SOLUTIONS
2026 BOARD EXAM
CBSE Class 12 Humanities Geography Board Paper 2026 — Set 2 Solutions
2026
Geography
Class 12 Humanities
CBSE EXAMINATION PAPER-2026
GEOGRAPHY
(Solved)
General Instructions :
Read the following instructions carefully and follow them :
- This question paper contains 32 questions. All questions are compulsory.
- This question paper is divided into 4 sections.
- Section A – questions number 1 to 1 are case based questions
- Section B – questions number 2 to 18 are multiple choice questions
- Section C – questions number 19 to 23 are short answer
- Section D – questions number 24 to 32 are long answer
- There is no overall choice given in the question paper. However, an internal choice has been provided in few questions.
- Use of calculator is NOT allowed.
Section A
Read the given passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :
The Quaternary Sector
The Quaternary Sector along with the Tertiary Sector has replaced most of the primary and secondary employment as the basis for economic growth. Over half of all workers in developed economies are in the ‘Knowledge Sector’ and there has been a very high growth in demand for consumption of information-based services from mutual fund managers to tax consultants, software developers and statisticians. Personnel working in office buildings, elementary schools and university classrooms, hospitals and doctors’ offices, theatres, accounting and brokerage firms all belong to this category of services.
Like some of the tertiary functions, quaternary activities can also be outsourced. They are not tied to resources, affected by the environment, or necessarily localised by market.
(1) Define the concept of ‘outsourcing’.
[1 Mark](2) More than 50 percent of all workers in developed countries belongs to which sector of economy ?
[1 Mark](3) ‘Mutual funds managers’ are demanding which type of services ?
[1 Mark]Reference: The passage explains that demand for information-based services from mutual fund managers is very high in developed economies.
Section B
Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read both statements carefully and choose the correct option :
Assertion (A) : There is a strong dichotomy between physical elements and human beings.
Reason (R) : Nature and human are intricately interwined.
“Neither there is absolute necessity nor there is absolute freedom.” The given statement is related to which one of the following concepts ?
Read the following sub-fields of social geography carefully and choose the correct option :
I. Resource Geography
II. Leisure Geography
III. Gender Geography
IV. Marketing Geography
According to the provided context, Leisure Geography and Gender Geography are sub-fields of Social/Cultural Geography. Leisure Geography is linked with Sociology and studies social well-being, while Gender Geography is connected with Sociology, Anthropology, and Women’s Studies. Resource Geography and Marketing Geography are sub-fields of Economic Geography, not Social Geography. Therefore, the correct sub-fields of social geography among the given options are Leisure Geography and Gender Geography.
Which one of the following types of farming is most labour intensive ?
Which one of the following is an example of non-metallic mineral based industry ?
Two statements are given below. They are Assertion (A) and Reason (R).
Read both the statements carefully and choose the correct option :
Assertion (A) : The concept of ‘sustainable development’ emerged in 1990’s.
Reason (R) : General awareness about environmental issues originated during 1960’s in the western world.
Options :
Arrange the following coal mining areas of India from south to north direction of their location and choose the correct option :
I. Singareni
II. Neyveli
III. Jharia
IV. Talchar
Neyveli is located in Tamil Nadu, which is the southernmost among the given coal mining areas. Singareni coalfields are in Telangana, which lies north of Tamil Nadu. Talcher (spelled Talchar in the question) coalfields are in Odisha, located north of Telangana. Jharia coalfields are in Jharkhand, which is further north compared to the other areas. Hence, the correct order from south to north is Neyveli (II), Singareni (I), Talcher (IV), Jharia (III).
If you were asked to prepare a ‘hill area development programme’, which of the following must be kept in mind ? Choose the correct option :
I. Establishing heavy industry
II. Ecosystem
III. National Highway construction
IV. Topography
Match Column-I with Column-II and choose the correct option :
The correct matching of the minerals to their major mining areas is:
a. Iron-ore -iv. Sundargarh
b. Manganese - iii. Chandrapur
c. Bauxite - i. Katni
d. Copper - ii. Bhilwara
Read the information given in the box carefully and identify the mineral :
The context mentions that bauxite is the ore used in manufacturing aluminium and is found mainly in tertiary deposits associated with laterite rocks in peninsular India and coastal tracts. The mineral described is bauxite because the details match its occurrence and usage. The other options like mica, manganese, and copper do not fit the description given.
Which one of the following contributes maximum in India’s export ?
Which one of the following ports is situated at ‘Zuari Estuary’ ?
Which one of the following inland waterway and its stretch is correctly matched ?
According to the provided context, NW 1 corresponds to the Allahabad-Haldia stretch of 1,620 km and is one of the most important waterways in India. This matches the correct inland waterway and stretch. Other waterways and their stretches differ from the options provided or are not clearly mentioned.
How many countries fall under the low category of ‘human development index’ in the given table ?
Congo comes under which one of the following categories of human development ?
