In the intricate tapestry of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations, the geography segment of the Preliminary examination serves as a crucial thread. Often regarded as the cornerstone of understanding the world around us, geography encompasses the study of Earth’s landscapes, environments, and the interactions between humans and their surroundings. In the UPSC Prelims, geography questions are not merely inquiries into geographical facts and figures; they are gateways to comprehending the complex interplay of physical and human geography, geopolitics, environmental concerns, and socio-economic dynamics. From the majestic peaks of the Himalayas to the sprawling deltas of the Ganges, each question unfolds a narrative of the Earth’s diverse terrains, ecosystems, and civilizations. As aspirants delve into the realms of latitude and longitude, climatic patterns, and global phenomena, they embark on a journey of discovery that extends far beyond the confines of their textbooks, enriching their understanding of the world and its multifaceted intricacies.
Q1. Consider the following statements:
1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
2. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake.
3. Meandering of the Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Ans. (a)
Q2. Consider the following pairs:
| Port | Well known as | |
| 1. | Kamarajar Port | First major port in India registered as a company |
| 2. | Mundra Port | Largest privately owned port in India |
| 3. | Visakhapatnam | Largest container port in Port India |
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) All three pairs
(d) None of the pairs
Ans. (A)
Q3. Consider the following trees:
1. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)
2. Mahua (Madhuca indica)
3. Teak (Tectona grandis)
How many of the above are deciduous trees?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Ans. (b)
Q5. Which one of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present-day extensive marshland?
(a) Bhitarkanika Mangroves
(b) Marakkanam Salt Pans
(c) Naupada Swamp
(d) Rann of Kutch
Ans. (d)
Q6. Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?
(a) Aluminium
(b) Copper
(c) Iron
(d) Titanium
Ans. (d)
Q8. Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients.
Statement-II: The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Ans. (d)
Q12. With reference to the Earth’s atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?
(a) The total amount of insolation received at the equator is roughly about 10 times of that received at the poles.
(b) Infrared rays constitute roughly two-thirds of insolation.
(c) Infrared waves are largely absorbed by water vapour that is concentrated in the lower atmosphere.
(d) Infrared waves are a part of the visible spectrum of electromagnetic waves of solar radiation.
Ans. (c)
Q13. Consider the following pairs:
| Reservoirs | States | ||
| 1. | Ghataprabha | — | Telangana |
| 2. | Gandhi Sagar | — | Madhya Pradesh |
| 3. | Indira Sagar | — | Andhra Pradesh |
| 4. | Maithon | — | Chhattisgarh |
How many pairs given above are not correctly matched?
(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) All four pairs
Ans. (c)
Q14. Which one of the following lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert?
(a) Lake Victoria
(b) Lake Faguibine
(c) Lake Oguta
(d) Lake Volta
Ans: (b)
Q15. Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers?
(a) Cauvery
(b) Manjira
(c) Pennar
(d) Tungabhadra
Ans. (c)
Q17. The term “Levant” often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions?
(a) Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores
(b) Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco
(c) Region along Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa
(d) The entire coastal areas of Mediterranean Sea
Ans: (a)
Q18. The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of
(a) brown forest soil
(b) fissure volcanic rock
(c) granite and schist
(d) shale and limestone
Ans. (b)
Q19. With reference to ‘palm oil’, consider the following statements:
- The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.
- The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.
- The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (b)
Q20. With reference to the Indus River system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them which joins the Indus direct. Among the following, which one is such river that joins the Indus direct?
(a) Chenab
(b) Jhelum
(c) Ravi
(d) Sutlej
Ans. (d)
Q21. Siachen Glacier is situated to the
(a) East of Aksai Chin
(b) East of Leh
(c) North of Gilgit
(d) North of Nubra Valley
Ans. (d)
Q22. On 21st June, the Sun
(a) does not set below the horizon at the Arctic Circle
(b) does not set below the horizon at Antarctic Circle
(c) shines vertically overhead at noon on the Equator
(d) shines vertically overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn
Ans. (a)
Q23. What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?
(a) Recently discovered uranium deposits
(b) Tropical rain forests
(c) Underground cave systems
(d) Water reservoirs
Ans. (d)
Q24. Which one of the following is an artificial lake?
(a) Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)
(b) Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh)
(c) Nainital (Uttarakhand)
(d) Renuka (Himachal Pradesh)
Ans. (a)
Q25. Which one of the following pairs of States of India indicates the easternmost and westernmost State?
(a) Assam and Rajasthan
(b) Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan
(c) Assam and Gujarat
(d) Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat
Ans. (d)
Q26. Consider the following pairs:
Place of Pilgrimage Location
- Srisailam : Nallamala Hills
- Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills
- Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Ans. (a)
Q27. Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
(a) North Coastal Andhra Pradesh
(b) South-West Bengal
(c) Southern Saurashtra
(d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Ans. (d)
Q28. Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arcitc?
(a) Khangchendzonga National Park
(b) Nadadevi National Park
(c) Neora Valley National Park
(d) Namdapha National Park
Ans. (d)
Q29.”Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But rain is soon over.” Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?
(a) Savannah
(b) Equatorial
(c) Monsoon
(d) Mediterranean
Ans. (b)
Q30. Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
(a) Saltwater crocodile
(b) Olive ridley turtle
(c) Gangetic dolphin
(d) Gharial
Ans. (c)
Q31. In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living tree into robust bridges across streams. As the time passes these bridges become stronger. These unique ‘Living Root Bridges’ are found in
(a) Meghalaya
(b) Himachal Pradesh
(c) Jharkhand
(d) Tamil Nadu
Ans. (a)
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