NDA General Studies · Geography · 70 questions · 2017 to 2026
NDA India: physical geography and map locations previous year questions with solutions
Rivers, the monsoon, soils, forests and the map of India itself: the largest Geography chapter in the General Ability Test. Since 2023 UPSC has moved from one-line recall to multi-statement items on soils, river systems and Himalayan passes. Every question UPSC has set on it since 2017, solved. Grouped by the method each needs, newest first; open a question for its answer and worked solution.
33.1 Physiography: the Himalayas, the plains, the plateau, coasts and islands (10)33.2 Himalayan drainage: the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems (13)33.3 Peninsular drainage, lakes and waterfalls (11)33.4 Climate: the monsoon, western disturbances, rainfall and Koppen regions (9)33.5 Soils of India (6)33.6 Natural vegetation and forest cover (9)33.7 Map locations: states, borders, latitudes and ordering of places (12)
33.1 Physiography: the Himalayas, the plains, the plateau, coasts and islands
1. NDA 2026 (I)
Which one of the following is not a pass of Arunachal Pradesh?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Muling La
Method. Passes of Arunachal Pradesh
Bomdi La, Yonggyap and Kumjawng are passes on or near Arunachal Pradesh's borders; Muling La is a pass on the India-Tibet border in Uttarakhand. Source: standard reference.
2. NDA 2025 (I)
Mahendragiri, the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats, is located in which one of the following states?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Odisha
Method. Peaks of the Eastern Ghats
Mahendragiri (about 1,501 m) is in Gajapati district (formerly part of Ganjam), Odisha. (The premise 'highest peak' is common usage; Arma Konda in Andhra Pradesh is higher, but the location asked is unaffected.) Source: standard reference.
3. NDA 2024 (II)
Which statement is NOT correct with reference to Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Maximum rainfall occurs between March and April
Method. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The climate is hot, humid and tropical-maritime, the Ten Degree Channel (about 150 km) separates Andaman from Nicobar, and the Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa and Sentinelese are Negrito peoples. Rainfall is heaviest during the monsoon, not March to April, so (b) is wrong. Source: standard reference.
4. NDA 2024 (II)
Which of the following pairs of Himalayan Passes and the Ranges in which they are located is/are correctly matched?
1. Zoji La — Great Himalayas
2. Banihal Pass — Pir Panjal Range
3. Photu La — Ladakh Range
4. Khardung La — Karakoram Range
Select the answer using the code given below:
1. Zoji La — Great Himalayas
2. Banihal Pass — Pir Panjal Range
3. Photu La — Ladakh Range
4. Khardung La — Karakoram Range
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) 1 and 2 only
Method. Himalayan passes and ranges
Zoji La (Great Himalaya) and Banihal Pass (Pir Panjal) are correctly matched. Photu La lies in the Zanskar range, and Khardung La in the Ladakh range, not the Karakoram. So only 1 and 2. Source: standard reference.
5. NDA 2023 (II)
Consider the following statements about physical features of India:
1. The southern point of the Peninsular Plateau is formed by the Nilgiri Hills where the Eastern and the Western Ghats meet
2. The Cardamom Hills may be regarded as a continuation of the Eastern Ghats
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. The southern point of the Peninsular Plateau is formed by the Nilgiri Hills where the Eastern and the Western Ghats meet
2. The Cardamom Hills may be regarded as a continuation of the Eastern Ghats
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) 1 only
Method. Southern end of the Peninsular Plateau
Statement 1 is true: the Eastern and Western Ghats meet at the Nilgiri hills. Statement 2 is false: the Cardamom Hills are a southern extension of the Western Ghats, not the Eastern Ghats. Source: standard reference (NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment).
6. NDA 2023 (II)
Which one of the following is the narrow belt parallel to the Shiwalik foothills where streams and rivers coming from the mountains deposit heavy materials of rocks and boulders?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Bhabar
Method. Piedmont belts
The Bhabar is the narrow, porous belt of pebbles and boulders along the foot of the Shiwaliks, where streams disappear underground. Tarai (to its south) is marshy; Bhangar and Khadar are old and new alluvium. Source: NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment.
