Indian Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)

Explanation

Pair 1 is correct: Arunachal Pradesh’s capital is Itanagar, which is named after the historical Ita Fort ("Ita" means brick). Additionally, the state has two National Parks -- Namdapha National Park and Mouling National Park --confirming the accuracy of the description.

Pair 2 is correct. Nagaland became a full-fledged state of India on 1st December 1963 through the 13th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1962, which also inserted Article 371A into the Constitution. This article provides special provisions for the state, confirming that Nagaland came into existence via a constitutional amendment.

Pair 3 is correct. Tripura initially became a Part ‘C’ State after its merger with the Indian Union on 15 October 1949. Following the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, it was converted into a Union Territory (centrally administered). Later, it attained full statehood on 21 January 1972 under the North Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971, as confirmed by official sources such as the Tripura Legislative Assembly website and Sepahijala District website.

Explanation

Option 1 is incorrect: Jackfruit(Artocarpus heterophyllus) is an evergreen tree native to tropical regions of Asia. It retains its foliage throughout the year unlike deciduous trees, which shed their leaves during certain seasons. The tree thrives in hot and humid climates and is known for edible fruit that grows directly from the trunk. Jackfruit trees are common in India, Bangladesh, and Southeast Asia Option 2 is correct: Mahua (Madhuca indica) is a deciduous tree found in the dry forests of Central India including parts of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Chhattisgarh. This tree sheds its leaves during the dry season to conserve water. Mahua is culturally significant in tribal communities and its flowers are used to make a traditional alcoholic drink. The tree’s flowers are also edible and have medicinal properties.

Option 3 is correct: Teak (Tectona grandis) is one of the most valuable hardwoods in the world. It is a deciduous tree that sheds its leaves in the dry season between February and March. It is known for its durability, resistance to weathering, and ability to withstand termites which makes it highly sought after for furniture, shipbuilding, and construction.

Explanation

Option 4 is correct: The Rann of Kutch in Gujarat is an extensive marshland formed due to repeated falls in sea level. This region was a shallow part of the Arabian Sea. Over time tectonic activity and sea level changes caused the area to be-come landlocked and created a vast salt marsh. During monsoons it gets flooded and in the dry season it turns into a salty desert.

Option 1,2 and 3 are incorrect:

Bhitarkanika Mangroves is located in Odisha. These mangroves are coastal wetlands characterized by tidal waters and mangrove forests and not by repeated falls in sea level. Marakkanam Salt Pans is situated in Tamil Nadu. These are man-made salt pans used for salt production and not natural marshlands formed by sea level changes. Naupada Swamp is a freshwater wetland, not a salt marsh formed by sea level fluctuations. It is located in Andhra Pradesh.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: Gandikota canyon is situated on the Pennar River in Andhra Pradesh and is known as the Grand Canyon of India. Gandikota is a small village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. Gorges are formed when rivers erode through gigantic rock formations over a long period of time. A gorge is any valley formed by a source of water flowing between tall slabs of steep rocks. The swift flowing waters of River Pennar cut through the granite rocks near the village of Gandikota, naturally eroding the rock and forming a deep valley.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Namcha Barwa is not situated in Garhwal Himalayas. It is part of Eastern Himalayas marking the easternmost section of the Himalayas. The peak lies inside the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, where the river takes a significant turn before entering India as the Brahmaputra.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The part of the Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers is known as Kumaon Himalayas. Nanda Devi is part of the Kumaon Himalayas located in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. The peak is flanked by the Rishi-ganga valley to the west and the Goriganga valley to the east. The surrounding Nanda Devi National Park was recognized for its unique biodiversity and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Nokrek Peak stands as the high-est point in Meghalaya’s Garo Hills, situated in northeastern In-dia. It belongs to the Shillong Plateau and is geographically separate from the Sikkim Himalaya which is located further north in Sikkim. It is recognized for its diverse flora and fauna and the Nokrek region has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Re-serve.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Ghataprabha Reservoir is built on the Ghataprabha River, a tributary of the Krishna River, located in the Belagavi district of Karnataka(not Telengana). It provides irrigation to the drought-prone regions of north Karnataka. The Gokak Falls is located on this river.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: The Gandhi Sagar Dam is constructed on the Chambal River is situated in the Mandsaur and Neemuch districts of Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the five major dams of the Chambal Valley Project and plays a vital role in irrigation and hydroelectricity.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: The Indira Sagar Dam is the largest dam in India, in terms of volume of water stored in the reservoir. It is located in Madhya Pradesh, not Andhra Pradesh. It is built on the Narmada River and is one of the largest reservoirs in India.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: The Maithon Dam is built on the Barakar River, a tributary of the Damodar River. It is situated in Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. It is a key component of the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) project, controlling floods and generating hydroelectric power.

