Class 10 Social Science Geography Chapter 4 Question Answer | Geography of Assam | English Medium

Class 10 Social Science Geography Chapter 4 Question Answer | Geography of Assam | English Medium | ASSEB

Class 10 Social Science Geography Chapter 4 — Geography of Assam

Welcome to HSLC Guru. This chapter covers the Geography of Assam for ASSEB Class 10 Social Science. You will learn about the location, physical divisions, climate, rivers, soils, agriculture, minerals, industries, transport, tourism and the major problems of Assam. The notes below include a complete summary, textbook question-answers (1-mark, 2–3 mark and 5–6 mark), additional MCQs, fill-in-the-blanks, true/false, and a glossary table — all aligned to the ASSEB syllabus.

Summary — Geography of Assam

Location and extent: Assam is one of the seven sister states of North-East India. It lies between latitudes 24°N to 28°N and longitudes 89°50’E to 96°E. The state covers an area of about 78,438 sq km and has a population of roughly 3.12 crore (Census 2011). The capital is Dispur (a part of the city of Guwahati). Assam is presently divided into 35 districts. It is bounded by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh in the north, Nagaland and Manipur in the east, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya and Bangladesh in the south, and West Bengal in the west.

Physiographic divisions: The relief of Assam can be divided into three broad regions — (i) the Brahmaputra Valley in the north, a long, fertile alluvial plain stretching about 720 km from Sadiya in the east to Dhubri in the west; (ii) the Barak Valley in the south, drained by the Barak river and forming the districts of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi; and (iii) the Karbi Anglong–North Cachar (Dima Hasao) Hills, the hilly belt that separates the two valleys and contains old crystalline rocks.

Climate and rivers: Assam has a humid sub-tropical monsoon climate with hot and wet summers and cool, dry winters. Average annual rainfall varies between 200 cm in the west to over 400 cm in the eastern parts and the foothills. The Brahmaputra is the master river; its main tributaries are the Subansiri, Manas, Dhansiri, Kopili and Disang. In the south, the Barak drains the Barak Valley. The state has three major soil groups — alluvial soil in the valleys, lateritic soil on the older terraces, and hill soils in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao. The forests are rich in sal, hollong, teak and bamboo, and shelter rare wildlife such as the one-horned rhinoceros, royal Bengal tiger, wild buffalo and Hoolock gibbon.

Economy and connectivity: Agriculture is the mainstay; rice (Sali, Bao and Ahu), tea, jute, sugarcane, mustard and horticultural crops are important. Assam is the largest producer of tea in India and a major producer of crude oil and natural gas — petroleum was first struck at Digboi in 1901; later fields include Nahorkatiya and Moran. Coal is mined at Makum, Margherita and Ledo, and limestone occurs in the hill districts. Important industries are tea, oil and gas, plywood, silk (the famous Muga silk of Sualkuchi) and handloom. Transport is provided by roads (NH-27, NH-37 etc.), Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway, inland waterways on the Brahmaputra, and air services through Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBI), Guwahati. Tourism centres on Kaziranga, Manas, Sivasagar, Kamakhya and Majuli. The state, however, faces serious problems of floods, river-bank erosion, deforestation and uneven development that are tackled through scientific planning, embankments and watershed management.

Textbook Questions and Answers

A. Very Short Answer Type (1 mark)

Q1. Between which latitudes does Assam lie?

Answer: Assam lies between latitudes 24°N and 28°N.

Q2. What is the total area of Assam?

Answer: The total area of Assam is about 78,438 sq km.

Q3. What is the capital of Assam?

Answer: The capital of Assam is Dispur.

Q4. How many districts are there in Assam at present?

Answer: At present Assam has 35 districts.

Q5. Name the master river of Assam.

Answer: The Brahmaputra is the master river of Assam.

Q6. In which year was petroleum first struck in Assam?

Answer: Petroleum was first struck at Digboi in 1901.

Q7. Name the place famous for Muga silk weaving.

Answer: Sualkuchi is famous for Muga silk weaving.

Q8. Which is the largest river island in the world located in Assam?

Answer: Majuli is the largest river island in the world.

Q9. Name two coal-mining centres of Assam.

Answer: Makum and Margherita (Ledo) are two coal-mining centres of Assam.

Q10. What type of climate does Assam experience?

Answer: Assam experiences a humid sub-tropical monsoon climate.

B. Short Answer Type (2–3 marks)

Q1. Mention the three physiographic divisions of Assam.

Answer: The three physiographic divisions of Assam are: (i) the Brahmaputra Valley in the north, a long alluvial plain about 720 km in length; (ii) the Barak Valley in the south, drained by the river Barak; and (iii) the Karbi Anglong and North Cachar (Dima Hasao) Hills lying between the two valleys.

