Ans: A

Exp:

Conventional sources of energy are finite, non-renewable, easily available, and have been in use for a long time.  They will eventually run out, while Non-conventional sources of energy are infinite and renewable and can be replenished naturally over time. Conventional sources of power like coal, petroleum, and natural gas are likely to exhaust in the near future. The sun, wind, tides, biological wastes, and hot springs are such sources that can be developed as alternative sources of power. These sources of energy are renewable and pollution free.

Hydroelectric Power, Solar energy, Wind Energy, Bioenergy, Tidal Energy, Geothermal Energy come under Non Conventional Sources of energy whereas Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas, Nuclear energy come under Conventional Sources of Energy.

Ans: C

Exp: 

Statement 1 is correct: Mica is a naturally occurring, non-metallic mineral.  In India, it is produced in Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh stands first in Mica production in India. The Gudur Mica Mine in the district of Nellore has rich mica deposits. Other significant districts that produce mica include Vishakhapatnam, West Godavari, and Krishna. The lower Hazaribagh plateau in Jharkhand is another location where high-quality mica can be found. From Jaipur to Udaipur, Rajasthan’s primary mica belt can be found.

Statement 2 is correct: Bauxite is the ore that is used in the manufacturing of aluminium.  Odisha happens to be the largest producer of Bauxite. The Patlands of Lohardaga in Jharkhand have rich deposits of Bauxite in India. Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are other major producers. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Goa are minor producers of bauxite.

Ans: B

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The world’s major industries are the iron and steel industry, the textile industry and the information technology industry. The iron and steel and textile industries are the older industries while information technology is an emerging industry. Iron and steel industry is primarily located in USA, Western Europe and Japan which accounted for nearly two-thirds of the world’s steel in 1970’s. Last century, the growth of steel production in countries like China, South Korea, Brazil and India has changed the entire pattern of steel production in the world.

Statement 2 is correct:  The Information technology industry encompasses a wide range of activities related to the development, management, and use of technology to process, store, transmit, and retrieve information. This includes hardware, software, networks, databases, cybersecurity, and more. It is also known as the sunrise industry. The major hubs of Information technology industry are the Silicon valley of Central California and the Bangalore region of India. 

Ans: D

Exp:

Statement 1 is correct :Soil is a mixture of rock debris, inorganic material, and  organic material that develops on the earth’s surface. The major factors affecting the formation of soil are relief, parent material, climate, vegetation and other life-forms and time.

Statement 2 is correct :Soil carries out a range of functions and services without which life would not be possible. It provides essential ingredients  for plants (including food crops and timber) to grow in by anchoring roots and storing nutrients. Thus, it provides all the nutrients required by a fully grown ecosystem. 

Statement 3 is correct :Soil filters and cleans our water and helps prevent natural hazards such as flooding. It contains immense levels of biodiversity. It stores a significant amount  of carbon, and therefore helps to regulate climate change. Soils are also a key factor in preventing drought and desertification conditions, as healthy soils harbour more moisture and vegetation that would mitigate these disasters.

Ans: C

Exp:

Soil composition is an important aspect of nutrient management. While soil minerals and organic matter hold and store nutrients, soil water is what readily provides nutrients for plant uptake. Soil air, too, plays an integral role since many of the microorganisms that live in the soil need air to undergo the biological processes that release additional nutrients into the soil.

The primary components of soil are : 

• Minerals (45%) 
• Water (20-30%)
• Air (20-30%)
• Organic matter (5%)

These percentages are only generalisations at best. In reality, the soil is very complex and dynamic, and the actual amount of these factors depends on the type of soil, relief, climate, vegetation and the type of life forms surrounding the soil .

While decaying bacteria is a modification factor, it is not the primary component of soil .