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 351–360 of 485 questions
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UPSC 2003Geography · Indian Geography
Q351. What is the correct sequence of the rivers-Godavari, Mahanadi, Narmada and Tapi in the descending order of their lengths?
Explanation
Option (b) is correct: The descending order of the lengths of the rivers is as follows:
Godavari River: The total length is 1,465 km. It is the second-longest river in India after the Ganges and flows eastward from its origin in Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra, to the Bay of Bengal. Narmada River: The total length is 1,312 km. It originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat. Mahanadi River: The total length is approximately 851 km. It originates from the highlands of Chhattisgarh and flows eastward into the Bay of Bengal. Tapi (Tapti) River: The total length is about 724 km. It originates from the Satpura ranges in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward into the Arabian Sea. Therefore, the correct sequence of rivers in the descending order of their length is Godavari - Narmada - Mahanadi - Tapi.
Additional insight:
IMPORTANT INDIAN RIVERS (Lengths in KM) Name Length(Kms) Mouth Ganga 2.525 Bay of Bengal (BoB) Godavari 1.465 BoB Krishna 1.400 BoB Narmada 1.313 Arabian Sea Yamuna 1.211 BoB Indus 1.114 (3180) Arabian Sea Brahmaputra 916 (2,900) BoB Mahanadi 851 BoB Kaveri 800 BoB Tapti 724 Arabian Sea Vaigai 258 BoB Periyar 244 BoB
UPSC 2003Geography · Indian Geography
Q352. Nanda Devi peak forms a part of:
Explanation
Nanda Devi is the second-highest mountain in India and is located in the Kumaon Himalayas in the state of Uttarakhand. It is part of the Greater Himalayas and is renowned for its challenging climbing routes and stunning natural beauty. Indus River Punjab Himalaya Kumaon Himalay Satluj River Kali River Teesta River Dihang River Kailash Range Ladakh Zaskar Karakoram Nepal Himalay Assam Himalay
UPSC 2003Geography · Indian Geography
Q353. 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
Q354. 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
Q355. 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
Q356. 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 2003Geography · Places and Locations: World Geography
Q357. The waterfall ‘Victoria’ is associated with the river:
Explanation
Option (d) is correct: Victoria Falls, known locally as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" or "The Smoke That Thunders," is located on the Zambezi River. It straddles the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Zambezi River is the fourth-longest river in Africa and flows through several countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Mozambique. Options (a), (b) and (c) are incorrect:
The Amazon River, which is the largest river in the world by discharge, flows through South America, primarily through Brazil, but does not have Victoria Falls. The Missouri River is a major river in the United States, flowing through several states. It does not have any waterfalls as famous as Victoria Falls. The St. Lawrence River flows through Canada and the United States, connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. While it has several rapids and is an important waterway for shipping, it is not associated with Victoria Falls.
UPSC 2003Geography · Places and Locations: World Geography
Q358. Israel has common borders with:
Explanation
Israel shares its borders with four neighboring countries: Lebanon to the north, Syria to the northeast, Jordan to the east, and Egypt to the southwest. These borders have evolved significantly since Israel’s establishment in 1948, influenced by various geopolitical events and agreements.
Additional insight:
Lebanon: The border with Lebanon is defined by the Blue Line, established by the United Nations in 2000 to confirm Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon. This line closely approximates the Green Line set under the 1949 armistice agreement between Lebanon and Israel. The area east of the Hasbani River is considered part of Syria and included in the Golan Heights. Syria: The border with Syria includes the Golan Heights, a strategically significant region that Israel captured during the 1967 Six-Day War. Jordan: The border with Jordan was established following the 1994 peace treaty between the two nations. This agreement marked the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country, leading to the normalization of diplomatic and economic relations. Egypt: The border with Egypt was defined by the 1979 peace agreement, which resulted in Israel returning the Sinai Peninsula to Egypt and dismantling all settlements there. This agreement was the first peace treaty between Israel and an Arab country, leading to the normalization of diplomatic and economic relations.
UPSC 2003Geography · Places and Locations: World Geography
Q359. Which one of the following countries is landlocked?
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: Bolivia, situated in South America, is the only landlocked nation among the listed countries. It shares borders with Brazil to the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina to the south, and Chile and Peru to the west. Options (b), (c) and (d) are incorrect:
Peru: Located on the western coast of South America, Peru has an extensive Pacific Ocean shoreline, facilitating significant maritime trade. Suriname: Situated on the northeastern coast of South America, Suriname borders the Atlantic Ocean, providing it with access to international shipping routes. Uruguay: Located in the southeastern part of the continent, Uruguay has coastlines along both the Atlantic Ocean and the Rio de la Plata estuary, enhancing its maritime connectivity.
UPSC 2003Geography · Places and Locations: World Geography
Q360. Which one of the following countries does not border the Caspian Sea?
Explanation
The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest enclosed inland body of water, is bordered by five countries: Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Armenia, however, is not among these nations. Situated in the South Caucasus region, Armenia is a landlocked country bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, and Azerbaijan to the east and southwest.
Option (a) is correct: Armenia’s geographical location places it to the southeast of the Caspian Sea, but it does not share a coastline with it. Instead, Armenia is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north, and Azerbaijan to the east and south-west.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
351
2003
(b) Godavari-Narmada-Mahanadi-Tapi
352
2003
(b) Kumaon Himalayas
353
2003
(a) Bangalore
354
2003
(c) 2 and 3
355
2003
(d) Tamil Nadu
356
2003
(b) Kolkata
357
2003
(d) Zambezi
358
2003
(a) Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt
359
2003
(a) Bolivia
360
2003
(a) Armenia
What UPSC has tested in Geography
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.
