UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims): Introduction to Physiographic Regions | Geography for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q.1. With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of       (2021)
(a) glaciers
(b) mangrove areas
(c) Ramsar sites
(d) saline lakes

Correct Answer is Option (d)

• Didwana is a town in the Nagaur district of Rajasthan. It also has a famous Didwana salt-water lake of Rajasthan.
• Kuchaman lake is a continental saline lake located around Kuchaman city, Nagaur District, Rajasthan.

Q.2. Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi?    (2018-I)
(a) Bengaluru
(b) Hyderabad
(c) Nagpur
(d) Pune

Correct Answer is Option (a)

• Delh i is at 28°40?N (Lon gitude) an d 77°20?E (Latitude)
  A. Bangalore: 12° 58' N, 77° 38' E.
  B. Hyderabad: 17° 20' N, 78° 30' E
  C. Nagpur: 21° 09' N, 79° 09' E
  D. Pune: 18° 31' N, 73° 55' E. 
• Thus, Latitude wise, Bangalore can be said to be the closest

Q.3. At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the seawater recedes from the shoreline a few kilometres and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the seafloor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at     (2017-I)
(a) Bhavnagar
(b) Bheemunipatnam
(c) Chandipur
(d) Nagapattinam

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Odisha state Government's tourism webpage says verbatim that Chandipur beach has a unique distinction on its own. Unlike other beaches, the sea water here recedes away from the shore line about five km twice a day, an unusual phenomenon, rarely found anywhere. Therefore answer is "C". Yes, some candidates have been circulating youtube clips of Bhavnagar beach with similar phenomenon, but when it comes to UPSC Answerkey, Government site wins over YouTube or Personal travel diary blogs.

Q.4. Which of the following has/have been accorded 'Geographical Indication' status?    (2015-I)

1. Banaras Brocades and Sarees
2. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma
3. Tirupathi Laddu

Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only    
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 only 3 only    
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Banaras Brocades and Sarees (Logo) has been accorded 'Geographical Indication' status. Rajasthani Daal-Bati-Churma is not in the list of Geographical Indications in Indus - Therefore option 'C' is correct.

Q.5. Which one of the following pairs of States of India indicates the easternmost and westernmost State?      (2015-I)
(a) Assam and Rajasthan
(b) Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan
(c) Assam and Gujarat
(d) Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat

Correct Answer is Option (d)
Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat are the easternmost and westernmost States.

Q.6. A particular State in India has the following characteristics:       (2012 - I) 

1. It is located on the same latitude which passes through northern Rajasthan. 
2. It has over 80% of its area under forest cover. 
3. Over 12% of forest cover constitutes Protected Area Network in this State. 

Which one among the following States has all the above characteristics? 
(a) Arunachal Pradesh 
(b) Assam 
(c) Himachal Pradesh 
(d) Uttarakhand

Correct Answer is Option (a)

Q.7.  The latitudes that pass through Sikkim also pass through:      (2010)
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Punjab
(c) Himachal Pradesh
(d) Jammu and Kashmir

Correct Answer is Option (a)
The latitude that passes through Sikkim also passes through Rajasthan.

Q.8. In India, how many states share the coastline?       (2008)
(a) 7
(b) 8 
(c) 9 
(d) 10

Correct Answer is Option (c)
9 states of India have a coastline. Gujrat, Maharastra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal.

Q.9. Out of the four southern states: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, which shares boundaries with the maximum number of Indian States?     (2007)
(a) Andhra Pradesh only
(b) Karnataka only 
(c) Each of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
(d) Each of Tamil Nadu and Kerala

Correct Answer is Option (c)
Both Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka share boundaries with a maximum number of Indian states.

Q.10. Which of the following states border Uttar Pradesh?     (2005)

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

Correct Answer is Option (b)
Uttar Pradesh is bounded by Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan in the west; Madhya Pradesh in the south, and Bihar in the east. The northern boundary is with Nepal.

Q.11. What is the correct sequence of the following Indian states in descending order of their length of surface roads per 100 km2 of their areas?     (1998) 

1. Haryana 
2. Maharashtra 
3. Punjab 
4. Tamil Nadu 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
(a) 1 only    
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 only 3 only    
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Correct Answer is Option (a)
Arrangement of descending order of the surface roads per 100 sq. km of their area. Tamil Nadu has 158.78 km, Punjab has 127.78 km, Maharashtra has 117.61 km, Haryana has 63.70 km.