UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions 2025: Geography | UPSC Topic Wise Previous Year Questions PDF Download

Ans: (c)
All three statements are valid. Statement I accurately states that without an atmosphere, Earth’s surface would lose heat quickly, resulting in extremely cold temperatures similar to those on the Moon.
Statement II is also correct, as the atmosphere retains heat through the greenhouse effect, which helps sustain temperatures conducive to life.
Statement III is true, explaining that gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor absorb infrared radiation, driving the greenhouse effect.
Thus, Statements I, II, and III are all correct, with Statements II and III providing the mechanisms by which the atmosphere, as described in Statement I, maintains Earth’s temperature through the greenhouse effect.

Ans: (c)
All three pairs are accurate.
Statement I: Arunachal Pradesh is correct, as Itanagar, its capital, is named after Ita Fort, and the state is home to two National Parks, Namdapha and Mouling.
Statement II: Nagaland is also correct, as it achieved statehood on December 1, 1963, through the State of Nagaland Act, 1962, enacted via a constitutional amendment.
Statement III: Tripura is accurate, having been classified as a Part 'C' state, later becoming a Union Territory in 1956, and gaining full statehood in 1972.
Thus, all three pairs correctly describe historical and administrative facts about these northeastern Indian states.

Ans: (c)
All three statements are accurate.

• Statement I: Ancient rock formations along Brazil’s coastline align closely with those found in Western Africa, suggesting they were once part of a single geological structure.
• Statement II: Gold deposits in Ghana share characteristics with those on the Brazilian plateau, pointing to a common geological origin.
• Statement III: Sediments from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, found in India, are similar to those in Antarctica, Australia, South Africa, South America, and Madagascar, containing comparable fossils and environmental markers.

Ans: (d)
None of the three statements are correct, as the Equator does not pass through any of the mentioned water bodies.

• Statement I: Lake Tanganyika is located south of the Equator, spanning Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Zambia.
• Statement II: Lake Tonlé Sap is situated in Cambodia, significantly north of the Equator.
• Statement III: Patos Lagoon is found in southern Brazil, well south of the Equator.

Ans: (b)
All three statements are accurate.

• Statement I: Research confirms that Earth's rotation and axis experience slight shifts due to the redistribution of mass within the planet.
• Statement II: Solar flares impact only the upper atmosphere and do not contribute to changes in Earth's rotation.
• Statement III: The melting of polar ice causes water to flow toward the equator, redistributing Earth's mass and affecting its spin and axis.

Ans: (c)
All three statements are correct.

• Statement I: Botswana is a leading global producer of diamonds, which are a cornerstone of its economy.
• Statement II: Chile possesses significant lithium reserves in the Atacama Desert, making it a major supplier in the global market.
• Statement III: Indonesia is the world's top producer of nickel, essential for battery production and steel manufacturing.

Ans: (d)
None of the three statements are correct, as the regions are incorrectly associated with the listed countries.

• Statement I: Mallorca is a region of Spain, not Italy.
• Statement II: Normandy is located in France, not Spain.
• Statement III: Sardinia is part of Italy, not France.

Ans: (a)

• Statement I: Correct. The International Date Line separates Anadyr (Russia) and Nome (Alaska, USA), causing them to have nearly the same time of day but different calendar dates.
• Statement II: Incorrect. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is still Sunday in Nome, not Tuesday, as Anadyr is ahead of Nome by approximately 21 hours due to the Date Line.

Ans: (c)

• Statement I: Correct. Chalk is permeable, allowing water to flow through easily, while clay is impermeable, restricting water passage.
• Statement II: Correct. Chalk’s porous structure, with many small holes, enables it to hold water and contributes to its permeability.
• Statement III: Incorrect. Clay is porous but has extremely small pores that limit water flow, making it impermeable, though not non-porous.

Only Statements I and II are correct, with Statement II providing an explanation for Statement I.

Ans: (b)
Four of the five countries listed have more than four official time zones, including their overseas territories:

• United Kingdom: Correct. It spans nine time zones due to its overseas territories.
• Denmark: Correct. It has at least five time zones, including Greenland and other territories.
• New Zealand: Correct. It covers five time zones, including its outlying islands.
• Australia: Correct. It has eight to nine time zones, accounting for its mainland and external territories.
• Brazil: Incorrect. Brazil has exactly four time zones, not more.

Thus, only four of the five countries have more than four time zones.

Ans: (a)
Both statements are accurate, with Statement II providing the explanation for Statement I.

• Statement I: Correct. In January, isotherms shift equatorward over land, which cools more rapidly, and poleward over oceans, which retain heat longer.
• Statement II: Correct. Oceans remain warmer than land in January due to water's higher specific heat, which allows it to store and release heat more slowly.

Relationship: Statement II explains the isotherm behavior in Statement I by highlighting the role of water's specific heat in maintaining warmer ocean temperatures compared to land.

Ans: (c)
Statement I is correct because subtropical and temperate regions often experience dry conditions, limited vegetation, and strong winds, which contribute to increased dust levels. 
Statement II is incorrect because these regions typically have more frequent dry winds, not fewer, which facilitate dust being lifted into the air. Therefore, only Statement I is accurate.

Ans: (c)
Statement I is correct because the Andes mountain range runs through Bolivia, forming the Altiplano plateau. 
Statement II is incorrect as the Andes do not extend into Brazil, which is situated on the Brazilian Plateau. 
Statement III is accurate since the Andes pass through Colombia, dividing into three distinct mountain chains. 
Statement IV is correct because the Andes run north-south through Ecuador, significantly shaping its geography. 
Statement V is incorrect because Paraguay is located in interior lowlands and the Andes do not pass through it.
Statement VI is correct as the Venezuelan Andes, specifically the Cordillera de Mérida, extend into western Venezuela. Therefore, only Statements I, III, IV, and VI are correct, confirming that the Andes pass through Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela, but not Brazil or Paraguay.