Human and Economic Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)
89 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on human and economic geography are on this page, from 1996 to 2025, across 27 exam years. UPSC covers minerals and where they occur, crops and their conditions, energy sources, ports and industries, and population. The explanations tie each resource to its location and use.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
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UPSC 2025Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q1. Consider the following pairs:
Country
Resource-rich in
I. Botswana
Diamond
II. Chile
Lithium
III. Indonesia
Nickel
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Explanation
Pair 1 is Correct: Botswana is one of the world’s largest producers of diamonds. The diamond industry is a major contributor to the country’s GDP and has played a central role in its economic growth since the 1970s.
Pair 2 is Correct: Chile is one of the top producers of lithium globally, particularly from its salt flats (like Salar de Atacama). It’s part of the famous "Lithium Triangle" along with Argentina and Bolivia.
Pair 3 is Correct: Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, a key metal for stainless steel production and increasingly important for electric vehicle battery manufacturing. The country has significant reserves and has implemented policies to control and benefit from its nickel resources.
UPSC 2023Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q2. With reference to coal-based thermal power plants in India, consider the following statements: 1. None of them uses seawater. 2. None of them are set up in water-stressed districts. 3. None of them is privately owned. How many of the above statements are correct?
Explanation
Thermal power is the largest source of electricity in India, accounting for around 70% of the country’s total power generation. It primarily relies on coal, gas, and oil as fuel sources, with coal-based plants being the dominant contributors.
Statement 1 is incorrect: Water is essential in thermal power plants for cooling high temperatures and generating steam to power turbines. In India, river water is primarily used for this purpose, but some plants, like Mundra Thermal Power Station in Gujarat, use seawater.
Statement 2 is incorrect: More than a third of India’s freshwater-based plants are in areas with high or extreme water stress. On average, they run at 15-25 % lower capacity than those in less water-stressed regions because of limited water availability. Ex-Suratgarh Thermal Power Plant (Rajasthan)
Statement 3 is incorrect: Many coal-based power plants in In-dia are privately owned and operated. For example, the Mundra Thermal Power Plant in Gujarat is owned by Adani Power and is one of the largest private-sector coal-based power plants in the country.
Exam tip:
"None" Absolute Scope = High Risk of Being Wrong. When a statement says ""None"", it means no exceptions are allowed. So just one counterexample is enough to invalidate the statement. Hence all are likely false."
UPSC 2023Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q3. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Switzerland is one of the leading exporters of gold in terms of value. Statement-II: Switzerland has the second largest gold reserves in the world. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Statement I is correct: Switzerland consistently ranks as the world’s leading gold exporter by value. In 2023, the country exported gold worth over $107 billion which makes it the top exporter globally. The country is home to some of the world’s largest and most advanced gold refineries, processing a significant portion of the global gold supply. This infrastructure enables Switzerland to import large quantities of raw gold, refine it, and then export high-quality gold products worldwide.
Statement II is incorrect: Switzerland does not hold the second-largest gold reserves globally. As of the latest data, the top countries by gold reserves are: United States>Germany>Italy>France>Russia>China> Switzerland.
UPSC 2023Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q4. With reference to India’s projects on connectivity, consider the following statements: 1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat. 2.The 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?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The East-West Corridor is a part of India’s National Highways Development Project (NHDP) which is designed to improve connectivity between the eastern and western regions of the country. It connects Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat, passing through states like West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The Golden Quadrilateral forms a quadrilateral connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. The East-West Corridor is not under the Golden Quadrilateral Project.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is an initiative to enhance connectivity between the three countries. The highway connects Moreh in Manipur, India, to Mae Sot in Thailand, passing through Myanmar. The route includes key locations such as Tamu and Mandalay in Myanmar. Chiang Mai located further north in Thailand is not on this route.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor is a proposed initiative aimed at enhancing economic integration and connectivity among the four countries. The corridor is intended to link Kolkata in West Bengal, India, to Kunming in Yunnan Province, China, traversing through Bangladesh and Myanmar. Varanasi is not part of this proposed route.
UPSC 2023Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q5. About three-fourths of the world’s cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by:
Explanation
Option (c) is correct: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the world’s largest producer of cobalt, accounting for approximately 70-75% of global production. Cobalt is a critical metal used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) and electronic devices. The DRC’s vast mineral-rich deposits in the Katanga region which makes it the dominant player in the global cobalt supply chain
Additional insight:
Argentina is known for its vast mineral resources like lithium, silver, copper, and gold. It is part of the "Lithium Triangle" (along with Chile and Bolivia) which makes it one of the world’s largest producers of lithium. It is a significant producer of silver, particularly from the Patagonia region. It has significant copper and gold mining operations in regions like San Juan and Mendoza. Botswana is globally known for its diamonds, copper, nickel, and coal. It is one of the world’s top diamond producers, with mines in Jwaneng and Orapa mines. It has significant copper and nickel reserves in the Selebi-Phikwe region. Kazakhstan is rich in uranium, coal, chromium, and zinc. It is the world’s largest producer of uranium, used primarily for nuclear power generation. It also holds a significant share of the world’s chromium production, essential for producing stainless steel.
UPSC 2023Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q6. Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?
Explanation
Ilmenite(FeTiO) and rutile(TiO₂) are heavy minerals found abundantly in coastal sands, particularly in India’s Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala coasts. These minerals are the primary sources of titanium which are a valuable metal used in aerospace, defense, and industrial applications. They contain titanium dioxide, which is extracted and processed to produce titanium metal and its alloys.