7. NDA 2022 (I)
In India, rigid and stable elevated lands, denuded rocks and series of scarps are the features of which of the following?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Peninsular plateau
Method. Physiographic divisions
Rigid, stable, denuded rocks with scarps and plateau surfaces describe the Peninsular Plateau, an old Gondwana block. Source: NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment.
8. NDA 2018 (II)
Which one of the following is known as uplands of delta region?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Chars
Method. landforms of the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta
Chars are the raised sandy or silty mounds of the delta region, while bils are low-lying wetland depressions. 'Chars' is the upland term among the options.
9. NDA 2017 (II)
Which one of the following States in India has the longest coastline?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Tamil Nadu
Method. Coastline length of states
Among the states listed, Tamil Nadu has the longest coastline (about 906 km); Odisha is about 480 km, Karnataka about 300 km and West Bengal about 160 km. (Gujarat, the longest in India, is not an option.) Source: standard reference.
10. NDA 2017 (I)
Which of the following are the major coral reef areas of India?
(1) Gulf of Kachchh
(2) Gulf of Mannar
(3) Lakshadweep
(4) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(1) Gulf of Kachchh
(2) Gulf of Mannar
(3) Lakshadweep
(4) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Method. Coral reef regions of India
India's coral reef areas are the Gulf of Kachchh, the Gulf of Mannar, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, so all four are correct. Source: standard reference.
33.2 Himalayan drainage: the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems
11. NDA 2024 (II)
Consider the following facts of the rivers of the Indus system:
1. The Satluj originates in Tibet where it is known as Langchen Khambab
2. The Satluj is a classic example of an antecedent river
3. The Jhelum is the largest tributary of the Indus System
Select the answer using the code given below:
1. The Satluj originates in Tibet where it is known as Langchen Khambab
2. The Satluj is a classic example of an antecedent river
3. The Jhelum is the largest tributary of the Indus System
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) 1 and 2
Method. Indus system rivers
Statement 1 is true: the Satluj rises in Tibet (Langchen Khambab). Statement 2 is true: it is a classic antecedent river. Statement 3 is false: the Chenab, not the Jhelum, is the largest tributary of the Indus system. Source: standard reference.
12. NDA 2024 (II)
Consider the following statements regarding River Brahmaputra:
1. It rises in Tibet, near Lake Mansarovar
2. It takes a “U” turn near Namcha Barwa and enters India through a gorge
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. It rises in Tibet, near Lake Mansarovar
2. It takes a “U” turn near Namcha Barwa and enters India through a gorge
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Method. River Brahmaputra
Both are true: the Brahmaputra (Tsangpo) rises in Tibet near Lake Mansarovar and takes a U-turn at Namcha Barwa to enter India through a gorge in Arunachal Pradesh. Source: standard reference.
13. NDA 2024 (I)
Which of the following statements regarding the given rivers is/are correct?
1. Tsangpo crosses over into India under the name of Dihang.
2. Godavari has the second largest river basin covering about 10 percent of the area of India.
3. Rivers Chambal and Betwa are the important tributaries of river Ganga which join river Ganga directly in Uttar Pradesh.
Select the answer using the code given below:
1. Tsangpo crosses over into India under the name of Dihang.
2. Godavari has the second largest river basin covering about 10 percent of the area of India.
3. Rivers Chambal and Betwa are the important tributaries of river Ganga which join river Ganga directly in Uttar Pradesh.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Method. Rivers of India
Statement 1 is true: the Tsangpo enters India as the Dihang (Siang). Statement 2 is true: the Godavari basin, about 3.1 lakh sq km (about 10 per cent of India), is the largest peninsular basin and second largest in India. Statement 3 is false: Chambal and Betwa join the Yamuna, not the Ganga directly. Source: standard reference.
14. NDA 2021 (I)
Which one of the following rivers is not a tributary of river Brahmaputra?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) River Mahananda
Method. Tributaries of the Brahmaputra
Manas, Kameng and Subansiri join the Brahmaputra. The Mahananda is a tributary of the Ganga. Source: standard reference.
15. NDA 2021 (I)
River Beas, flowing from Himachal and Punjab, joins the river
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Satluj.
Method. Punjab rivers
The Beas joins the Satluj near Harike in Punjab. Source: standard reference.
