UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions 2025: Geography | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Ans: (b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I  

• Statement I: Earth's rotation and axis are shifting, as confirmed by studies showing changes in rotation speed and polar motion due to mass redistribution (e.g., from melting ice).
• Statement II: Solar flares and coronal mass ejections deliver energy to Earth's upper atmosphere, causing geomagnetic disturbances. This is correct but doesn’t significantly affect Earth's rotation or axis, so it doesn’t explain Statement I.
• Statement III: Melting polar ice redistributes water toward the equator, altering Earth’s mass distribution and moment of inertia. This directly causes shifts in rotation and axis, explaining Statement I.

Thus, Both Statements II and III are correct, but only Statement III explains Statement I, making option (b) the correct choice.

Ans: (c) Only four
The Andes mountain range, one of the longest and highest mountain ranges in the world, runs along the western edge of South America. To determine how many of the listed countries—Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Venezuela—it passes through, let’s evaluate each country:

• Bolivia: The Andes run through western Bolivia, with significant features like the Altiplano and peaks such as Illimani. Bolivia is definitely included.
• Brazil: Brazil is primarily located in eastern South America, with its terrain dominated by the Amazon Basin and highlands. The Andes do not extend into Brazil, as they are confined to the western side of the continent.
• Colombia: The Andes enter northern South America and run through western Colombia, forming ranges like the Cordillera Occidental and Cordillera Central. Colombia is included.
• Ecuador: The Andes pass through central Ecuador, with notable peaks like Chimborazo and Cotopaxi. Ecuador is included.
• Paraguay: Paraguay lies east of the Andes, primarily consisting of lowlands and the Chaco region. The Andes do not extend into Paraguay.
• Venezuela: The Andes extend into western Venezuela, forming the Cordillera de Mérida, which includes peaks like Pico Bolívar. Venezuela is included.

Thus, the Andes pass through Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. That’s four countries.

Ans: (d) None

• Lake Tanganyika: Located in East Africa, primarily in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with parts in Burundi and Zambia. It lies between approximately 3°S and 9°S latitude. Since the equator is at 0°, Lake Tanganyika is entirely south of the equator and does not cross it.
• Lake Tonlé Sap: Situated in Cambodia, Southeast Asia, it is located around 12°N to 13°N latitude. Being north of the equator, it does not intersect the equator.
• Patos Lagoon: Found in southern Brazil, it lies between approximately 30°S and 32°S latitude. As it is far south of the equator, it does not cross the equator.

Thus, none of these water bodies—Lake Tanganyika, Lake Tonlé Sap, or Patos Lagoon—lie on or cross the equator, as they are all located either north or south of 0° latitude.

Ans: (c) I, II and III
All three statements are classic evidences of continental drift by Wegener:

I: Similar rock formations found on the coasts of Brazil and Western Africa suggest they were once joined.
II: Similar mineral deposits (like gold in Ghana) found on both sides of the Atlantic imply a common origin.

III: The Gondwana system of sediments found in India has close geological counterparts in Africa, South America, Antarctica, and Australia.

Ans: (c) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct   

• Statement I is correct: Subtropical and temperate areas, especially arid ones, have more loose soil and strong winds, which result in higher dust concentration.

• Statement II is incorrect: These regions typically have more dry winds, not less — especially in desert zones like the Sahara and Thar.

Ans: (a) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

• In January, due to differential heating, landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere are cooler than oceans.
• Hence, isotherms bend equatorward over land and poleward over oceans.
• Statement II explains the temperature pattern that causes this distortion.

Ans: (c) Only Statement II is correct and explains Statement I.
Statement I: Correct. Chalk is highly permeable; clay is nearly impermeable.
Statement II: Correct. Chalk’s porosity allows it to absorb water, explaining its high permeability in Statement I.
Statement III: Incorrect. Clay is porous but has tiny, poorly connected pores, making it impermeable, not “not at all porous.” 

Ans: (c) I, II and III
I: Without an atmosphere, Earth's surface would be extremely cold at night and hot during the day, but the average would be well below freezing.
II: The atmosphere absorbs and redistributes heat, maintaining moderate temperatures.
III: Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor trap longwave radiation, keeping the planet warm.
Thus, all three are correct.

Ans: (c) Both I and II

• Statement I is correct: This statement accurately reflects the broader climatic risks that Peninsular India faces due to climate change, which are interconnected with the rise in wet-bulb temperatures.
  The region’s tropical location makes it particularly vulnerable to intensified monsoon variability, resulting in both extreme rainfall events causing floods and cyclones, as well as periods of inadequate rainfall leading to droughts.
  Therefore, while the World Bank’s warning emphasizes the health hazards of extreme heat and humidity, it also implicitly highlights that the same underlying climate shifts will exacerbate Peninsular India’s susceptibility to these damaging hydrometeorological events.
• Statement II is correct: This statement accurately captures the core implication of the World Bank’s warning.
  When wet-bulb temperatures exceed 35 °C, the human body can no longer effectively cool itself through sweating and evaporation, which are essential to regulate internal body temperature. This creates life-threatening conditions even for healthy individuals, and especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly, outdoor workers, or those without access to cooling.
  The same threat applies to many animal species, which also rely on various forms of heat dissipation.

Ans: (b) Only four

• UK: 9 time zones (mainland + territories).
• Denmark: 5 time zones (mainland + Greenland, Faroe Islands).
• New Zealand: 5 time zones (main islands + territories).
• Australia: 9 time zones (mainland + territories).
• Brazil: 4 time zones (mainland + islands).

Ans: (a) I only

• Anadyr (Russia) and Nome (Alaska) lie close geographically but are on opposite sides of the International Date Line.
• So when it’s Monday in Nome, it’s already Tuesday in Anadyr, not the reverse.
• Statement I is correct, but Statement II reverses the situation.

Ans: (c) All the three

• Botswana: One of the top diamond producers.
• Chile: Holds the world’s largest lithium reserves.
• Indonesia: A leading nickel exporter, crucial for EV batteries.
  All pairings are correct.

Ans: (d) None

• Mallorca: A Spanish island, not Italian.
• Normandy: A coastal region in France, not Spain.
• Sardinia: An Italian island, not French.
  All pairs are incorrectly matched.

Ans: (d) I, II and III

• India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of turmeric.
• It grows more than 30 varieties, including Erode, Salem, Alleppey, etc.
• Major turmeric-producing states include Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, among others.