ICSE Class 10 Geography: Soil and Natural Vegetation — Important Questions with Answers 2026

Short Answer Questions (2-3 Marks)

• Q: Name the major soil types of India. Describe any two.
  Ans: Major types: (1) Alluvial, (2) Black/Regur, (3) Red, (4) Laterite, (5) Desert/Arid, (6) Mountain/Forest. Alluvial soil: Found in Indo-Gangetic plains, river deltas. Very fertile, rich in potash. Two types — Khadar (new, near river) and Bangar (old, higher ground). Grows wheat, rice, sugarcane. Black/Regur soil: Found in Deccan Plateau (Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat). Rich in iron, lime, aluminium. Retains moisture well. Ideal for cotton (called black cotton soil).
• Q: Distinguish between tropical evergreen forests and tropical deciduous forests.
  Ans: Tropical Evergreen: Found in areas with >200 cm rainfall. Dense, no definite growing season, trees don't shed leaves simultaneously. Hardwood trees — rosewood, mahogany, ebony. Found in Western Ghats, NE India, Andaman & Nicobar. Tropical Deciduous: Found in 100-200 cm rainfall areas. Trees shed leaves in dry season to conserve water. Two types — Moist (teak, sal, bamboo) and Dry deciduous. Most widespread forest type in India. Found in Madhya Pradesh, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand.

Exam Tips for This Chapter

• Revise all definitions and laws from Soil and Natural Vegetation — they are commonly asked as 1-2 mark questions
• Practice diagrams related to Soil and Natural Vegetation — neat labelled diagrams carry 2-3 marks
• For numericals, always show formula → substitution → answer with correct units
• Previous year analysis shows Soil and Natural Vegetation carries 8-12 marks in the board exam