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All rights are reserved. No part of this version may be reproduced,stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by anymeans, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, withoutprior written permission of the publishers.

Published BySau. Shobhadevi Kshirsagar

K’Sagar Publications‘Suvarna Shilpa’, 444/1 Shaniwar Peth,

Adjacent to Rajmachikar Flour Mill,Near Dakshinabhimukhi Maruti Temple,

Pune - 411 030( : 24450125, 24455435 Fax : 91-020-24453065

Email : K_Sagar_v@vsnl.netm

© K'Sagar Publications, PuneCopy-rights reserved & registered as per the Act.

First Edition : 2008m

Printed atStep-in Services

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mTypesetting

K'Sagar Publications, Punem

Cover DesignK'Sagar Publications, Pune

mPrice : Rs. 200/-

MPSC and the recruitment examinations conducted by it are held in avery high esteem in the entire state. The subject of geography holds a spe-cial place in the examination syllabus of the MPSC. We at K’Sagar Publica-tions take a great pleasure in introducing a handy, comprehensive and highlydetailed reference book – ‘Geography of India’ for the candidates of MPSCand specially for those who are appearing for State Services Main Exam andfacing the new & vast syllabus.While covering the entire prescribed sylla-bus of geography for the said examination, we have taken every care toinclude the most authenticated and latest official data in this book. The bookhas many maps, tables and diagrams in order to illustrate the subject matterand the data that has been provided. These illustrations explain the topics ina comprehensive manner while making the vast data easy to understand andremember. The entire content of the book has been verified for its matter aswell as the accuracy of the text.

I as a writer have tried in my best capacity to make the book a gamutof facilities for the students to be availed under one roof. This is because, Iam aware that as a student how difficult it is to hunt for the topics for aparticular exam, in various books at the same time. To overcome this diffi-culty of multiple referencing and the resultant confusion of the students, allthe prescribed topics have been covered meticulously in every minute detail.

The initial three chapters of the book give introduction of the positionof our motherland India in the world setup. The first three chapters havebeen dedicated fully only to the introduction of India, in order to maintain acontinuity and flow of the subject matter.

The fourth chapter introduces the state of Maharashtra to you. Thechapter gives an idea about the physical and the social position of the state inthe country. The fifth and the sixth chapter are also dedicated to the state.Again the order and the continuity of the subject matter are maintained byarranging the three chapters in a continuous order.

The eighth chapter discusses the climatic setup of the country as wellas the state. This chapter also explains the concept of the agroclimatic zonesof the country as well as the state.

The various natural resources in the country and in the state ofMaharashtra have been discussed from all aspects from the ninth chapteronwards. Here, a particular order has been maintained in the chapters,whereby the resources of the country are discussed first, followed by thoseof the state. The chapter of tourism has been introduced as a wholesome

unit in this book. The last chapter gives the details of the districts ofMaharashtra at a glance.

Towards the end I would like to thank all those people who have madethe dream venture of writing this reference book come true. The first thanksgo to K’Sagar Publications and Shri. Kshirsagar Sir for showing the faith inme and bearing with all my problems and also the delays caused due to theseproblems. His kind co-operation and helping nature have been greatest driv-ing forces in making the book an accomplishment. He is very particularabout the authenticity of the data, but at the same time he gives the writersfreedom of expressing the subject matter in their own style. The confidenceshown by him proved to be a source of inspiration to me – and I must saythat this will remain so even in the future. I also thank the entire staff atK’Sagar for all the help and co-operation they have lent to me during thepublishing of the book. Their responsible attitude and neatness of the workare highly respectable. They all have played a very important role in thepublication of this book.

My special thanks to all the government officials who went out oftheir way to help me obtain the latest authenticated data to be included in thebook. Special thanks go to the officials of the forest department and Shri.Abhay Yawalkar then joint MD of MTDC for providing me with all theinformation about the various programmes and the material related to them.I must thank Smt. Sangeeta Bhalerao for all the enthusiastic support of hersin this venture of mine. Her bubbling energies are worth a special applause.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of our owncompany for all the help they have given me in the initial stages of this book.Thanks are due to them for their dedicated help and efforts.

Last but not at all the least, I take the greatest pleasure in thanking myfamily for all that they have done for me. It is for their support and encour-agement that I could manage to complete this book. My husband Dineshand son Rohan deserve a special mention and applause for their understand-ing and forbearance. I consider myself to be very lucky to have a family thatnot only inculcates but also rears good qualities in its members. Words cannever express the gratitude that I feel towards all of them. I need to make aspecial mention of my father Late Shri. Vinayak Deo, who was an expert ingeography and a born teacher. He has been the real source of inspiration forme in achieving greater heights in the fields of geography and education. Hehas blessed me with his qualities of perseverance and hard work. All myfriends are also equally important to me as they have always shown greatappreciation towards my work which was another driving force for me.