Explanation

Option (a) is incorrect: Chenab River originates from Bara Lacha Pass in Himachal Pradesh. It is formed by the confluence of Chandra and Bhaga rivers in Himachal Pradesh, flows through Jammu and Kashmir and enters Pakistan. The Chenab does not join the Indus directly. It merges with the Sutlej River in Pakistan.

Option (b) is incorrect: Jhelum River originates from Verinag Spring in Jammu and Kashmir. It flows through the Kashmir Valley and enters Pakistan. Jhelum joins Chenab, which later merges with Sutlej before reaching the Indus. Jhelum does not directly join Indus.

Option (c) is incorrect: Ravi River originates from Bara Bhan-gal in Himachal Pradesh. It flows through Punjab before entering Pakistan. Ravi joins the Chenab River, which later merges with the Sutlej before meeting the Indus.

Option (d) is correct: Sutlej River originates from Rakshastal, near Lake Mansarovar, Tibet. It flows through Himachal Pradesh and Punjab before entering Pakistan. Sutlej is the only river that directly joins the Indus River at Mithankot, Pakistan. Thus, it is the only Satluj river in the Indus valley system which receives water from three rivers of the system and joins Indus directly. The Indus River System:

Fig: Map of the Indus River System

Explanation

A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water that has a concentration of salts and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes. These lakes are characterized by their high salt content, often due to the arid or semi-arid climate and the lack of outflowing rivers leading to the evaporation of water and the concentration of salts. Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are saline lakes of Rajasthan.

Explanation

Option 1 is incorrect: The Brahmani River does not originate in the Eastern Ghats. The Brahmani River is formed by the confluence of the South Koel and Sankh rivers in Jharkhand. The South Koel originates near Nagri in Jharkhand, while the Sankh River originates in the Chotanagpur Plateau. After the confluence, it flows through the Eastern Ghats in Sundar-garh, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, and Jajpur districts.

Option 2 is correct: The Nagavali River originates in the Eastern Ghats near Lakhbahal in the Kalahandi district of Odisha. It flows through Odisha and Andhra Pradesh before draining into the Bay of Bengal.

Option 3 is incorrect: The Subarnarekha River originates near Nagri in the Chotanagpur Plateau of Jharkhand. It flows through Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The Chotanagpur Plateau is part of the Deccan Plateau, not the Eastern Ghats.

Option 4 is correct: The Vamsadhara River rises in the Durgakangar Hills of the Eastern Ghats in the Kalahandi district of Odisha. It flows through Odisha and Andhra Pradesh before draining into the Bay of Bengal.

Explanation

Option 1 is correct: Nagarhole National Park is located in the Kodagu and Mysore districts of Karnataka. The Nagarahole River flows through the park which joins the Kabini River which also is a boundary between Nagarahole and Bandipur National Park.

Option 2 is incorrect: Papikonda National Park is located in the East Godavari and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh. It lies in the Godavari River Basin, not the Cauvery Basin.

Option 3 is correct: Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) is located at the confluence region of Western and Eastern Ghats, in the Erode district of the state of Tamil Nadu. In the northern part of Erode district, the Palar river flows and drains into the Cauvery river. The Bhavani River, a major tributary of the Cauvery, flows through this region.

Option 4 is correct: Kabini river, a tributary of the Cauvery river flows through the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.