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UPSC CSE Prelims PYQ of Geography

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UPSC Prelims Geography - 2026

1) Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?

1. Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts.
2. Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones.
3. By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities.

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer : (d) 3 only

Statement 1 is incorrect. Mangroves do not store freshwater and are not suitable for paddy cultivation.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Mangroves are not salt sensitive rather they are halophytes, that means they are highly salt tolerant. Mangroves also do not convert coastal areas into freshwater aquaculture zones.

Statement 3 is correct. Being halophytes and having dense root network, they prevent tidal surges and act as natural bio shield. They also support livelihood by protecting people from cyclones and storms. Mangroves thereby provide a sustainable ecosystem.
2) Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information:

1. It has an antecedent drainage system.
2. It flows through three countries.
3. It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and is an important river for irrigation.
4. It does not form distributaries.

Select the answer from the following:
(a) Brahmaputra
(b) Indus
(c) Sutlej
(d) Teesta

Correct Answer : (c) Sutlej

Brahmaputra: This river originates from Chemyungdung glacier, near Mount Kailash in Tibet where it is known as Yarlung Tsangpo. It enters India at Namcha Barwa, Arunachal Pradesh where it is known as Siang or Dihang. It also flows through Bangladesh as river Jamuna.

Indus: Indus river originates at Bokhar Chu glacier near Mount Kailash, Tibet. Its length is around 2880 km and it flows through Tibet, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and drains into the Arabian Sea.

Teesta: It originates from Tso Lhamo lake, Sikkim and joins the Jamuna river in Bangladesh.
3) Which of the following with reference to Indian States is/are not correct?

1. Uttar Pradesh shares its boundary with the highest number of other Indian States.
2. Rajasthan shares the longest international border among all Indian States.
3. Sikkim is the only State that shares its boundary with just one other Indian State.

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer : (c) 2 and 3

Statement 1 is correct. UP shares borders with 8 Indian states- Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar and 1 UT- Delhi.

Statement 2 is incorrect. West Bengal shares the longest international border among all states with Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. Its total border length is approximately 2509 km.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Sikkim shares border only with West Bengal and Meghalaya shares border only with Assam. So, there are 2 such Indian states.
4) Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries?
(a) Ecuador
(b) Peru
(c) Bolivia
(d) Columbia

Correct Answer : (a) Ecuador

The volcano is located in Andes of Ecuador. It is an active volcano and was granted the status of a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025.
5) With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The climate can be defined as a humid, tropical coastal climate.
2. It receives rainfall from both South-west monsoon and North-east monsoon.
3. Maximum precipitation is between December and May.

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer : (b) 1 and 2

As the islands are located closer to the equator they experience a relatively hot, humid and tropical climate.

They receive rainfall from both the monsoon patterns.

While the maximum precipitation is between May and September.
6) Which of the following geographical features or phenomena is/are associated with the Peninsular Block of India?

1. Submergence of parts of the western coast due to tectonic activity
2. Presence of residual mountain ranges such as the Veliconda hills and Mahendragiri hills
3. Deep, V-shaped river valleys formed by fast-flowing rivers

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer : (b) 1 and 2

During the tertiary period, the peninsular plateau underwent subsidence due to vulcanism and formation of Deccan trap that led to submergence of the western coast and formation of residual mountain ranges.

Statement 3 is incorrect as peninsular rivers are older river system and have reached mature stage. While deep, V-shaped valleys are formed by fast flowing, youthful rivers.
7) At the UN Ocean Conference (UNOC) held in June 2025 in France, the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations demonstrated its leading voice on marine and ocean issues, especially on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture for resilient livelihood and “Blue Transformation”.

Which of the following combinations about the “Four Betters” proposed by FAO for “Blue Transformation” is correct?
(a) Better production, better nutrition, better environment and better ocean
(b) Better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life
(c) Better coral reefs, better nutrition, better environment and better life
(d) Better estuaries, better nutrition, better environment and better mangrove vegetation

Correct Answer : (b) Better production, better nutrition, better environment and better life

FAO for its Sustainable Development Agenda for 2030 advocated 4 betters to achieve sustainable food system. These are:

1. Better Production: Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns.

2. Better Nutrition: Ending hunger, achieving food security, and improving access to healthy diets.

3. Better Environment: Protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

4. Better Life: Promoting inclusive economic growth and reducing inequalities, leaving no one behind.
8) Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct?

1. It is the largest desert lake in the world.
2. The lake is situated in South Sudan along the eastern fringe of the Sahara-desert.
3. The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also referred to as the 'Jade Sea'.

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : (b) 1 and 3

Lake Turkana is the largest desert lake in the world situated in northern Kenya, extending to Ethiopia.

Also known as the Jade-sea, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
9) Which of the following statements with regard to India's Deep Ocean Mission is/are correct?

1. It was launched by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India.
2. Matsya-6000 has been designed to carry 3 people for deep sea exploration.
3. Samudrayaan is a project under this mission.

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer : (b) 2 and 3

Deep Ocean Mission was launched by Ministry of Earth Sciences to explore and make sustainable utilization of deep ocean.

It is a central sector scheme to navigate India’s blue economy.

Samudrayaan project is its first crewed under sea expedition with a capacity of 3 crew members up to a depth of 6,000 m.

Matsya 6000 is the manned submarine vehicle for fulfilling the purpose.
10) Which of the following statements with regard to India's indigenous new high resolution weather model, the 'Bharat Forecast System,' is/are correct?

1. Its objective is to generate forecasts at the Panchayats cluster level.
2. It was developed by IIT Delhi.

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer : (a) 1 only

The Bharat Forecast system was developed by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune under Ministry of Earth Sciences to generate highly precise and accurate weather forecasting at the Panchayat Cluster level, making India the first nation to generate such high-resolution weather model in the world.

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2025

1) Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.

Statement II: Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.

Statement III: As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
(b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
(d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Correct Answer : (b)

Statement (1) states a shift in the Earth’s rotation and axis due to climate change and man-made activities.

Statement (2) is correct. Solar flares and coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outer atmosphere with huge energy. But this does not contribute to a shift in Earth’s rotation and axis.

Statement (3) is correct. Due to melting of polar ice caps, the water tends to move towards the equator due to the force of gravitation and centrifugal force. This results in shift in the rotation and axis of Earth. Thus, this explains statement (1).
2) Consider the following Pairs:
Plant Description
I. Cassava Woody shrub
II. Ginger Herb with pseudostem
III. Malabar spinach Herbaceous climber
IV. Mint Annual shrub
V. Papaya Woody shrub
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) All the five

Correct Answer : (b) Only three

Pair I is correctly matched. Cassava is a woody shrub. It grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world.

Pair II is correctly matched. Ginger is a herb with pseudostem. It is a perennial plant with rhizome and pseudostem.

