Indian Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)
115 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Indian geography make this the largest Geography chapter, from 1996 to 2025, across 28 exam years. UPSC asks about rivers and basins, lakes, forests and trees, mountain peaks and reservoirs, islands and volcanoes. The explanations give the state and basin for each feature.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 81–90 of 115 questions
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UPSC 2003Geography · Indian Geography
Q81. Among the following cities, which one has the highest altitude above mean sea level?
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: Amongst the given options Bangalore has the highest altitude above mean sea level. Altitude above mean sea level of the given options is as follows:
Bangalore (Bengaluru): 920 meters.
Nagpur: 310 meters.
Delhi: 216 meters.
Jodhpur: 231 meters.
Additional insight:
Altitude is important in geography because it significantly influences a region’s climate, weather patterns, and ecosystems. Higher altitudes generally have lower temperatures due to thinner air and reduced heat retention. For every 1,000 meters increase in altitude, temperatures drop by about 6.5°C. Due to its high elevation, Bengaluru usually enjoys a more moderate climate throughout the year, although occasional heat waves can make summer. Bengaluru has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw) with distinct wet and dry seasons.
UPSC 2003Geography · Indian Geography
Q82. Consider the following statements: 1. The longitude of Jabalpur’s location is between those of Indore and Bhopal. 2. The latitude of Aurangabad’s location is between those of Vadodara and Pune. 3. Bangalore is situated more southward than Chennai. Which of these statements is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: In west to east arrangement, Indore comes first then Bhopal and in last comes Jabalpur. Thus, the longitude corresponding to Jabalpur’s location is not between those of Indore and Bhopal.
Statement 2 is correct: As coming from the north we first find Vadodara and then Aurangabad and in the last Pune which means Aurangabad is between Vadodara and Pune. Hence, the latitude corresponding to Aurangabad’s location is between those of Vadodara and Pune.
Statement 3 is correct: Bangalore is at a lower latitude (12.9716°N) than Chennai (13.0827°N). Hence Bangalore is south of Chennai.
Additional insight:
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth’s surface. It is measured in degrees (°), ranging from 0° at the Prime Meridian (which passes through Greenwich, England) to 180° East and 180° West. Lines of longitude, also called meridians, run from the North Pole to the South Pole. Latitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth’s surface. It is measured in degrees (°), ranging from 0° at the Equator to 90° North at the North Pole and 90° South at the South Pole. Lines of latitude, also called parallels, run parallel to the Equator.
UPSC 2003Geography · Indian Geography
Q83. Which one among the following states is smallest in area?
Explanation
Area of the states in the options given are:
Gujarat: 196,024 square kilometers Karnataka: 191,791 square kilometers Andhra Pradesh: 160,205 square kilometers Tamil Nadu: 130,058 square kilometers Therefore Tamil Nadu is the smallest among the four states.
Additional insight:
India covers an area of 3.287 million square kilometers (2.4% of the world’s land surface area), making it the seventh-largest country in the world by land area. As of now, In-dia is divided into 28 States and 8 Union Territories. Sequence of states in India area wise in descending order: Rajasthan > Madhya Pradesh > Maharashtra > Uttar Pradesh > Gujarat > Karnataka > Andhra Pradesh > Odisha > Chhattisgarh > Tamil Nadu > Telangana > Bihar > West Bengal > Arunachal Pradesh > Jharkhand > Assam > Himachal Pradesh > Uttarakhand > Punjab > Haryana > Kerala > Meghalaya > Manipur > Nagaland > Tripura > Mizoram > Sikkim > Goa. The largest UT is Jammu and Kashmir while the smallest is the Lakshadweep.
UPSC 2003Geography · Indian Geography
Q84. Among the following cities, which one is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer?
Explanation
In India, The Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) passes through 8 Indian states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. Location of the given cities in comparison to the Tropic of Cancer is the following:
Delhi: 28.7041°N Jodhpur: 26.2389°N Tropic of Cancer: 23.5°N Kolkata: 22.5726°N Nagpur: 21.1458°N Thus, Kolkata is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer. Other cities near to the Tropic of Cancer:
Udaipur (Rajasthan): 24.5854°N.