16. NDA 2019 (I)
Which one of the following rivers was earlier known as “Vitasta”?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Jhelum
Method. Ancient names of rivers
The Jhelum is the Vitasta of Vedic and classical texts (Tista is the Trisrota; Tungabhadra and Bharatpuzha are southern rivers). Source: standard reference.
17. NDA 2019 (I)
River Sarda drains in the Northern Plains of Uttar Pradesh. Before entering in the Plains, Sarda is known as
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Kali
Method. Upper courses of rivers
Before it enters the plains the Sarda (Sharda) is known as the Kali (Mahakali), forming the Uttarakhand-Nepal boundary. Source: standard reference.
18. NDA 2019 (I)
Brahmaputra and Indus rivers are antecedent rivers. Which one of the following may be the true definition of an antecedent drainage?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Which existed before the Himalayan range came into existence
Method. Antecedent drainage
Antecedent drainage is a river that existed before the uplift of the mountain and kept its course by cutting down as the range rose, as the Indus, Satluj and Brahmaputra did across the Himalaya. Options (a), (c) and (d) describe rivers governed by slope, dip or strike. (Option (c) is printed 'dip or rock beds'; this does not alter the answer.) Source: standard reference.
19. NDA 2018 (II)
Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
List-I (River Basin)
A. Bhagirathi
B. Alaknanda
C. Nayar
D. Ganga
List-II (Town)
1. Lansdowne
2. Narendra Nagar
3. Uttarkashi
4. Pauri
Code:
A B C D
List-I (River Basin)
A. Bhagirathi
B. Alaknanda
C. Nayar
D. Ganga
List-II (Town)
1. Lansdowne
2. Narendra Nagar
3. Uttarkashi
4. Pauri
Code:
A B C D
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) 3 4 1 2
Method. Rivers and towns of Uttarakhand
Uttarkashi is on the Bhagirathi (A3); Pauri/Srinagar Garhwal is in the Alaknanda basin (B4); Lansdowne is in the Nayar basin (C1); Narendra Nagar overlooks the Ganga near Rishikesh (D2).
A3 B4 C1 D2 is option (b). Source: standard reference.
20. NDA 2018 (II)
‘Majuli’, the river island, is located in which one of the following rivers?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Brahmaputra
Method. River islands
Majuli, in Assam, is the largest river island in India and lies in the Brahmaputra. (The Jamuna is the Brahmaputra's name in Bangladesh, not where Majuli lies.) Source: standard reference.
21. NDA 2018 (I)
Which one of the following is NOT a tributary of Indus River?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Tawi
Method. Tributaries of the Indus system
Chenab, Ravi and Beas are the standard Indus-system tributaries (Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Satluj). Tawi is only a small tributary of the Chenab, not one of the Indus's named tributaries. Strictly, the Beas and the Ravi too reach the Indus only through other rivers; the Tawi is the intended odd one out. Source: standard reference.
22. NDA 2017 (II)
Rudraprayag is situated at the confluence of rivers Alaknanda and
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Mandakini
Method. Panch Prayag confluences
Rudraprayag lies where the Mandakini joins the Alaknanda. (Devprayag: Bhagirathi with Alaknanda; Karnaprayag: Pindar; Nandaprayag: Nandakini; Vishnuprayag: Dhauliganga.) Source: standard reference.
23. NDA 2017 (I)
Which one of the following Himalayan rivers does NOT originate from across the Himalayas?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Ganga
Method. Origin of Himalayan rivers
The Indus, Satluj and Brahmaputra rise in Tibet, north of the Great Himalaya, and cut across it. The Ganga (Bhagirathi) rises at Gaumukh in the Gangotri glacier, on the Indian side of the Himalaya. Source: standard reference.
33.3 Peninsular drainage, lakes and waterfalls
24. NDA 2025 (II)
Which one of the following is the northernmost river basin of the Deccan Plateau?
Answer and solution
No correct option. This question is defective as printed in UPSC's paper.
Method. Northernmost basin of the Deccan
By latitude Chambal is northernmost of the four, but it drains to the Yamuna (Ganga system); if the Deccan plateau is bounded on the north by the Narmada trough, Narmada and Tapti are the northern Deccan basins, with Mahi lying north of both.
