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 2018Geography · Indian Geography
Q1. Which one of the following is an artificial lake?
Explanation
Kodaikanal Lake, also known as Kodai Lake is a man-made lake (artificial) located in the Kodaikanal city in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, India. The lake was built in 1863, in the middle of Kodaikanal town. Sir Vere Henry Levinge, the then Collector of Madurai, had a key role in its construction. The lake is star-shaped, centrally located in the town of Kodaikanal and is surrounded by lush green hills of the northwestern Palani Hills range. It is fed by several small streams from the Palani Hills.
Option (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:
Kolleru Lake is a large, natural, shallow freshwater lake located in the northeastern part of Andhra Pradesh, between the Krishna and Godavari deltas. It is designated as a Ramsar Wetland Site due to its ecological importance. It is a natural lake formed by the accumulation of river waters and is a major habitat for migratory birds. Nainital lake is a natural lake and was formed due to tectonic movements. It is a natural, kidney-shaped, tectonic lake formed due to geological movements. It is part of the Kumaon Lake Region and is a popular tourist destination. The Renuka Lake is located in Himachal Pradesh and holds cultural and spiritual significance. It is regarded as the embodiment of Renukaji, the wife of sage Jamadagini and mother of Parshuram. This placid stretch of water is fed by underground springs and the surrounding hills are padded by lush forests that support a large variety of plant and animal life.
UPSC 2018Geography · Indian Geography
Q2. Consider the following statements: 1. The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in Indian territory. 2. Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar. 3. The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Barren Island is India’s only active volcano and is located in the Andaman Sea, within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It belongs to the volcanic arc of the Sunda Trench and is part of the Andaman Subduction Zone which makes it seismically active.
Statement 2 is incorrect: Barren Island is located about 140 km northeast of Port Blair (the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands), not Great Nicobar. Great Nicobar is located far south of the Andaman Islands, whereas Barren Island is in the northern Andaman Sea.
Statement 3 is incorrect: The Barren Island volcano has erupted multiple times after 1991. Significant eruptions were recorded in 1994-1995, 2005, 2009, and most recently in 2017-2018. Thus, it has not remained inactive since 1991.
Exam tip:
When S1 says its active volcano and S3 says its inactive since approx 27 years, that means both statements clearly contradicts. Its a active volcano is a well known fact as being the "only" active one in India, thus S3 is more likely false, giving
option A as correct.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2018
(a) Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)
2
2018
(a) 1 only
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.