Q2. Name the main tributaries of the Brahmaputra in Assam.

Answer: The main tributaries of the Brahmaputra in Assam are the Subansiri, Manas, Dhansiri, Kopili and Disang. Among these, the Subansiri and Manas are northern tributaries while the Dhansiri, Kopili and Disang are southern tributaries.

Q3. Write a short note on the soils of Assam.

Answer: Assam has three major soil groups. Alluvial soil is found in the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys and is highly fertile, suitable for paddy, jute and sugarcane. Lateritic soil occurs on the older terraces and is good for tea cultivation. Hill soils occur in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao and support shifting cultivation, fruits and spices.

Q4. Name the three varieties of rice grown in Assam.

Answer: The three varieties of rice grown in Assam are Sali (winter rice, the main crop), Ahu (autumn rice, sown in spring) and Bao (deep-water rice grown in low-lying flooded areas).

Q5. What are the major mineral resources of Assam?

Answer: The major mineral resources of Assam are petroleum (Digboi, Nahorkatiya, Moran), natural gas, coal (Makum, Margherita, Ledo) and limestone (mainly in the hill districts). Small deposits of iron ore, glass-sand and china clay are also found.

Q6. Mention three important tourist places of Assam.

Answer: Three important tourist places of Assam are:

Kaziranga National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for the one-horned rhinoceros.
Sivasagar — the old capital of the Ahom kingdom with monuments such as Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar and Kareng Ghar.
Kamakhya Temple at Nilachal Hill, Guwahati — one of the most famous Shakti shrines.

Manas Tiger Reserve, Majuli river-island and Hajo are equally important.

Q7. Write a short note on the transport system of Assam.

Answer: Assam has a fairly developed transport network. Roads connect almost every district; major national highways include NH-27 (the East-West Corridor) and NH-37. Railways are operated by the Northeast Frontier (NF) Railway with headquarters at Maligaon, Guwahati. Inland waterways on the Brahmaputra link towns from Sadiya to Dhubri and form National Waterway-2. Air transport is provided through Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport (LGBI) at Guwahati and other airports at Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tezpur and Silchar.

Q8. Mention the main flora and fauna of Assam.

Answer: The forests of Assam are very rich. The chief trees are sal, hollong, teak, gomari, simul, segun and various types of bamboo and cane. The famous wildlife of Assam includes the one-horned rhinoceros, royal Bengal tiger, wild buffalo, Asiatic elephant, Hoolock gibbon, golden langur and a great variety of birds such as the white-winged wood duck and Bengal florican.

C. Long Answer Type (5–6 marks)

Q1. Describe the location, area and administrative divisions of Assam.

Answer: Assam is located in the north-eastern part of India between latitudes 24°N and 28°N and longitudes 89°50’E and 96°E. It covers an area of about 78,438 sq km, which is roughly 2.4 % of the country’s area. The state has a population of about 3.12 crore (2011). It is bounded by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh in the north, Nagaland and Manipur in the east, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and Bangladesh in the south, and West Bengal in the west. The capital is Dispur, situated within Guwahati city. Assam is administratively divided into 35 districts, grouped under several divisions and further into sub-divisions, revenue circles and development blocks. This central location and varied physiography make Assam the gateway to North-East India.

Q2. Describe the climate of Assam and the role of the monsoon.

Answer: Assam enjoys a humid sub-tropical monsoon climate. The summer (March–May) is hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms called Bordoichila. The south-west monsoon (June–September) brings the bulk of the annual rainfall — about 200 cm in the western plains and more than 400 cm in the eastern foothills (Cherrapunji belt influences nearby districts). October–November is the retreating monsoon period with mild weather, while winter (December–February) is cool and dry with occasional fog. The plentiful monsoon rainfall is the lifeline of agriculture, supports dense forests and feeds the Brahmaputra and its tributaries; however, excessive rain also causes severe floods and erosion every year.

Q3. Explain the agricultural pattern of Assam with special reference to rice and tea.

Answer: Agriculture is the backbone of Assam’s economy and engages nearly 70 % of the working population. Rice is the staple food and the most important crop, grown in three varieties — Sali (winter rice, mainly transplanted, the largest crop), Ahu (autumn rice, sown in March–April) and Bao (deep-water rice grown in flooded low-lying areas). Tea is the most important commercial crop; Assam produces more than half of India’s tea, mainly in the upper Brahmaputra districts of Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat as well as in Cachar. Other crops are jute (Goalpara, Dhubri, Barpeta), sugarcane, mustard, pulses and a wide variety of horticultural crops such as banana, pineapple, orange, areca-nut and betel-leaf. Modern inputs, irrigation and crop diversification are slowly changing the traditional pattern.