The Narmada (c) or the Tapti (d), depending on where the Deccan Plateau's northern limit is drawn: at the Narmada (NCERT Class 9) or at the Satpura (NCERT Class 11). The Chambal and the Mahi drain the Malwa plateau of the Central Highlands, not the Deccan, so (a) and (b) are out; the question as set does not fix which of the other two it means.
25. NDA 2024 (II)
Which of the following is/are east flowing rivers in India?
1. Palar
2. Periyar
3. Pennar
4. Kalinadi
Select the answer using the code given below:
1. Palar
2. Periyar
3. Pennar
4. Kalinadi
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) 1 and 3
Method. East- and west-flowing rivers
Palar and Pennar flow east to the Bay of Bengal. Periyar and Kalinadi (Kali, Karnataka) flow west to the Arabian Sea. Source: standard reference.
26. NDA 2024 (II)
Which of the following tributaries is/are correctly matched with the Deccan Rivers?
Tributary River
1. Bhavani Krishna
2. Kabini Kaveri
3. Manjra Godavari
4. Bhima Mahanadi
Select the answer using the code given below:
Tributary River
1. Bhavani Krishna
2. Kabini Kaveri
3. Manjra Godavari
4. Bhima Mahanadi
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) 2 and 3
Method. Tributaries of Deccan rivers
Kabini joins the Kaveri and Manjra the Godavari. The Bhavani is a Kaveri tributary (not Krishna) and the Bhima is a Krishna tributary (not Mahanadi). So 2 and 3. Source: standard reference.
27. NDA 2023 (II)
In which one of the following states ‘Roopkund’ lake is located?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Uttarakhand
Method. Lakes of India
Roopkund, the 'skeleton lake', is in Chamoli district, Uttarakhand. Source: standard reference.
28. NDA 2022 (II)
Consider the following statements:
1. The Sharavati river creates Jog Falls.
2. The Brahmani river is formed by the confluence of the Kosi and Sankh rivers.
3. The Tamraparni is a river of Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
1. The Sharavati river creates Jog Falls.
2. The Brahmani river is formed by the confluence of the Kosi and Sankh rivers.
3. The Tamraparni is a river of Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.
How many of the above statements is/are correct?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) 2
Method. Rivers of India
Statement 1 is true: the Sharavati forms Jog Falls. Statement 2 is false: the Brahmani is formed by the Sankh and the South Koel, not the Kosi. Statement 3 is true: the Tamraparni flows through Tirunelveli district. Two statements are correct, option (b). Source: standard reference.
29. NDA 2021 (II)
Which one of the following is a crater lake in India?
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) Lonar Lake
Method. Lakes of India
Lonar Lake in Maharashtra lies in a meteorite impact crater in basalt. Sambhar is a salt lake in Rajasthan; Chilika and Vembanad are lagoons. Source: standard reference.
30. NDA 2020 (I)
Krishna Raja Sagara Dam/Reservoir is developed on
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) river Kavery
Method. Dams and rivers
The Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam is across the Kaveri near Mysuru, Karnataka. Source: standard reference.
31. NDA 2019 (II)
Loktak lake is situated in the State of
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Manipur
Method. Lakes of India
Loktak Lake, the largest freshwater lake in north-east India, is in Manipur. Source: standard reference.
32. NDA 2019 (I)
Which one of the following is NOT a west flowing river?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Tamraparni
Method. West- and east-flowing rivers of the south
Periyar, Bharatpuzha and Pamba flow west to the Arabian Sea in Kerala. The Tamraparni flows east to the Gulf of Mannar. Source: standard reference.
33. NDA 2018 (I)
Which one of the following rivers is NOT a tributary of river Cauvery?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Indravati
Method. Tributaries of the Kaveri
Hemavati, Arkavati and Amravati (Amaravati) join the Kaveri. Indravati is a tributary of the Godavari. Source: standard reference.
34. NDA 2017 (II)
Which one of the following pairs of rivers and tributaries is not correctly matched?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Ganga: Penganga
Method. River and tributary pairs
Indravati is a Godavari tributary, Bhima a Krishna tributary, Sukri a Luni tributary. Penganga is a tributary of the Godavari (via the Wardha-Wainganga system), not of the Ganga, so pair (b) is wrong. Source: standard reference.
