Geography – UPSC Prelim – GS – Question Paper

UPSC Prelim GS Question Paper – 2026

24. In what way(s) does the Vizhinjam International Seaport represent a structural shift in India’s maritime trade and logistics policy?

1. By functioning exclusively as a domestic cargo shipping hub to reduce reliance on foreign and eliminate the need for collaborations.
2. By focusing primarily on passenger cruise tourism and heritage shipping to increase Kerala’s profile as a maritime heritage destination.
3. By leveraging its natural deep draft and strategic location to reduce dependence on foreign trans-shipment ports, enhance revenue retention, and reposition India in regional maritime trade.

Select the answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 2 and 3

d) 3 only

25. Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information:

1. It has an antecedent drainage system.
2. It flows through three countries.
3. It originates in the Tibetan Plateau and is an important river for irrigation.
4. It does not form distributaries.

Select the answer from the following:

1. a) Indus
2. b) Brahmaputra
3. c) Sutlej
4. d) Teesta

26. Which of the following with reference to Indian States is/are not correct?

1. Uttar Pradesh shares its boundary with the highest number of other Indian States.
2. Rajasthan shares the longest international border among all Indian States.
3. Sikkim is the only State that shares its boundary with just one other Indian State.

Select the answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 2 and 3

d) 3 only

30. Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean?

1. Bahrain
2. Syria
3. Qatar
4. Egypt

Select the answer using the code given below :

a) 1 and 2

b) 1 and 3

c) 2 and 3

d) 3 and 4

31. Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries?
    a) Ecuador
    b) Peru
    c) Bolivia
    d) Colombia

32. With reference to Madhav National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It was declared a Tiger Reserve in India in 2025.
2. Sakhya Sagar, which is designated as a Ramsar Site, is situated within this National Park.
3. Its area is shared between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Select the answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 2 and 3

d) 3 only

33. With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The climate can be defined as a humid, tropical coastal climate.
2. It receives rainfall from both South-west monsoon and North-east monsoon.
3. Maximum precipitation is between December and May.

Select the answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 2 and 3

d) 3 only

34. Which of the following geographical features or phenomena is/are associated with the Peninsular Block of India?

1. Submergence of parts of the western coast due to tectonic activity
2. Presence of residual mountain ranges such as the Veliconda hills and Mahendragiri hills
3. Deep, V-shaped river valleys formed by fast-flowing rivers

Select the answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2

c) 2 and 3

d) 3 only

39. Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct?
    1. It is the largest desert lake in the world.
    2. The lake is situated in South Sudan along the eastern fringe of the Sahara desert.
    3. The lake is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also referred to as the ‘Jade Sea’.

Select the answer using the code given below:

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 3 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 1, 2 and 3

UPSC Prelim GS Question Paper – 2025

22. Consider the following countries :

1. Bolivia

1. Brazil
2. Colombia
3. Ecuador
4. Paraguay
5. Venezuela

Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?

(A) Only two

(B) Only three

(C) Only four

(D) Only five

23. Consider the following water bodies :

1. Lake Tanganyika
2. Lake Tonle Sap
3. Patos Lagoon

Through how many of them does the equator pass?

(A) Only one

(B) Only two

(C) All the three

(D) None

25. Which of the following are the evidences of the phenomenon of continental drift?

1. The belt of ancient rocks from Brazil coast matches with those from Western Africa.
2. The gold deposits of Ghana are derived from the Brazil plateau when the two continents lay side by side.
3. 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.

(A) I and III only

(B) I and II only

(C) I, II and III

(D) II and III only

26. Consider the following statements :

Statement I :

The amount of dust particles in the atmosphere is more in subtropical and temperate areas than in equatorial and polar regions.

Statement II:

Subtropical and temperate areas have less dry winds.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(B) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(C) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

(D) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

27. Consider the following statements:

Statement I :

In January, in the Northern Hemisphere, the isotherms bend equatorward while crossing the landmasses, and poleward while crossing the oceans.

Statement II :

In January, the air over the oceans is warmer than that over the landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I

(B) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I

(C) Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct

(D) Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

28. 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?

(A) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

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

(C) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(D) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

29. Consider the following statements :

1. Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point everywhere on the Earth’s surface.
2. Heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere maintains our planet’s average temperature.
3. Atmosphere’s gases, like carbon dioxide, are particularly good at absorbing and trapping radiation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) I and III only

(B) I and II only

(C) I, II and III

(D) II and III only

33. Consider the following statements :

Statement I :

Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.

