Which of the following soils of India has been formed due to weathering of basaltic lava?

The correct answer is D (Regur soils). Regur, also called black cotton soil, develops mainly from the weathering of basaltic lava flows of the Deccan Traps. The basalt is rich in iron, magnesium, calcium and aluminium, and the black colour comes from titaniferous magnetite and iron compounds. These soils retain moisture well and show deep cracks when dry, which is why they suit cotton cultivation in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and parts of Karnataka and Telangana.

• A (Alluvial soils): formed by deposition of river sediment, not by weathering of lava.
• B (Laterite soils): formed by intense leaching in hot, humid conditions on varied parent rocks. Their origin is not tied to basaltic lava.
• C (Red soils): derived mainly from ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks such as granite and gneiss, mostly in peninsular India.
• E (None or more than one): wrong, since exactly one option fits.

The core concept is the link between parent rock and soil type, which connects directly to the Geography and Agriculture sections of the syllabus. For Mains, it helps in answering questions on soil health, crop suitability and water management in the Deccan region.

Trap: aspirants often pick laterite because laterites are common over basalt in parts of the Western Ghats. The question asks about the soil formed from basaltic lava weathering, which is regur.