33.4 Climate: the monsoon, western disturbances, rainfall and Koppen regions
35. NDA 2026 (II)
Consider the following statements regarding western disturbances in the Indian climate:
I. These are shallow cyclonic depressions.
II. They originate over the Caspian Sea and travel to India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
I. These are shallow cyclonic depressions.
II. They originate over the Caspian Sea and travel to India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) I only
Method. Western disturbances
Statement I is true: they are shallow cyclonic depressions. Statement II is false: they originate over the Mediterranean region, not the Caspian Sea. Source: NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment.
36. NDA 2026 (I)
Which one of the following receives an average annual rainfall of below 50 cm in India, indicating highest inadequacy?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Ladakh
Method. Rainfall distribution
Ladakh, a cold desert in the rain shadow of the Himalaya, gets about 10 cm a year. Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand average much more (Haryana about 60 cm or more). Source: standard reference.
37. NDA 2023 (II)
Which one of the following crops is generally benefitted by the rain caused by western disturbances in India?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Wheat
Method. Western disturbances and crops
Winter rain from western disturbances benefits the rabi crop wheat in the north-west. Rice, bajra and cotton are kharif crops. Source: standard reference.
38. NDA 2023 (I)
According to Koppen’s climatic classifications, the Great Northern Plains of India have which one of the following climates?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Cwg climate
Method. Koppen classification of India
The Great Northern (Ganga) Plains have the Cwg type, a monsoon climate with dry winter (Aw is the tropical savanna of the peninsular interior). Source: NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment.
39. NDA 2020 (I)
The duration of monsoon in India extends for an average period of
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) 100-120 days
Method. Duration of the monsoon
The monsoon lasts about 100 to 120 days, from early June to mid-September. Source: NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment.
40. NDA 2017 (II)
The Kashmir region receives additional amount of precipitation during the winter brought by
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) Western Disturbances
Method. Winter precipitation in Kashmir
Western disturbances, extra-tropical cyclonic systems from the Mediterranean region carried by the westerly jet stream, give winter rain and snow in the north-west (Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal). The south-west and retreating monsoons do not bring this winter precipitation; 'temperate cyclone' names the general class, not the Indian phenomenon. Source: standard reference (NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment).
41. NDA 2017 (II)
In India, maximum amount of rainfall is received from
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) South-west Monsoon
Method. Rainfall seasons of India
The south-west (summer) monsoon, June to September, supplies about 75 per cent of India's annual rainfall; the other seasons give much less. Source: standard reference (NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment).
42. NDA 2017 (I)
Which of the following are correct with regard to Indian Monsoonal Rainfall?
(1) Largely governed by the topographical features
(2) Regional and seasonal variation in the distribution of rainfall
(3) Heavy downpour resulting in considerable runoff
(4) Beginning and end of rain is regular and on time
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(1) Largely governed by the topographical features
(2) Regional and seasonal variation in the distribution of rainfall
(3) Heavy downpour resulting in considerable runoff
(4) Beginning and end of rain is regular and on time
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3
Method. Characteristics of Indian monsoon rainfall
Statements 1, 2 and 3 are true: rainfall is governed by relief (windward/leeward slopes), varies regionally and seasonally, and heavy downpours give large runoff.
Statement 4 is false: onset and withdrawal are irregular and vary from year to year. Source: standard reference (NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment).
43. NDA 2017 (I)
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
List I (Type of climate)
(A) Monsoon with Short Dry Season (Amw)
(B) Cold Humid Winter with Short Summer (Dfc)
(C) Monsoon with Dry Winter (Cwg)
(D) Monsoon with Dry summer (As)
List II (State)
(1) Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
(2) Tamil Nadu Coast
(3) Arunachal Pradesh
(4) Kerala and Karnataka Coast
Code:
List I (Type of climate)
(A) Monsoon with Short Dry Season (Amw)
(B) Cold Humid Winter with Short Summer (Dfc)
(C) Monsoon with Dry Winter (Cwg)
(D) Monsoon with Dry summer (As)
List II (State)
(1) Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
(2) Tamil Nadu Coast
(3) Arunachal Pradesh
(4) Kerala and Karnataka Coast
Code:
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) A 4, B 3, C 1, D 2
Method. Koppen climatic types of India
Amw (monsoon, short dry season) = Kerala and Karnataka coast (4); Dfc (cold humid winter, short summer) = Arunachal Pradesh (3); Cwg (monsoon, dry winter) = Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, i.e. the Ganga plain (1); As (monsoon, dry summer) = Tamil Nadu (Coromandel) coast (2).