Statement II :

Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.

Statement III :

As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(A) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I

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

(C) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I

(D) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct

52. Consider the following pairs :

            State                                Description

1. Arunachal Pradesh  :     The capital is named after a fort, and the State has two National Parks.
2. Nagaland                  :     The State came into existence on the basis of a Constitutional Amendment Act.
3. Tripura                      :     Initially a Part ‘C’ State, it became a centrally administered territory with the reorganization of States in 1956 and later attained the of a full-fledged State.

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(A) Only one

(B) Only two

(C) All the three

(D) None

76. Consider the following countries :

1. United Kingdom
2. Denmark
3. New Zealand
4. Australia
5. Brazil

How many of the above countries have more than four time zones?

(A) All the five

(B) Only four

(C) Only three

(D) Only two

77. Consider the following statements :

1. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days.
2. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(A) I only

(B) II only

(C) Both I and II

(D) Neither I nor II

79. Consider the following pairs:

    Country               Resource-rich in

1. Botswana : Diamond
2. Chile : Lithium

III. Indonesia     :      Nickel

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(A) Only one

(B) Only two

(C) All the three

(D) None

80. Consider the following pairs :

   Region                   Country

1. Mallorca : Italy
2. Normandy : Spain

III. Sardinia         :     France

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(A) Only one

(B) Only two

(C) All the three

(D) None

UPSC Prelim GS Question Paper – 2024

9. The longest border between any two countries in the world is between:
   

   (a) Canada and the United States of America

   (b) Chile and Argentina

   (c) China and India

   (d) Kazakhstan and Russian Federation

17. Consider the following countries:
18. Italy
19. Japan
20. Nigeria
21. South Korea
22. South Africa

Which of the above countries are frequently mentioned in the media for their low birth rates, or ageing population or declining population?

(a) 1, 2 and 4

(b) 1, 3 and 5

(c) 2 and 4 only

(d) 3 and 5 only

28. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe.

Statement-II:

Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.

Which one of the following is correct?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

29.  Consider the following statements:

1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form.
2. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.

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

30.  According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which one of the following is the largest source of Sulphur dioxide emissions?

(a) Locomotives using fossil fuels

(b) Ships using fossil fuels

(c) Extraction of metals from ores

(d) Power plants using fossil fuels

51. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation.

Statement-II:

Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

52. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

Thickness of the troposphere at the equator is much greater as compared to poles.

Statement-II:

At the equator, heat is transported to great heights by strong convectional currents.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect

(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

53. Consider the following:
54. Pyroclastic debris
55. Ash and dust
56. Nitrogen compounds
57. Sulphur compounds

How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

54. Which of the following is/are correct inference/inferences from isothermal maps in the month of January?

1. The isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent.
2. The presence of cold ocean currents, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift make the North Atlantic Ocean colder and the isotherms bend towards the north.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 

55. Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world?

(a) Algeria and Morocco

(b) Botswana and Namibia

(c) Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana

(d) Madagascar and Mozambique
 

56. With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct?

(a) Ghaghara – Gomati – Gandak – Kosi

(b) Gomati – Ghaghara – Gandak – Kosi

(c) Ghaghara – Gomati – Kosi – Gandak

(d) Gomati – Ghaghara – Kosi – Gandak
 

57. 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?

(a) Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct and both of them explain Statement-I

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

(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement-I

(d) Neither Statement-II nor Statement-III is correct
 

58. Consider the following countries:

1. Finland
2. Germany
3. Norway
4. Russia

How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

59. Consider the following information:

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four
 

60. Consider the following information:

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four
 

71. Consider the following airports:

1. Donyi Polo Airport
2. Kushinagar International Airport
3. Vijayawada International Airport

In the recent past, which of the above have been constructed as Greenfield projects?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3
 

72. With reference to “water vapour”, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It is a gas, the amount of which decreases with altitude.
2. Its percentage is maximum at the poles.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 

73. Consider the following description:

1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low.
2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year.
3. Precipitation varies between 50 cm – 250 cm.

What is this type of climate?

(a) Equatorial climate

(b) China type climate

(c) Humid subtropical climate

(d) Marine West coast climate
 

74. With reference to “Coriolis force”, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. It increases with increase in wind velocity.
2. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 

75. On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours?

1. Equator
2. Tropic of Cancer
3. Tropic of Capricorn
4. Arctic Circle

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 3 and 4

(d) 2 and 4

76. One of the following regions has the world’s largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert detrimental effect on the global climate. Which one of the following denotes that region?

