🔆 Tea

📍 Temperature
✅ 25-35°C

📍 Rainfall
✅ >150 cm

📍 Soil Conditions
✅ Well-drained, deep friable loams or forest soils, rich in organic water

📍 Geographical Distribution
✅ Undulating topography of hilly areas and well-drained soils in humid and sub-humid tropics and sub-tropics
- Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Bihar districts)
- Lower slopes of Nilgiri and Cardamom hills in Tamil Nadu

📍 Key Features
✅ Plantation crop
✅ Black tea leaves – fermented
✅ Green tea leaves – unfermented
✅ Rich content of caffeine and tannin
✅ Indigenous crop of hills in Northern China
✅ India – started in the 1840s in Brahmaputra Valley
✅ 28% of the world’s production

Consider the following statements:

1. Narmada and Tapti rivers do not form any deltas

2. Narmada and Tapti rivers form estuaries

Consider the following rivers :

A. Amravati

B. Bhavani

C. Hemavati

D. Kabini


Consider the following statements regarding the above given rivers :

1. All are located at Western Part of India

2. All are tributaries of River Cauvery

3. All are Perennial Rivers

🔆 Waterfalls in India

📍 Chhattisgarh

1. Amritdhara Falls
   ✅ Height: 90 m
   ✅ River: Hasdeo (Tributary of Mahanadi)

2. Teerathgarh Falls
   ✅ Height: 91 m
   ✅ River: Munga (Tributary of Kanger which joins Mahanadi)

3. Chitrakote Waterfalls
   ✅ Height: 29 m
   ✅ River: Indravati (Tributary of Godavari)

📍 Madhya Pradesh

1. Dhuandhar Waterfall
   ✅ Height: 30 m
   ✅ River: Narmada (Independent)

2. Chachai
   ✅ Height: 130 m
   ✅ River: Bihad (Tributary of Tons, a tributary of Ganga)

3. Kapildhara Falls
   ✅ Height: 30 m
   ✅ River: Narmada (Independent)

4. Rajat Prapat (Silver Falls)
   ✅ Height: 107 m
   ✅ River: Not associated with a specific river

5. Sonemuda Falls
   ✅ Height: 15 m
   ✅ River: Son (Tributary of Ganga)

📍 Jharkhand

1. Panchghagh Falls
   ✅ Height: 45 m
   ✅ River: Banai (Tributary of Subarnarekha)

2. Lodh Falls
   ✅ Height: 143 m
   ✅ River: Budha (Tributary of North Koel)

3. Hundru Falls
   ✅ Height: 99 m
   ✅ River: Subarnarekha (Independent)

📍 Odisha

1. Barehipani
   ✅ Height: 399 m
   ✅ River: Budhabalanga (Tributary of Subarnarekha)

2. Khandadhar Falls
   ✅ Height: 244 m
   ✅ River: Korapani Nala (Tributary of Brahmani)

3. Koilighugar Falls
   ✅ Height: 61 m
   ✅ River: Ahiraj (Tributary of Mahanadi)

📍 Karnataka

1. Kunchikal Falls
   ✅ Height: 455 m
   ✅ River: Varahi (Tributary of Krishna)


2. Barkana Falls
   ✅ Height: 259 m
   ✅ River: Sita (Tributary of Krishna)

3. Jog Falls
   ✅ Height: 253 m
   ✅ River: Sharavati

4. Magod Falls
   ✅ Height: 198 m
   ✅ River: Bedti

5. Shimsha Falls
   ✅ Height: 46 m
   ✅ River: Shimsha (Tributary of Cauvery)

6. Shivanasamudra Falls
   ✅ Height: 98 m
   ✅ River: Cauvery

7. Hebbe Falls
   ✅ Height: 168 m
   ✅ River: Thunga (Tributary of Krishna)

📍 Maharashtra

1. Thoseghar (Series of Waterfalls)
   ✅ Height: 15 to 20 m, one is 200m
   ✅ River: Cataracts (unnamed river)

2. Gangapur Falls
   ✅ Height: 50 m
   ✅ River: Godavari (Independent)

3. Someshwar Falls
   ✅ Height: 10 m
   ✅ River: Godavari (Independent)

📍 Kerala

1. Athirappilly Waterfall
   ✅ Height: 25 m
   ✅ River: Chalakuddy (Tributary of Periyar)

2. Soochipara Falls
   ✅ Height: 200 m
   ✅ River: Chaliyar (Independent)

3. Meenvumty Falls
   ✅ Height: 300 m
   ✅ River: Kallar (Tributary of Neyyar)

📍 Other States

1. Nohsngithiang Waterfall
   ✅ Height: 315 m
   ✅ River: Cherrapunji (Rain-fed), Meghalaya

2. Vantawng Falls
   ✅ Height: 229 m
   ✅ River: Lau (Tributary of Tlawng which joins Barak river), Mizoram

3. Kempty Falls
   ✅ Height: 40 m
   ✅ River: Yamuna, Uttarakhand

4. Dudhsagar Falls
   ✅ Height: 320 m
   ✅ River: Mandovi, Goa

5. Thalaiyar Falls (Rat Tail Falls)
   ✅ Height: 297 m
   ✅ River: Manjalar (Tributary of Vaigai)

🔆 Kailash Mansarovar Yatra Resumption
📍 Resumption of Yatra
• Kailash Mansarovar Yatra resumes in 2025 after a four-year suspension due to Covid-19 and border tensions.
• This signals improving India-China relations, especially after a disengagement pact in October 2024.

