Geography – UPSC Prelims PYQs

546 questions · 1995–2026 · answers as per the UPSC key · page 7 of 11

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Topics: Atmosphere & Climatology (69)Population & Demography (56)Economic & Mineral Geography (53)World Political Geography & Borders (50)Indian Rivers & Water Resources (49)Indian Physical Geography (48)Indian Agriculture & Land Use (46)World Physical Geography (36)Transport & Infrastructure Geography (32)Astronomy & Earth–Sun System (27)Physical Geography & Geomorphology (27)Oceanography (21)Biogeography & Natural Vegetation (14)Cartography & Map Skills (8)World Geography (7)Indian Political Geography & Borders (2)Indian Human & Cultural Geography (1)
UPSC 2005 · Q79 · Geography › Indian Physical Geography · Save

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

(a) The Western Ghats are relatively higher in their northern region
(b) The Anaimudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats
(c) Tapti river lies to the south of Satpura.
(d) The Narmada and the Tapi river valleys are said to be old rift valleys.
Show answer
Answer: (a) The Western Ghats are relatively higher in their northern region
UPSC 2005 · Q80 · Geography › Indian Rivers & Water Resources · Save

Gandhi Sagar Dam is a part of which one of the following?

(a) Chambal Project
(b) Kosi Project
(c) Damodar Valley Project
(d) Bhakra Nangal Project
Show answer
Answer: (a) Chambal Project
UPSC 2005 · Q81 · Geography › Indian Physical Geography · Save

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given hills starting from the north and going towards the south?

(a) Nallamalai Hills – Nilgiri Hills – Javadi Hills – Anaimalai Hills
(b) Anaimalai Hills – Javadi Hills – Nilgiri Hills – Nallamalai Hills
(c) Nallamalai Hills – Javadi Hills – Nilgiri Hills – Anaimalai Hills
(d) Anaimalai Hills – Nallamalai Hills – Javadi Hills – Nilgiri Hills
Show answer
Answer: (c) Nallamalai Hills – Javadi Hills – Nilgiri Hills – Anaimalai Hills
UPSC 2005 · Q83 · Geography › Astronomy & Earth–Sun System · Save

Assertion (A): The same face of the Moon is always presented to the Earth.

Reason (R): The Moon rotates about its own axis in 23½ days which is about the same time that it takes to orbit the Earth.

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Show answer
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
UPSC 2005 · Q87 · Geography › Atmosphere & Climatology · Save

Assertion (A): Wind patterns are clockwise in the northern hemisphere and anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere.

Reason (R): The directions of wind patterns in the northern and the southern hemisphere are governed by the Coriolis Effect.

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Show answer
Answer: (a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
UPSC 2005 · Q122 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Which one of the following states border Uttar Pradesh?

  1. Punjab
  2. Rajasthan
  3. Chhattisgarh
  4. Jharkhand

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 1 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (b) 2, 3 and 4
UPSC 2005 · Q123 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Which one of the following cities is the seat of Parliament of South Africa?

(a) Pretoria
(b) Durban
(c) Johannesburg
(d) Cape Town
Show answer
Answer: (d) Cape Town
UPSC 2005 · Q126 · Geography › Population & Demography · Save

In which one of the following countries is Tamil a major language?

(a) Myanmar
(b) Indonesia
(c) Mauritius
(d) Singapore
Show answer
Answer: (d) Singapore
UPSC 2005 · Q127 · Geography › Atmosphere & Climatology · Save

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given Indian cities in the decreasing order of their normal annual rainfall?

(a) Kochi – Kolkata – Delhi – Patna
(b) Kolkata – Kochi – Patna – Delhi
(c) Kochi – Kolkata – Patna – Delhi
(d) Kolkata – Kochi – Delhi – Patna
Show answer
Answer: (c) Kochi – Kolkata – Patna – Delhi
UPSC 2005 · Q128 · Geography › World Physical Geography · Save

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

  1. River Manzanares
  2. River Seine
  3. River Spree
  4. River Potomac

List-I (City) A. Washington D.C. B. Berlin C. Paris D. Madrid

List-II (River)

(a) A-2 B-3 C-4 D-1
(b) A-4 B-1 C-2 D-3
(c) A-2 B-1 C-4 D-3
(d) A-4 B-3 C-2 D-1
Show answer
Answer: (d) A-4 B-3 C-2 D-1
UPSC 2005 · Q136 · Geography › Population & Demography · Save

Consider the following statements:

  1. Area-wise, Chhattisgarh is larger than West Bengal.
  2. According to the 2001 Census, the population of West Bengal is larger than that of Chhattisgarh.