Pair III is correctly matched. Malabar Spinach is a herbaceous climber.

Pair IV is incorrectly matched. Mint is not a shrub. It is a perennial herb.

Pair V is incorrectly matched. Papaya is a perennial herb and not a shrub. Papaya is a tree like plant.
3) With reference to the planet Earth, consider the following statements:

I. Rain forests produce more oxygen than that produced by oceans.
II. Marine phytoplankton and photo synthetic bacteria produce about 50% of world’s oxygen.
III. Well-oxygenated surface water contains several folds higher oxygen than that in atmospheric air.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I and II
(b) II only
(c) I and III
(d) None of the above statements is correct

Correct Answer : (b) II only

Statement I is incorrect. As the oceans contain phytoplanktons, that are world’s largest source of oxygen, the oceans produce a much larger amount of oxygen (50-80%) than the rain forests (28%).

Statement II is correct. Phtoplanktons and photo synthetic bacteria produce around 50-80% of the world’s oxygen.

Statement III is incorrect. Atmospheric air is much larger producer of oxygen than the surface water.
4) Consider the following statements:

I. India has joined the Minerals Security Partnership as a member.
II. India is a resource-rich country in all the 30 critical minerals that it has identified.
III. The Parliament in 2023 has amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 empowering the Central Government to exclusively auction mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III

Correct Answer : (c) I and III only

Mineral Security Partnership was started by USA to strengthen the global supply chain of critical minerals and to reduce dependence on China. India joined MSP in 2023, becoming its 14th member. Statement I is correct.

Statement II is incorrect. India is not rich in all the critical minerals and to ensure smooth supply chain it joined the MSP and also started National Critical Mineral Mission in 2025.

Statement III is correct. The MMDR Act was amended in 2023 to allow exclusive central control over mining lease and composite license for certain critical minerals such as lithium, niobium.
5) Consider the following countries:

I. Bolivia
II. Brazil
III. Colombia
IV. Ecuador
V. Paraguay
VI. Venezuela

Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) Only five

Correct Answer : (c) Only four
6) Consider the following water bodies:

I. Lake Tanganyika
II. Lake Tonle Sap
III. Patos Lagoon

Through how many of them does the equator pass?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None

Correct Answer : (d) None

Lake Tanganayika in central Africa lies entirely south of equator. It is a deep freshwater lake.

Lake Tonle Sap is also a fresh water lake in Cambodia. It lies north of equator.

Patos Lagoon is a coastal lagoon in Brazil and is located south of equator.
7) Consider the following statements about turmeric during the year 2022-23:

I. India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.
II. More than 30 varieties of turmeric are grown in India.
III. Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are major turmeric producing States in India.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) I and II only
(b) II and III only
(c) I and III only
(d) I, II and III

Correct Answer : (d) I, II and III

India being the largest producer of turmeric in the world set up a National Turmeric Board with its headquarters in Nizamabad, Telangana.

India grows more than 30 varieties of turmeric that is also used for medical purposes.

Major producing states include Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
8) Which of the following are the evidences of the phenomenon of continental drift?

I. The belt of ancient rocks from Brazil coast matches with those from Western Africa.
II. The gold deposits of Ghana are derived from the Brazil plateau when the two continents lay side by side.
III. The Gondwana system of sediments from India is known to have its counterparts in six different landmasses of the Southern Hemisphere.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) I and III only
(b) I and II only
(c) I, II and III
(d) II and III only

Correct Answer : (c) I, II and III

The continental drift theory was propounded by Alfred Wegener in 1912. It proposed that all the continents were once part of a single landmass called as Pangea land and all ocean were part of a single waterbody called as Panthalassa before drifting apart.

He gave several evidences in support of his theory.
9) Consider the following statements:

Statement I: The amount of dust particles in the atmosphere is more in subtropical and temperate areas than in equatorial and polar regions.

Statement II: Subtropical and temperate areas have less dry winds.

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 explains Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
(d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Correct Answer : (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

Statement (1) is correct. Dust particles are more concentrated in sub-tropical and temperate areas than the equatorial and polar regions due to higher presence of dry winds.

Statement (2) is incorrect as dry winds are more profound in temperate and sub-tropical regions.
10) Consider the following statements:

Statement I: In January, in the Northern Hemisphere, the isotherms bend equatorward while crossing the landmasses, and poleward while crossing the oceans.

Statement II: In January, the air over the oceans is warmer than that over the landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere.

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 explains Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
(d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Correct Answer : (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

Statement (1) is correct. In January, in the northern hemisphere the isotherms bend equatorward while crossing landmass as land is highly cold and poleward while crossing oceans as oceans retain heat for a longer duration and are hotter as compared to land.

Statement (2) is correct and explains statement (1).
11) Consider the following statements:

Statement I: In the context of effect of water on rocks, chalk is known as a very permeable rock whereas clay is known as quite an impermeable or least permeable rock.

Statement II: Chalk is porous and hence can absorb water.

Statement III: Clay is not at all porous.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
(b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
(d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

Correct Answer : (c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

Chalk is a highly permeable, porous sedimentary rock that can absorb water while clay is an impermeable or least permeable rock.

Statement (1) and (2) are correct and statement (2) explains statement (1).

Statement (3) is not correct. Clay is also highly porous as it contains tiny pores between its fine particles. However, due to smaller pores, the water moves slowly inside the clay.
12) Consider the following statements:

I. Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point everywhere on the Earth’s surface.
II. Heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere maintains our planet’s average temperature.
III. Atmosphere’s gases, like carbon dioxide, are particularly good at absorbing and trapping radiation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) I and III only
(b) I and II only
(c) I, II and III
(d) II and III only

Correct Answer : (c) I, II and III

Statement (1) is correct. Without the atmosphere the average temperature of the earth’s surface would drop to -18 degree Celsius. The atmosphere acts as a protective shield making life possible on earth.

Statement (2) is correct. The heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere called as the greenhouse gases are acting as regulator of the average temperature of earth’s surface.

Statement (3) is correct. Gases like carbo dioxide, methane are examples of greenhouse gases that are contributing to the warming of the earth.
13) Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Some rare earth elements are used in the manufacture of flat television screens and computer monitors.

Statement II: Some rare earth elements have phosphorescent properties.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 explains Statement I
(b) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct but Statement 2 does not explain Statement I
(c) Statement 1 is correct but Statement 2 is not correct
(d) Statement 1 is not correct but Statement 2 is correct

Correct Answer : (a) Both Statement 1 and Statement 2 are correct and Statement 2 explains Statement I

Rare earth elements are those elements that are abundantly found in the earth’s crust but their presence is highly uneven and their extraction causes a huge economic environmental burden.

There are 17 rare earth elements with 15 lanthanides, scandium and yttrium. China is the world’s largest producer of rare earth elements.

