485 previous year UPSC Prelims Geography questions are on this page, from 1996 to 2025, in 10 chapters. Indian Geography, Human and Economic Geography, the two Places and Locations chapters and Climatology are the largest. Physical geography (climate, oceans, landforms) and location-based pairs are the usual formats. Filter by chapter to revise one area, or by year for a single paper.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 291–300 of 485 questions
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UPSC 2005Geography · Geomorphology
Q291. Consider the following statements: 1. Total land area of earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometers. 2. Ratio of land area to water area of earth is approximately 1: 4. 3. Maximum Percentage of earth’s water is in the Pacific Ocean. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: The total land area of the Earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometers or 147.5 million square kilometers. The Earth’s surface area is about 510 million square kilometers, with land covering roughly 29% of it.
Statement 2 is incorrect: About 71% of the Earth’s surface is covered by water and 29% is land. This gives a land-to-water ratio of approximately 1:2.4 and not 1:4 as mentioned in the question.
Statement 3 is correct: The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean, covering an area of about 168 million square kilometers. It contains the maximum percentage of Earth’s water, contributing significantly to the planet’s hydrosphere.
UPSC 2005Geography · Geomorphology
Q292. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given continents in the decreasing order of their percentage of Earth’s land?
Explanation
The correct order of continents in terms of their percentage of Earth’s land area is:
Asia > Africa > North America > South America > Antarctica > Europe > Australia. The sequence that accurately reflects the decreasing order of land area is:
Africa: Second largest continent, covering 20.3% of Earth’s land area. North America: Third largest continent, covering 16.3% of Earth’s land area. South America: Fourth largest continent, covering 12.0% of Earth’s land area. Europe: Sixth largest continent, covering 6.8% of Earth’s land area.
UPSC 2005Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q293. Which one of the following statements is not correct?
Explanation
While North-East India has a high proportion of tribal communities relative to its total population, it does not account for over half of India’s total tribal population.The largest tribal populations are actually concentrated in central In-dia--states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand. As per Census 2011, the North-Eastern states account for approximately 12-15% of the total Scheduled Tribe population in India, not more than half. Statements (a), (c) and (d) are correct:
The Constitution of India does not provide a specific definition for Scheduled Tribes. Instead, under Article 342, the President is empowered to specify the tribes or tribal communities to be recognized as Scheduled Tribes in consultation with the respective state governments. The Todas are an indigenous tribe residing in the Nilgiri Hills of Tamil Nadu. They are known for their distinct culture, traditional barrel-vaulted houses, and pastoral lifestyle centered around buffalo herding. Lotha is both a language and the name of a tribe in Nagaland. The Lotha Naga people predominantly inhabit the Wokha district of Nagaland.
UPSC 2005Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q294. Consider the following statements: 1. India is the second country in the world to adopt a National Family Planning Programme. 2. The National Population Policy of India 2000 seeks to achieve a replacement level of fertility by 2010 with a population of 111 crores. 3. Kerala is the first state in India to achieve a replacement level of fertility. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: India was the first country to launch a National Programme for Family Planning in 1952. The Mission Parivar Vikas, one of the key flagship Family Planning Programmes of Government of India was launched in 2016 for increasing access to contraceptives and family planning services.
Statement 2 and 3 are correct:
The National Population Policy of India 2000, aimed to achieve a replacement level of fertility (2.1 children per woman) by 2010, with a target population of about 111 crores. The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years, based on current fertility rates. Kerala was the First State in India to achieve replacement level fertility. The Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2021 study notes that India’s TFR was 1.9 in 2021, below the replacement level of 2.1.
UPSC 2005Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q295. Which one of the following statements is true on the basis of Census 2001?
Explanation
Uttar Pradesh had the largest absolute number of Scheduled Caste (SC) population in both the 2001 and 2011 censuses. However, in terms of the percentage of SC population relative to the total population, Punjab (not Bihar) recorded the highest proportion in both years. In 2001, Punjab’s SC population constituted approximately 28.85% of its total population, which increased to around 31.94% in 2011. In comparison, Uttar Pradesh’s SC population percentage was 21.15% in 2001 and slightly declined to 21.1% in 2011.
Option (b) is incorrect: The percentage decadal growth rate of the country has declined significantly from 21.5% for the period 1991-2001 to 17.6 % during 2001-2011.
Option (c) is incorrect: Sikkim was the state with the least population (approximately 5.4 lac) in 2001 as well as in 2011 (approximately 6.07 lac).
Option (d) is correct: The sex ratio represents the number of females per 1,000 males in a population. Pondicherry (now Puducherry) had a higher proportion of females compared to males(1001 females over 1000 male), resulting in the high-est sex ratio among Union Territories, according to the Census 2001 data.
UPSC 2005Geography · Human and Economic Geography
Q296. According to the census 2001, which one of the following Indian States has the maximum population in India after Uttar Pradesh?
Explanation
In 2001 Uttar Pradesh had the highest Population while Maharashtra ranked the second. In 2011 the same trend continued with Uttar Pradesh having the highest population (199,812,341) while Maharashtra followed(11,23,74,333) it at second.
Additional insight:
The Census, conducted under the Census Act of 1948, is a decennial exercise managed by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs. It is a Union subject under Article 246 of the Indian Constitution, listed as item 69 in the Seventh Schedule. In the census 2011 the population wise ranks in decreasing order are: Uttar Pradesh > Maharashtra> Bihar> West Bengal> Andhra Pradesh> Madhya Pradesh> Tamil Nadu. While ranking from last in increasing order: Sikkim< Mizoram< Arunachal Pradesh< Goa < Nagaland. Among the UTs Lakshadweep is the least populous while Delhi is the most Populous.
UPSC 2005Geography · Indian Geography
Q297. Gandhi Sagar Dam is a part of which one of the following?