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
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
UPSC 2005 · Q137 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Which one of the following pairs is not correctly matched? Current Name — Old Name

(a) Harare — Salisbury
(b) Ethiopia — Abyssinia
(c) Ghana — Dutch Guiana
(d) Kinshasa — Leopoldville
Show answer
Answer: (c) Ghana — Dutch Guiana
UPSC 2005 · Q146 · Geography › Population & Demography · Save

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

(a) There is no definition of the Scheduled Tribe in the Constitution of India.
(b) North-East India accounts for a little over half of the country’s tribal population.
(c) The people known as Todas live in the Nilgiri area.
(d) Lotha is a language spoken in Nagaland.
Show answer
Answer: (b) North-East India accounts for a little over half of the country’s tribal population.
UPSC 2004 · Q15 · Geography › Indian Agriculture & Land Use · Save

Consider the following crops:

  1. Cotton
  2. Groundnut
  3. Maize
  4. Mustard

Which of the above are Kharif crops?

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3
UPSC 2004 · Q19 · Geography › World Physical Geography · Save

The great Asian river Mekong does not run through

(a) China
(b) Malaysia
(c) Cambodia
(d) Laos
Show answer
Answer: (b) Malaysia
UPSC 2004 · Q21 · Geography › Indian Human & Cultural Geography · Save

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?

(a) The largest Buddhist monastery in India is in Assam
(b) The language Konyak is spoken in Nagaland
(c) The largest river island in the world is in Assam
(d) Sikkim is the least-populated State of the Indian Union
Show answer
Answer: (a) The largest Buddhist monastery in India is in Assam
UPSC 2004 · Q42 · Geography › Indian Rivers & Water Resources · Save

Consider the following statements:

  1. Damodar Valley Corporation is the first multipurpose river valley project of independent India.
  2. Damodar Valley Corporation includes thermal and gas power stations.

Which of these statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
UPSC 2004 · Q45 · Geography › Transport & Infrastructure Geography · Save

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 these statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show answer
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
UPSC 2004 · Q51 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Latvia does not share its borders with which one of the following countries?

(a) Russia
(b) Estonia
(c) Lithuania
(d) Poland
Show answer
Answer: (d) Poland
UPSC 2004 · Q53 · Geography › Economic & Mineral Geography · Save

Match List I (Minerals) with List II (Location) and select the correct answer:

  1. Giridih
  2. Jayankondam
  3. Alwar
  4. Dharwar

List I (A) Coal (B) Copper (C) Manganese (D) Lignite

List II

(a) A-1 B-4 C-3 D-2
(b) A-2 B-3 C-4 D-1
(c) A-1 B-3 C-4 D-2
(d) A-2 B-4 C-3 D-1
Show answer
Answer: (c) A-1 B-3 C-4 D-2
UPSC 2004 · Q54 · Geography › Transport & Infrastructure Geography · Save

Which among the following National Highway routes is the longest?

(a) Agra – Mumbai
(b) Chennai – Thane
(c) Kolkata – Hajira
(d) Pune – Machilipatnam
Show answer
Answer: (c) Kolkata – Hajira
UPSC 2004 · Q58 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer:

  1. Bulgaria
  2. China
  3. Eritrea
  4. Kazakhstan

List I (Sea) (A) Black Sea (B) Red Sea (C) Yellow Sea (D) Caspian Sea

List II (Country)

(a) A-1 B-4 C-2 D-3
(b) A-2 B-3 C-1 D-4
(c) A-1 B-3 C-2 D-4
(d) A-2 B-4 C-1 D-3
Show answer
Answer: (c) A-1 B-3 C-2 D-4
UPSC 2004 · Q61 · Geography › Indian Physical Geography · Save

Consider the following statements:

  1. Mahadeo Hills
  2. Sahyadri Parvat
  3. Satpura Range

What is the correct sequence of the above from the north to the south?

(a) 1, 2, 3
(b) 2, 1, 3
(c) 1, 3, 2
(d) 2, 3, 1
Show answer
Answer: (c) 1, 3, 2
UPSC 2004 · Q62 · Geography › Indian Physical Geography · Save

Lake Sambhar is nearest

to which one of the following cities of Rajasthan?