A4 B3 C1 D2 is option (a). Source: standard reference (NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment).
33.5 Soils of India
44. NDA 2025 (II)
Laterite soil in India is rich in which of the following?
1. Calcium
2. Nitrogen
3. Phosphate
4. Potash
Select the answer using the code given below:
1. Calcium
2. Nitrogen
3. Phosphate
4. Potash
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) 4 only
Method. Laterite soil
Laterite is rich in iron and aluminium and, per NCERT, in potash; it is deficient in calcium, nitrogen and phosphate. So only 4. Source: NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment.
45. NDA 2024 (II)
Which one among the following statements with reference to the black cotton soils of India is NOT correct?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) These soils have less clay factor and hence can support a wide variety of crops and vegetables
Method. Black cotton soil
Regur is also called black cotton soil, highly moisture retentive and lime-rich. Statement (d) is wrong: it has a high clay content, which is why it supports few crops besides cotton. Source: standard reference.
46. NDA 2024 (II)
Which one of the following is found in appreciable amount in Laterite soil in India?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Potash
Method. Laterite soil
Laterite is rich in iron and aluminium oxides and, per NCERT, in potash, but poor in nitrogen, phosphate and calcium. Source: NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment.
47. NDA 2024 (I)
Which of the following statements regarding Regur soil is/are correct?
1. It is a light coloured, clayey and fertile soil.
2. It is developed on Deccan basaltic lava under hot and humid conditions.
3. Cotton is extensively cultivated in this soil.
Select the answer using the code given below:
1. It is a light coloured, clayey and fertile soil.
2. It is developed on Deccan basaltic lava under hot and humid conditions.
3. Cotton is extensively cultivated in this soil.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) 3 only
Method. Regur soil
Statement 1 is false: regur is black, not light-coloured. Statement 2 is false: it forms on Deccan basalt under hot, semi-arid conditions; hot and humid is laterite. Statement 3 is true: cotton is its chief crop. So 3 only, option (d). Statement 2 recurs in 2024-I Q25 and is judged the same way there. Source: standard reference.
48. NDA 2024 (I)
Consider the following statements regarding soils:
1. Soils having a very high content of sodium and calcium and pH of more than 7.0 are alkaline soils.
2. Black cotton soil had developed on the Deccan basaltic lava under hot and humid conditions.
3. Laterite soils are characterised by a deep weathered layer from which silica has been leached.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1. Soils having a very high content of sodium and calcium and pH of more than 7.0 are alkaline soils.
2. Black cotton soil had developed on the Deccan basaltic lava under hot and humid conditions.
3. Laterite soils are characterised by a deep weathered layer from which silica has been leached.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer and solution
No correct option. This question is defective as printed in UPSC's paper.
Method. Soil statements
Statement 3 is true (laterite is deeply weathered, silica leached out). Statement 2 is false: black cotton soil forms under hot, semi-arid conditions, not hot and humid. Statement 1 is doubtful ('sodium and calcium'). Under any reading, no option offers the true set (3 alone, or 1 and 3).
Statement 2 is false as worded (black cotton soil forms on Deccan basalt under hot, semi-arid to sub-humid conditions with a long dry season; hot and humid conditions give laterite), while statements 1 and 3 are true. No option offers 1 and 3, so none is correct; the options fit only if statement 2 is accepted, which would give (d).
49. NDA 2023 (II)
Which one of the following soils is ideal for growing cotton?
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) Regur soil
Method. Soils and crops
Regur (black cotton) soil, moisture-retentive and clayey, is the ideal soil for cotton. Source: standard reference (NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment).
33.6 Natural vegetation and forest cover
50. NDA 2026 (II)
The temperate forests in the Nilgiris, Anaimalai and Palani hills are called:
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Sholas
Method. Montane forests of the south
The temperate montane forests of the Nilgiri, Anaimalai and Palani hills are Sholas. (Myristica refers to swamp forest, Devarakadu to sacred groves.) Source: standard reference.
51. NDA 2025 (I)
Temperate forests of South India, known as ‘Sholas’ are found in which of the following hills?