Both the statements are correct and statement (2) explains statement (1). Due to the phosphorescent properties of some rare earth elements, they are used in the manufacture of flat television screens and computer monitors.

They have property of photoluminescence and emit light upon excitation; this makes them suitable for use in display screens.
14) Artificial way of causing rainfall to reduce air pollution makes use of
(a) silver iodide and potassium iodide
(b) silver nitrate and potassium iodide
(c) silver iodide and potassium nitrate
(d) silver nitrate and potassium chloride

Correct Answer : (a) silver iodide and potassium iodide

Artificial rain can be caused by the use of silver iodide and potassium iodide. This cloud seeding method helps in condensation of water droplets into the atmosphere that promotes raining.

Silver iodide and potassium iodide serve as a condensation nucleus as they are similar in nature to the ice crystals.

It is commonly used to reduce the pollution levels by bringing in rainfall.
15) Consider the following statements:

Statement I: In India, State Governments have no power for making rules for grant of concessions in respect of extraction of minor minerals even though such minerals are located in their territories.

Statement II: In India, the Central Government has the power to notify minor minerals under the relevant law.

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 explains Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
(d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Correct Answer : (d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Statement (1) is incorrect. State government has licensing and extraction rights of minor minerals located within their territory. While the major minerals are exclusively with the central government as per the MMDR Act.

Statement (2) is correct. Central government notifies minor minerals as per the MMDR Act.
16) Consider the following statements:

Statement I: Of the two major ethanol producers in the world, i.e., Brazil and the United States of America, the former produces more ethanol than the latter.

Statement II: Unlike in the United States of America where corn is the principal feedstock for ethanol production, sugarcane is the principal feedstock for ethanol production in Brazil.

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 explains Statement I
(b) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
(c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
(d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Correct Answer : (d) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

Statement (1) is incorrect, USA is the world’s largest ethanol producer accounting for over 50% of the production.

Statement (2) is correct. USA uses corn as a primary feedstock for ethanol production while Brazil uses sugarcane.
17) The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 degree Celsius. Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above-said report?

I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts.
II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Correct Answer : (c) Both I and II

Wet bulb temperature measures dry air temperature and humidity to calculate the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water.

Statement (1) is correct. World Bank warned India having a routine wet bulb temperature exceeding 35 degree Celsius. This will cause flooding, droughts and tropical cyclones in peninsular India as it will intensify the climate to both extents.

Statement (2) is correct. Due to high temperatures lack of sweat evaporation the survival of living organisms will be affected.
18) Consider the following activities:

I. Production of crude oil
II. Refining, storage and distribution of petroleum
III. Marketing and sale of petroleum products
IV. Production of natural gas

How many of the above activities are regulated by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board in our country?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All the four

Correct Answer : (b) Only two

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) was constituted under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006.

Options (2) and (3) are correct. PNGRB regulates refining, storage and distribution of petroleum and marketing and sale of petroleum products.
19) Consider the following fruits:

I. Papaya
II. Pineapple
III. Guava

How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None

Correct Answer : (c) All the three

All the three were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the 16th and the 17th Centuries.
20) Consider the following countries:

I. United Kingdom
II. Denmark
III. New Zealand
IV. Australia
V. Brazil

How many of the above-countries have more than four time zones?
(a) All the five
(b) Only four
(c) Only three
(d) Only two

Correct Answer : (b) Only four

UK has 9 time zones.
Denmark has 5 time zones.
New Zealand has 5 time zones.
Australia has 9 time zones.
Brazil has 4 time zones.
21) Consider the following statements:

I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometres from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days.
II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) I only
(b) II only
(c) Both I and II
(d) Neither I nor II

Correct Answer : (a) I only

Statement (1) is correct. This so because, although they are geographically close but they lie on the opposite sides of the International Date Line.

Statement (2) is incorrect. If it is Monday in Anadyr, Nome is behind in time from it, so it will still be a Sunday in Nome.
22) Consider the following pairs:
Country Resource - Rich in
I. Botswana Diamond
II. Chile Lithium
III. Indonesia Nickel
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None

Correct Answer : (c) All the three

All the given pairs are correctly matched.
23) Consider the Following pairs:
Region Country
I. Mallorca Italy
II. Normandy Spain
III. Sardinia France
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All the three
(d) None

Correct Answer : (d) None

Pair (1) is incorrect. Mallorca, in the Mediterranean Sea is an island belonging to Spain and not Italy.

Pair (2) is incorrect. Normandy is in France and is not a part of Spain.

Pair (3) is incorrect. Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea is an autonomous region of Italy and not France.

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2024

1) The longest border between any two countries in the world is between :
(a) Canada and the United States of America
(b) Chile and Argentina
(c) China and India
(d) Kazakhstan and Russian Federation

Correct Answer :(a) Canada and the United States of America
2) Consider the following statements:

1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form.
2. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Peak
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(c) Both 1 and 2
3) Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation.
Statement-II:
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.

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 explains Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II does not explains Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Correct Answer :(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
4) Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:
Thickness of the troposphere at the equator is much greater as compared to poles.
Statement-II:
At the equator, heat is transported to great heights by strong convectional currents.

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 explains Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explains Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Correct Answer :(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
5) Consider the following :

1. Pyroclastic debris
2. Ash and dust
3. Nitrogen compounds
4. Sulphur compounds

How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Correct Answer :(d) All four
6) Which of the following is/are correct inference/inferences from isothermal maps in the month of January?

1. The isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent.
2. The presence of cold ocean currents, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift make the North Atlantic Ocean colder and the isotherms bend towards the north.

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(a) 1 only
7) Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world?
(a) Algeria and Morocco
(b) Botswana and Namibia
(c) Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana
(d) Madagascar and Mozambique

Correct Answer :(c) Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana
8) With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the fallowing sequences is correct?
(a) Ghaghara — Gomati — Gandak — Kosi
(b) Gomati — Ghaghara — Gandak — Kosi
(c) Ghaghara — Gomati — Kosi — Gandak
(d) Gomati — Ghaghara — Kosi — Gandak

Correct Answer :(b) Gomati — Ghaghara — Gandak — Kosi
9) Consider the following statements :

Statement-I:
Rainfall is one of the reasons for weathering of rocks.
Statement-II:
Rain water contains carbon dioxide in solution.
Statement-III:
Rain water contains atmospheric oxygen.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct and both of them explain Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct, but only one of them explains Statement-I
(c) Only one of the Statement II and III is correct and that explains Statement-I
(d) Neither Statement-II nor Statement-III is correct

Correct Answer :(a) Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct and both of them explain Statement-I
10) Consider the following countries :

1. Finland
2. Germany
3. Norway
4. Russia

How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four

Correct Answer :(b) Only two
11) Consider the following information:
  Waterfall Region River
1. Dhunandhar Malwa Narmada
2. Hundru Chota Nagpur Subarnarekha
3. Gersoppa Western Ghats Netravati

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Correct Answer :(a) Only one
12) Consider the following information:
  Region Name of the mountain range Type of mountain
1. Central Asia Vosges Fold mountain
2. Europe Alps Block mountain
3. North America Appalachians Fold mountain
4. South America Andes Fold mountain

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) All four

Correct Answer :(b) Only two
13) Consider the following:

1. Cashew
2. Papaya
3. Red sanders

How many of the above trees are actually native to India?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Correct Answer :(a) Only one
14) With reference to “water vapour”, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a gas, the amount of which decreases with altitude.
2. Its percentage is maximum at the poles.

