2023 Prelims PYQs
1] Which of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present day extensive marshland? [2023]
a) Bhitarkanika Mangroves
b) Marakkanam Salt Pans
c) Naupada Swamp
d) Rann of Kutch
Show Answer
Ans: d) Rann of Kutch
2019 Prelims PYQs
1] Consider the following States: [2019]
1. Chhattisgarh
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Maharashtra
4. Odisha
With reference to the States mentioned above, in terms of percentage of forest cover to the total area of State, which one of the following is the correct ascending order?
a) 2-3-1-4
b) 2-3-4-1
c) 3-2-4-1
d) 3-2-1-4
Show Answer
Ans: c) 3-2-4-1
2017 Prelims PYQs
1] At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the sea water recedes from the shore line a few kilometres and comes back to the shore, twice a day, and you can actually walk on the sea floor when the water recedes. This unique phenomenon is seen at: [2017]
a) Bhavnagar
b) Bheemunipatnam
c) Chandipur
d) Nagapattinam
Show Answer
Ans: c) Chandipur
2015 Prelims PYQs
1] Consider the following States: [2015]
1. Arunachal Pradesh
2. Himachal Pradesh
3. Mizoram
In which of the following states do “Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests” occur?
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: c) 1 and 3 only
2] In India, in which one of the following types of forests is teak a dominant tree species? [2015]
a) Tropical moist deciduous forest
b) Tropical rain forest
c) Tropical thorn scrub forest
d) Temperate forest with grasslands
Show Answer
Ans: a) Tropical moist deciduous forest
3] Consider the following pairs: [2015]
Place of Pilgrimage | Location |
1. Srisailam | Nallamala Hills |
2. Omkareshwar | Satmala Hills |
3. Pushkar | Mahadeo Hills |
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
a) 1 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: a) 1 only
2012 Prelims PYQs
1] A particular State in India has the following characteristics: [2012]
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
Show Answer
Ans: a) Arunachal Pradesh
2] Consider the following statements: [2012]
1. The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India.
2. The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from east to west.
Which of the statements given above is / are correct?
a) 1 Only b) 2 Only
c) Both 1 & 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: c) Both 1 & 2
2011 Prelims PYQs
1] A state in India has the following characteristics: [2011]
1. Its northern part is arid and semi-arid.
2. Its central part produces cotton.
3. Cultivation of cash crops is predominant over food crops.
Which one of the following states has all of the above characteristics?
a) Andhra Pradesh
b) Gujarat
c) Karnataka
d) Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Ans: b) Gujarat
2010-1995 Prelims PYQs
1] The approximate representations of land use classification in India is: [2010]
a) Net area sown 25%; forests 33%; other areas 42%.
b) Net area sown 58%; forests 17%; other areas 25%.
c) Net area sown 43%; forests 29%; other areas 28%.
d) Net area sown 47%; forests 23%; other areas 30%.
Show Answer
Ans: d) Net area sown 47%; forests 23%; other areas 30%.
2] In India, which type of forest among the following occupies the largest area? [2010]
a) Montane Wet, Temporate Forest
b) Sub – tropical Dry Evergreen Forest
c) Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
d) Tropical Wet Evergreen Forest
Show Answer
Ans: c) Tropical Moist Deciduous Forest
3] Following are the characteristics of an area in India: [2010]
1. Hot and humid climate.
2. Annual rainfall 200 cm.
3. Hill slopes up to an altitude of 1100 metres.
4. Annual range of temperature 15° C to 30° C.
Which one among the following crops are you most likely to find in the area described above?
a) Mustard b) Cotton
c) Pepper d) Virginia tobacco
Show Answer
Ans: c) Pepper
4] Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given Indian Cities in the decreasing order of their normal annual rainfall? [2005]
a) Kochi, Kolkata, Delhi, Patna
b) Kolkata, Kochi, Patna, Delhi
c) Kochi, Kolkata, Patna, Delhi
d) Kolkata, Kochi, Delhi, Patna
Show Answer
Ans: c) Kochi, Kolkata, Patna, Delhi
5] Consider the following statements: [2005]
1. The forest cover in India constitutes around 20% of its geographical area. Out of the total forest cover, dense forest constitutes around 40%.
2. The National Forestry Action Programme aims at bringing one third of the area of India under tree/forest cover.
Which of the statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2 d) Neither 1 nor 2
Show Answer
Ans: b) 2 only
6] Consider the following statements: [2005]
1. Silent Valley National Park is 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 is/are correct?
a) 1 and 3 b) 2 only
c) 2 and 3 d) 1, 2 and 3
Show Answer
Ans: c) 2 and 3
7] Consider the following statements: Among the Indian States: [2004]
1. Andhra Pradesh has the longest coastline.
2. Gujarat has the highest number of airports.
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
Show Answer
Ans: b) 2 only
8] Assertion (A): Bangalore receives much higher average annual rainfall than that of Mangalore: [2004]
Reason (R): Bangalore has the benefit of receiving rainfall both from south-west and north-east monsoons.
