UPSC GS1 2025

Q. Discuss the distribution and density of population in the Ganga River Basin with special reference to land, soil and water resources.

UPSC Mains 2025 GS1 Paper

Model Answer:

Distribution and Density of Population in the Ganga River Basin

The Ganga Basin, covering 26% of India’s landmass across 11 states, supports approximately 600 million people (43% of India’s population), making it one of the world’s most densely populated river basins.

Population Distribution Pattern

The basin exhibits distinct spatial variations in population density:

• Upper Basin (Uttarakhand, Western UP): Exhibits lower density of 200-400 persons/km² due to mountainous terrain and limited arable land. Cities like Dehradun and Haridwar form isolated population clusters.

• Middle Basin (Central UP, Bihar): Records highest density of 800-1200 persons/km², with districts like Vaishali (1,717/km²) and Siwan (1,495/km²) among India’s densest. This region forms the demographic core of the basin.

• Lower Basin (West Bengal): Maintains very high density exceeding 1000 persons/km², particularly in the deltaic regions around Kolkata metropolitan area.

Resource-Population Nexus

Land Resources: The extensive alluvial plains provide flat, cultivable land supporting intensive agriculture and urbanization. The Indo-Gangetic plain’s gentle gradient (barely 20cm/km) facilitates infrastructure development, enabling cities like Kanpur, Patna, and Kolkata to flourish. In contrast, the Himalayan foothills restrict settlements to valley floors.

Soil Resources: The basin’s fertility directly correlates with population density:
• Khadar soils along riverbanks support intensive vegetable cultivation (e.g., Varanasi’s vegetable belt)
• Bhangar soils enable double-cropping of rice-wheat, sustaining rural populations
• Bihar’s rice-growing areas support 1,106 persons/km² compared to western UP’s wheat zones with 828 persons/km²

Water Resources: Perennial water availability shapes demographic patterns:
• Groundwater-rich zones in central plains enable tubewell irrigation, supporting denser populations
• Eastern areas receiving 120cm+ rainfall sustain higher densities than semi-arid western portions (75cm rainfall)
• Canal-irrigated districts like Rohtak show moderate density despite water access, while traditionally irrigated Bihar districts remain densely populated

Conclusion:
The Ganga Basin’s population distribution reflects optimal convergence of fertile soils, water abundance, and cultivable plains.

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