Geography › Physical Geography & Geomorphology – UPSC Prelims PYQs

Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries ?

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.

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?

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 ?

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 ?

Which one of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present-day extensive marshland?

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?

On 21st June, the Sun

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 ?

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:

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 on the surface of the earth?

Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in

Salinization occurs when the irrigation water accumulated in the soil evaporates, leaving behind salts and minerals. What are the effects of salinization on the irrigated land?

With reference to soil conservation, consider the following practices:

1. Crop rotation
2. Sand fences
3. Terracing
4. Wind breaks

Which of the above are considered appropriate methods for soil conservation in India?

In the structure of planet Earth, below the mantle, the core is mainly made up of which one of the following ?

Consider the following statements :

1. The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale and so an increase of 1 magnitude unit represents a factor of 10 times in amplitude.
2. Each integer reading of the Richter scale has an energy 100 times that of the previous integer reading.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements :

1. Total land area of Earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometers
2. Ratio of land area to water area on Earth is approximately 1 : 4
3. Maximum percentage of Earth's water is in the Pacific Ocean.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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?

Assertion (A): The weight of a body decreases with the increase of latitude on earth.

Reason (R): The earth is not a perfect sphere.

Identify the correct order of the processes of soil erosion from the following:

Consider the following statements:

I. Most magmas are a combination of liquid, solid and gas. II. Water vapour and carbon dioxide are the principal gases dissolved in a magma. III. Basaltic magma is hotter than the silicic magma.

Which of these statements are correct?

Consider the following statements regarding earthquakes: I. The intensity of an earthquake is measured on the Mercalli scale. II. The magnitude of an earthquake is a measure of energy released. III. Earthquake magnitudes are based on direct measurements of the amplitude of seismic waves. IV. In the Richter scale, each whole number demonstrates a hundred-fold increase in the amount of energy released.

Which of these statements are correct?

Consider the following statements made about the sedimentary rocks: I. Sedimentary rocks are formed at Earth’s surface by the hydrological system. II. The formation of sedimentary rocks involves the weathering of pre-existing rocks. III. Sedimentary rocks contain fossils. IV. Sedimentary rocks typically occur in layers.

Which of these statements are correct?

Volcanic eruptions do not occur in the

Quartzite is metamorphosed from

The palaeomagnetic results obtained from India indicate that in the past, the Indian land mass has moved

The Indian subcontinent was originally part of a huge land mass called