Geography (Indian physical environment) PYQs — UPSC Prelims

All 153 Geography (Indian physical environment) Previous Year Questions for UPSC Prelims, with answers and explanations. Click any question for the full solution.

20242

With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct?
Consider the following information: | | Waterfall | Region | River | 1. Dhuandhar | 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?

20233

Consider the following statements : 1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake. 2. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake. 3. Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake. How many of the statements given above are correct?
Consider the following statements : 1. Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and 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?
Consider the following trees : 1. Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) 2. Mahua (Madhuca indica) 3. Teak (Tectona grandis) How many of the above are deciduous trees?

20225

Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers ?
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?
Consider the following pairs : Peak - Mountains 1. Namcha Barwa - Garhwal Himalaya 2. Nanda Devi - Kumaon Himalaya 3. Nokrek - Sikkim Himalaya Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs : Wetland/Lake - Location 1. Hokera Wetland - Punjab 2. Renuka Wetland - Himachal Pradesh 3. Rudrasagar Lake - Tripura 4. Sasthamkotta Lake - Tamil Nadu How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
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. Which of the statements given above are correct?

20215

Which one of the following statements is correct?
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?
Consider the following rivers : 1. Brahmani 2. Nagavali 3. Subarnarekha 4. Vamsadhara Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?
With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of
The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of

20202

Siachen Glacier is situated to the
Consider the following minerals : 1. Bentonite 2. Chromite 3. Kyanite 4. Sillimanite In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?

20192

Consider the following pairs: Glacier - River 1. Bandarpunch - Yamuna 2. Bara Shigri - Chenab 3. Milam - Mandakini 4. Siachen - Nubra 5. Zemu - Manas Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?

20184

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. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi ?
Which one of the following is an artificial lake?
In which one of the following States is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary located?

20174

With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements: 1. The source of river Teesta is the same as that of Brahmaputra 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. Which of the statements given above 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. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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?
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

20163

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.
Recently, linking of which of the following rivers was undertaken?
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.

20157

Consider the following rivers: 1. Vamsadhara 2. Indravati 3. Pranahita 4. Pennar Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari?
Consider the following pairs: Place of Pilgrimage - Location 1. Srisailam - Nallamala Hills 2. Omkareshwar - Satmala Hills 3. Pushkar - Mahadeo Hills Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Which one of the following pairs of States of India indicates the easternmost and westernmost State?
Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across the streams. As the time passes, these bridges become stronger. These unique living root bridges' are found in
Consider the following States: 1. Arunachal Pradesh 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Mizoram In which of the above States do 'Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests' occur?
In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species?

20147

Consider the following rivers: 1. Barak 2. Lohit 3. Subansiri Which of the above flows/flow through Arunachal Pradesh?
Consider the following pairs : Wetlands - Confluence of rivers 1. Harike Wetlands - Confluence of Beas and Satluj/Sutlej 2. Keoladeo Ghana National Park - Confluence of Banas and Chambal 3. Kolleru Lake - Confluence of Musi and Krishna Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs : Hills - Region 1. Cardamom Hills - Coromandel Coast 2. Kaimur Hills - Konkan Coast 3. Mahadeo Hills - Central India 4. Mikir Hills - North-East India Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the 'Ten Degree Channel?
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.
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 code given below.
Consider the following pairs : 1. Dampa Tiger Reserve - Mizoram 2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary - Sikkim 3. Saramati Peak - Nagaland Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

20134

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 codes given below.
Consider the following pairs : National Park - River flowing through the Park 1. Corbett National Park - Ganga 2. Kaziranga National Park - Manas 3. Silent Valley National Park - Kaveri Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
Consider the following pairs : 1. Nokrek Bio-sphere Reserve - Garo Hills 2. Logtak (Loktak) Lake - Barail Range 3. Namdapha National Park - Dafla Hills Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
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.

