UPSC Prelims 2015 · Question 69 of 98
UPSC Prelims 2015 question on Living Root Bridges
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2015
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectGeography
- TopicIndian Geography
- DifficultyMedium
- TypeDirect
In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique 'living root bridges' are found in
Show answer
Answer: A. Meghalaya
Verdict
The answer is Meghalaya. The living root bridges are found in the hills of Meghalaya.
Analysis
In the Khasi and Jaintia hills, secondary roots of the rubber tree Ficus elastica are trained horizontally across streams, often through hollowed betel nut trunks, and over years they thicken into load bearing bridges that grow stronger with age. The practice depends on two conditions found together in Meghalaya: the presence of Ficus elastica and an extremely wet climate with fast flowing streams that wash away conventional bridges. Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu lack that combination.
Source
The Hindu feature on the living root bridges of Meghalaya.
How to crack it
Traditional practices are shaped by the local environment, so read the description for its ecological preconditions and then find the region that satisfies them. Roots that can be trained across streams imply heavy rainfall, dense forest and a rubber fig, which points to the wettest part of India. Building the habit of asking which climate makes this practice necessary handles a whole class of question on indigenous technology and traditional knowledge.