| Non-Rationalised Geography NCERT Notes, Solutions and Extra Q & A (Class 6th to 12th) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Chapter 8 India : Climate, Vegetation And Wildlife
Weather refers to the day-to-day changes in the atmosphere, including variations in temperature, rainfall, sunshine, wind, etc. It can be hot or cold, sunny or cloudy, windy or calm.
Climate, on the other hand, represents the average weather conditions measured over many years for a particular place. The climate of India is broadly described as Monsoon type. The word 'Monsoon' is derived from the Arabic word 'mausim', meaning seasons. Due to India's location in the tropical region, monsoon winds are the primary source of rainfall.
Agriculture in India heavily depends on monsoon rains; good monsoons lead to sufficient rainfall and abundant crops, while weak or failed monsoons can severely impact crops, reduce water levels in wells, and potentially lead to prolonged hot periods.
The climate of a place is influenced by factors such as its geographical location, altitude, distance from the sea, and relief features. These factors contribute to significant regional differences in India's climate. For example, places like Jaisalmer and Bikaner in the Rajasthan desert are extremely hot, while Drass and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir are freezing cold. Coastal cities like Mumbai and Kolkata experience a moderate climate (neither too hot nor too cold) but are humid. Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the world's highest rainfall, contrasting with places like Jaisalmer that may receive very little rain in a year.
Major Seasons in India
India experiences broadly four major seasons:
- Cold Weather Season (Winter): December to February
- Hot Weather Season (Summer): March to May
- Southwest Monsoon Season (Rainy): June to September
- Season of Retreating Monsoon (Autumn): October and November
Cold Weather Season Or Winter
During the winter season (December to February), the sun's rays do not fall directly in most regions of India. This oblique angle of sunlight results in temperatures being quite low, particularly in northern India.
Hot Weather Season Or Summer
The hot weather season (March to May) sees the sun's rays falling more directly on India. Temperatures rise significantly during this period. Hot and dry winds, known as 'loo', are characteristic of this season and blow during the day, particularly in northern parts.
South West Monsoon Season Or Rainy Season
This season (June to September) marks the onset and advance of the monsoon. Winds carrying moisture blow from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal towards the landmass of India. When these moisture-laden winds encounter mountain barriers, they are forced to rise, cool, and condense, resulting in rainfall.
The Southwest Monsoon is crucial for agriculture in India, which is highly dependent on timely and sufficient rainfall.
Season Of Retreating Monsoons Or Autumn
The Season of Retreating Monsoons (October and November) is characterized by winds moving back from the mainland towards the Bay of Bengal. This period is known as autumn. Southern parts of India, especially Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, receive rainfall during this season due to these retreating winds picking up moisture from the Bay of Bengal.
Natural Vegetation
Natural vegetation refers to the grasses, shrubs, and trees that grow on their own without human intervention or assistance. India exhibits a wide variety of plant life, from small bushes and shrubs (like cactus) and flowering plants to tall trees (like neem, mango, palm) with varied branching and leaf patterns.
The type and distribution of natural vegetation in different regions are influenced by various climatic conditions, with the amount of rainfall being a particularly important factor. Due to the varied climatic conditions across the country, India has a rich and diverse range of natural vegetation types.
Why Are Forests Necessary?
Forests are extremely useful and perform vital functions for us and the environment:
- Plants in forests release oxygen, which is essential for breathing, and absorb carbon dioxide.
- The roots of plants help to bind the soil, preventing soil erosion.
- Forests provide us with valuable resources such as timber (for furniture), fuel wood, fodder for animals, medicinal plants and herbs, lac, honey, and gum (Figure 8.2 shows various products obtained from forests).
- Forests serve as the natural habitat for a variety of wildlife.
Unfortunately, natural vegetation and forests have been significantly depleted due to uncontrolled cutting of trees. It is important to protect existing forests and plant more trees to conserve our environment and make people aware of the importance of trees. Programmes like Van Mahotsav encourage community participation in tree planting.
Wild Life
Forests are home to a diverse range of wildlife, encompassing thousands of species of animals, including reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, insects, and worms.
India's rich wildlife includes:
- The tiger, which is our national animal, found in various parts of the country.
- Asiatic lions, whose only natural habitat is the Gir forest in Gujarat.
- Elephants and one-horned rhinoceroses, found in the forests of Assam. Elephants are also present in Kerala and Karnataka.
- Camels and wild asses, found in the Great Indian desert and the Rann of Kuchchh, respectively.
- Wild goats, snow leopards, and bears, found in the Himalayan region.
- Many other animals like monkeys, wolves, jackals, nilgai, and cheetal are found across the country.
India also has a rich bird population, with the peacock as the national bird. Common birds include parrots, pigeons, mynah, geese, bulbul, and ducks. Bird sanctuaries are established to protect birds in their natural habitats from hunting.
Hundreds of species of snakes, including cobras and kraits, are found in India.
Due to deforestation and hunting, many wildlife species in India are declining rapidly, and some have already become extinct. To protect wildlife, the government has established numerous national parks, sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves. Projects like Project Tiger and Project Elephant are specifically aimed at protecting these animals.
Individuals can also contribute to wildlife conservation by refusing to buy products made from animal parts (bones, horns, fur, skin, feathers). Wildlife Week is observed annually in the first week of October to raise awareness about conserving animal habitats.
Migratory Birds
Some birds, such as Pintail Ducks, Curlews, Flamingos, Osprey, and Little Stints, are migratory birds. They travel long distances, often from colder regions like the Arctic, to India during the winter season every year. The Little Stint, a very small migratory bird weighing around 15 grams, travels over 8,000 km to reach India.
Appendix I: States and Union Territories of India (2020-21 data)
| State | Capital | Union Territory | Capital |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Hyderabad | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Port Blair |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar | Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Assam | Dispur | Dadra & Nagar Haveli | Silvassa |
| Bihar | Patna | Daman & Diu | Daman |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur | Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Goa | Panaji | Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Gujarat | Gandhi Nagar | National Capital Territory of Delhi | Delhi |
| Haryana | Chandigarh | Jammu & Kashmir | Srinagar (Summer), Jammu (Winter) |
| Himachal Pradesh | Shimla | Ladakh | Leh |
| Jharkhand | Ranchi | ||
| Karnataka | Bengaluru | ||
| Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | ||
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | ||
| Maharashtra | Mumbai | ||
| Manipur | Imphal | ||
| Meghalaya | Shillong | ||
| Mizoram | Aizawl | ||
| Nagaland | Kohima | ||
| Odisha | Bhubaneshwar | ||
| Punjab | Chandigarh | ||
| Rajasthan | Jaipur | ||
| Sikkim | Gangtok | ||
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | ||
| Telangana | Hyderabad | ||
| Tripura | Agartala | ||
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun | ||
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | ||
| West Bengal | Kolkata |