World Economic Geography

This question checks knowledge of countries known for major natural resources that play key roles in global markets.

I. Botswana : Diamond – Correct * Botswana is a top global producer of diamonds, vital to its economy.

II. Chile : Lithium – Correct * Chile has vast lithium reserves in the Atacama Desert and is a leading global supplier.

III. Indonesia : Nickel – Correct * Indonesia is the world's largest producer of nickel, crucial for batteries and steel.

The Assertion (Statement-I) is Correct: The Sumed (Suez-Mediterranean) pipeline is a critical strategic route for transporting energy resources from the Persian Gulf to Europe. It serves as a vital alternative to the Suez Canal, particularly for Ultra Large Crude Carriers (ULCCs) that are too large to navigate the canal fully loaded.

The Reason (Statement-II) is Correct: The pipeline physically connects the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. It runs from the Ain Sokhna terminal on the Gulf of Suez to the Sidi Kerir terminal near Alexandria. Crude oil from the Persian Gulf is unloaded from tankers at the Red Sea terminal, transported through the pipeline, and then reloaded onto tankers at the Mediterranean terminal for shipment to European ports.

Statement-II correctly explains Statement-I because the geographical connection between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean is the specific factor that enables the pipeline to function as a strategic transit bypass for shipments heading to Europe.

The border between Canada and the United States is the longest international border in the world, stretching approximately 8,891 kilometers (5,525 miles), including the border shared with Alaska. It is a peaceful boundary and includes both land and water segments.


Chile and Argentina:

* Length: Approx. 5,308 kilometres

* This is the third-longest international border in the world and the longest in South America.

* It follows the Andes mountain range for most of its length, with several high-altitude border crossings.

China and India:

* Length: Approx. 3,488 kilometers * It is highly disputed in areas such as Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh, leading to occasional tensions between the two nations.

Kazakhstan and Russian Federation:

* Length: Approx. 7,644 kilometers

* This is the second-longest international border in the world.

* It is largely flat, passing through vast steppes, and is a vital region for trade and natural resources between the two countries.

The Ivory Coast and Ghana are by far the two largest producers of cocoa, accounting for more than 50 per cent of the world's cocoa.


West Africa is home to the largest cocoa producing countries worldwide, with 3.9 million tonnes of production in 2022.

In fact, there are about one million farmers in Côte d'Ivoire supplying cocoa to key customers such as Nestlé, Mars, and Hershey.

However, the massive influence of this industry has led to significant forest loss to plant cocoa trees.

* Cobalt has emerged as a vital ingredient for the shift to a lower-carbon energy system, but reserves of the metal are concentrated heavily in just a single country.

* The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to half of the world's known resources and currently accounts for around 70% of global production.

* The metals used in electronic goods, particularly the rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles and other forms of energy storage means interest in it is growing as the electrification of the global energy system continues to gather pace.

* Cobalt is used in batteries, superalloys, catalysts, magnets, and pigments for various industries like electronics, aviation, and manufacturing.

* Democratic Republic of Congo (I), Indonesia (II), Russia (III), Australia (IV), and Madagascar (V) are the top 5 Cobalt-producing countries in the world.

* Small deposits of Cobalt are known to exist in Odisha & Jharkhand in India.

* Cobalt has also been classified as a critical mineral by the Government of India.