Option (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect:
Aluminium is extracted from bauxite and not ilmenite or rutile. Copper is obtained from ores like chalcopyrite and not from coastal sands. Iron is found in hematite and magnetite ores
Exam tip:
Odd one out among these is Titanium. All other three are well known, widely used metals with famous mining sites. Had these three been found in coastal tracts it would have been well known, have you ever heard a iron ore or aluminium ore site near coast. No!
UPSC 2023Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q7. 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?
Explanation
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Kamarajar Port is the 12th major port of India and the first in the country to operate as a public company. In 1999 it was declared a major port under the Indian Ports Act,1908. It was incorporated as Ennore Port Limited under the Companies Act, 1956 in October 1999. Kamarajar Port is the only corporatized major port in India, operating as a company. Today, the landlord port model, where the port authority leases the facilities to private operators, is the dominant approach in larger and medium-sized ports.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: Mundra Port is situated along the northern coast of the Gulf of Kutch near Mundra in Gujarat. It is the largest privately owned port of India. It is owned and operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ) and handles a significant portion of India’s cargo.
Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) is the largest container port in India. Visakhapatnam Port ranks as India’s third largest state-owned port in terms of cargo volume handled and holds the distinction of being the largest port on the Eastern Coast.
UPSC 2023Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q8. 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?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: India has more arable area than China. According to the World Bank India has approximately 156 million hectares of arable land, while China has about 119 million hectares.
Statement 2 is incorrect: China has a higher proportion of its arable land under irrigation than India. As per reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) about 50% of China’s arable land is irrigated while India has approximately 35% of its arable land under irrigation.
Statement 3 is incorrect: According to FAO (2021) China’s ce-real yield is about 6,300 kg/ha while India’s is around 3,200 kg/ha. This shows that China’s agricultural productivity is significantly higher than India’s.
UPSC 2022Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q9. 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?
Explanation
Option (c) is correct: The Tea Board under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with the Indian Tea Association, lists Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Tripura, Kerala, and Karnataka as tea-producing States. Kerala: Known for its tea plantations, particularly in Wayanad and the Western Ghats. Himachal Pradesh: Known for tea cultivation, especially in Kangra region. Tripura: Also a tea-producing State, with significant tea cultivation. Andhra Pradesh: Not a tea-producing State compared to the others listed. However, some claim Araku Valley as a minor tea production centre in the state. India tea production during 2023-24 was 1382.03 Million Kgs increased by 7.06 Million Kgs over 2022-23
Additional insight:
Tea plants require specific climatic and soil conditions for growth. These include:
Climate: Tropical and subtropical climates with warm, moist conditions and no frost throughout the year. Rainfall: Around 1500 mm annually. Temperature: Cooler temperatures, generally below 15-30 C, are ideal for tea cultivation. Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil that is rich in organic matter. The pH of the soil should be slightly acidic, ranging between 4.5 and 5.5. The soil should be able to retain moisture while also allowing excess water to drain away. Tea plants prefer soils with good structure and high porosity to allow oxygen to reach the roots. China is the largest tea-producing country in the world, contributing around 40% of global tea production.
UPSC 2022Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q10. 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?
Explanation
Statement 1 and 2 are correct: In India, monazite serves as the primary source of rare earth elements and thorium. Rare earth metals comprise a group of 17 elements known for their lustrous, silvery-white appearance and soft, heavy metallic properties. China dominates global rare earth production, contributing around 60-70 % of the total output. These elements play a critical role in the production of electronics, magnets, and batteries. Monazite, abundant in India’s coastal sands, is rich in rare earth elements and thorium, a radioactive material. Thorium is crucial for India’s three stage nuclear energy program.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Monazite is not found in the entire Indian coastal sands. While it is found along most of the southern Indian coast, particularly in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Orissa, it does not occur throughout the entire coastline.
Statement 4 is correct: As per Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules 2004, Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a wholly owned Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India (GOI) under Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), is the only entity which has been permitted to produce and process monazite, and handle it for domestic use as well as for export. Fig: Rare Earth Minerals
Exam tip:
For S3, The phrase "entire coast" is too absolute to be true. More than 10, 000km long coastline and for entire coast there is Monazite is highly improbable hence likely false. This gives
option B as correct.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2025
(c) All the three
2
2023
(d) None
3
2023
(c) Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
4
2023
(d) None
5
2023
(c) The Democratic Republic of the Congo
6
2023
(d) Titanium
7
2023
(b) Only two pairs
8
2023
(a) Only one
9
2022
(c) Only three States
10
2022
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
What UPSC has tested in Human and Economic Geography
Ilmenite and rutile, abundant in coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of titanium.
Monazite is a source of rare earths and thorium.
About three-fourths of the world’s cobalt, used in batteries for electric vehicles, is produced by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Cotton is subtropical and needs at least 210 frost-free days.
Sugarcane is the least water-efficient crop among the options asked.
Steel production in India needs imported coking coal; shale gas is found in the Cambay, Cauvery and Krishna-Godavari basins.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Human and Economic Geography?
This page covers 89 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Human and Economic Geography (Geography), asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Which metal is obtained from ilmenite and rutile?
Titanium. Ilmenite and rutile occur in the beach sands of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Titanium dioxide is widely used in paints, and titanium metal is used in aerospace.
Which country produces most of the world’s cobalt?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which produces roughly three-fourths of the world’s cobalt. The metal is essential for lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles, which makes the Congo’s supply important for the energy transition.
What conditions does cotton need?
A subtropical climate with at least 210 frost-free days, since a hard frost injures the crop. It grows best on black cotton soil, with moderate rainfall and a warm, bright period at boll formation.