📍 Geopolitical Context
• The yatra was paused after the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, a pivotal moment in India-China relations.
• Diplomatic engagements, such as meetings between Ajit Doval and Wang Yi, and Vikram Misri’s visit to Beijing in January 2025, paved the way for the resumption.

📍 Religious and Cultural Significance
• Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar are sacred to Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Tibetan Bon followers.
• This yatra holds cultural and religious significance, also acting as a tool for Indian soft power.

📍 Official Routes
• Lipulekh Pass Route (Uttarakhand):
▪ Altitude: 5,115 meters, 200 km trek.
▪ Direct route, operational since 1981.
• Nathu La Pass Route (Sikkim):
▪ Altitude: 4,310 meters, 1,500 km long, 35–40 km trek.
▪ Operational since 2015.

📍 Other Route via Nepal
• Informal route via Nepal exists, reopened in 2023.
• High costs and visa issues limit its use.

🔆 Great Pacific Garbage Patch

📍 Key Details:
✅ Location:
• Eastern Pacific Garbage Patch: Between Hawaii and California.
• Western Pacific Garbage Patch: Lies east of Japan.

✅ Size & Study:
• Eastern Patch: Larger and more studied, covering 1.6 million km².
• Western Patch: Smaller and more dispersed.

🔆 Indian Passes & Plateaus

📍 Aghil Pass
✅ Location: Between Ladakh (J&K) and Sinkiang (China)
✅ Significance: Important for military movement, part of the Karakoram Range.

📍 Banihal Pass (Jawahar Tunnel)
✅ Location: Connects Banihal town (Doda District) and Qazigund (Anantnag, Kashmir Division)
✅ Significance: Key highway pass on NH44 connecting Jammu and Kashmir.

📍 Baralacha La
✅ Location: Between Keylong (Himachal Pradesh) and Leh (Ladakh)
✅ Significance: Located on the Leh-Manali highway, an important trade route.

📍 Burzil Pass
✅ Location: Connects Srinagar to Gilgit (now in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir)
✅ Significance: Historically significant for trade.

📍 Karakoram Pass
✅ Location: Between Ladakh (J&K) and Sinkiang (China)
✅ Significance: An ancient trade route on the Silk Road.

📍 Khardung La
✅ Location: Between Leh and Siachen Glacier via Nubra Valley
✅ Significance: One of the highest motorable roads in the world (5,359 m).

📍 Umling La (Uming La)
✅ Location: Ladakh
✅ Significance: Highest motorable road in the world at 5,883 m.

📍 Zoji La
✅ Location: Between Srinagar and Leh
✅ Significance: Important link between Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, often blocked by snow.

📍 Chang La
✅ Location: Between Ladakh (J&K) and Tibet (China)
✅ Significance: One of the highest passes in the world.

📍 Shinkun La
✅ Location: Between Himachal Pradesh & Ladakh
✅ Significance: India has started construction of Nimmu-Padum-Darcha (NPD) route for all-weather connectivity to Ladakh.

📍 Balcha Dhura
✅ Location: Connecting Uttarakhand with Tibet (China)
✅ Significance: High-altitude pass in the Himalayas.

📍 Mana Pass
✅ Location: Between Uttarakhand and Tibet (China)
✅ Significance: Highest motorable pass in Uttarakhand, connects to Tibet.

🔆 Karakum Desert

📍 Location & Geography
✅ The Karakum Desert covers much of Turkmenistan.

📍 Key Features
✅ Known for its shifting sand dunes and extreme climate.

🔆 Kyzylkum Desert

📍 Location & Geography
✅ The Kyzylkum Desert spans across Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
✅ Lies between the Amu Darya and Syr Darya Rivers.

📍 Natural Resources
✅ Contains large deposits of natural gas.

🔆 Colorado Plateau

📍 Location:
• USA

📍 Significance:
✅ Known for the Grand Canyon: A world-famous landmark.
✅ Highly dissected by the Colorado River: Creating the iconic Grand Canyon and other geological formations.

🔆 Columbia Plateau

📍 Location:
✅ Volcanic Plateau: Known for its volcanic origin.
✅ Snake River Valley is here: A significant geographical feature.
✅ In USA: Located in the United States.