Explanation
Gandhi Sagar Dam is a crucial part of the Chambal River Project, a major hydroelectric and irrigation project in In-dia. This project involves a series of dams built on the Chambal River, and Gandhi Sagar Dam is one of the key components. The dam is located in the Mandsaur district of Madhya Pradesh and serves multiple purposes.
UPSC 2005Geography · Indian Geography
Q298. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of hills starting from the north and going towards the south?
Explanation
The arrangement of these hill ranges in India, from north to south, follows a specific order. Beginning in the north are the Nallamalai Hills, located primarily in Andhra Pradesh. Moving southward, the Javadi Hills, situated in Tamil Nadu, come next. Further south lies the prominent Nilgiri Hills, also in Tamil Nadu, known for their biodiversity and hill stations. Finally, the southernmost range in this sequence is the Anamalai Hills, straddling the border of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and home to the highest peak in the Western Ghats, Anamudi. Therefore, the correct north-to-south sequence is Nallamalai Hills, followed by the Javadi Hills, then the Nilgiri Hills, and finally the Anamalai Hills.
Additional insight:
The Nallamalai Hills, a part of the Eastern Ghats, extend across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, stretching from the Krishna River to the Pennar River. These hills are home to the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, India’s largest tiger reserve, which plays a crucial role in wildlife conservation. The Javadi Hills, a north-south hill range in Tamil Nadu, are a continuation of the Eastern Ghats. Known for their blue granite deposits, sandalwood, and medicinal plants, these hills also support tribal settlements, making them an ecologically and culturally significant region. Nilgiri Hills located at the junction of the Eastern and Western Ghats, the Nilgiri Hills span Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. The region is famous for Ooty (Udhagamandalam), tea plantations, and the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, which hosts a rich variety of flora and fauna. The Anamalai Hills, a southern extension of the Western Ghats, stretch across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. They are home to the Anamalai Tiger Reserve and vast tea, coffee, and spice plantations, making them an important biodiversity hotspot and agricultural zone.
UPSC 2005Geography · Indian Geography
Q299. Which one of the following is not a Biosphere reserve?
Explanation
Biosphere Reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use. They are designated by UNESCO under its Man and Biosphere (MAB) Programme. Currently, India has 18 Biosphere Reserves, designated to con-serve biodiversity, ecosystems, and traditional lifestyles.
Option (b) is correct: Agasthyamalai, Nilgiri, and Panchmarhi are all recognized Biosphere Reserves in India. The Nallamalai Hills, while a significant geographical feature, are not currently designated as a Biosphere Reserve.
Additional insight:
Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve is located in the southern Western Ghats, Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve spans 3,500 sq. km across Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Recognized by UNESCO in 2016, it harbors tropical forests, 2,254 plant species (405 endemic), and rare fauna like the Nilgiri Tahr and Asian Elephant. It includes Neyyar, Peppara, and Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuaries and Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve is India’s first biosphere reserve (1986), Nilgiri spans 5,520 sq. km across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. It houses diverse ecosystems like shola forests and grasslands, supports 3,300 plant species (132 endemic), and endangered fauna like the Nilgiri Tahr and Lion-tailed Macaque. Protected areas include Bandipur, Mudumalai, and Silent Valley National Parks. Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve was established in 1999 in Madhya Pradesh’s Satpura Range, Pachmarhi covers 4,926 sq. km. It includes Satpura National Park (core zone), Bori Sanctuary, and Pachmarhi Sanctuary. Known for teak and sal forests, it supports rich biodiversity with tigers, leopards, Indian giant squirrels, and over 300 bird species. UNESCO recognized it in 2009.
UPSC 2005Geography · Indian Geography
Q300. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of Indian cities in the decreasing order of their normal annual rainfall?
Explanation
Kochi receives the highest rainfall (~3000 mm) due to the Southwest Monsoon and its proximity to the Western Ghats, making it one of the wettest cities in India. Kolkata follows with around 1600 mm of rainfall, heavily influenced by the Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon, with most rain occurring between June and September. Patna, with approximately 1200 mm of annual rainfall, experiences moderate monsoon rains, though lesser than Kolkata. Delhi, receiving around 800 mm of rainfall, has a semi-arid climate, with monsoon rains but significantly lower precipitation than the other cities. Thus, the correct sequence in decreasing order of rainfall is Kochi-Kolkata-Patna-Delhi.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
291
2005
(a) 1 and 3
292
2005
(b) Africa-North America-South America-Europe
293
2005
(b) North-East India accounts for a little over half of the country’s tribal population.
294
2005
(c) 2 and 3
295
2005
(d) Pondicherry has the highest sex ratio among the Union Territories.
Recent papers favour statement-and-explanation pairs on climatology and landforms, such as dust in the atmosphere, isotherms and chalk and rainwater on rocks.
Location questions ask about rivers, lakes, reserves and countries as pairs, often using places seen in the news.
Resource questions combine minerals, crops and States, for example rare earths, cobalt, turmeric and ilmenite.
The 2025 paper’s Geography questions cover continental drift, Andes countries, the equator and the Bering Strait.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Geography?
This page covers 485 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Geography, asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
Which Geography chapters have the most questions?
Indian Geography has the most with 115 questions, then Human and Economic Geography with 89, Places and Locations: World Geography with 79, Places and Locations: Indian Geography with 66, and Climatology with 55.
How can I revise Geography for Prelims using these questions?
Open one chapter at a time with the Chapter filter, attempt the questions, then read the key facts at the end of the page. For location questions, repeat them with a map open to fix the places in memory.
Are map or diagram questions included?
No. Questions that depend on a map, figure or diagram cannot be shown without that figure, so they are left out. Every Geography question here can be answered from its text alone.