(a) Amazon Basin

(b) Congo Basin

(c) Kikori Basin

(d) Rio de la Plata Basin

UPSC Prelim GS Question Paper – 2023

1. Consider the following statements :

1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
2. Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake.
3. Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

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

(a) Bhitarkanika Mangroves

(b) Marakkanam Salt Pans

(c) Naupada Swamp

(d) Rann of Kutch

6. Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are of which one of the rich sources following?

(a) Aluminum

(b) Copper

(c) Iron

(d) Titanium

7. About three-fourths of world’s cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by –

(a) Argentina

(b) Botswana

(c) Democratic Republic of the Congo

(d) Kazakhstan

8. Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?

(a) Cameroon

(b) Nigeria

(c) South Sudan

(d) Uganda

9. Consider the following statements:
   1. Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.
   2. Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range.
   3. Seshachalam Hills constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

10. With reference to India’s projects connectivity, consider the following statements:
    1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
    2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
    3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

11. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: India, despite having uranium deposits, depends on coal for most of its electricity production.

Statement-II: Uranium, enriched to the extent of at least 60%, is required for the production of electricity.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

32. Consider the following pairs:

Port: Well known as

1. Kamarajar Port: First major port in India registered as a company
2. Mundra Port : Largest privately owned port in India
3. Visakhapatnam: Largest container port in India

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) All three pairs

(d) None of the pairs

34. Consider the following statements:
    1. India has more arable area than China.
    2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.
    3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

61. Consider the following countries:
    1. Bulgaria
    2. Czech Republic
    3. Hungary
    4. Latvia
    5. Lithuania
    6. Romania

How many of the above-mentioned countries share a land border with Ukraine?

(a) Only two

(b) Only three

(c) Only four

(d) Only five

62. With reference to the Earth’s atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?

(a) The total amount of insolation received at the equator is roughly about 10 times that received at the poles.

(b) Infrared rays constitute roughly two-thirds of insolation.

(c) Infrared waves are largely absorbed by water vapour in a concentrated atmosphere.

(d) Infrared waves are a part of the lower visible spectrum of electromagnetic waves of solar radiation.

63. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients.

Statement-II: The high temperature and moisture of rain forests cause tropical dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c) Statement-I is correct Statement-II is incorrect

(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

64. Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter.

Statement-II : The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements? 

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I

(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect

(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct

65. 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?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

UPSC Prelim GS Question Paper – 2022

23. Which one of the following lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert ?

(a) Lake Victoria

(b) Lake Faguibine

(c) Lake Oguta

(d) Lake Volta

24. Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers ?

(a) Cauvery

(b) Manjira

(c) Pennar

(d) Tungabhadra

25. Consider the following pairs Peak Mountains
    1. Namcha Barwa – Garhwal Himalaya
    2. Nanda Devi – Kumaon Himalaya
    3. Nokrek – Sikkim Himalaya

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched ?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 1 and 3

(d) 3 only

26. The term “Levant” often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions ?

(a) Region along the eastern Mediterranean shores

(b) Region along North African shores stretching from Egypt to Morocco

(c) Region along Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa

(d) The entire coastal areas of Mediterranean Sea

27. Consider the following countries :
    1. Azerbaijan
    2. Kyrgyzstan
    3. Tajikistan
    4. Turkmenistan
    5. Uzbekistan

Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan ?

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

28. With reference to India, consider the following statements :
    1. Monazite is a source of rare earths.
    2. Monazite contains thorium.
    3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
    4. In India, Government bodies only can process or export monazite.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 1, 2 and 4 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

29. In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the:

(a) First half of the month of June

(b) Second half of the month of June

(c) First half of the month of July

(d) Second half of the month of July

30. Consider the following pairs :

Wetland / Lake Location

1. Hokera Wetland – Punjab
2. Renuka Wetland – Himachal Pradesh
3. Rudrasagar Lake — Tripura
4. Sasthamkotta Lake – Tamil Nadu

How many pairs given above are correctly matched ?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) Only three pairs

(d) All four pairs

62. Consider the following States :
    1. Andhra Pradesh
    2. Kerala
    3. Himachal Pradesh
    4. Tripura

How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States ?

(a) Only one State

(b) Only two States

(c) Only three States

(d) All four States

70. Consider the following pairs:

Reservoirs       States

1. Ghataprabha – Telangana
2. Gandhi Sagar – Madhya Pradesh
3. Indira Sagar – Andhra Pradesh
4. Maithon – Chhattisgarh

How many pairs given above are not correctly matched ?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) Only three pairs

(d) All four pairs

82. Consider the following statements:

1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north-western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 3 only

86. Which one of the following statements best reflects the issue which Senkaku Islands, sometimes mentioned in the news?