20122

A particular State in India has the following characteristics: 1. It is located on the same latitude which passes through northern Rajasthan. 2. It has over 80% of its area under forest cover. 3. Over 12% of forest cover constitutes Protected Area Network in this State. Which one among the following States has اله the above characteristics?
Consider the following statements : 1. The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India. 2. The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from east to west. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

20112

Two important rivers one with its source in Jharkhand (and known by a different name in Odisha), and another, with its source in Odisha merge at a place only a short distance from the coast of Bay of Bengal before flowing into the sea. This is an important site of wildlife and biodiversity and a protected area. Which one of the following could be this?
Among the following States, which one has the most suitable climatic conditions for the cultivation of a large variety of orchids with minimum cost of production, and can develop an export oriented industry in this field?

20108

Rivers that pass through Himachal Pradesh are
With reference to, the river Luni, which one of the following statements is correct?
Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched ? 1. Govind Sagar - Satluj 2. Kolleru Lake - Krishna 3. Ukai Reservoir - Tapi 4. Wular Lake - Jhelum
If there were no Himalayan ranges, what would have been the most likely geographical impact on India? 1. Much of the country would experience the cold waves from Siberia. 2. Indo-gangetic plain would be devoid of such extensive alluvial soils. 3. The pattern of monsoon would be different from what it is at present. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which one of the following is the appropriate reason for considering the Gondwana rocks as most important of rock systems of India?
The latitudes that pass through Sikkim also pass through
In India, which type of forest among the following occupies the largest area ?
When you travel in certain parts of India, you will notice red soil. What is the main reason for this colour?

20097

Consider the following statements: 1. The Baglihar Power Project had been constructed within the parameters of the Indus Water Treaty. 2. The project was completely built by the Union Government with loans from Japan and the World Bank. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The Dul Hasti Power Station is based on which one of the following rivers ?
Which one of the following rivers does not originate in India?
At which one of the following places do two important rivers of India originate; while one of them flows towards north and merges with another important river flowing towards Bay of Bengal, the other one flows towards Arabian Sea?
Consider the following statements : 1. There are no east flowing rivers in Kerala. 2. There are no west flowing rivers in Madhya Pradesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
In India, which one of the following States has the largest inland saline wetland?
Consider the following statements: 1. India does not have any deposits of Thorium. 2. Kerala's monazite sands contain Uranium. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

200811

Consider the following pairs : Tributary River - Main River 1. Chambal - Narmada 2. Sone - Yamuna 3. Manas - Brahmaputra Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
On which one of the following rivers is the Tehri Hydropower Complex located?
Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? 1. Kapildhara Falls: Godavari 2. Jog Falls : Sharavati 3. Sivasamudram Falls : Cauvery Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Which of the following pairs are correctly matched? 1. Damanganga : Gujarat. 2. Girna : Maharashtra 3. Pamba : Kerala Select the correct answer using the code given below :
Where are Tapovan and Vishnugarh Hydroelectric Projects located?
With which one of the following rivers is the Omkareshwar Project associated?
Which of the following hills are found where the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats meet?
In India, how many States share the coastline?
Which one of the following is not essentially a species of the Himalayan vegetation?
In which one of the following States are Namchik-Namphuk Coalfields located?
Which of the following minerals are found in a natural way in the State of Chhattisgarh? 1. Bauxite 2. Dolomite 3. Iron ore 4. Tin Select the correct answer using the code given below :

200710

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists: List-I (Town) - List-II (River Nearer to it) 1. A. Betul - 1. Indravati 2. B. Jagdalpur - 2. Narmada 3. C. Jabalpur - 3. Shipra 4. D. Ujjain - 4. Tapti
Which one of the following rivers originates at Amarkantak?
Where were Shevaroy Hills located?
Which one of the following Himalayan passes was reopened around in the middle of the year 2006 to facilitate trade between India and China?
Assertion (A): River Kalinadi is an east-flowing river in the southern part of India. 1. Assertion (A): River Kalinadi is an east-flowing river in the southern part of India. 2. Reason(R): The Deccan Plateau is higher along its western edge and gently slopes towards the bay of Bengal in the east. Reason(R): The Deccan Plateau is higher along its western edge and gently slopes towards the bay of Bengal in the east.
In which State is the Guru Shikhar Peak located?
Which one among the following major Indian cities is most eastward located?
Out of the four southern States: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, which shares boundaries with the maximum number of Indian States?
In which one of the following districts, have large reserves of diamond-bearing kimberlite been discovered in the recent past?
Which one of the following is located in the Bastar region?

