UPSC Notes

Coal is found in nature too. The abundance of combustible material in coal is what makes it an important domestic fuel resource. However, the use of this fossil fuel has led to negative effects on the environment. Electricity from coal is called thermal power. The coal was formed millions of years ago when giant ferns

Energy sources which we can use to power our homes and to transport us from one place to another. These include coal, oil and natural gas. They are called conventional sources because they have been used for a long time without much change. Conventional Sources Of Energy Fossil fuel is one of the sources of

Power resources are of two types: Conventional Resources: are those that have been in common use for a long time. Firewood and fossil fuels are two main conventional energy sources. Non-conventional Resources: of energy are renewable. Solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy, etc. are non-conventional sources of energy. Conventional power resources includes fossil fuels like

Minerals are basically non-renewable resources. They take thousands of years for the formation and concentration of minerals. Some important minerals, like coal, were formed millions of years ago. Most of the oil found in the crust of the Earth were also formed millions of years ago, but some very small amount were formed only a

Different regions have access to different renewable or nonrenewable natural resources such as freshwater, fossil fuels, fertile soil, or timber based on their geographic location and past geologic processes. Access, or the lack thereof, contributes to a place’s economic development, political relationships, and culture. For example, the Great Plains region of the United States is

Mineral resources can be divided into two major categories – Metallic and Nonmetallic. Metallic resources are things like Gold, Silver, Tin, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Iron, Nickel, Chromium, and Aluminum. Nonmetallic resources are things like sand, gravel, gypsum, halite, Uranium, dimension stone. (i) Metallic resources are things like Gold, Silver, Tin, Copper, Lead, Zinc, Iron, Nickel,

Minerals are naturally occurring substances that have a definite chemical composition. Minerals are distinct from rocks, which are too complex to characterize with a simple composition. More or less, a rock is a collection or cluster of many minerals. Minerals are formed in different types of geological environments, under varying conditions. Minerals vary from element

Forests are the most vital yet fragile part of our planet. They not only provide food and shelter to us but also help maintain a healthy ecosystem of plants and animals. The maintenance or loss of forest land is very critical in understanding climate changes. Forests help in maintaining the normal levels of oxygen, water

Vegetation is the foremost important component of the ecosystem. The growth of vegetation depends on temperature and moisture. These are major necessities for the development of plants. Any deviation from this will be harmful to the growth of plants. Vegetation holds a significant position in ecological succession. If vegetation is destroyed, it can’t be reproduced

Natural vegetation and wildlife of the earth exist only in the biosphere. The plants of this vegetation are of two types: forest plants, trees of which shelter living creatures and also divide the earth into separate habitats; and grass plants such as meadow grasses, of which many kinds of herbivorous animals live. The types of