According to the Human Development Report 2021-22 and Table 3.2, countries are categorized by their Human Development Index (HDI) score. Congo has an HDI value of 0.593, which falls within the medium range (0.550 to 0.699).
Which of the following European country falls under very high category of human development ?
Section C
“International trade is mutually beneficial to nations.” Support the statement with suitable arguments.
1. It promotes regional specialisation, allowing countries to produce goods in which they have a comparative advantage, leading to efficient use of resources.
2. It increases the level of production and economic growth as countries can access larger markets.
3. It improves the standard of living by providing a wider variety of goods and services at competitive prices.
4. It contributes to equalisation of prices and wages across countries through competition.
5. International trade facilitates diffusion of knowledge, culture, and technology among nations.
Although there are risks like dependence on other countries or exploitation, the principle of comparative advantage and transferability of goods ensures trade is mutually beneficial. Modern transportation and communication systems further support global trade. Hence, international trade helps countries grow together by sharing resources and benefits.
“Global sea ports are the gateways of international trade.” Support the statement with suitable arguments.
Explain the importance of the ‘Northern Atlantic Sea Route’.
Study the given table carefully and answer the questions that follow :
During which decade, the net increase in number of towns/UAs is the lowest ?
Mention the net increase in number of towns/UAs during 1981-91.
Explain the decennial growth rate of urban population.
Lowest Net Increase in Towns/UAs
The net increase was the lowest during the decade 1961-1971.
Calculation: 2,590 - 2,365 = 225 towns
Net Increase During 1981-1991
The net increase in the number of towns/UAs during 1981-91 is 1,311.
Calculation: 4,689 - 3,378 = 1,311 towns
Explanation of Decennial Growth Rate of Urban Population
Definition: Decennial growth rate is the percentage change (increase or decrease) in the total urban population over a span of ten years.
Trend Analysis: According to the table, the decennial growth rate peaked at 46.14% in 1981. Since then, it has steadily slowed down, falling to 31.08% by 2011. This shows that although India's urban population continues to increase every decade, the speed or pace of that growth is declining.
Explain the need to extend the network of national highways in India.
Section D
How do the ‘landforms’ and ‘urbanisation’ influence the distribution of world population ? Explain with examples.
Urbanisation and Population Distribution: Urbanisation refers to the growth of towns and cities as more people move from rural to urban areas for better employment, education, and healthcare opportunities. Urban areas tend to have high population density. Cities such as New York, Tokyo, and Mumbai attract a large population due to business opportunities and developed infrastructure. This shift leads to uneven population distribution, with urban areas being densely populated while rural and remote areas have fewer people.
Conclusion: Therefore, landforms influence population distribution by providing favourable or unfavourable conditions for living and farming. Urbanisation further affects how population is spread by concentrating people in cities for economic and social benefits, creating densely populated urban centers and less populated rural areas.
How do ‘water availability’ and ‘industrialization’ influence the distribution of world population ? Explain with examples.
Industrialization and Population Distribution: Industrialization attracts people because it brings jobs, better infrastructure, and higher living standards. Industrial areas require significant water for manufacturing processes and human consumption, so industries often develop near water sources. Cities like Mumbai and Shanghai have grown rapidly due to industrial development and their proximity to water bodies. Industrialization can cause population concentration in urban and industrial regions, while rural and water-scarce areas remain sparsely populated.
Combined Effect: Both water availability and industrialization work together to influence where people live. Regions with adequate water and industrial growth become major population centers. Conversely, areas with water scarcity or without industrial opportunities tend to have lower population densities. For example, arid regions like the Sahara Desert have very sparse populations, whereas industrialized river valleys support millions of people.
In conclusion, water availability provides the basic requirement for life and agriculture, encouraging settlement, while industrialization creates employment and infrastructure, pulling people towards cities and industrial regions, thereby shaping the world population distribution.
“The earliest human beings depended on their immediate environment for their sustenance.” Examine the statement with reference to hunting and gathering.
Hunting: Early humans hunted wild animals for meat. They used simple tools made from stones, twigs, and arrows which limited the number of animals they could kill. Hunting was crucial especially in cold and extremely hot climates where other food sources were scarce.
Gathering: Besides hunting, humans gathered edible plants, fruits, nuts, and roots from forests and nearby areas. This method ensured they had a balanced diet and also helped them survive in regions with difficult climatic conditions.
Thus, primitive societies relied directly on the natural resources available in their surroundings for sustenance. They adapted their food habits according to the environment and climate. Over time, humans developed agriculture and technologies to produce their own food instead of only depending on nature. This shows that early human survival was closely linked with the immediate environment through hunting and gathering.
Human beings modified and adapted to nature while living in harmony with it. This dependence on environment shaped their lifestyle, food, clothing, and shelter, highlighting the importance of environment in early human societies.
“Commercial livestock rearing is well organised and capital intensive.” Examine the statement with comparison to nomadic herding.