I am sure that this book will prove to be of good help for the studentsof MPSC. Any mistake that has gone unnoticed is apologized for and sug-gestions for the improvements in the book are most welcome.

–Archana Samudra

1. India– Location and Extent 9

I Location and Extent of India

2. Physiographic Divisions 16

I The Peninsular PlateauI The Northern Mountainous Region (Himalayas)I The North Indian PlainsI The Coastal Plains I The Indian Islands

3. Rivers and Lakes 39

I The Himalayan Rivers I The Peninsular RiversI Drainage Patterns in India I River RegimesI Lakes of India I Flood ProblemsI Pollution of the river

4. Maharashtra– Introduction 74

I Evolution of MaharashtraI The Nag-Vidarbha Movement

5. Maharashtra– Physiographical Details 82

I Regional DivisionsI Some Salient Features of Maharashtra StateI Geology of Maharashtra I The Konkan Coastal StripI The Sahyadris and other hills of MaharashtraI The Plateau Region I Geological Structure of IndiaI Geological structure of Maharashtra

6. Water Resources in Maharashtra 107

I The rivers of the Maharashtra PlateauI Lakes and Wells of Maharashtra

7. Climate 115

I Climate of India I Factors Influencing the ClimateI The Hot Period or the Summer SeasonI The Rainy or the Monsoon SeasonI The Arabian Sea Branch I The Bay of Bengal BranchI The Period of Retreating MonsoonI Distribution of Rainfall in IndiaI The Cold Season or the Winter Season

8. Climate of Maharashtra 139

I Seasons in Maharashtra I India : Agro-Climatic ZonesI Maharashtra : Agro-Climatic ZonesI Types of FarmingI The Agricultural Regions of Maharashtra

9. Natural Resources 157

I Types of Soil I Types of ErosionI Soils of MaharashtraI Soil Degradation in Maharashtra

10. Natural Vegetation 184

I Moist tropical forests I Dry tropical forestsI Mountainous sub-tropical forestsI Mountainous temperate forestsI Classification for administrative purposesI Forest products and their economic importanceI Protective functions of the forestsI Making the soil more fertileI Conservation of forests I Indian wildlifeI Natural Vegetation of MaharashtraI Classification according to typesI Forest products of maharashtraI Industries based on forest productsI State of the forests in MaharashtraI Social Forestry I Wildlife in MaharashtraI Droughts I Effects of droughtI Drought Prone Areas I Management of DroughtI Droughts in Maharashtra

11. Mineral Wealth of India 246

I The Major Mineral Belts of IndiaI Metallic Minerals I Non-Metallic MineralsI Mineral Resources in Maharashtra

12. India : Energy Resources 266

I Coal I Conservation of Coal I ElectricityI Important Hydroelectric Plants in

Different States of India I Thermal ElectricityI Major Thermal Power Stations in IndiaI Nuclear Energy I Non-conventional Energy ResourcesI Wind Power Potential I BiogasI Energy Resources in Maharashtra I Coal

I Mineral Oil I Deposits of mineral oil in the stateI Natural Gas I Thermal Power I Hydel PowerI Important Hydel Power Projects in the StateI Nuclear Power I Non-conventional Power Sources

13. India : Population 303

I Population of Major Countries (Comparison with India)I Some basic concepts related to populationI Distribution of Indian Population I Density of PopulationI Increase in Density of Population of IndiaI Characteristics of the Indian Population I Literacy

14. Maharashtra : Population 331

I Density of Population in the StateI Migration of Population in MaharashtraI Rural Population of Maharashtra I Rural SettlementsI Rural Houses and House TypesI Urban population in MaharashtraI Growth of Urbanisation by Class of TownI India : Class-wise Number of Towns and Cities and

their Population, 2001I Distribution of Urban Populatioin in India : 2001I Problems related to urbanizationI Population and Slum Population in million plus cities

(Municipal Corporation : 2001) I Urban Crimes

15. Tourism 369

I Growth of Tourism in IndiaI Problems related to the Tourism SectorI Prospects of Tourism in IndiaI Tourism in Maharashtra

16. Districts of Maharashtra 391

I Thane I Raigad I Ratnagiri I SindhudurgI Pune I Satara I Sangli I KolhapurI Solapur I Nashik I Ahmednagar I DhuleI Nandurbar I Jalgaon I Aurangabad I JalnaI Beed I Parbhani I Hingoli I Osmanabad I LaturI Nanded I Buldhana I Akola I Washim I AmravatiI Wardha I Yavatmal I Nagpur I BhandaraI Gondia I Chandrapur I GadchiroliI Mumbai & Mumbai Suburb

