Prelims 2013 · archive
MediumWhich of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?
- 1.They are generally red in colour.
- 2.They are rich in nitrogen and potash.
- 3.They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.
- 4.Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) 1 and 4
Only statements 1 and 4 are correct. Laterite soils are reddish because they are rich in iron, and they suit crops like tapioca and cashew. Heavy rain leaches out their nutrients, so they are acidic and poor in nitrogen and potash. They occur mainly in the southern states, the Western Ghats, Odisha, parts of West Bengal and the North-east, not in Rajasthan or UP.
- ✓ 1. Laterite soils are typically red because of iron oxides. Red laterite soils are found in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
- ✗ 2. Intense leaching under heavy rain removes nutrients. These soils are acidic and generally deficient in plant nutrients, including nitrogen and potash.
- ✗ 3. They occur mostly in the southern states, the Western Ghats region of Maharashtra, Odisha, some parts of West Bengal and the North-east. Rajasthan and UP are not laterite regions.
- ✓ 4. Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are well suited to cashew nut. In Kerala, laterite soils are mainly cultivated with crops such as coconut, arecanut, banana and tapioca.
Remember · Laterite: leached, acidic, nutrient-poor, reddish; found in the south, Western Ghats, Odisha and the North-east. Suits cashew, tapioca, tea, coffee and rubber. Not found in Rajasthan or UP.
📘 Read it in NCERT: Class 10 Contemporary India – II, Ch 1 (practise this chapter) · Class 10 Contemporary India – II, Ch 1 (practise this chapter)
Sources
- NCERT Class 10 · Contemporary India – II, Chapter 1 “Lateritic soils are mostly deep to very deep, acidic (pH<6.0), generally deficient in plant nutrients and occur mostly in southern states, Western Ghats region of Maharashtra, Odisha, some parts of West Bengal and North-east regions.”
- NCERT Class 10 · Contemporary India – II, Chapter 1 “Red laterite soils in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are more suitable for crops like cashew nut.”
- Kerala State Soil Survey Department – Laterite Soils ↗ “It is mainly cultivated with coconut, arecanut, banana, tapioca, vegetables, yams, pepper, pineapple, fruit trees etc.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·