Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is the northernmost among these cities. Moving southward, Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, comes next. Further south lies Gujranwala, a major industrial city in Punjab province. Finally, Multan, known for its Sufi shrines, is located in southern Punjab, making it the southernmost in the given options. Therefore, the correct north-to-south order is Peshawar Islamabad Gujranwala Multan.

Explanation

The cities and their respective rivers are: A-4; B-3; C-2; D-1 A is correctly matched with 4: The Potomac River, flowing through the eastern United States, serves as a boundary between Maryland and Virginia and passes through notable cities like Washington, D.C., Alexandria, and Harpers Ferry. B is correctly matched with 3: The Spree River, a tributary of the Havel River, flows through Berlin and is central to the city’s waterways, connecting it to other regions like Cottbus and Spandau. C is correctly matched with 2: The Seine River is one of France’s major rivers, flowing through Paris and other cities like Rouen and Le Havre. It is famous for its iconic landmarks along its banks in Paris, including the Eiffel Tower and numerous historic bridges. D is correctly matched with 1: The Manzanares River, though relatively small, flows through Madrid and plays an important role in local recreation and urban development. Each of these rivers holds cultural, historical, or economic significance for their respective cities.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Great Britain consists of England, Scotland, and Wales. It does not include Northern Ireland. The United Kingdom (UK) comprises Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Statement 2 is correct: England covers approximately 53% of the total area of the UK (130,279 km2 out of 242,495 km2), making the statement accurate.

Explanation

The Itaipu Dam, located on the Parana River at the border of Foz do Iguaçu (Brazil) and Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), is one of the largest hydroelectric plants in the world. Completed in 1984, it is managed by Itaipu Binacional, equally owned by Brazil and Paraguay. The dam generates over 14,000 MW of electricity, supplying nearly 90% of Paraguay’s energy needs and about 15% of Brazil’s consumption. It remains a symbol of successful binational cooperation and a major contributor to renewable energy production globally.

Explanation

Statement (c) is correct: The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an international agreement aimed at regulating the safe transfer, handling, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs), or genetically modified organisms (GMOs), to protect biodiversity and human health. Statements (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

The first Meeting of the Parties (MOP 1) to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from February 23-27, 2004, not in the Philippines. India is a signatory to both the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It ratified the protocol on January 23, 2003, and actively participates in its implementation. The United States is not a party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, as it has not ratified the agreement.

Explanation

Insolation, or the solar radiation received by the Earth, plays a crucial role in driving atmospheric circulation by heating the surface unevenly. This creates temperature and pressure differences, which, in turn, influence atmospheric thickness and convection patterns. Assertion (A) is true: Thickness of the atmosphere is maximum over the Equator. The Equator experiences greater atmospheric thickness due to intense heating, causing air to expand and rise to higher altitudes, increasing the vertical extent of the atmosphere. Reason (R) is true: The Equator receives high levels of insolation year-round due to its position, with the Sun being directly overhead during the equinoxes and nearly overhead at other times, contributing to sustained heating. This results in strong convection currents that lift air to higher altitudes, contributing to the greater atmospheric thickness. Reason(R) explains Assertion(A): Because the strong insolation and convection over the Equator lead to the expansion and lifting of air, directly causing the atmosphere to be thicker in this region compared to higher latitudes.

Explanation

Kharif crops are typically grown during the monsoon season (June to September) in India, and they require plenty of water. These crops are usually harvested after the monsoon season, around September to October. Cotton is a Kharif crop grown during the monsoon season. Groundnut and Maize are also Kharif crops grown during the monsoon season.Although it can also be grown in the Rabi season in some areas, it is primarily a Kharif crop in India. Mustard is typically grown in the Rabi season (winter). Thus, Cotton, Groundnut, and Maize are Kharif crops, while Mustard is a Rabi crop.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was established in 1948, making it India’s first multipurpose river valley project after independence. Operating in West Bengal and Jharkhand, it focuses on flood control, irrigation, hydropower generation, and industrial water supply. DVC manages four major dams (Tilaiya, Konar, Maithon, Panchet) and the Durgapur Barrage. It supports agriculture, industrial development, and electricity distribution across eight states. Inspired by the Tennessee Valley Authority (USA), DVC plays a crucial role in regional development and environmental management.

Statement 2 is correct: The DVC’s infrastructure includes both thermal and gas power stations, in addition to hydroelectric power plants. The DVC has a significant number of coal-based thermal power stations. Some of the major ones include:

Mejia Thermal Power Station (West Bengal) Bokaro Thermal Power Station (Jharkhand) Chandrapura Thermal Power Station (Jharkhand) Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station (West Bengal) Maithon Gas Turbine Station is a gas-based thermal power plant located at Maithon in the Dhanbad district of Jharkhand. It’s owned and operated by the DVC.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: Andhra Pradesh does not have the longest coastline in India. Gujarat has the longest coast-line among Indian states, stretching approximately 1214 km. Andhra Pradesh ranks second among states with a coastline of around 972 km. When considering both states and Union Territories, Gujarat has the longest coastline among the states, followed by Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (~1,076 km), and Maharashtra (~720 km). However, the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has the longest coastline overall, spanning about 1,962 km.

Statement 2 is incorrect: As of 2004, Maharashtra had the highest number of airports in India, not Gujarat. It included major airports like Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport), Pune, Nagpur, and others, along with several smaller domestic airports. Even today Gujarat does not have the highest number of airports in India. While Gujarat has a good number of airports, Uttar Pradesh, has the most. The number of airports can also fluctuate with new airports being built. Currently, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of operational airports in India, with 15 airports. This includes both domestic and international airports, such as Lucknow, Varanasi, Kushinagar, and Ayodhya. The state’s extensive aviation infrastructure supports regional connectivity and economic development.

Explanation

Option (c) is correct: Among the given options, the longest National Highway route is Kolkata-Hajira, which spans approximately 1,946 km. It connects Kolkata in West Bengal to Hajira in Gujarat, traversing multiple states and serving as a critical east-west corridor.

Option (a), (b) and (d) are incorrect:

The Agra-Mumbai Highway is approximately 1,190 km long. This was a significant route, connecting major cities. Chennai-Thane Highway involves multiple highways. It’s roughly around 1,350-1,400 km. Pune-Machilipatnam Highway is likely in the range of 800-900 km. The longest highway in India is now NH 44. It runs from Srinagar to Kanyakumari, the official length of National Highway 44 is approximately 4,112 kilometers (2,555 miles).