Agartala (Tripura): 23.8315°N.
Aizawl (Mizoram): 23.7271°N.
Ranchi (Jharkhand): 23.3441°N.
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): 23.2599°N.
Gandhinagar (Gujarat): 23.2156°N.
Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh): 23.1815°N.
Kolkata (West Bengal): 22.5726°N.
Additional insight:
The latitude of the Tropic of Cancer is the imaginary circle at approximately 23.5°N. It marks the northernmost point where the Sun appears directly overhead at noon. This occurs during the June solstice (around June 21), when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun. The Tropic of Cancer passes through 17 countries, including: Mexico, Bahamas, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, China and Taiwan.
UPSC 2002Geography · Indian Geography
Q85. Which one of the following is not a lagoon?
Explanation
A lagoon is a shallow body of water separated from a larger sea or ocean by a barrier, such as a sandbar, coral reef, or barrier island. Lagoons are typically found along coastlines and are connected to the ocean by narrow inlets.
Option (c) is correct: Periyar Lake (Kerala) is an artificial freshwater lake formed by the construction of the Mullaperi-yar Dam on the Periyar River. It is not a lagoon. Options (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:
Ashtamudi Lake is a brackish water lagoon in Kerala connected to the Arabian Sea. Chilka Lake (Odisha) is the largest brackish water lagoon in India and is connected to the Bay of Bengal. Pulicat Lake (Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu) is the second-largest brackish water lagoon in India and is connected to the Bay of Bengal.
UPSC 2002Geography · Indian Geography
Q86. The average annual temperature of a meteorological station is 26°C, its average annual rainfall is 63 cm and the annual range temperature is 9°C. The station in question is:
Explanation
The climatic data provided matches the conditions of Chennai, which has a tropical wet and dry climate. Chennai experiences an average annual temperature of around 26°C, with a moderate annual temperature range of about 9°C due to its coastal location. The average annual rainfall of 120-140 cm is typical of Chennai, primarily influenced by the Northeast Monsoon. Other locations do not fit this profile: Allahabad and Kolkata have larger temperature ranges due to their continental climates, while Cherrapunji receives significantly higher rainfall, averaging over 450 cm annually. Hence, the station is most likely Chennai.
Additional insight:
Moderation Effect of coasts: The presence of a sea reduces the annual range of temperature due to the high specific heat capacity of water, which absorbs and releases heat more slowly than land. This moderating effect prevents extreme temperature variations, leading to smaller differences between summer and winter temperatures in coastal areas. Continentality: It refers to the influence of a location’s distance from the sea on its climate. Inland areas experience greater temperature extremes because land heats up and cools down faster than water, resulting in hotter summers, colder winters, and a larger annual temperature range compared to coastal regions.
UPSC 2002Geography · Indian Geography
Q87. The sea coast of which one of the following states has become famous as a nesting place for the giant Olive Ridley turtles from South America?
Explanation
It is a migratory species that travels thousands of miles from South America and other regions to nest on the beaches of Orissa.
Additional insight:
The Olive Ridley turtles are known for their mass nesting events, called ‘arribadas’, where thousands of turtles come ashore to lay eggs. In India, the state of Orissa (now Odisha) is particularly famous for being a nesting ground for these turtles. The Olive Ridley turtle is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List due to threats like habitat destruction, pollution, fishing nets, and climate change.
UPSC 2002Geography · Indian Geography
Q88. With reference to India, which one of the following statements is not correct?
Explanation
The mountain areas do not account for above thirty percent of the surface area of the country. Mountainous regions, including the Himalayas and other ranges, account for less than 30% of total surface area. The majority of India’s land area consists of plains (43%) and plateaus (27%). India receives a significant amount of rainfall, and about one-third of its area does receive more than 750 mm of annual rainfall, especially in regions like the Western Ghats, northeastern India, and coastal areas. Wells, including tube wells, are the largest source of irrigation in India, accounting for more than 60% of the irrigated area. Groundwater is extensively used for agriculture. The northern plains of India, formed by the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra river systems, are predominantly covered by fertile alluvial soil, which is ideal for agriculture.
