Geomorphology: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Geomorphology (Geography). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2025Geography · Geomorphology
Q1. 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.
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Radiometric dating techniques have confirmed that the rock formations along the eastern coast of South America (Brazil) and the western coast of Africa are similar in age, type, and structure. This is one of the most compelling geological evidences supporting the theory of continental drift.
Statement 2 is correct: Ghana, located on the west coast of Africa, has rich gold deposits along its coast, yet there is no local source rock to account for this mineral wealth. The likely explanation is that these gold deposits originated from the Brazil Plateau which, before the continents drifted apart, lay adjacent to what is now Ghana. This is one of the pieces of evidence supporting the theory of continental drift.
Statement 3 is correct: The Gondwana system of sedimentary rocks, particularly tillite deposits (sediments formed from glacial activity), found in India, have strikingly similar counterparts in six different landmasses in Southern Hemisphere namely Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Madagascar, Falkland Islands, and South America. These similarities provide evidence that these landmasses were once part of a supercontinent called Gondwanaland.
UPSC 2025Geography · Geomorphology
Q2. 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?
Explanation
Statement II is correct: Chalk is porous, meaning it contains numerous small holes or voids that can absorb water. This porosity contributes to its high permeability, as the interconnected pores facilitate water movement through the rock. Hence, it explains Statement I.
Statement III is Incorrect: Clay is not completely non-porous. It possesses a high porosity due to its fine-grained structure; however, the pores are so small and poorly connected that they prevent significant water flow, resulting in low permeability. Hence, only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I.
Exam tip:
For S3, "Clay is not at all porous" is way too extreme to be true. Such absolutes are rarely true in natural materials. Hence likely false giving option C as correct.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2025
(c) I, II and III
2
2025
(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Geomorphology?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Geomorphology (Geography), asked from 2001 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Geomorphology?
Questions on Geomorphology (Geography) are available for 9 years, from 2001 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