(a) It is generally believed that they are artificial islands made by a country around South China Sea.

(b) China and Japan engage in maritime disputes over these islands in East China Sea.

(c) A permanent American military base has been set up there to help Taiwan to increase its defence capabilities.

(d) Through International Courts of Justice declared them as no man’s land, some South-East Asian countries claim them.

88. Consider the following pairs :

1. Anatolia | Turkey
2. Amhara | Ethiopia
3. Cabo Delgado | Spain
4. Catalonia | Italy

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(c) Only three pairs

(d) All four pairs

UPSC Prelim GS Question Paper – 2021

55. With reference to India, the terms ‘halbi, Ho and Kui” pertain to

(a) dance forms of Northwest India

(b) musical Instruments

(C) pre-historic cave paintings

(d) tribal languages

72. With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:

1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.

2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.

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

74. The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of

(a) Brown forest soil

(b) Fissure volcanic rock

(c) Granite and schist

(d) Shale and limestone

83. With reference to the Indus River system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of the which joins the Indus direct. Among the following, which one is such river that joins the Indus direct?

(a) Chenab

(b) Jhelum

(c) Ravi

(d) Sutlej

84. With references to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and khatu are the names of

(a) Glaciers

(b) Mangrove areas

(c) Ramsar sites

(d) Saline lakes

85. Consider the following Rivers:

1. Brahmani

2. Nagavali

3. Subarnarekha

4. Vamsadhara

Which of the above rise from the Eastern Ghats?

(a) 1 and 2

(b) 2 and 4

(c) 3 and 4

(d) 1 and 3

86. Consider the following statements:

1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licenses for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.

2. India has received licenses for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.

3. ‘Rare earth minerals’ are present on the seafloor in international waters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

87. Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?

(a) Sugarcane

(b) Sunflower

(c) Pearl millet

(d) Red gram

88. Consider the following statements:

1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.

2. In the temperate Zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 and 2

UPSC Prelim GS Question Paper – 2020

56. Siachen Glacier is situated to the

(a) East of Aksai Chin

(b) East of Leh

(c) North of Gilgit

(d) North of Nubra Valley

60. Among the following Tiger Reserves, which one has the largest area under “Critical Tiger Habitat” ?

(a) Corbett

(b) Ranthambore

(c) Nagarjunasagar- Srisailam

(d) Sunderbans

97. Which of the following are the most likely places to find the musk deer in its natural habitat?
    1. Askot Wildlife Sanctuary
    2. Gangotri national Park
    3. Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary
    4. Manas national Park

Select the correct answer using the given code below

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1 and 4 only

93. Which of the following Protected areas are located in Cauvery basin?
    1. Nagarhole National Park.
    2. Papikonda National Park.
    3. Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve
    4. Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

94. With reference to India’s Biodiversity, Ceylon frogmouth, Coppersmith barbet, Gray-chinned minivet and White-throated redstart are

(a) Birds

(b) Primates

(c) Reptiles

(d) Amphibians

52. Consider the following minerals:
    1. Bentonite
    2. Chromite
    3. Kyanite
    4. Sillimanite

In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 4 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 2, 3 and 4 only

66. With reference to pulse production in India ,consider the following statements:
    1. Black gram can be cultivated as both Kharif and rabi crop.
    2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
    3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3 only

67. “The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost -free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop.” Which one of the following is that crop?

(a) Cotton

(b) Jute

(c) Sugarcane

(d) Tea

70. In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture?

1. Crop diversification

2. Legume intensification

3. Tensiometer use

4. Vertical farming

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

78. Consider the following pairs:

River                           Flows into

1. Mekong –          Andaman Sea
2. Thames –          Irish Sea
3. Volga –              Caspian Sea
4. Zambezi –         Indian Ocean

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 3 and 4 only

(d) 1,2 and 4 only

96. Steel slag can be the material for which of the following?
    1. Construction of base road
    2. Improvement of agriculture soil
    3. Production of cement

Select the correct answer using the given code below

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

95. Which one of the following protected areas is well known for the conservation of a sub-species of the Indian swamp deer (Barasingha) that thrives well on hard ground and is exclusively graminivorous?

(a) Kanha National Park

(b) Manas National Park

(c) Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary

(d) Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary