UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims): Himalayas- Northern Mountains | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q.1. If there were no Himalayan ranges, what would have been the most likely geographical impact on India?     (2010) 

1. Much of the country would experience the cold waves from Siberia. 
2. Indo-Gangetic plain would be devoid of such extensive alluvial soils. 
3. The pattern of the monsoon would be different from what it is at present. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer is Option (d)
All the statements given in the question are correct.

Q.2. Consider the following statements:      (2009) 

1. In the world, tropical deserts occur along the western margins of continents within the trade wind belt. 
2. In India, the East Himalayan region gets high rainfall from northeast winds. 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

Correct Answer is Option (a)
In India, the south-west monsoon causes high rainfall in east Himalayan region.

Q.3. Consider the following regions:     (2009) 

1. Eastern Himalayas 
2. Eastern Mediterranean region 
3. North-Western Australia 

Which of the above is/are Biodiversity Hotspots?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Eastern Himalayas and Eastern Mediterranean region are Biodiversity hotspots. South west part of Australia has hotspots.

Q.4. Which of the following hills are found where the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats meet?    (2008)
(a) Anamalai Hills
(b) Cardamom Hills
(c) Nilgiri Hills
(d) Shevaroy Hills

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Nilgiri hills are at the junction of the eastern and western ghats of the Sahayadri hills. The heights of the hills range varies between 2,280 and 2,290 meters.

Q.5. Which one of the following is not essentially a species of Himalayan vegetation?     (2008)
(a) Juniper
(b) Mahogany
(c) Silver fir 
(d) Spruce

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Mahogany is a species of tree found throughout the Caribbean, central and south America but not in the Himalayas.

Q.6. In which State is the Guru Shikhar Peak located?     (2007)
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Gujarat 
(c) Madhya Pradesh
(d) Maharashtra

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Guru Shikhar Peak is the highest point in Rajasthan. The altitude of peak 5676 feet (1722 mt).

Q.7. Where are Shevaroy Hills located?     (2007)
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Karnataka 
(c) Kerala
(d) Tamil Nadu

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Shevaroy hill is situated near Salem of Tamil Nadu. This hill range covers an area of fifty square kilometers.

Q.8. Consider the following statements:      (2005) 

1. Silent Valley National Park in the Nallamalai range. 
2. Pathrakkadavu Hydroelectric project is proposed to be built near the Silent Valley National Park. 
3. The Kunthi river originates in Silent Valley's rainforests. 

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2 only
(c) 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Silent Valley National Park is situated in the Nilgiri Hills of Western Ghats. The park is bound by Attappadi reserved forest to the east and vested forest of Palaghat division and Nilamber division to the south-west respectively.

Q.9. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of hills starting from the north and going towards the south?      (2005)
(a) Nallamalai Hills–Nilgiri Hills–Javadi Hills–Anamalai Hills
(b) Anamalai Hills–Javadi Hills–Nilgiri Hills–Nallamalai Hills
(c) Nallamalai Hills–Javadi Hills–Nilgiri Hills –Anamalai Hills
(d) Anamalai Hills–Nilgiri Hills–Javadi Hills–Nallamalai Hills

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The correct sequence of the given hills starting from north and going towards to south is Nallamalai Hills, Javadi Hills, Nilgiri Hills, Anamalai Hills

Q.10. Consider the following:        (2004) 

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

Correct Answer is Option (c)
The sequence of North to South hills is Mahadeo Hills, Satpura Range, and Sahyadri Parvat.

Q.11. Nanda Devi peak forms a part of:      (2003)
(a) Assam Himalayas
(b) Kumaon Himalayas 
(c) Nepal Himalayas
(d) Punjab Himalayas

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Nanda Devi peak is a part of the Kumaon Himalayas located in the Chamoli district of Uttaranchal.

Q.12. Nanda Devi peak forms a part of:      (2003) 
(a) Assam Himalayas
(b) Kumaon Himalayas
(c) Nepal Himalayas
(d) Punjab Himalayas

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Nanda Devi peak is a part of the Kumaon Himalayas located in the Chamoli district of Uttaranchal.

Q.13. Examine the map of Jammu and Kashmir given below: The mountains ranges marked 1, 2, 3, and 4 are respectively:     (1995)
(a) Ladakh, Zanskar, Karakoram and Pir Panjal
(b) Karakoram, Ladakh, Zanskar and Pir Panjal
(c) Karakoram, Zanskar, Pir Panjal and Ladakh
(d) Ladakh, Pir Panjal, Karakoram and Zanskar

Correct Answer is Option (b)
According to the physiography map of India, the mountain range found in Jammu and Kashmir is the Karakoram which is marked as ‘1’ in the figure. Ladakh range which is marked as ‘2’, Zanskar range which is marked as ‘3’, and Pir Panjal which is marked as ‘4’.

Q.14. Which one of the following mountain ranges is spread over only one state in India?     (1995)
(a) Aravalli
(b) Satpura
(c) Ajanta
(d) Sahyadri

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Ajanta mountain range is short-range, which spreads within Maharashtra. – Aravali ranges cover Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi – Satpura ranges are found in Gujrat and Madhya Pradesh. – Sahyadris ranges start from Gujr at, Maharastra border and crossing Goa, Karnataka it reaches Kerala tip upto Cape Comrie. – Ajan ta is found in the Aurangabad district of Maharastra.