These ranches focus on specialised rearing of one type of animal like sheep, cattle, goats or horses. The process involves scientific methods for breeding, genetic improvement and animal care to produce quality products such as meat, wool, hides and skin. These products are processed and packed scientifically and then exported to world markets.
Nomadic herding is less organised, less capital intensive and depends largely on natural availability of pastures as herders move animals seasonally to find grazing land. It is mainly practised for subsistence to meet the basic needs of the herder community. In contrast, commercial livestock rearing requires significant investment in land, infrastructure, technology and scientific management making it capital intensive.
In summary, commercial livestock rearing is a specialised, planned and commercial activity with substantial capital investment and scientific approach, whereas nomadic herding is a traditional, subsistence based and less organised system with minimal capital input.
Explain the problem of ‘low productivity’ of Indian agriculture. Analyse the role of ‘National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture’ to solve this problem.
(b) Role of National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA): The NMSA aims to make Indian agriculture more productive, sustainable, remunerative, and climate resilient. It promotes location-specific integrated and composite farming systems that maximize productivity by using natural resources efficiently. The mission focuses on soil and moisture conservation through appropriate measures which help enhance land fertility and water availability. It encourages adoption of improved technologies for dryland farming, water harvesting, and risk management. By supporting sustainable farming practices and conserving natural resources, NMSA helps overcome productivity constraints, especially in fragile rainfed regions, contributing to increased agricultural output and farmer income.
Explain the problems of the ‘indebtedness’ of Indian farmers. Analyse the importance of ‘farmer’s portal’ in helping the farmers.
(b) Importance of Farmer’s Portal: The Farmer’s Portal is a crucial initiative to support farmers by providing comprehensive information related to agriculture. It offers details about farmers’ insurance, crop management, seeds, pesticides, fertilizers, market prices, and modern farm machinery. The portal also shares knowledge on welfare schemes, storage facilities, training programs, and soil fertility at the block level. Farmers can download handbooks and scheme guidelines, which empowers them to make informed decisions and reduce dependency on middlemen and moneylenders. It helps farmers access timely information, improve their productivity, and manage risks better, indirectly helping in addressing indebtedness issues by lowering costs and increasing income opportunities.
“The government of India’s campaign ‘Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao’ is an effective step to empower women.” Justify the statement.
1. Preventing female foeticide and discrimination: This campaign creates awareness against the practice of female foeticide and discrimination towards the girl child which has been a major social issue in India.
2. Educating girls: By encouraging education among girls, the campaign empowers them to become independent and self-reliant. Education opens up opportunities in the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy.
3. Promoting gender sensitivity: It sensitizes society to respect and value girls equally which helps to create a balanced social structure.
4. Improving work participation: With more educated women, their participation in non-agricultural sectors has increased, leading to economic empowerment.
Overall, 'Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao' is a significant step towards building a society where girls have equal opportunities to lead a meaningful and dignified life, thereby empowering women and contributing to the nation's growth.
Explain the causes of air pollution and suggest any three measures to overcome it.
Air pollution occurs due to the addition of harmful substances like dust, fumes, gases, smoke and vapours into the atmosphere. The main causes are combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, petrol and diesel which release oxides of sulphur (SO2, SO3), oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, lead and asbestos. Industrial processes, mining activities, solid waste disposal and sewage disposal also contribute significantly to air pollution. Increasing energy demands have led to more toxic gases being emitted into the air, harming plants, animals and humans.
Measures to Overcome Air Pollution:
1. Use of Public Transport and Carpooling: This reduces the number of vehicles on roads thereby decreasing emission of harmful gases.
2. Adoption of Clean Energy Sources: Using renewable energy like solar, wind and hydropower instead of fossil fuels decreases air pollution.
3. Industrial Regulations: Enforcing strict rules to control emissions from industries and promoting use of pollution control devices like scrubbers and filters helps reduce air pollutants.
These steps along with increasing public awareness and encouraging tree plantation can significantly reduce air pollution and protect the environment.
Explain the causes of noise pollution and suggest any three measures to overcome it.
Noise pollution is caused by high levels of unwanted sound that disturb the environment and human life. The main causes include noise from aircrafts, automobiles, trains, industrial processing, and advertising media. Factories, mechanised construction, demolition works, sirens, and loudspeakers used in festivals and community programmes also contribute to noise pollution. Traffic noise is considered the biggest nuisance because it varies in intensity depending on many factors like type of vehicle, road conditions, and vehicle maintenance.
Measures to Overcome Noise Pollution:
1. Use of noise barriers and soundproof walls near highways and industrial areas to reduce sound levels.
2. Regular maintenance of vehicles and machinery to minimize noise caused by mechanical defects.
3. Implementation of and adherence to noise pollution laws and regulations, such as limiting the use of loudspeakers and controlling traffic noise during night hours.
These steps can help reduce noise pollution and create a healthier and more comfortable environment for everyone.
Other Years — Geography