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(a) 1 only
15) Consider the following description:

1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low.
2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year.
3. Precipitation varies between 50 cm – 250 cm.

What is this type of climate?
(a) Equatorial climate
(b) China type climate
(c) Humid subtropical climate
(d) Marine West coast climate

Correct Answer :(d) Marine West coast climate
16) With reference to “Coriolis force”, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It increases with increase in wind velocity.
2. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator.

Select the answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(c) Both 1 and 2
17) On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours?

1. Equator
2. Tropic of Cancer
3. Tropic of Capricorn
4. Arctic Circle

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 4

Correct Answer :(d) 2 and 4
18) One of the following regions has the world’s largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert detrimental effect on the global climate. Which one of the following denotes that region?
(a) Amazon Basin
(b) Congo Basin
(c) Kilkori Basin
(d) Rio de la Plata Basin

Correct Answer :(b) Congo Basin
19) Consider the following plants:

1. Groundnut
2. Horse-gram
3. Soybean

How many of the above belong to the pea family?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Correct Answer :(c) All three
20) The total fertility rate in an economy is defined as:
(a) the number of children born per 1000 people in the population in a year.
(b) the number of children born to a couple in their lifetime in a given population.
(c) the birth rate minus death rate.
(d) the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age.

Correct Answer :(d) the average number of live births a woman would have by the end of her child-bearing age.

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2023

1) Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most its electricity production.
Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent at of least 60%, is required for the production of electricity.
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-1
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

Correct Answer :(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
2) 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

Correct Answer :(a) Only one
3) Consider the following pairs:
Port - Well known for
1. Kamarajar Port - First port in India registered as a company
2. Mundra Port - Largest privately owned port in India
3. Visakhapatnam - Largest container port in 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

Correct Answer :(b) Only two pairs
4) 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

Correct Answer :(b) Only two
5) Consider the following statements:

1. India has more arable area than China.
2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.
3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Correct Answer :(a) Only one
6) 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

Correct Answer :(a) Aluminium
7) About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by
(a) Argentina
(b) Botswana
(c) the Democratic Republic of the Congo
(d) Kazakhstan

Correct Answer :(c) the Democratic Republic of the Congo
8) Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?
(a) Cameroon
(b) Nigeria
(c) South Sudan
(d) Uganda

Correct Answer :(a) Cameroon
9) Consider the following statements:

1. Amarkantak Hills are at confluence of Vindhya and the Sahyadri Ranges
2. Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range.
3. Seshachalam Hills constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Correct Answer :(d) None
10) With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements :

1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. The Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Correct Answer :(d) None
11) Which one of the following best describes the concept of 'Small Farmer Large Field'?
(a) Resettlement of a large number of people, uprooted from their countries due to war, by giving them a large cultivable land which they cultivate collectively and share the produce
(b) Many marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations
(c) Many marginal farmers in an area together make a contract with a corporate body and surrender their land to the corporate body for a fixed term for which the corporate body makes a payment of agreed amount to the farmers
(d) A company extends loans, technical knowledge and material inputs to a number of small farmers in an area so that they produce the agricultural commodity required by the company for its manufacturing process and commercial production

Correct Answer :(b) Many marginal farmers in an area organize themselves into groups and synchronize and harmonize selected agricultural operations
12) Consider the following statements:

1. The Government of India provides Minimum Support Price for niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seeds.
2. Niger is cultivated as a Kharif crop.
3. Some tribal people in India use niger seed oil for cooking.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Correct Answer :(c) All three
13) Consider the following pairs:
Area of conflict mentioned in News - Country where it is located
1. Donbas - Syria
2. Kachin - Ethiopia
3. Tigray - North Yemen
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Correct Answer :(d) None
14) In the recent years Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan caught international attention for which one of the following reasons is common to all of them?
(a) Discovery of rich deposits of rare earth elements
(b) Establishment of Chinese military bases
(c) Southward expansion of Sahara Desert
(d) Successful coups

Correct Answer :(d) Successful coups
15) Consider the following statements
Statement-I: Switzerland is one of the leading exporters of gold in terms of value.
Statement-II: Switzerland has the second largest gold reserves in the world.
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

Correct Answer :(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
16) Consider the following countries :

1. Bulgaria
2. Czech Republic
3. Hungary
4. Latvia
5. Lithuania
6. Romania
How many of the above-mentioned countries share a land border with Ukraine?
(a) Only two
(b) Only three
(c) Only four
(d) Only five

Correct Answer :(a) Only two
17) 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 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.

Correct Answer :(c) Infrared waves are largely absorbed by water vapour that is concentrated in the lower atmosphere.
18) 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

Correct Answer :(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
19) Consider the following statements :

Statement-I : The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter.
Statement-II : The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface.
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

Correct Answer :(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
20) Consider the following statements:

1. In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves.
2. In P waves, the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of wave propagation whereas in S waves, the particles vibrate up and down at right angles to the direction of wave propagation.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(c) Both 1 and 2
21) With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements :

1. None of them uses seawater.
2. None of them is set up in water-stressed district.
3. None of them is privately owned.
How many of the above statements are correct?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None

Correct Answer :(d) None
22) Consider the following statements :

Statement-I : According to the United Nations ‘World Water Development Report, 2022’. India extracts more than a quarter of the world's groundwater withdrawal each year.
Statement-II : India needs to extract more than a quarter of the world's groundwater each year to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of world's population living in its territory.
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

Correct Answer :(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2022

1) Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers?
(a) Cauvery
(b) Manjira
(c) Pennar
(d) Tungabhadra

Correct Answer :(C) Pennar
2) Which of the statements given Below is/are correctly matched?
Peak
(1) Namcha Barwa
(2) Nanda Devi
(3) Nokrek
Mountains
(A) Garhwal Himalaya
(B) Kumaon Himalaya
(C) Sikkim Himalaya

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer :(B) 2 Only
3) 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 the Mediterranean Sea.

