Rates of retreat and satellite assessments are key attributes used to characterise contemporary glaciers and their status.
Relevant for environment and disaster-related questions: understanding retreat rates, ISRO/satellite studies, and regional variability helps answer questions on climate change impacts and policy implications.
📚 Reading List :
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 7: Climate Change > evIdence of gloBal WarmIng. > p. 15
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Table 2.3 > p. 27
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > Altitude of Snowline in the Himalaya > p. 23
🔗 Anchor: "Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India names of glaciers?"
👉 Major mangrove regions of India
💡 The insight
Knowledge of well-known mangrove areas (Sundarbans, Bhitarkanika, Chilka, Pichavaram, Gulf of Kutch, etc.) is central to judging whether a given place is a mangrove area.
High-yield for physical geography and environment sections: questions often ask to identify or match major mangrove sites by state or region. Connects to coastal geography, biodiversity conservation, and regional mapping tasks in UPSC prelims and mains.
📚 Reading List :
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Mangroves in India-2019 > p. 52
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 29: Environment Issues and Health Effects > g. Mangrove in lndia State/Union > p. 436
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Littoral and Swamp Forests > p. 46
🔗 Anchor: "Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India names of mangrove areas?"
👉 Geographic distribution: coasts, estuaries and deltas
💡 The insight
Mangroves are concentrated along tidal flats, estuaries and major river deltas (e.g., Godavari, Krishna, Mahanadi) and specific coastal stretches.
Useful for elimination-based answers: knowing mangroves occur in deltas/estuaries helps rule out inland or arid locations. Links to topics on river systems, coastal ecosystem vulnerability, and conservation policy questions.
📚 Reading List :
- INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation > Littoral and Swamp Forests > p. 46
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Mangroves in India-2019 > p. 52
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > 4,8,4. Mangrove profile in India > p. 49
🔗 Anchor: "Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India names of mangrove areas?"
👉 Mangrove species and ecological roles
💡 The insight
Recognition of characteristic mangrove species (Avicennia, Rhizophora, Bruguiera, Sonneratia, Nypa) and their roles (nurseries, storm protection) helps identify authentic mangrove sites versus non-mangrove localities.
Directly relevant for biodiversity and environment questions in UPSC: helps answer species-based, ecological-function, and conservation-management questions; links to biosphere reserves and protected areas discussions.
📚 Reading List :
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Major Mangroves of India > p. 52
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > 4,8,4. Mangrove profile in India > p. 49
- Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > MAngrove (forests). > p. 49
🔗 Anchor: "Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India names of mangrove areas?"
👉 Ramsar Convention & the Ramsar List
💡 The insight
The Ramsar List is the formal national/international record that determines whether a wetland is designated as of international importance.
High-yield: UPSC often asks about international environmental conventions and their national implications; knowing the Ramsar List helps link specific wetlands to legal obligations, conservation policy and biodiversity management. Mastering this concept enables accurate answers about which sites carry international recognition versus those of only local/regional importance.
📚 Reading List :
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > India and wetland convention > p. 398
- Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 28: International Organisation and Conventions > The "Ramsar List" > p. 397
🔗 Anchor: "Are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu in India designated Ramsar sites?"
The term 'Rohi' (fertile tracts in Rajasthan) or 'Bagar' (semi-arid transitional plain) often appears in the same paragraphs as these lakes. A future question could ask: 'What are Rohi, Thali, and Bagar in the context of Indian geography?'
Apply the 'Anchor Theory'. If you know for a fact that Didwana is a salt producing town (common GK), then the entire set must be [D]. Glaciers are in the Himalayas (Didwana is not), Mangroves are coastal (Rajasthan is landlocked). The option must fit the geography of the known anchor.
Connect this to Mains GS3 (Environment/Disaster Management): The 'Sambhar Lake Avian Botulism' crisis. Saline lakes are not just geography trivia; they are fragile wetlands facing ecological collapse due to illegal salt mining and encroachment.