1. Anaimalai
2. Nilgiris
3. Palani
Select the answer using the code given below:
1. Anaimalai
2. Nilgiris
3. Palani
Select the answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Method. Sholas
Sholas, the montane temperate forests of southern India, occur in the Anaimalai, Nilgiri and Palani hills (and other high ranges of the Western Ghats). Source: standard reference.
52. NDA 2025 (I)
As per the India State of Forest Report 2021, which one of the following Himalayan states has the highest percentage of its geographical area under forest?
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) Arunachal Pradesh
Method. Forest cover of states
In ISFR 2021, forest cover is highest in Arunachal Pradesh among the options (about 79 per cent), then Sikkim (about 47), Uttarakhand (about 45) and Himachal Pradesh (about 28). Source: ISFR 2021 (Forest Survey of India).
53. NDA 2023 (I)
Which of the following tree species is/are found on Himalayas?
1. Oak
2. Rhododendron
3. Rosewood
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1. Oak
2. Rhododendron
3. Rosewood
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) 1 and 2
Method. Himalayan tree species
Oak and rhododendron grow in the Himalayan montane forests. Rosewood is a tropical forest tree of the Western Ghats and peninsular India. Source: standard reference.
54. NDA 2022 (I)
A person had visited a region in India and found trees, such as Khair, Neem, Khejri and Palas. Which one of the following regions is she/he expected to have visited?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Desert Region
Method. Natural vegetation of regions
Khair, neem, khejri (Prosopis cineraria) and palas are species of dry thorn and scrub vegetation of the desert and semi-arid region. The Malabar coast has evergreen forest, the Garo hills wet forest and the Sunderbans mangrove. Source: standard reference.
55. NDA 2021 (I)
The natural vegetation which covers the maximum geographical areas of India is
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) Tropical deciduous forests.
Method. Natural vegetation by area
Tropical deciduous (monsoon) forests, moist and dry together, cover the largest share of forest area in India. Source: standard reference.
56. NDA 2018 (I)
Which one of the following Himalayan vegetation species is found between the altitudes of 1800 to 2600 metres?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Deodar
Method. Himalayan forest altitude zones
Deodar is the characteristic conifer of the middle temperate belt, about 1,800 to 2,600 m. Sal grows lower (foothills, below about 1,500 m), chir pine in the sub-tropical zone below that of deodar, and spruce higher up. Source: standard reference.
57. NDA 2017 (II)
Consider the following States of India in terms of percentage of forest area in relation to the total area of the State:
(1) Karnataka
(2) Odisha
(3) Kerala
(4) Andhra Pradesh
Which one of the following is the correct descending order?
(1) Karnataka
(2) Odisha
(3) Kerala
(4) Andhra Pradesh
Which one of the following is the correct descending order?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) 3-2-1-4
Method. State forest cover as percentage of area
In every recent India State of Forest Report (ISFR 2021: Kerala about 55 per cent, Odisha about 33, Karnataka about 20, Andhra Pradesh about 18) the order is Kerala, Odisha, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh = 3-2-1-4. Source: ISFR (Forest Survey of India).
58. NDA 2017 (II)
Which one of the following States in India has the largest area under forest cover?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Madhya Pradesh
Method. Forest cover by area
Madhya Pradesh has the largest forest cover in area (about 77,000 sq km, ISFR 2021); Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh are smaller and Maharashtra is smaller still. Source: ISFR (Forest Survey of India).
33.7 Map locations: states, borders, latitudes and ordering of places
59. NDA 2026 (II)
Which group of landlocked states shares a boundary with Madhya Pradesh?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh only
Method. Neighbours of Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh borders Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh. Of these, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are landlocked; Gujarat and Maharashtra have coasts and Jharkhand does not border MP. Source: standard reference.
60. NDA 2025 (II)
State of Assam shares borders with how many other countries and Indian states respectively?
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) 2 countries and 7 Indian states respectively
Method. Borders of Assam
Assam borders Bhutan and Bangladesh (2 countries) and Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and West Bengal (7 states). Source: standard reference.
61. NDA 2023 (II)
Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) Area wise Madhya Pradesh is the fourth largest state in India
Method. Facts about Indian states
Statement (a) is wrong: Madhya Pradesh is the second largest state by area (after Rajasthan); Uttar Pradesh is fourth. (b) the Hornbill Festival is held in Nagaland, (d) Telangana lies on the Deccan plateau, and (c) is only an approximate quoted share of national GDP. Source: standard reference.