Correct Answer :(A) Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores
4) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
With reference to India, consider the following statements:
1. Monazite is a source of rare earths.
2. Monazite contains thorium.
3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(B) 1, 2 and 4 only
5) In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the :
(a) First half of the month of June
(b) Second half of the month of June
(c) First half of the month of July
(d) Second half of the month of July

Correct Answer :(B) Second half of the month of June
6) How many of the Below are generally known as tea-producing States?
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Kerala
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Tripura

(a) Only one State
(b) Only two States
(c) Only three States
(d) All four States

Correct Answer :(B) Only two States
7) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
Consider the following pairs:
Reservoirs States
1. Ghataprabha — Telangana
2. Gandhi Sagar — Madhya Pradesh
3. Indira Sagar — Andhra Pradesh
4. Maithon — Chhattisgarh

(a) Only one pair
(b) Only two pairs
(c) Only three pairs
(d) ' All four pairs

Correct Answer :(c) Only three pairs

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2021

1) The vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees, but extensive areas have no trees. The forest development in such areas is generally kept in check by one or more or a combination of some conditions. Which of the following are such conditions?
1. Burrowing animals and termites
2. Fire
3. Grazing herbivores
4. Seasonal rainfall
5. Soil properties

Select the correct answer using the codes given below
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 4 and 5
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 5

Correct Answer :(C) 2, 3 and 4
2) 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

Correct Answer :(B) fissure volcanic rock
3) How is permaculture farming different from conventional chemical farming?
1. Permaculture Farming discourages monocultural practices but in conventional chemical farming, monoculture practices are pre-dominant.
2. Conventional chemical farming can cause increase in soil salinity but the occurrence of such phenomenon is not observed in permaculture farming.
3. Conventional chemical farming is easily possible in semi-arid regions but permaculture farming is not so easily possible in such regions.
4. Practice of mulching is very important in permaculture farming but not necessarily so in conventional chemical farming.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 and 3
(b) 1, 2 and 4
(c) 4 Only
(d) 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 1, 2 and 4
4) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
With reference to ’palm oil’, consider the following statements:
1. The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.
2. The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.
3. 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

Correct Answer :(B) 2 and 3 Only
5) 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

Correct Answer :(A) Chenab
6) With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of
(a) Glaciers
(b) Mangrove areas
(c) Ramsar sites
(d) Saline lakes

Correct Answer :(D) Saline lakes
7) Which of the Below rise from the Eastern Ghats?
Consider the following rivers:
1. Brahamani
2. Nagalwali
3. Subarnarekha
4. Vamsadhara

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 2 and 4
8) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.
2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.
3. ‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on seafloor in international waters.

(a) 1 and 2 Only
(b) 2 and 3 Only
(c) 1 and 3 Only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 1, 2 and 4 only
9) Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?
(a) Sugarcane
(b) Sunflower
(c) Pearl Millet
(d) Red gram

Correct Answer :(A) Sugarcane
10) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:
1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.
2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.

(a) 1 Only
(b) 2 Only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(C) Both 1 and 2
11) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
In the context of India’s preparation for Climate-smart Agriculture, consider the following statements:

1. The ‘Climate-Smart Village’ approach in India is a part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research programme.
2. The project of CCAFS is carried out under Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) headquartered in France.
3. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR’s research centres.

(a) 1 and 2 Only
(b) 2 and 3 Only
(c) 1 and 3 Only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(D) 1, 2 and 3

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2020

1) What are the advantages of fertigationin agriculture?
1.Controlling the alkalinity of irrigation water is possible.
2.Efficient application of Rock Phosphate and all other phosphaticfertilizers is possible.
3.Increased availability of nutrients to plants is possible.
4.Reduction in the leaching of chemical nutrients is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Correct Answer :(C) 1, 3 and 4 only
2) In India, which of the Below is/are officially designated as major minerals?
Consider the following minerals:
1.Bentonite
2.Chromite
3.Kyanite
4.Sillimanite

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Correct Answer :(D) 2, 3 and 4 only
3) With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January-March.
2.OMT collected during January-March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(B) 2 only
4) With reference to chemical fertilizers in India, consider the following statements:
1.At present, the retail price of chemical fertilizers is market-driven and not administered by the Government.
2.Ammonia, which is an input of urea, is produced from natural gas.
3.Sulphur, which is a raw material for phosphoric acid fertilizer, is a by-product of oil refineries.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 only
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(B) 2 only
5) Siachen Glacier is situated to the
(a) East of Aksai Chin
(b) East of Leh
(c) North of Gilgit
(d) North of Nubra Valley

Correct Answer :(D) North of Nubra Valley
6) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
Consider the following statements:
1.Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
2.Only some cyclones develop an eye.
3.The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings.

(a) 1 Only
(b) 2 And 3 Only
(c) 2 Only
(d) 1 And 3 Only

Correct Answer :(C) 2 Only
7) What is/are the advantage/advantages of zero tillage in agriculture?
1.Sowing of wheat is possible without burning the residue of previous crop.
2.Without the need for nursery of rice saplings, direct planting of paddy seeds in the wet soil is possible.
3.Carbon sequestration in the soil is possible.

Select the correct answer using the code given below: (a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(D) 1, 2 and 3
8) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:

1.Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabicrop.
2.Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
3.In the last three decades, while the production of kharifhas increased, the production of rabipulses has decreased.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(A) 1 only
9) “The crop is subtropical in nature, A hard frost in injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimetres of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop.” Which one of the following is that crop?
(a) Cotton
(b) Jute
(c) Sugarcane
(d) Tea

Correct Answer :(A) Cotton
10) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
With reference to the current trends in the cultivation of sugarcane in India, consider the following statements:

1.A substantial saving in seed material is made when ‘bud chip settleings’ are raised in a nursery and transplanted in the main field.
2.When direct planting of setts is done, the germination percentage is better with single-budded setts as compared to setts with many buds.
3.If bad weather conditions prevail when setts are directly planted, single-budded setts have better survival as compared to large setts.
4.Sugarcane can be cultivated using settlings prepared from tissue culture.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

Correct Answer :(C) 1 And 4 only
11) In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture?
1.Crop diversification
2.Legume intensification
3.Tensiometeruse
4.Vertical farming

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(C) 4 only
12) Which of the pairs given Below is/are correctly matched?
River Flows into

1.Mekong - Andaman Sea
2.Thames - Irish Sea
3.Volga - Caspian Sea
4.Zambezi - Indian Ocean

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4 only

Correct Answer :(C) 3 and 4 only

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2019

1) 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

Correct Answer :(A) does not set below the horizon at the Arctic Circle
2) Which of the pairs given Below are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:

Famous place River
1.Pandharpur Chandrabhaga
2.Tiruchirappalli Cauvery
3.Hampi Malaprabha

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(A) 1 and 2 only
3) With reference to the States mentioned Below, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?
Consider the following States:
1.Chhattisgarh
2.Madhya Pradesh
3.Maharashtra
4.Odisha

(a) 2-3-1-4
(b) 2-3-4-1
(c) 3-2-4-1
(d) 3-2-1-4

Correct Answer :(C) 3-2-4-1
4) Which of the pairs given Below are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:Sea-Bordering Country
1. Adriatic Sea Albania
2. Black Sea Croatia
3. Caspian Sea Kazakhstan
4. Mediterranean Sea Morocco
5. Red Sea Syria

(a) 1, 2 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Correct Answer :(B) 1, 3 and 4 only
5) Which of the pairs correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs

1. Bandarpunch Yamuna
2. Bara Shigri Chenab
3. Milam Mandakini
4. Siachen Nubra
5. Zemu Manas

(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 5
(d) 3 and 5

Correct Answer :(A) 1, 2 and 4
6) Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night?
(a) Clouds absorb the radiation released from the Earth’s surface.
(b) Clouds reflect back the Earth’s radiation.
(c) The Earth’s surface would have low temperature on cloudy nights.
(d) Clouds deflect the blowing wind to ground level.

Correct Answer :(B) Clouds reflect back the Earth’s radiation.
7) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
Consider the following statements about Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in India:

1.PVTGs reside in 18 States and one Union Territory.
2.A stagnant or declining population is one of the criteria for determining PVTG status.
3.There are 95 PVTGs officially notified in the country so far.
4.Irular and Konda Reddi tribes are included in the list of PVTGs.

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 1, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(C) 1, 2 and 4
8) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:

1.As per recent amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927, forest dwellers have the right to fell the bamboos grown on forest areas.
2.As per the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, bamboo is a minor forest produce.
3.The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows ownership of minor forest produce to forest dwellers.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 2 and 3 only
9) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements:

1.Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law in the country.
2.State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.
3.Stale Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(A) 1 and 3 only
10) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements:

1.Area under rice cultivation is the highest.
2.Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.
3.Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.
4.Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(A) 1 and 3 only
11) Among the agricultural commodities imported by India, which one of the following accounts for the highest imports in terms of value in the last five years?
(a) Spices
(b) Fresh fruits
(c) Pulses
(d) Vegetable oils

Correct Answer :(D) Vegetable oils
12) The word ‘Denisovan’ is sometimes mentioned in media in reference to
(a) fossils of a kind of dinosaurs
(b) an early human species
(c) a cave system found in North-East India
(d) a geological period in the history of Indian subcontinent

Correct Answer :(B) an early human species

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2018

1) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
With references to organic farming in India, consider the following statements:

1.'The National Programme for Organic Production' (NPOP) is operated under the guidelines and directions of the Union Ministry of Rural Development.
2.'The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority' (APEDA) functions as the Secretariat for the implementation of NPOP.
3.Sikkim has become India's first fully organic State.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 2 and 3 only
2) Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:

Regions sometimes       Country
mentioned in news
1.Catalonia     —            Spain
2.Crimea     —                Hungary
3.Mindanao     —           Philippines
4.Oromia     —                Nigeria

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 and 4 only

Correct Answer :(C) 1 and 3 only
3) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
With reference to agricultural soils, consider the following statements:

1.A high content of organic matter in soil drastically reduces its water holding capacity.
2.Soil does not play any role in the sulphur cycle.
3.Irrigation over a period of time can contribute to the salinization of some agricultural lands.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 3 only
4) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
With reference to solar power production in India, consider the following statements:

1.India is the third largest in the world in the manufacture of silicon wafers used in photovoltaic units.
2.The solar power tariffs are determined by the Solar Energy Corporation of India.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(D) Neither 1 nor 2
5) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
As per the NSSO 70th Round "Situation Assessment Survey of Agricultural Households", consider the following statements:

1.Rajasthan has the highest percentage share of agricultural households among its rural households.
2.Out of the total agricultural households in the country, a little over 60 percent belong to OBCs.
3.In Kerala, a little over 60 percent of agricultural households reported to have received maximum income from sources other than agricultural activities.

(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(C) 1 and 3 only
6) Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:

1.In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines.
2.Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines.
3.Rajasthan has iron ore mines.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 3 only

Correct Answer :(D) 3 Only
7) Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi?
(a) Bengaluru
(b) Hyderabad
(c) Nagpur
(d) Pune

Correct Answer :(A) Bengaluru
8) Which one of the following is an artificial lake?
(a) Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)
(b) Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh)
(c) Nainital (Uttarakhand)
(d) Renuka (Himachal Pradesh)

Correct Answer :(A) Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)
9) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:

1.The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory.
2.Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar.
3.The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 only
(d) 1 and 3

Correct Answer :(A) 1 only
10) Which of the statements given below is/are correct??
Consider the following statements:

1.The Earth’s magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years.
2.When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide.
3.When living organisms orginated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 1, 2 and 4 only

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2017

1) The terms ‘Event Horizon’, ‘Singularity’, ‘String Theory’ and ‘Standard Model’ are sometimes seen in the news in the context of
(a) Observation and understanding of the Universe
(b) Study of the solar and the lunar eclipses
(c) Placing satellites in the orbit of the Earth
(d) Origin and evolution of living organisms on the Earth

Correct Answer :(A) Observation and understanding of the Universe
2) Which of the following practices can help in water conservation in agriculture?
1.Reduced or zero tillage of the land
2.Applying gypsum before irrigating the field
3.Allowing crop residue to remain in the field

Select the correct answer using the code given

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 1 and 3 only
3) Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar?
(a) Sumatra
(b) Borneo
(c) Java
(d) Sri Lanka

Correct Answer :(A) Sumatra
4) If you travel by road from Kohima to Kottayam, what is the minimum number of States within India through which you can travel, including the origin and the destination?
(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
(d) 9

Correct Answer :(B) 7
5) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:

1.In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only.
2.Western Ghats are spread over five States only.
3.Pulicat Lake is spread over two States only.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only

Correct Answer :(B) 3 only
6) With reference to 'Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)' sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
2.An IOD phenomenon can influence an EI Nino's impact on the monsoon.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(B) 2 only
7) At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the sea water recedes from the shore line a few kilometres and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the sea floor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at
(a) Bhavnagar
(b) Bheemunipatnam
(c) Chandipur
(d) Nagapattinam

Correct Answer :(C) Chandipur
8) Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries?
1.Jordan
2.Iraq
3.Lebanon
4.Syria

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 3 and 4 only

Correct Answer :(C) 3 and 4 only
9) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
With reference to river teesta, consider the following statements

1.The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahamputra but it flows through Sikkim
2.River Rangeet originates in Sikkim and it is a tributary of river Teesta.
3.River Teesta flows into Bay of Bengal on the border of India and Bangladesh.

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 2 only

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2016

1) Why does the Government of India promote the use of 'Neem-coated Urea' in agriculture?
(a) Release of Neem oil in the soil increases nitrogen fixation by the soil microorganisms
(b) Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil
(c) Nitrous oxide, which is a greenhouse gas, is not at all released into atmosphere by crop fields
(d) It is a combination of a 1,veedicide and a fertilizer for particular crops

Correct Answer :(B) Neem coating slows down the rate of dissolution of urea in the soil
2) Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practising drip irrigation?
1.Reduction in weed
2.Reduction in soil salinity
3.Reduction in soil erosion

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) None of the above is an advantage of practising drip irrigation

Correct Answer :(C) 1 and 3 only
3) In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found?
1.Cambay Basin
2.Cauvery Basin
3.Krishna-Godavari Basin

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(D) 1, 2 and 3
4) In India, the steel production industry requires the import of
(a) Saltpetre
(b) Rock phosphate
(c) Coking coal
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer :(C) Coking coal
5) Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra?
1.Dibang
2.Kameng
3.Lohit

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(D) 1, 2 and 3
6) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
With reference to 'Red Sanders', sometimes seen in the news, consider the following statements:
1.It is a tree species found in a part of South India.
2.It is one of the most important trees in the tropical rain forest areas of South India.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(A) 1 only
7) Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:

Famous Place       Region

Bodhagaya     :    Baghelkhand
Khajuraho      :     Bundelkhand
Shirdi              :     Vidarbha
Nasik (Nashik)  : Malwa
Tirupati          :     Rayalaseema

(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 2, 3, 4 and 5
(c) 2 and 5 only
(d) 1, 3, 4 and 5

Correct Answer :(C) 2 and 5 only

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2015

1) Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea?
(a) Syria
(b) Jordan
(c) Lebanon
(d) Israel

Correct Answer :(B) Jordan
2) “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

Correct Answer :(B) Equatorial
3) In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?
(a) Sea surface temperatures are low
(b) Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs
(c) Coriolis force is too weak
(d) Absence of land in those regions

Correct Answer :(B) Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occur
4) What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current?
(a) The Earth’s rotation on its axis
(b) Convergence of the two equatorial currents
(c) Difference in salinity of water
(d) Occurrence of the belt of calm near the equator

Correct Answer :(B) Convergence of the two equatorial currents
5) Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following

1.Gravitational force of the Sun
2.Gravitational force of the Moon
3.Centrifugal force of the Earth

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(D) 1, 2 and 3 only
6) In the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, an initiative of six countries, which of the following is/are not a participant/participants?
1.Bangladesh
2.Cambodia
3.China
4.Myanmar
5.Thailand

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 3 Only
(d) 1, 2 and 5

Correct Answer :(C) 1 and 3 only
7) 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

Correct Answer :(D) Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat
8) Which of the Below pairs is/are correctly matched?
Place of Pilgrimage      Location

Srisailam         :             Nallamala Hills
Omkareshwar     :         Satmala Hills
Pushkar     :                   Mahadeo Hills

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(A) 1 only
9) Which of the Below are tributaries of Godavari?
1.Vamsadhara
2.Indravati
3.Pranahita
4.Pennar

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 4
(d) 2 and 3 only

Correct Answer :(D) 2 and 3 only
10) 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

Correct Answer :(D) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
11) 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

Correct Answer :(D) Namdapha National Park
12) In which of the Below States do 'Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests' occur?
Consider the following States:

1.Arunachal Pradesh
2.Himachal Pradesh
3.Mizoram

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(C) 1 and 3 only
13) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:

1.The winds which blow between 30°N and 60°S latitude throughout the year are known as westerlies.
2.The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(B) 2 only
14) In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?
(a) Tropical moist deciduous forest
(b) Tropical rain forest
(c) Tropical thorn scrub forest
(d) Temperate forest with grasslands

Correct Answer :(A) Tropical moist deciduous forest
15) 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

Correct Answer :(D) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
16) In India, the steel production industry requires the import of
(a) saltpeter
(b) rock phosphate
(c) coking coal
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer :(C) coking coal
17) "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

Correct Answer :(B) Equatorial
18) Which one of the following is the national aquatic animal of India?
(a) Saltwater crocodile
(b) Olive ridley turtle
(c) Gangetic dolphin
(d) Gharial

Correct Answer :(C) Gangetic dolphin
19) 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

Correct Answer :(A) Meghalaya

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2014

1) Which of the following phenomena might have influenced the evolution of organisms?
1.Continental drift
2.Glacial cycles

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer :(C) Both 1 and 2
2) In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following?
1.Terrace cultivation
2.Deforestation
3.Tropical climate

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 2 only
3) The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of
(a) Equatorial climate
(b) Mediterranean climate
(c) Monsoon climate
(d) All of the above climates

Correct Answer :(C) Monsoon climate
4) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:

1.Maize can be used for the production of starch.
2.Oil extracted from maize can be a feedstock for biodiesel.
3.Alcoholic beverages can be produced by using maize.

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(D) 1, 2 and 3
5) What are the significances of a practical approach to sugarcane production known as 'Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative'?
1.Seed cost is very low in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.
2.Drip irrigation can be practiced very effectively in this.
3.There is no application of chemical inorganic fertilizers at all in this.
4.The scope for intercropping is more in this compared to the conventional method of cultivation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
(c) 2, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(B) 1, 2 and 4 only
6) Which of the Below pairs is/are correctly matched?
     Region               Well-known for the production of

1. Kinnaur            :       Areca nut
2. Mewat             :       Mango
3. Coromandel   :       Soya bean

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer :(D) None
7) Watershed Development project Development for Rainfed Areas Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:

Programme/Project       Ministry

Drought-Prone       :       Ministry of Agriculture Area Programme
Desert Development:   Ministry of Programme Environment and Forests
National       :                  Ministry of Rural

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer :(D) None
8) Which of the Below pairs is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:

National Highway - Cities connected

1.NH4 : Chennai and Hyderabad
2.NH 6 : Mumbai and Kolkata
3.NH 15 : Ahmedabad and Jodhpur

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer :(D) None
9) What are the benefits of implementing the 'Integrated Watershed Development Programme'?
1.Prevention of soil runoff
2.Linking the country's perennial rivers with seasonal rivers
3.Rainwater harvesting and recharge of groundwater table
4.Regeneration of natural vegetation

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(C) 1, 3 and 4 only
10) Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the 'Ten Degree Channel'?
(a) Andaman and Nicobar
(b) Nicobar and Sumatra
(c) Maldives and Lakshadweep
(d) Sumatra and Java

Correct Answer :(A) Andaman and Nicobar
11) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
Consider the following pairs:

1.Dampa Tiger Reserve : Mizoram
2.Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary : Sikkim
3.Saramati Park : Nagaland