UPSC 2002Geography · Indian Geography
Q89. Open stunted forests with bushes and small trees having long roots and sharp thorns or sharp thorns or spines are commonly found in:
Explanation
Option (d) is correct: Open stunted forests with bushes, small trees, long roots, and sharp thorns or spines are typical features of tropical thorn forests, which thrive in regions with low rainfall (25-75 cm annually) and semi-arid climates. Among the above, Western Andhra Pradesh experiences a dry climate with low rainfall, making it suitable for thorny vegetation such as acacia, babul, and cactus. The trees in these regions develop long roots to reach groundwater and spiny leaves to reduce water loss through transpiration. Options (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect:
Eastern Odisha has a more humid climate due to its proximity to the Bay of Bengal and receives higher rainfall. The vegetation here is more likely to be tropical moist deciduous or mangrove forests, not thorn forests. North-Eastern Tamil Nadu, including regions like Chennai, receives moderate rainfall and has a mix of dry deciduous and coastal vegetation. Thorn forests are not predominant here. The Shivalik Hills and Terai region (foothills of the Himalayas) have a subtropical climate with high rainfall. The vegetation here is typically tropical moist deciduous or subtropical forests, not thorn forests.
UPSC 2002Geography · Indian Geography
Q90. Match List-I (Mangrove) with List-II (State) and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:
List-I (Mangrove)
List-II (State)
A. Achra Ratnagiri
1. Karnataka
B. Coondapur
2. Kerala
C. Pichavaram
3. Andhra Pradesh
D. Vembanad
4. Maharashtra
5. Tamil Nadu
Explanation
A mangrove is a unique ecosystem of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that grow in tropical and subtropical coastal intertidal zones. These plants have specialized roots (e.g., stilt roots or pneumatophores) to survive in saline, waterlogged conditions. Mangroves provide critical habitats for marine life, protect coastlines from erosion, and act as carbon sinks.
Option (d) is the correct:
A is matched with 4: Achra Ratnagiri is a mangrove region located in Maharashtra state. B is matched with 1: Coondapur, also known as Kundapura, is a mangrove region situated in the state of Karnataka. C is matched with 5: Pichavaram is a famous mangrove forest located in Tamil Nadu. D is matched with 2: Vembanad is a lagoon and mangrove area in Kerala.
Additional insight:
Some of the more significant mangroves are listed as under:
Sunderban in West Bengal is the largest mangrove in India and World. It is famous for its Sundari tree. Bhitarkanika in Odisha is the second largest Mangrove. Thane Creek Mangroves, Maharashtra. Gulf of Kutch Mangroves, Gujarat. Chorao Island Mangrove Forests, Goa. Coringa mangroves in Andhra Pradesh.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
81
2003
(a) Bangalore
82
2003
(c) 2 and 3
83
2003
(d) Tamil Nadu
84
2003
(b) Kolkata
85
2002
(c) Periyar lake
86
2002
(b) Chennai
87
2002
(c) Orissa
88
2002
(d) The mountain areas account for about thirty percent of the surface area of the country.
89
2002
(d) Western Andhra Pradesh
90
2002
(d) A-4; B-1; C-5; D-2
What UPSC has tested in Indian Geography
The Gandikota canyon of South India was created by the Pennar river.
Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are saline lakes of Rajasthan.
The Rann of Kutch is the best example of repeated falls in sea level giving rise to its present shape.
The Barren Island volcano in the Andaman Sea is an active volcano.
Teak is a dominant tree species in tropical moist deciduous forests.
The living root bridges, made by training roots of living trees, are found in Meghalaya; Kodaikanal is an artificial lake.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Indian Geography?
This page covers 115 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.
Which river created the Gandikota canyon?
The Pennar river, which has cut a gorge through the Erramala hills in Andhra Pradesh. The canyon is often called the Grand Canyon of India and has the Gandikota fort on its rim.
Where is India’s only active volcano?
Barren Island in the Andaman Sea, part of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is India’s only confirmed active volcano. It has erupted several times in recent decades and is an uninhabited island.
What are Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu?
Saline lakes in Rajasthan. They lie in the arid western and central part of the state, with Didwana and Kuchaman in Nagaur district, and yield salt, which is why questions ask them as examples of saline lakes.