Q4. Discuss the major industries of Assam.

Answer: The industrial structure of Assam is dominated by resource-based and agro-based units. (i) Tea industry — about 800 tea estates and many small growers; major centres are Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Jorhat and Sivasagar. (ii) Petroleum and natural gas — refineries at Digboi (oldest, 1901), Guwahati (Noonmati), Bongaigaon and Numaligarh process crude oil from Digboi, Nahorkatiya and Moran fields; gas is used in the Brahmaputra Valley Fertilizer plant at Namrup. (iii) Coal mining in Makum, Margherita and Ledo. (iv) Plywood and paper mills (earlier at Jagiroad and Panchgram). (v) Silk industry — Sualkuchi is famous for Muga and Pat silk; eri silk is produced in many villages. (vi) Handloom and handicrafts are widespread cottage industries. (vii) Cement, fertiliser, sugar and food-processing units add to the industrial base.

Q5. Describe the river system of Assam.

Answer: Assam has two major river systems — the Brahmaputra system in the north and the Barak system in the south.

The Brahmaputra enters Assam at Sadiya and flows westward for nearly 720 km before entering Bangladesh near Dhubri. It is one of the largest rivers of the world by discharge.
The northern (left-bank) tributaries include the Subansiri, Jia-Bharali, Manas, Champamati and Sankosh — they are perennial and bring large amounts of silt from the Himalayas.
The southern (right-bank) tributaries include the Buri Dihing, Disang, Dikhow, Dhansiri and Kopili — they originate in the Patkai and Naga hills.
The Barak rises in the Manipur Hills, enters Assam through Cachar district and flows westward into Bangladesh, where it joins the Meghna.

The river system is the lifeline of agriculture, fishery, transport and hydroelectric power in Assam.

Q6. Mention the main problems faced by Assam and suggest measures to overcome them.

Answer: Assam faces several geographical and developmental problems. (i) Floods in the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys destroy crops, houses and livestock every year. (ii) River-bank erosion, especially along the Brahmaputra, eats away large tracts of fertile land. (iii) Deforestation and shifting cultivation reduce forest cover and biodiversity. (iv) Backward transport in the hill districts and frequent landslides hamper development. (v) Uneven industrial growth and unemployment. Measures: construction of strong embankments and dredging of the Brahmaputra; afforestation and watershed management; encouragement of horticulture and cash crops; better roads and railways in the hills; setting up of food-processing, handloom and tourism-based industries; and scientific planning under state and national programmes.

Additional Questions

I. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

Q1. Assam is situated between the latitudes —
(a) 22°N – 26°N (b) 24°N – 28°N (c) 26°N – 30°N (d) 20°N – 24°N

Answer: (b) 24°N – 28°N.

Q2. The total area of Assam is approximately —
(a) 70,000 sq km (b) 78,438 sq km (c) 88,752 sq km (d) 1,00,000 sq km

Answer: (b) 78,438 sq km.

Q3. The capital of Assam is —
(a) Guwahati (b) Dibrugarh (c) Dispur (d) Tezpur

Answer: (c) Dispur.

Q4. Petroleum was first struck in Assam at —
(a) Naharkatiya (b) Moran (c) Digboi (d) Sivasagar

Answer: (c) Digboi.

Q5. Which of the following is a winter rice of Assam?
(a) Ahu (b) Bao (c) Sali (d) Boro

Answer: (c) Sali.

Q6. Sualkuchi is famous for —
(a) Tea (b) Coal (c) Muga silk (d) Petroleum

Answer: (c) Muga silk.

Q7. Kaziranga National Park is famous for —
(a) Tiger (b) One-horned rhinoceros (c) Elephant (d) Hoolock gibbon

Answer: (b) One-horned rhinoceros.

Q8. Which of the following is NOT a tributary of the Brahmaputra?
(a) Subansiri (b) Manas (c) Dhansiri (d) Barak

Answer: (d) Barak.

Q9. The international airport of Assam is located at —
(a) Dibrugarh (b) Tezpur (c) Guwahati (d) Silchar

Answer: (c) Guwahati (LGBI Airport).

Q10. The largest river island in the world is —
(a) Umananda (b) Majuli (c) Peacock Island (d) Sandy Island

Answer: (b) Majuli.

II. Fill in the Blanks

Q1. Assam has a total of ______ districts at present.
Answer: 35.

Q2. The Brahmaputra Valley extends for about ______ km from Sadiya to Dhubri.
Answer: 720.

Q3. The Barak Valley is drained by the river ______.
Answer: Barak.