🔆 Important Trenches

📍 Mariana Trench
• Location: Western Pacific (Near Guam)
• Plates Involved: Pacific Plate subducting under Philippine Plate. Includes the Challenger Deep (10,971m)

📍 Tonga Trench
• Location: South Pacific (Near Tonga)
• Plates Involved: Pacific Plate subducting under Indo-Australian Plate

📍 Kuril-Kamchatka Trench
• Location: Northwest Pacific (Near Russia, Japan)
• Plates Involved: Pacific Plate subducting under Eurasian Plate

📍 Peru-Chile Trench (Atacama Trench)
• Location: Eastern Pacific (Off South America)
• Plates Involved: Nazca Plate subducting under South American Plate

📍 Philippine Trench
• Location: West Pacific (Near Philippines)
• Plates Involved: Philippine Plate subducting under Eurasian Plate

🔆 Oceans (Pacific & Atlantic Oceans)

📍 Japan Trench
• Location: Northwest Pacific (Off Japan)
• Plates Involved: Pacific Plate subducting under Eurasian Plate

📍 Kermadec Trench
• Location: South Pacific (Near New Zealand)
• Plates Involved: Pacific Plate subducting under Indo-Australian Plate

📍 Aleutian Trench
• Location: North Pacific (Near Alaska)
• Plates Involved: Pacific Plate subducting under North American Plate

📍 Middle America Trench
• Location: Eastern Pacific (Off Central America)
• Plates Involved: Cocos Plate subducting under North American & Caribbean Plates

🔆 Grasslands of South America

📍 Pampas
✅ Located in Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil
✅ Temperate Grassland
✅ Fertile plains known for extensive agriculture (wheat, corn, soybeans) and cattle ranching; home to the gaucho culture

📍 Llanos
✅ Located in Venezuela, Colombia
✅ Tropical Grassland
✅ Seasonally flooded grasslands; rich in biodiversity; major source of cattle grazing and oil reserves

📍 Campos
✅ Located in Southern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay
✅ Subtropical Grassland
✅ Includes regions like Campos Gerais; used for livestock grazing and agriculture

📍 Gran Chaco
✅ Located in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil
✅ Woodland Savanna
✅ A semi-arid region with grasslands interspersed with thorny shrubs; rich in wildlife and a critical ecological zone

🔆 ARCTIC CIRCLE

📍 Water Bodies

✅ Chukchi Sea: Connected to the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean via the Bering Strait at its southernmost end.

✅ East Siberian Sea: One of the least studied water bodies in the area, experiencing an extremely harsh climate.

✅ Laptev Sea: Surrounded on three sides by land.

✅ Kara Sea: Located north of Siberia, between the Barents Sea and the Laptev Sea.

✅ Barents Sea: Off the northern coasts of Russia and Norway; relatively shallower than other parts of the Arctic Ocean.
▪️ The sea is important for the exploration of hydrocarbon resources.
▪️ It is a productive fishing area.
▪️ The Pechora Sea and the White Sea are parts of the Barents Sea.

✅ Wandel Sea: Stretches from Greenland’s northeast to Svalbard.

📍 Note:
HIMADRI – India’s research laboratory in Svalbard, Norway; near the North Pole.

🔆SOUTH EAST ASIA

South East Asia is divided into 2 parts:

📍 1. MAINLAND PART – Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia
✅ Capitals in North to South: Hanoi, Nay Payi Taw, Vientiane, Bangkok, Phnom Pehn
✅ Capitals in East to West: Nay Payi Taw, Bangkok, Vientiane, Phnom Pehn, Hanoi

📌 NOTE – LAOS
✅ All countries of mainland except Laos are on the coast
✅ Laos is the only landlocked country and the only one which shares borders with all 4 other mainland Southeast Asian countries

📍 2. MARITIME PART – Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, Philippines
✅ Indonesia: Largest archipelago of the world

📌 Note –
✅ Myanmar: Part of both Maritime and Mainland South East Asia
▪ Arakanyoma and Pegu-yoma mountains in Myanmar
✅ ASEAN: All these 10 countries are part of ASEAN
✅ Equator: Passes only through Indonesia

🔆New Caledonia:

✅It is a French overseas territory located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, approximately 1,500 km east of Australia.
✅It comprises the main island of Grande Terre (where the capital, Nouméa, is situated), the four Loyalty Islands (Ouvéa, Lifou, Tiga, and Maré), the Belep archipelago, the Isle of Pines, and some remote islands.
✅Just over 270,000 people live in New Caledonia (2019 census).
✅Approximately 39 percent are indigenous ('Kanak'). The remainder are Caledonians of European, Polynesian and other (including Vietnamese, Indonesian and Algerian) origins.
✅It is one of the European Union's Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs), but is not part of the European Union, the Euro or Schengen zones.

📍History of Island:
✅New Caledonia, originally inhabited by the Kanaks, came under French control in 1853.
✅Post-WWII, Kanaks gained French citizenship, but 1960s French migration made them a minority, sparking an independence movement.

✅Tensions led to the Matignon Agreements (1988) and Nouméa Accord (1998), promising three independence referendums.
✅The 2018 and 2020 referendums favoured France. ✅Despite COVID-19 concerns, the 2021 referendum also favoured France, angering the Kanaks.

#mapping