Indian Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Indian 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 1998Geography · Indian Geography
Q1. Some people in Manipur live in houses built on floating islands of weeds and decaying vegetation held together by suspended silt. These are called:
Explanation
Option (c) is correct: The floating islands in Manipur, known as Phoomdis, are composed of weeds, decaying vegetation, and suspended silt. These islands provide a unique habitat for the people living in the region and have been a part of the local culture and ecology for centuries. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:
Tipis are traditional conical tents used by some Indigenous tribes of North America, especially the Plains Indians. They are made from wooden poles and animal skins, and they are not related to the floating islands in Manipur. Barkhans are crescent-shaped sand dunes typically found in deserts like the Sahara Desert. They are not related to floating vegetation islands and do not exist in Manipur. Izba is a term used for traditional wooden houses or cabins, typically in Russia or Slavic regions, and it does not relate to floating islands or structures in Manipur.
Additional insight:
The Phoomdis float on the Loktak Lake, which is the largest freshwater lake in northeastern India. The unique characteristic of these floating islands is that they are not fixed to the lakebed, and they move with the current. Local communities, particularly the Laii and Meitei people, have adapted their lifestyles to these floating islands, building their houses on them.
UPSC 1998Geography · Indian Geography
Q2. Which one of the following east flowing rivers of India has a rift valley due to down warping?
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: Damodar River is the east-flow-ing river that has a rift valley due to down warping. The river flows through the Damodar Valley, which is one of the most important industrial regions in India, situated between the Chota Nagpur Plateau and the Bengal Basin. The valley formed due to geological processes like down warping and faulting, which allowed the river to cut through the region.
Option (b) is incorrect: The Mahanadi is an east-flowing river that does not flow through a rift valley. It originates from the Chhattisgarh Plateau and flows towards the east into the Bay of Bengal.
Option (c) is incorrect: The Sone River is a tributary of the Ganga and flows in the region of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, but it does not have a rift valley.
Option (d) is incorrect: The Yamuna River is another major river in India, but it does not have a rift valley. It flows through the Himalayan foothills and North India before joining the Ganga.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
1998
(c) Phumdis
2
1998
(a) Damodar
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Indian Geography?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Indian 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 Indian Geography?
Questions on Indian Geography (Geography) are available for 28 years, from 1996 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