(a) Bharatpur
(b) Jaipur
(c) Jodhpur
(d) Udaipur
Show answer
Answer: (b) Jaipur
UPSC 2004 · Q64 · Geography › Atmosphere & Climatology · Save

Which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) Cirrus clouds are composed of ice crystals
(b) Cirrus clouds exhibit a flat base and have the appearance of rising domes
(c) Cumulus clouds are white and thin and form delicate patches and give a fibrous and feathery appearance
(d) Cumulus clouds are classified as high clouds
Show answer
Answer: (a) Cirrus clouds are composed of ice crystals
UPSC 2004 · Q66 · Geography › Oceanography · Save

Which one of the following statements is not correct?

(a) Gulfs with narrow fronts and wider rears experience high tides
(b) Tidal currents take place when a gulf is connected with the open sea by a narrow channel
(c) Tidal bore occurs when a tide enters the narrow and shallow estuary of a river
(d) The tidal nature of the mouth of the river Hooghly is of crucial importance to Kolkata as port
Show answer
Answer: (a) Gulfs with narrow fronts and wider rears experience high tides
UPSC 2004 · Q68 · Geography › Atmosphere & Climatology · Save

Assertion (A): Bangalore receives much higher average annual rainfall than Mangalore.

Reason (R): Bangalore has the benefit of receiving rainfall both from south-west and north-east monsoons.

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Show answer
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true
UPSC 2004 · Q70 · Geography › Indian Rivers & Water Resources · Save

Assertion (A): West-flowing rivers of Peninsular India have no deltas.

Reason (R): These rivers do not carry any alluvial sediment.

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Show answer
Answer: (c) A is true but R is false
UPSC 2004 · Q71 · Geography › Atmosphere & Climatology · Save

Assertion (A): The thickness of the atmosphere is maximum over the Equator.

Reason (R): High insolation and strong convection currents occur over the Equator.

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Show answer
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true
UPSC 2004 · Q87 · Geography › Physical Geography & Geomorphology · Save

Consider the following geological phenomena:

  1. Development of a fault
  2. Movement along a fault
  3. Impact produced by a volcanic eruption
  4. Folding of rocks

Which of the above cause earthquakes?

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 1, 3 and 4
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3
UPSC 2004 · Q103 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Which one of the following does not border Panama?

(a) Costa Rica
(b) Pacific Ocean
(c) Colombia
(d) Venezuela
Show answer
Answer: (d) Venezuela
UPSC 2004 · Q105 · Geography › Indian Physical Geography · Save

Match List I (Beaches in India) with List II (States) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. Andhra Pradesh
  2. Kerala
  3. Gujarat
  4. Goa
  5. Karnataka

List I (A) Gopnath Beach (B) Lawsons Bay Beach (C) Devbagh Beach (D) Sinquerium Beach

List II

Codes:

(a) A 5 B 4 C 2 D 1
(b) A 3 B 1 C 5 D 4
(c) A 5 B 1 C 2 D 4
(d) A 3 B 4 C 5 D 1
Show answer
Answer: (b) A 3 B 1 C 5 D 4
UPSC 2004 · Q131 · Geography › Economic & Mineral Geography · Save

Which one of the following is the correct decreasing sequence in terms of the value (in rupees) of the minerals produced in India in the year 2002-03?

(a) Metallic minerals - Fuel minerals - Non-metallic minerals
(b) Fuel minerals - Metallic minerals - Non-metallic minerals
(c) Metallic minerals - Non-metallic minerals - Fuel minerals
(d) Fuel minerals - Non-metallic minerals - Metallic minerals
Show answer
Answer: (b) Fuel minerals - Metallic minerals - Non-metallic minerals
UPSC 2004 · Q132 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Which one of the following cities (they were in the news in recent times) is NOT correctly matched with its country?

(a) Salamanca — Spain
(b) Cannes — Italy
(c) Cancun — Mexico
(d) Bruges — Belgium
Show answer
Answer: (b) Cannes — Italy
UPSC 2004 · Q133 · Geography › Population & Demography · Save

Consider the following statements: As per 2001 Census

  1. The two States with the lowest sex ratio are Haryana and Punjab.
  2. The two States with the lowest population per sq km of area are Meghalaya and Mizoram.
  3. Kerala has both the highest literacy rate and sex ratio.

