RBSE Class 12 Geography Half-Yearly Model Paper 2026-27 (English Medium) with Answer Key

Class 12 Geography – Arts (Code 14) Theory – Half-Yearly Model Paper 2026-27 (English Medium)

Theory Paper: 56 marks, Time 3 hours 15 minutes | By NCERTClasses Team

General Instructions

1. All questions are compulsory. Where 'OR' is given, attempt only one option.
2. Marks are shown in brackets against each question. The paper has two parts: Part 1 Fundamentals of Human Geography (28 marks) and Part 2 India: People and Economy (28 marks). The practical examination is separate and is not covered here.
3. Section A carries 14 marks (8 multiple-choice + 6 for map work); Section B has 7 questions of 2 marks each; Section C has 4 questions of 3 marks each; Section D has 4 questions of 4 marks each.
4. Outline maps of the world and India for Question 2 (map work) will be supplied separately; attach them to your answer book.
5. A small tag after each question shows its part and unit (e.g. P1/U3 = Part 1, Unit 3).

Section A: Objective and Map Work (14 marks)

1. The concept of 'stop and go determinism' is associated with which geographer? (a) Griffith Taylor (b) Vidal de la Blache (c) Ratzel (d) Carl Ritter [1]P1/U1
2. By what name is shifting (jhum) cultivation known in Mexico and Central America? (a) Roca (b) Milpa (c) Conuco (d) Ladang [1]P1/U3
3. Officials who take top-level policy decisions in an organisation or government are counted in which economic activity? (a) Primary (b) Secondary (c) Quaternary (d) Quinary [1]P1/U3
4. In the census, sex ratio means: (a) females per thousand of the total population (b) number of females per thousand males (c) number of males per thousand females (d) percentage of males in the total population [1]P2/U1
5. Which of the following is a rabi crop? (a) Bajra (b) Gram (c) Cotton (d) Maize [1]P2/U3
6. What was the earlier name of the Indira Gandhi Canal? (a) Ganga Canal (b) Rajasthan Canal (c) Sirhind Canal (d) Bhakra Canal [1]P2/U3
7. The main source of thorium in India is: (a) bauxite (b) monazite sands of the Kerala coast (c) mica of Jharkhand (d) Gondwana coal [1]P2/U3
8. In which Indian state is the Bharmaur tribal area located? (a) Uttarakhand (b) Jammu and Kashmir (c) Himachal Pradesh (d) Sikkim [1]P2/U3

1. On the given outline map of the world, mark the following: (i) Suez Canal (ii) Panama Canal (iii) Rotterdam port [3]P1/Map
2. On the given outline map of India, mark the following: (i) Kandla port (ii) Jharia coalfield (iii) Digboi oil field [3]P2/Map

Section B: 2-Mark Questions (7 × 2 = 14 marks)

Section C: 3-Mark Questions (4 × 3 = 12 marks)

Section D: 4-Mark Questions (4 × 4 = 16 marks)

Marks Distribution Table

Answer Key and Marking Scheme

(Award full marks for correct answers with the same sense; word-for-word matching is not required.)

Question 1 (1 each)

(i) a – Griffith Taylor. (ii) b – Milpa. (iii) d – Quinary. (iv) b – number of females per thousand males. (v) b – Gram. (vi) b – Rajasthan Canal. (vii) b – monazite sands of the Kerala coast. (viii) c – Himachal Pradesh (Chamba district).

Question 2 (1 per correct marking; credit only if the position is approximately right)

(a) (i) Suez Canal – Egypt; joins the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. (ii) Panama Canal – Panama (Central America); joins the Atlantic (Caribbean) and the Pacific Ocean. (iii) Rotterdam – Netherlands, on the North Sea coast, near the mouth of the Rhine (Rhine-Meuse delta). (b) (i) Kandla – Gujarat (Kutch district), at the head (inner end) of the Gulf of Kutch. (ii) Jharia – Jharkhand (Dhanbad district), Damodar valley. (iii) Digboi – Assam (Tinsukia district), Upper Assam, north-eastern part of the Brahmaputra valley.

Question 3 (2)

Determinism: nature controls human activities; humans are seen as passive (1). Possibilism: nature offers opportunities/possibilities; humans, with their needs and technology, are active agents who choose (1). OR: any two sub-fields (½+½) with a theme each (½+½) – e.g. population geography: distribution and density of population; economic geography: production and trade; social geography: relation between society and space; urban geography: growth of cities.

Question 4 (2)

(i) A = 9,00,000 ÷ 1,500 = 600 persons per sq km; B = 1,20,000 ÷ 800 = 150 persons per sq km (½+½). (ii) Region A is denser; any one reason – fertile plains, adequate water, moderate climate, easy terrain, industry and employment (1). OR: long and healthy life, knowledge/education, standard of living/access to resources (all three correct: 2 marks; two correct: 1).