20066

From north towards South, which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given rivers in India?
Recently Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the linking of two rivers as a link project. Which are these two rivers?
Match List-1 with List-II and select. the correct answer using the code given below the lists: 1. List. I (Valley) 2. A. Markha Valley 3. B. Dzukou Valley 4. C. Sangla Valley 5. D. Yumthang Valley 6. List-II (State) 7. 1. Sikkim 8. 2. Himachal Pradesh 9. 3. Jammu and Kashmir 10. 4. Nagaland
Which of the following substances are found in the beach sands of many parts of Kerala? 1. Ilmenite 2. Zircon 3. Silimanite 4. Tungsten Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Consider the following statements: 1. Assam shares a border with Bhutan and Bangladesh. 2. West Bengal shares a border with Bhutan and Nepal 3. Mizoram shares a border with Bangladesh and Myanmar Which of the statements given above are correct?
Where is the Central Water and Power Research Station located?

20055

Gandhi Sagar Dam is a part of which one of the following?
Which of the following statements is not correct?
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given hills starting from the north and going towards the south?
Which of the following States border Uttar Pradesh? 1. Punjab 2. Rajasthan 3. Chhattisgarh 4. Jharkhand Select the correct answer using the code given below.
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given Indian Cities in the decreasing order of their normal annual rainfall?

20047

Assertion (A): West flowing rivers of Peninsular India have no deltas. Reason (R): These rivers do not carry any alluvial sediments.
Consider the following: 1. Mahadeo Hills 2. Sahyadri Parvat 3. Satpura Range What is the correct sequence of the above from the north to the south?
Assertion (A): Bangalore receives much higher average annual rainfall than that of Mangalore. Reason (R): Bangalore has the benefit of receiving rainfall both from south-west and north-east monsoons.
Lake Sambhar is nearest to which one of the following cities of Rajasthan?
Consider the following statements: Among the Indian States 1. Andhra Pradesh has the longest coastline. 2. Gujarat has the highest number of airports. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Match List-I (Beaches in India) with List-II (States) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List-I (Beaches in India) - List-II (States) 1. A. Gopnath Beach - 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. B. Lawsons Bay Beach - 2. Kerala 3. C. Devbagh Beach - 3. Gujarat 4. D. Sinquerim Beach - 4. Goa 5. - 5. Karnataka
Match List-I (Minerals) with List-II (Location) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: List-I (Minerals) - List-II (Location) 1. A. Coal - 1. Giridih 2. B. Copper - 2. Jayamkondam 3. C. Manganese - 3. Alwar 4. D. Lignite - 4. Dharwar

20036

What is the correct sequence of the rivers—Godavari, Mahanadi,Narmada and Tapi in the descending order of their lengths?
Nanda Devi peak forms a part of
Among the following cities, which one is at the highest altitude above mean sea level?
Consider the following statements: 1. 1. Longitude of Jabalpur's location is between those of Indore and Bhopal 2. 2. Latitude of Aurangabad's location is between those of Vadodara and Pune 3. 3. Bangalore is situated more southward than Chennai. Which of these statements is/are?
Which one among the following States is smallest in area?
Among the following cities, which one is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer?

20026

The correct sequence of the eastward flowing rivers of the peninsular India from north to south is
With reference to India, which one the following statements is correct?
Which one of the following is a lagoon?
Match List I (Mangrove) with List II (State) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I (Mangrove) - List II (State) 1. A. Achra Ratnagiri - 1. Karnataka 2. B. Coondapur - 2. Kerala 3. C. Pichavaram - 3. Andhra Pradesh 4. D. Vembanad - 4. Maharashtra 5. - 5. Tamil Nadu
Open stunted forests with bushes and small trees having long roots and sharp thorns or spines are commonly found in
The average annual temperature of a meteorological station is 26°C, its average annual rainfall is 63 cm and the annual range of temperature is 9°C. The station in Q is

20013

The approximate age of the Aravalli's range is
The above map is the Union Territory of
In the shaded area of the above map, the mean temperature for the month of July varies between