Which of these statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 3 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 1 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (d) 1 and 3
UPSC 2004 · Q140 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Match List I (State/Province/Overseas Territory) with List II (Country) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. USA
  2. UK
  3. Canada
  4. Germany
  5. Denmark

List I (A) British Columbia (B) Bavaria (C) Gibraltar (D) Rhode Island

List II

Codes:

(a) A 1 B 2 C 5 D 3
(b) A 3 B 4 C 2 D 1
(c) A 1 B 4 C 2 D 3
(d) A 3 B 2 C 5 D 1
Show answer
Answer: (b) A 3 B 4 C 2 D 1
UPSC 2004 · Q143 · Geography › Transport & Infrastructure Geography · Save

Which one of the following pairs is NOT correctly matched? Unit of Indian Railway — Location

(a) Railway Staff College — Vadodra
(b) Central Organization for Railway Electrification — Varanasi
(c) Wheel and Axle Plant — Bangalore
(d) Rail-coach Factory — Kapurthala
Show answer
Answer: (b) Central Organization for Railway Electrification — Varanasi
UPSC 2004 · Q145 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Match List I (New Names of the Countries) with List II (Old Names of the Countries) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. Nyasaland
  2. Basutoland
  3. Bechuanaland
  4. British Honduras
  5. Dohomey

List I (A) Benin (B) Belize (C) Botswana (D) Malawi

List II

Codes:

(a) A 3 B 1 C 2 D 4
(b) A 5 B 4 C 3 D 1
(c) A 3 B 4 C 2 D 1
(d) A 5 B 1 C 3 D 4
Show answer
Answer: (b) A 5 B 4 C 3 D 1
UPSC 2003 · Q3 · Geography › Economic & Mineral Geography · Save

Which one among the following has the largest shipyard in India?

(a) Kolkata
(b) Kochi
(c) Mumbai
(d) Visakhapatnam
Show answer
Answer: (b) Kochi
UPSC 2003 · Q13 · Geography › Indian Physical Geography · Save

Nanda Devi peak forms a part of

(a) Assam Himalayas
(b) Kumaon Himalayas
(c) Nepal Himalayas
(d) Punjab Himalayas
Show answer
Answer: (b) Kumaon Himalayas
UPSC 2003 · Q21 · Geography › Indian Physical Geography · Save

Among the following cities, which one is at the highest altitude above mean sea level?

(a) Bangalore
(b) Delhi
(c) Jodhpur
(d) Nagpur
Show answer
Answer: (a) Bangalore
UPSC 2003 · Q24 · Geography › Indian Physical Geography · Save

Consider the following statements:

  1. Longitude of Jabalpur’s location is between those of Indore and Bhopal.
  2. Latitude of Aurangabad’s location is between those of Vadodara and Pune.
  3. Bangalore is situated more southward than Chennai.

Which of these statements is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3
(b) Only 2
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: (c) 2 and 3
UPSC 2003 · Q25 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Which one among the following States is smallest in area?

(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Gujarat
(c) Karnataka
(d) Tamil Nadu
Show answer
Answer: (d) Tamil Nadu
UPSC 2003 · Q27 · Geography › Population & Demography · Save

The Basque people who are frequently in the news for their separatist activity live in

(a) France
(b) Italy
(c) Portugal
(d) Spain
Show answer
Answer: (d) Spain
UPSC 2003 · Q38 · Geography › Economic & Mineral Geography · Save

In which one of the following countries is rupee its currency?

(a) Bhutan
(b) Malaysia
(c) Maldives
(d) Seychelles
Show answer
Answer: (d) Seychelles
UPSC 2003 · Q39 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Which one of the following countries is land locked?

(a) Bolivia
(b) Peru
(c) Suriname
(d) Uruguay
Show answer
Answer: (a) Bolivia
UPSC 2003 · Q41 · Geography › Astronomy & Earth–Sun System · Save

Among the following cities, which one is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer?

(a) Delhi
(b) Kolkata
(c) Jodhpur
(d) Nagpur
Show answer
Answer: (b) Kolkata
UPSC 2003 · Q68 · Geography › Biogeography & Natural Vegetation · Save

Which one among the following covers the highest percentage of forest area in the world?

(a) Temperate Coniferous forests
(b) Temperate Deciduous forests
(c) Tropical Monsoon forests
(d) Tropical Rain forests
Show answer
Answer: (a) Temperate Coniferous forests
UPSC 2003 · Q77 · Geography › World Political Geography & Borders · Save

Israel has common borders with

(a) Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt
(b) Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Jordan
(c) Cyprus, Turkey, Jordan and Egypt
(d) Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Yemen
Show answer
Answer: (a) Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt
UPSC 2003 · Q78 · Geography › Indian Rivers & Water Resources · Save

What is the correct sequence of the rivers—Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapti in the descending order of their lengths?

(a) Godavari—Mahanadi—Narmada—Tapti
(b) Godavari—Narmada—Mahanadi—Tapti
(c) Narmada—Godavari—Tapti—Mahanadi
(d) Narmada—Tapti—Godavari—Mahanadi
Show answer
Answer: (b) Godavari—Narmada—Mahanadi—Tapti