a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Show Answer
Ans: d) A is false but R is true
9] Match List I (Beaches in India) with List II (States) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists: [2004]
List-I (Beaches in India) | List-II (States) |
A. Gopnath Beach | 1. Andhra Pradesh |
B. Lawsons Bay Beach | 2. Kerala |
C. Devbagh Beach | 3. Gujarat |
D. Sinquerim Beach | 4. Goa |
5. Karnataka |
Codes:
A B C D
a) 5 4 2 1
b) 3 1 5 4
c) 5 1 2 4
d) 3 4 5 1
Show Answer
Ans: b) 3 1 5 4
10] Amongst the following Indian States which one has the minimum total forest cover? [2004]
a) Sikkim b) Goa
c) Haryana d) Kerala
Show Answer
Ans: c) Haryana
11] Among the following cities, which one is at the highest altitude above mean sea level? [2003]
a) Bangalore b) Delhi
c) Jodhpur d) Nagpur
Show Answer
Ans: a) Bangalore
12] Which one among the following States is smallest in area? [2003]
a) Andhra Pradesh
b) Gujarat
c) Karnataka
d) Tamil Nadu
Show Answer
Ans: d) Tamil Nadu
13] With reference to India, which one the following statements is correct? [2002]
1) About one-third of the area of the country records more than 750 milli-meters of annual rainfall
2) The dominant source of irrigation in the country is wells
3) Alluvial soil is the predominant type of soil in the northern plains of the country
4) The mountain areas accounts for about thirty percent of the surface area of the country
a) 1, 2, 3, 4 b) 1, 2, 3 only
c) 2, 3, 4 only d) 4 only
Show Answer
Ans: a) 1, 2, 3, 4
14] Open stunted forests with bushes and small trees having long roots and sharp thorns or spines are commonly found in: [2002]
a) Eastern Orissa
b) North-Eastern Tamil Nadu
c) Siwaliks an Terai region
d) Western Andhra Pradesh
Show Answer
Ans: d) Western Andhra Pradesh
15] The average annual temperature of a meteorological station is 26oC, its average annual rainfall is 63 cm and the annual range of temperature is 9oC. The station in Q is: [2002]
a) Allahabad b) Chennai
c) Cherrapunji d) Kolkata
Show Answer
Ans: b) Chennai
16] In the shaded area of the above map, the mean temperature for the month of July varies between: [2001]

a) 22.5 °C — 25.0 °C: [2001]
b) 25.0 °C — 27.5 °C
c) 27.5 °C — 30.0 °C
d) 30.0 °C — 32.5 °C
Show Answer
Ans: c) 27.5 °C — 30.0 °C
17] Along which one of the following meridians did India experience the first light of the sunrise of the new millennium? [2000]
a) 2° 30’ W b) 82° 30’ E
c) 92° 30’ W d) 92° 30’ E
Show Answer
Ans: d) 92° 30’ E
18] If it is 10.00 a.m. I.S.T., then what would be the local time at Shillong on 92°E longitude? [1999]
a) 9.38 a.m. b) 10.38 a.m.
c) 10.22 a.m. d) 9.22 a.m.
Show Answer
Ans: b) 10.38 a.m.
19] Match List I with List II and select the correct answer by using the codes given below the lists: [1997]
List I (Climatic Conditions) | List II (Reasons) |
I. Chennai is warmer than Calcutta | A) North-East Monsoon |
II. Snowfall in Himalayas | B) Altitude |
III. Rainfall decreases from Depressions | C) Western West Bengal to Punjab |
IV. Sutlej-Ganga Plain gets some rain in water | D) Distance from sea |
E) Latitude |
Codes:
a) I-A, II-B, III-D, IV-E
b) I-D, II-E, III-A, IV-C
c) I-E, II-B, III-D, IV-C
d) I-E, II-A, III-C, IV-D
Show Answer
Ans: c) I-E, II-B, III-D, IV-C
20] Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? [1997]
a) Teak:Jammu and Kashmir
b) Deodar: Madhya Pradesh
c) Sandalwood: Kerala
d) Sundari:West Bengal
Show Answer
Ans: d) Sundari:West Bengal
21] The Alpine vegetation in the western Himalayas is found only up to a height of 3000 metres, while in the eastern Himalayas it is found up to a height of 4000 metres. The reason for this variation in the same mountain range is that: [1995]
a) Eastern Himalayas are higher than western Himalayas
b) Eastern Himalayas are nearer to the Equator and sea coast than western Himalayas
c) Eastern Himalayas get more monsoon rainfall than the western Himalayas
d) Eastern Himalayan rocks are more fertile than the western Himalayan rocks
Show Answer
Ans: c) Eastern Himalayas get more monsoon rainfall than the western Himalayas
22] Consider the map given below: [1995]

The divisions along India’s coastal region indicate:
a) Coastal pollution zones
b) Salinity density isopleths
c) The areas upto which sovereignty extends
d) Underwater relief contours
Show Answer
Ans: d) Underwater relief contours
23] The palaeomagnetic results obtained from India indicate that in the past, the Indian landmass has moved: [1995]
a) Northward b) Southward
c) Eastward d) Westward
Show Answer
Ans: a) Northward
24] The Indian subcontinent was originally part of a huge landmass called: [1995]
a) Jurassic Land Mass
b) Aryavarta
c) Indiana
d) Gondwana Continent
Show Answer
Ans: d) Gondwana Continent
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