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 1 and 3 only
12) Which of the following have coral reefs?
1.Andaman and Nicobar Islands
2.Gulf of Kachchh
3.Gulf of Mannar
4.Sunderbans

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(A) 1, 2 and 3 only
13) Which of the Below flows/flow through Arunachal Pradesh?
Consider the following rivers:

1.Barak
2.Lohit
3.Subansiri

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 2 and 3 only
14) Which of the Below pairs are correctly matched?
Hills              Region

Cardamon Hills : Coromandel Coast
Kaimur Hills : Konkan Coast
Mahadeo Hills : Central India
Mikir Hills : North-East India

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 4

Correct Answer :(C) 3 and 4
15) Which of the statements given Below are correct?
1.Oak
2.Rhododendron
3.Sandal wood

Select the correct answer using the code given above:

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(A) 1 and 2 only
16) In the context of food and nutritional security of India, enhancing the 'Seed Replacement Rates' of various crops helps in achieving the food production targets of the future. But what is/are the constraint/constraints in its wider/greater implementation?
1.There is no National Seeds Policy in place.
2.There is no participation of private sector seed companies in the supply of quality seeds of vegetables and planting materials of horticultural crops.
3.There is a demand­supply gap regarding quality seeds in case of low value and high volume crops.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer :(B) 3 only
17) Turkey is located between
(a) Black Sea and Caspian Sea
(b) Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea
(c) Gulf of Suez and Mediterranean Sea
(d) Gulf of Aqaba and Dead Sea

Correct Answer :(B) Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea
18) What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South­East Asia as one proceeds from south to north?
1.Bangkok
2.Hanoi
3.Jakarta
4.Singapore

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 4­2­1­3
(b) 3­2­4­1
(c) 3­4­1­2
(d) 4­3­2­1

Correct Answer :(C) 3412
19) Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to 'Changpa' community of India, consider the following statement:

1.They live mainly in the State of Uttarakhand.
2.They rear the Pashmina goats that yield a fine wool.
3.They are kept in the category of Scheduled Tribes.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(B) 2 and 3 only
20) Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees/fabric?
Consider the following towns of India:

1.Bhadrachalam
2.Chanderi
3.Kancheepuram
4.Kamal

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(B) 2 and 3 only

UPSC Prelims Geography - 2013

1) Variations in the length of daytime and nighttime from season to season are due to
(a) The earth’s rotation on its axis
(b) The earth’s revolution round the sun in an elliptical manner
(c) Latitudinal position of the place
(d) Revolution of the earth on a titled axis

Correct Answer :(D) Revolution of the earth on a titled axis
2) On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion:
(a) Is found in atmosphere as moisture and clouds
(b) Is found in freshwater lakes and rivers
(c) Exists as groundwater
(d) Exists as soil moisture

Correct Answer :(C) Exists as groundwater
3) Which of the Below are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?
Consider the following

1.Electromagnetic radiation
2.Geothermal energy
3.Gravitational force
4.Plate movements
5.Rotation of the earth
6.Revolution of the earth

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
(b) 1, 3, 5 and 6 only
(c) 2, 4, 5 and 6 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Correct Answer :(D) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6
4) Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in
(a) Desert margins, liable to strong wind action
(b) Low flat plains, close to stream courses, liable to flooding
(c) Scrublands, liable to spread of weed growth
(d) None of the above

Correct Answer :(D) None of above
5) The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is/are the reason(s)?
1.Thermal difference between land and water
2.Variation in altitude between continents and oceans
3.Presence of strong winds in the interior
4.Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coasts

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(A) 1 only
6) Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
During the thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the

1.meeting of cumulonimbus clouds in the sky
2.lightning that separates the nimbus clouds
3.violent upward movement of air and water particles

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) None of the above produces the thunder

Correct Answer :(D) None of the above produces the thunder
7) Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct?
1.They are generally red in colour,
2.They are rich in nitrogen and potash.
3.They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.
4.Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2 and 3 only

Correct Answer :(C) 1 and 4 only
8) Which of these are Kharif crops?
Consider the following crops:

1.Cotton
2.Groundnut
3.Rice
4.Wheat

(a) 1 and 4
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(C) 1, 2 and 3
9) With reference to the usefulness of the by-products of sugar industry which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.Bagasse can be used as biomass fuel for the generation of energy.
2.Molasses can be used as one of the feedstocks for the production of synthetic chemical fertilizers.
3.Molasses can be used for the production of ethanol.

Select the correct answer using the codes given below

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(C) 1 and 3 only
10) Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India?
(a) Engineering
(b) Paper and pulp
(c) Textiles
(d) Thermal power

Correct Answer :(D) Thermal power
11) Which of the following is/are the characteristic/characteristics of Indian coal?
1.High ash content
2.Low sulphur content
3.Low ash fusion temperature

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(A) 1 and 2 only
12) Which of the statements given Below is/are correct?
Consider the following statements:

1.Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana belts.
2.Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma.
3.Dharwars are famous for petroleum.

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer :(B) 2 only
13) Which of the Below pairs is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:

National Park
through the park     River Flowing

Corbett National Park : Ganga
Kaziranga National Park : Manas
Silent Valley National Park : Kaveri

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer :(D) None
14) The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why?
1.It occupies a linear rift valley.
2.It flows between the Vindhyas and the Satpuras.
3.The land slopes to the west from Central India

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer :(A) 1 only
15) Which of the below pairs is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:

1.Nokrek Biosphere reserve: Garo Hills
2.(Loktak) Lake :Barail Range
3.Namdapha National Park : Dafla Hill

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) None

Correct Answer :(B) 1 only
16) Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Geographical Region : Feature

(a) Abyssinian Plateau : Arabia
(b) Atlas Mountains : North Western Africa
(c) Guiana Highlands : South Western Africa
(d) Okavango Basin : Patagonia

Correct Answer :(B) Atlas Mountains : North Western Africa
17) The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where
(a) warm and cold atmospheric currents meet
(b) rivers drain out large amounts of fresh water into the sea
(c) warm and cold oceanic currents meet
(d) continental shelf is undulating

Correct Answer :(C) warm and cold oceanic currents meet
18) Which of the following is/are unique characteristic/characteristics of equatorial forests?
Presence of tall, closely set trees with crowns forming a continuous canopy
Coexistence of a large number of species
Presence of numerous varieties of epiphytes

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer :(D) 1, 2 and 3
19) "Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders."
The above statement best describes which of the following regions?

(a) African Savannah
(b) Central Asian Steppe
(c) North American Prairie
(d) Siberian Tundra

Correct Answer :(B) Central Asian Steppe
20) Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs:

Tribe : State

Limboo (Limbu) : Sikkim
Karbi : Himachal Pradesh
Dongaria : Odisha
Bonda : Tamil Nadu

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer :(A) 1 and 3 only