Q4. Coal is mined in Assam at Makum, Margherita and ______.
Answer: Ledo.

Q5. Petroleum was struck at Digboi in the year ______.
Answer: 1901.

III. True or False

Q1. Dispur is the capital of Assam. — True.

Q2. Bao rice is grown in deep-water flooded areas. — True.

Q3. Manas is famous for the one-horned rhinoceros only. — False (it is also a tiger reserve).

Q4. The Barak is a tributary of the Brahmaputra. — False (Barak is an independent river system).

Q5. Assam is the largest tea-producing state of India. — True.

Quick Facts at a Glance

Feature	Details
Latitude	24°N – 28°N
Longitude	89°50’E – 96°E
Area	78,438 sq km
Capital	Dispur
Districts	35
Master River	Brahmaputra (720 km in Assam)
Climate	Humid sub-tropical monsoon
Average Rainfall	200–400 cm
First Oilfield	Digboi (1901)
Major Crop	Rice (Sali, Ahu, Bao)
Major Industry	Tea, Petroleum, Silk (Muga)
Largest River Island	Majuli
International Airport	LGBI, Guwahati

Map / Location-Based Practice Questions

Q1. On an outline map of Assam, mark the following places — Dispur, Dibrugarh, Silchar, Digboi, Sualkuchi, Kaziranga, Majuli and Sivasagar.

Q2. On the same map, show the rivers Brahmaputra, Subansiri, Manas, Dhansiri, Kopili and Barak with proper arrows of flow.

Q3. Identify and label on the map — coal-fields of Makum and Margherita, oilfields of Digboi, Nahorkatiya and Moran, and Kaziranga National Park.

Important Points to Remember

Assam lies in the north-eastern part of India between 24°N–28°N and 89°50’E–96°E.
Total area: 78,438 sq km; Capital: Dispur; Districts: 35.
Three physiographic divisions — Brahmaputra Valley, Barak Valley, Karbi Anglong–Dima Hasao Hills.
Climate: humid sub-tropical monsoon with rainfall 200 cm to 400 cm.
Master river: Brahmaputra (720 km in Assam); main tributaries — Subansiri, Manas, Dhansiri, Kopili, Disang.
Soils — alluvial (valleys), lateritic (older terraces), hill soils (Karbi Anglong, Dima Hasao).
Rice varieties — Sali, Ahu, Bao; cash crops — tea, jute, sugarcane, mustard.
Petroleum — Digboi (1901), Nahorkatiya, Moran; Coal — Makum, Margherita, Ledo.
Industries — tea, oil and gas, plywood, silk (Muga at Sualkuchi), handloom.
Transport — Roads, NF Railway, Brahmaputra waterway, LGBI Airport (Guwahati).
Tourism — Kaziranga, Manas, Sivasagar, Kamakhya, Majuli.
Major problems — floods, erosion, deforestation, slow industrial growth.

Glossary

Term	Meaning
Brahmaputra Valley	The fertile alluvial plain in northern Assam drained by the Brahmaputra river.
Barak Valley	The southern plain of Assam drained by the Barak river covering Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi.
Sali	Winter (transplanted) rice — the main rice crop of Assam.
Ahu	Autumn rice sown in March–April and harvested in June–July.
Bao	Deep-water rice grown in low-lying flood-prone areas.
Muga	A golden-yellow silk variety unique to Assam, woven mainly at Sualkuchi.
Bordoichila	Pre-monsoon thunderstorms that occur in Assam during March–May.
NF Railway	Northeast Frontier Railway, with headquarters at Maligaon, Guwahati.
LGBI Airport	Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati — the main airport of Assam.
Majuli	The largest river island in the world, on the Brahmaputra in Assam.
Lateritic Soil	Reddish soil rich in iron, found on older terraces and suitable for tea cultivation.
Erosion	Wearing away of land by rivers, rain or wind — a major problem along the Brahmaputra.
Alluvial Soil	Fine, fertile soil deposited by rivers, found in the Brahmaputra and Barak valleys.
Patkai Hills	The eastern hill range that separates Assam from Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh.
Subansiri	The largest northern tributary of the Brahmaputra, joining it near Lakhimpur.
Kaziranga	A national park in Golaghat–Nagaon districts, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the one-horned rhinoceros.
Sivasagar	The historic capital of the Ahom kingdom; site of Rang Ghar, Talatal Ghar and Joysagar tank.
Digboi	The town in Tinsukia district where petroleum was first commercially extracted in India in 1901.
Dispur	The capital of Assam, situated within the city of Guwahati.

Prepared for HSLC Guru — ASSEB Class 10 Social Science (Geography), Chapter 4: Geography of Assam. English Medium notes for revision and exam practice.