20005

Which one of the following statements is not true?
1. Assertion (A): The frequency of floods in North Indian plains has increased during the last couple of decades. 2. Reason (R): There has been reduction in the depth of river valleys due to deposition of silt.
Along which one of the following meridians did India experience the first light of the sunrise of the new millennium?
Match the different ports of Union Territory of Pondicherry labelled as A, B, C and D in the given map with their respective names and select the correct answer using the codes given below the list of ports: 1. List (Ports of Pondicherry): 1. Karaikal, 2. Mahe, 3. Pondicherry, 4. Yanam Codes:
Match the locations of ports labelled as A, B, C and D in the given map with the names of those ports and select the correct answer using the codes given below the names of the ports: 1. Names of Ports: 1. Kakinada, 2. Karwar, 3. Mangalore, 4. Tuticorin, 5. Veraval Codes:

19992

In the given figure, the site of the Tehri dam has been labelled as
The Ravva offshore block, with great potential for oil, is located in

19985

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the states (labelled 1, 2, 3 and 4) of India shown on the map in descending order in terms of their available ground water resources for irrigation?
Which one of the following east flowing rivers of India has rift valley due to down warping?
The four railway junctions shown by numerals 1, 2, 3, 4 on the rough outline map of Gujarat are respectively
Some people in Manipur live in houses built on floating islands of weeds and decaying vegetation held together by suspended silt. These islands are called
Forest areas have been labelled as 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the rough outline map given: Among these, those which were threatened in 1997 by a serious epidemic include

199710

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: List I (Climatic Conditions) - List II (Reasons) 1. I. Chennai is warmer than Calcutta - A) North-east Monsoon 2. II. Snowfall in Himalayas - B) Altitude 3. III. Rainfall decreases from Depressions - C) Western Bengal to Punjab 4. IV. Sutlej Ganga Plain gets some rain in water - D) Distance from sea 5. E) Latitude Codes:
The Alamatti Dam is on the river
The canal carrying capacity of Farakka is
In the map shown in the given figure, rivers labelled as 1, 2, 3 and 4 are respectively
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: List I - List II 1. I. Deccan Traps - A) Late Cenozoic 2. II. Western Ghats - B) Pre-Cambrian 3. III. Aravalli - C) Cretaceous-Eocene 4. IV. Narmada-Tapi - D) Cambrian Alluvial deposits 5. E) Pleistocene Codes:
Consider the map given below: The places marked A, B, C and D in the map are respectively
Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
The January isotherm taken as a basis for dividing India into tropical and sub-tropical zones is
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: List I (Crops) - List II (Geographical conditions) 1. I. Barley - A) Hot and dry climate with poor soil 2. II. Rice - B) Cool climate with poorer soil 3. III. Millets - C) Warm and moist climate with high altitude 4. IV. Tea - D) Hot and moist climate with rich soil Codes:
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: List I (Minerals) - List II (Typical areas of Occurrence) 1. I. Coal - A) Bhandara 2. II. Gold - B) Karanpura 3. III. Mica - C) Hutti 4. IV. Manganese - D) Nellore Codes:

19966

Which one of the following rivers thrice forks into two streams and reunites a few miles farther on, thus forming the islands of Srirangappattanam, Sivasamudram and Srirangam?
Consider the following rivers: 1. Kishenganga 2. Ganga 3. Wainganga 4. Penganga The correct sequence of these rivers when arranged in the northsouth direction is
'Saddle Peak’, the highest peak of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is located in
"You might see a few curious Danes around, but that is because ...... used to be Danish outpost. This quaint town with its fort and a beautiful church, the New Jerusalem, empty streets and deserted beach front is a quaint gem." The place referred to in this quotation lies on the
The Palk Bay lies between
High temperature and low pressure over the Indian Subcontinent during the summer season, draws air from the Indian Ocean leading to the in blowing of the

19954

The Alpine vegetation in the western Himalayas is found only up to a height of 3000 metres, while in the eastern Himalayas it is found up to a height of 4000 metres, The reason for this variation in the same mountain range is that
Which one of the following mountain ranges is spread over only one State in India?
Examine the map of Jammu and Kashmir given below: The mountain ranges marked 1, 2, 3 and 4 are respectively
Consider the map given below: The divisions along India's coastal region indicate

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