Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Land degradation in India stems mainly from natural causes such as floods and droughts.
Reason (R): Forest fires and over grazing are among the factors responsible for land degradation.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (A) is false but (R) is true.
Assertion (A): Land degradation in India stems mainly from natural causes such as floods and droughts. — False. Land degradation in India stems mainly from unstable use and inappropriate management practices, that is, from the way people use land.
Reason (R): Forest fires and over grazing are among the factors responsible for land degradation. — True. Forest fires and over grazing together form factor (v) of land degradation.
NCERT (2026-27): “7.3 State of India’s Environment … Land in India suffers from varying degrees and types of degradation stemming mainly from unstable use and inappropriate management practices.” “… Some of the factors responsible for land degradation are (i) loss of vegetation occuring due to deforestation (ii) unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction (iii) shifting cultivation (iv) encroachment into forest lands (v) forest fires and over grazing (vi) non-adoption of adequate soil conservation measures (vii) improper crop rotation (viii) indiscriminate use of agro-chemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides …” |