Question 5 (2)

Surface (open-cast) mining – ore near the surface; cheapest and relatively safe (1); underground (shaft) mining – when ore lies deep; higher cost and greater risk (1). OR: Cottage: family members work, local raw material, simple tools, little capital; large-scale: huge capital, advanced machines, specialised labour, large output and market (2 differences × 1).

Question 6 (2)

(i) Balance of trade = exports − imports = 45,000 − 52,000 = −7,000 crore rupees (a deficit) (1). (ii) Unfavourable, because imports exceed exports (1). OR: established in 1995 (1); it replaced the GATT – General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (1).

Question 7 (2)

Decadal growth = (92 − 80) ÷ 80 × 100 = 15% (formula/working 1 + answer 1). OR: literacy rate = (3,50,000 ÷ 5,00,000) × 100 = 70%; definition – the percentage of the population aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding (formula 1 + answer 1).

Question 8 (2)

Compact: houses close together, dense cluster, usually near fertile plains or water sources (1); dispersed: houses far apart, isolated, on separate farms or in dhanis (hamlets), in hilly, forested or desert areas (1). OR: administrative town – seat of government/administration, e.g. Chandigarh or New Delhi (1); industrial town – dominated by industry, e.g. Jamshedpur (1).

Question 9 (2)

Tanka – an underground tank for storing rainwater, usually filled with water from roofs or courtyards (1); traditionally found in Bikaner, Phalodi and Barmer areas (1). OR: watershed management – conservation and efficient use of the land and water resources of a watershed (1); objectives – check soil erosion, recharge groundwater, increase water availability (any two, ½+½).

Question 10 (3)

P – Stage 1: both birth and death rates high, growth almost nil/slow (1). Q – Stage 2: birth rate still high but death rate has fallen, so rapid population growth (1). R – Stage 3: both rates low, growth slow/stable (1). OR: any three of equity, sustainability, productivity, empowerment, each explained (1+1+1).

Question 11 (3)

Rail: suited to carrying heavy goods and large numbers of passengers over long distances (1); relatively low cost per unit of transport (1); fixed timetable, safe and relatively less polluting (1). OR pipeline: continuous flow of liquids/gas (oil, natural gas, water) (1); low operating cost and easy maintenance once laid (1); reduces traffic load and accident risk on roads/rail (1).

Question 12 (3)

1 mark for each type with one correct feature (total 3): anthracite – highest carbon content, best quality, little smoke; bituminous – most widely used commercial coal, used in metallurgy; lignite – brown, low grade, high moisture (e.g. Neyveli, Tamil Nadu); peat – lowest carbon content, early stage of coal formation. OR: development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations (1); Brundtland Report 'Our Common Future', 1987 (1); measure – conserve/recycle resources, use renewable energy, plant trees, etc. (1).

Question 13 (3)

Any three causes, 1 each: overgrazing; deforestation; improper farming/over-irrigation causing waterlogging and salinity; mining; soil erosion by water and wind; excessive use of chemical fertilisers. OR: overcrowding, lack of clean drinking water and sanitation, health problems, low income and unemployment, insecure housing (any three, 1 × 3).

Question 14 (4)

Four features (1 × 4): clearing forest/bush by cutting and burning (slash and burn); fertility from ash; land abandoned after a few years of cultivation; small plots, simple tools (digging stick, hoe), family/community labour. OR: large estate/plantation; single-crop farming; capital and scientific management; links with transport and markets, migrant labour; examples – tea, coffee, rubber (3 features + 1 example).

Question 15 (4)

Four factors, each briefly explained (1 × 4): nearness to market; availability of raw material; labour (number and skill); power resources; transport and communication; capital; government policy (any four). OR: quaternary – knowledge-based services (research, information technology, education) (1) + example (1); quinary – top-level decision makers and senior managers/officials (1) + example (1).

Question 16 (4)

Any four problems (1 × 4): uncertain and uneven monsoon and lack of irrigation; small and fragmented holdings; low productivity; shortage of capital and credit; soil erosion/degradation; inadequate marketing and storage facilities. OR: uncertainty and unevenness of rainfall; long dry season; some crops (e.g. paddy) need much water; assured irrigation needed for high-yielding varieties; multiple cropping becomes possible (any four).

Question 17 (4)

Golden Quadrilateral: a four/six-lane national highway project (part of the National Highways Development Project) (1); Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata (1); benefits – less travel time and transport cost, boost to industry and trade, regional connectivity (any two, 1+1). OR: importance of ports – gateways of sea trade, handle most of the import and export cargo (2); west coast – Mumbai, Mormugao, Kandla, Kochi, etc. (any two, 1); east coast – Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip, etc. (any two, 1).