Human and Economic Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Human and Economic Geography (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 2022Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q1. 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
Q2. 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
2022
(c) Only three States
2
2022
(b) 1, 2 and 4 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Human and Economic Geography?
This page covers 2 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.
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 Human and Economic Geography?
Questions on Human and Economic Geography (Geography) are available for 27 years, from 1996 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