62. NDA 2023 (I)
Which one among the following is the northernmost geographical location?
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) New Delhi
Method. Latitude of capitals
New Delhi about 28.6 N, Kathmandu about 27.7 N, Thimphu about 27.5 N, Dhaka about 23.8 N. New Delhi is the northernmost. Source: standard reference.
63. NDA 2022 (II)
The Prime Meridian does not pass through which one of the following African countries?
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) Morocco
Method. Prime Meridian
The Prime Meridian (0 degree) crosses Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo and Ghana in Africa. Morocco lies entirely west of it. Source: standard reference (atlas).
64. NDA 2021 (II)
The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through which one of the following States?
Answer and solution
Answer: (a) Manipur
Method. States crossed by the Tropic of Cancer
The Tropic of Cancer passes through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. Manipur is not on it. Source: standard reference.
65. NDA 2020 (I)
Which one of the following Indian states does NOT share international border with two or more countries?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Tripura
Method. International borders of states
Arunachal Pradesh borders China, Myanmar and Bhutan; Assam borders Bhutan and Bangladesh; Mizoram borders Myanmar and Bangladesh; Tripura borders only Bangladesh. Source: standard reference.
66. NDA 2020 (I)
Which one of the following countries does NOT have direct access to the sea/ocean?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Armenia
Method. Landlocked countries
Armenia is completely landlocked. Syria has a Mediterranean coast, Jordan a Red Sea coast at Aqaba, and Azerbaijan a coast on the Caspian Sea (named a sea, though it is an inland body). Source: standard reference.
67. NDA 2019 (I)
Which one of the following Union Territories of India is the smallest in terms of geographical area?
Answer and solution
Answer: (d) Lakshadweep
Method. Union Territories by area
Lakshadweep, about 32 sq km, was the smallest Union Territory at the sitting; Chandigarh about 114 sq km, Daman and Diu about 112 sq km, Dadra and Nagar Haveli about 491 sq km. (Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli were merged in 2020.) Source: standard reference.
68. NDA 2018 (II)
Consider the following Wildlife Sanctuaries of India:
1. Shikari Devi
2. Bhadra
3. Simlipal
4. Pachmarhi
Which one of the following is the correct order of the above Wildlife Sanctuaries in terms of their location from south to north?
1. Shikari Devi
2. Bhadra
3. Simlipal
4. Pachmarhi
Which one of the following is the correct order of the above Wildlife Sanctuaries in terms of their location from south to north?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) 2-3-4-1
Method. Latitude order of wildlife sanctuaries
Bhadra (Karnataka) about 13.7 N, Simlipal (Odisha) about 21.6 N, Pachmarhi (Madhya Pradesh) about 22.5 N, Shikari Devi (Himachal Pradesh) about 31.4 N.
South to north: 2, 3, 4, 1. Source: standard reference.
69. NDA 2017 (II)
Arrange the following Indian cities according to their locations from west to east:
(1) Bilaspur
(2) Jodhpur
(3) Bhopal
(4) Ranchi
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(1) Bilaspur
(2) Jodhpur
(3) Bhopal
(4) Ranchi
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Answer and solution
Answer: (b) 2-3-1-4
Method. longitude order (west to east)
Jodhpur is about 73 E, Bhopal about 77.4 E, Bilaspur (Chhattisgarh) about 82.1 E, Ranchi about 85.3 E. West to east: 2, 3, 1, 4. 'Bilaspur' is read as the Chhattisgarh city; Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh (76.8 E, west of Bhopal) would give 2-1-3-4. Source: standard atlas.
70. NDA 2017 (I)
Which one among the following is the correct order of tiger reserves situated from North to South in India?
Answer and solution
Answer: (c) Corbett – Sariska – Simlipal – Periyar
Method. Latitude order of tiger reserves
Approximate latitudes: Corbett (Uttarakhand) 29.5 N, Sariska (Rajasthan) 27.5 N, Simlipal (Odisha) 21.6 N, Periyar (Kerala) 9.5 N.
North to south: Corbett, Sariska, Simlipal, Periyar. Source: standard reference (Indian physical atlas).
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