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1. India– A Comprehensive Geography - Khullar

2. Systematic Agricultural Geography - Majid Husain

3. India 2007 - Information and Broadcasting Ministry Publication

4. Economic Survey - 2006-07 - Ministry of Finance

5. Maharashtracha Bhoogol - K. A. Khatib (K’Sagar Publications)

6. Assa Ha Maharashtra - K’Sagar (K’Sagar Publications)

7. Economic Geography - Hartshorn & Alexander

8. Geography of Maharashtra - C. D. Deshpande

9. General Geography of India - Padey & Fernandes

10. Principles of Physical Geography - Padey & Fernandes

11. Krishi Diary 2005 - Agricultural Ministry (Maharashtra State)

12. FSI - State of the Forest Report - 2005 - Forest Ministry (M. S.)

13. Maharashtratil Zille - K’Sagar (K’Sagar Publications)

14. A Modern Dictionary of Geography - K. Siddartha &S. Mukherjee

15. Chaus Dictionary

16. Bhoogol Shastra Paribhashakosh - Maharashtra Government

17. Different text books on geography

18. Information literature published by MTDC

19. Nisargvani - Dept of Social Forestry (Maharashtra State)

20. Competition Wizard - December, 2006 Issue

Archana Samudra. An enthusiastic youth of 35 Yrs. with astudious despotism, having done her gradution in Science– B.Sc.& post gradution in education– M.Ed. Comparing to her age, shehas a vast experience of 14 yrs. of teaching. During a period 1994onwards she has worked in various English medium Schools likeLoyola School, Kathmandu, Nepal and taught varioussubjects like Maths, Science, English, Social studies andofcourse, Geography. At present she is working with SevasadanEnglish Medium School, Pune.

Her present work ‘Geography of India with special refer-ence to Maharashtra’ is a first, only and unique reference on anew syllabus of General Studies paper I, part B of the State Ser-vices Main Examination.

It was a keen desire of English medium students thatcomprehensive reference on the above said syllabui should bepublished by the K’Sagar Publications.Since proper referenceson the subject matter were not available and since the subjectmatter requires a lot of data, accurate and recent figures and knowl-edge of some technical terms and concepts it was not easy task towrite on this subject. On this background it must be said thatArchana Samudra has carried out this difficult task in commend-able manner and demonstrated her command of the subject. Shehas taken lot of pains and made keen efforts to make visualise thisarchitect. Mrs. Samudra has in her language easy to understand,made the subject itself easy. She has given justice to the subjectmatter and considered the need of the students. I hope this workwill not only be admired by the students but will be proved aprime work– a master pice– on the subject.

I Hope that students will welcome this esteem work and thiswork will prove extremely useful for them and pave their way tosuccess. Thanks and best of Luck.

V. S. Kshirsagar(K’Sagar)

Archana Dinesh Samudra, B.Sc., M.Ed.

ExperienceTeaching experience of nearabout 14 yrs. in various English me-

dium schools including Loyola School, Kathmandu & Sevasadan En-glish medium School, Pune.

Connected Activities1. Giving special tuitions for Geography students of 8th, 9th & 10th

and training them for projects.2. Author of books based on CBSE syllabus for Environmental

Studies, Mathematics, for classes 3rd and 4th.3. Writing articles in Daily Sakal for “Dahavichi Tayari” on Geog-

raphy & Economics.4. Written articles for “Dahavi Diwali” on techniques of writing

SSC Board Papers (Geography) for Year 2006-07 and currentlywriting for 10th Scanner & Guide.

5. Writing Model Solutions for Paper Sets of Dahavi Diwali.6. Written articles for “Sakal Pattern” 8th & 9th Standard’s Geog-

raphy & Economics for Year 2006-07 and currently writing forYear 2007-08, for Standard 9th & 10th.

7. Visiting expert to various schools in Pune for guidance ofstudents appearing for SSC board exams – Subject – SocialStudies.

8. Give special guidance to 10th Std. students for Geography/Eco-nomics in person

9. Expert on geography for checking the paper sets and their solu-tions for SSC board Publications like – Dahad Vidyavardhini.

Social Activities1. Concerned about child education in the lower strata of the soci-

ety. Trying to reach in person wherever possible by sponsoringeducation of such students on personal level.

2. Giving importance to girl’s education. Sponsoring girl’s educa-tion on personal level.

3. Tutoring students of the lower economic groups as a socialresponsibility so that they fare well in their educational career.

4. Sponsored a library of a school in the rural area of Solapur.