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Topic Soil Types
Asked 3 times across 2 UPSC exams over 1 years (2023–2024), peaking in 2024.
Key insights
- Most tested in NDA — 2 of 3 PYQs
- Most asked in 2024
- Recurs across 2 years (2023–2024)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2023 → NDA 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (3 of 3) are since 2016.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
NDA2024
Which of the following statements regarding Regur soil is/are correct?
- It is a light coloured, clayey and fertile soil
- It is developed on Deccan basaltic lava under hot and humid conditions
- Cotton is extensively cultivated in this soil. Select the answer
using the code given below:
- A 1 and 2
- B 2 and 3 ✓
- C 2 only
- D 3 only
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Geography › Physical Geography of India
NDA2024
Consider the following statements regarding soils
- Soils having a very high content of sodium and calcium and pH of more than 7.0 are alkaline soils
- Black cotton soil had developed on the Deccan basaltic lava under hot and humid conditions
- Laterite soils are characterised by a deep weathered layer from which silica has been leached
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only
- B 1 and 2 only
- C 2 and 3 only
- D 1, 2 and 3 ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Geography › Physical Geography of India
CDS2023
Consider the following characteristics of a soil type
- These soils consist of various proportions of sand, silt and clay
- These soils contain adequate proportions of potash, phosphoric acid and lime
- These soils can be further classified on the basis of their age. Identify the type of soil on the basis of the given characteristics
- A Alluvial ✓
- B Laterite
- C Arid
- D Black
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Geography › Physical Geography of India
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