UPSC Prelims Geography PYQs, 2011-2026

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.

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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

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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'.

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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.

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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.

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Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean ?
1. Bahrain
2. Syria
3. Qatar
4. Egypt

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Consider the following statements about river bridges connecting India with neighbouring countries :
1. ‘Maitri Setu’, built over Feni river, connects Ramgarh in India with Sabroom in Bangladesh.
2. Jhulaghat suspension bridge connects India with Myanmar.
3. Mechi bridge and its approaches connect Panitanki Bypass in India with Kakarvitta in Nepal.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Consider the following statements :

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.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

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

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With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:

1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.

2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of

With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of

Consider the following rivers :

1. Brahmani

2. Nagavali

3. Subarnarekha

4. Vamsadhara

Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?

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.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In case of which one of the following biogeochemical cycles, the weathering of rocks is the main source of release of nutrient to enter the cycle?

“The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-frep davs and 50 to 100 centimeters 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?

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?

Siachen Glacier is situated to the

Consider the following statements:

1) 36% of India’s districts are classified as “overexploited” or “critical” by the Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA).

2) 2. CGWA was formed under the Environment (Protection) Act.

3) India has the largest area under groundwater irrigation in the world.

Which of the statements given above is/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 10ºC lesser than that of the surroundings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements :

I. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law in the country.

II. 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.

III. State Governments have the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?

Consider the following States:

I. Chhattisgarh

II. Madhya Pradesh

III. Maharashtra

IV. Odisha

With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?

In the context of which of the following do some scientists suggest the use of cirrus cloud thinning technique and the injection of sulphate aerosol into stratosphere?

On 21^st June, the Sun

Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities?
1) Aral Sea
2) Black Sea
3) Lake Baikal
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Which one of the following is an artificial lake?

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.
Which of the statements given above 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.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi?

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-

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 falls into Bay of Bengal at the border of India and Bangladesh.
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?

Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries?
1. Jordan
2. Iraq
3. Lebanon
4. Syria
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If you want to see gharials in their natural habitat, which one of the following is the best place to visit?

Consider the following in respect of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS):
1. Inaugural IONS was held in India in 2015 under the chairmanship of the Indian Navy.
2. IONS is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which of the following are the key features of ‘National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA)’?
1. River basin is the unit of planning and management.
2. It spearheads the river conservation efforts at the national level.
3. One of the Chief Ministers of the States through which the Ganga flows becomes the Chairman of NGRBA on rotation basis.
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Why does the Government of India promote the use of ‘Neem-coated Urea’ in agriculture?

Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra?
1. Dibang
2. Kameng
3. Lohit
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What is/are the purpose/purposes of ‘District Mineral Foundations’ in India?
1. Promoting mineral exploration activities in mineral-rich districts
2. Protecting the interests of the persons affected by mining operations
3. Authorizing State Governments to issue licences for mineral exploration
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In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found?
1. Cambay Basin
2. Cauvery Basin
3. Krishna-Godavari Basin
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Which of the following is/are the advantage/advantages of practicing drip irrigation?
1. Reduction in weed
2. Reduction in soil salinity
3. Reduction in soil erosion
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Recently, which of the following States has explored the possibility of constructing an artificial inland port to be connected to sea by a long navigational channel?

In the South Atlantic and South Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the main reason behind this?

Which of the following pairs of States of India indicates the easternmost and Westernmost State?

Consider the following pairs :
Place of Pilgrimage: Location
1) Srisailam : Nallamala Hills
2) Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills
3) Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

Consider the following rivers:
1) Vamsadhara
2) Indravati
3) Pranahita
4) Pennar
Which of the rivers given above are the tributaries of Godavari?

Who among the following founded a new city on the south bank of a tributary to river Krishna and undertook to rule his new kingdom as the agent of a deity to whom all the land south of the river Krishna was supposed to belong?

Consider the following statements:  
1) The winds which blow between 30 degrees N and 60 degrees S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
2) The moist air masses that cause winter rams in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living tree 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 following states, do “Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests” occur?

“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, than rain comes with thunder and lightning. But rain is soon over”. 
Which of the following regions has been described in the above passage?

Which of the following phenomena might have influenced the evolution of organisms?
(1). Continental drift
(2). Glacial cycles
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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.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Which of the following have coral reefs?
(1). Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(2). Gulf of Kachchh
(3). Gulf of Mannar
(4). Sunderbans
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In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following?
(1). Terrace cultivation
(2). Deforestation
(3). Tropical climate’
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The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of:

Consider the following rivers:
(1). Barak
(2). Lohit
(3). Subansiri
Which of the above flows / flow through Arunachal Pradesh?

What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from south to north?
(1). Bangkok
(2). Hanoi
(3). Jakarta
(4). Singapore
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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.

Which one of the following pairs a correctly matched?

Geographical feature and region

Variations in the length of daytime and night time from season to season are due to

On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater, the largest proportion

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
Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes in the surface of the earth?

Consider the following minerals:

1. Calcium
2. Iron
3. Sodium

Which of the minerals given above is/are required by human body for the contraction of muscles?

The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where

The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is / are the reason / reasons?

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

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Which of the following are the characteristics of Indian coal?
1. High ash content
2. Low sulphur content
3. Low ash fusion temperature
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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 is Rajasthan and UP.
4. Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

Consider the following statements :
1. Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds.
2. Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma.
3. Dharwars are famous for petroleum.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders. The above statement best describes which of the following regions?

During a 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

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If National Water Mission is properly and completely implemented, how will it impact the country?
(1). Part of the water needs of urban areas will be met through recycling of waste water.
(2). The water requirement of coastal cities with inadequate alternative sources of water will be met by adopting appropriate technologies that allow for use of ocean water.
(3). All the rivers of Himalayan origin will be linked to the rivers of peninsular India.
(4). The expenses incurred by farmers for digging bore wells and for installing motors and pump sets to draw groundwater will be completely reimbursed by the Government.
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Consider the following factors:
1) Rotation of the Earth
2) Air pressure and wind
3) Density of ocean water
4) Revolution of the Earth
Which of the above factors influence the ocean currents?

When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following:
1) Deep gorges
2) U-turn river courses
3) Parallel mountain ranges
4) Steep gradients causing land-sliding
Which of the above can be said to be the evidences for Himalayas being young fold mountains?

Normally, the temperature decreases with the increase in height from the Earth's surface, because
1) the atmosphere can be heated upwards only from the Earth's surface
2) there is more moisture in the upper atmosphere
3) the air is less dense in the upper atmosphere
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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?

What would happen if phytoplankton of an ocean is completely destroyed for some reason?
1) The ocean as a carbon sink would be adversely affected.
2) The food chains in the ocean would be adversely affected.
3) The density of ocean water would drastically decrease.
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La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino?
1) La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in the equatorial Indian Ocean, whereas El Nino is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
2) El Nino has an adverse effect on the southwest monsoon of India, but La Nina has no effect on the monsoon climate.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?