Places and Locations: Indian Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)

Explanation

The Ganga River originates from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas and flows into the Bay of Bengal. It drains about one-fourth of India’s land area and supports hundreds of millions of people. The river generally flows from northwest to southeast. The Yamuna River passes through the Delhi region and follows a southeastward path, roughly parallel to the Ganges. It eventually joins the Ganges near Prayagraj (Allahabad).

Option (b) is correct: The main left-bank tributaries of the Ganga are (from west to east)- in the order of joining:

1. Ramganga 2. Gomati

3. Ghaghara 4. Gandak

5. Kosi The major Right bank tributaries are Yamuna, Son, Punpun, Damodar, and Ajay. Among these, Yamuna is the largest and most significant.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Amarkantak Hills are located at the confluence of the Vindhya and Satpura Ranges, not the Sahyadri Range. It is a plateau region in Madhya Pradesh where the Vindhya and Satpura Ranges meet, along with the Maikal Hills. The Sahyadri Range is another name for the Western Ghats which are located along the western coast of India located further south.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Biligirirangan Hills belong to the Eastern Ghats mountain range rather than the Satpura Range. The BR Hills serve as an ecological bridge between the Western and Eastern Ghats, providing a corridor for wildlife movement.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Seshachalam Hills are part of the Eastern Ghats located in Andhra Pradesh, and are not related to the Western Ghats. The Seshachalam Hills are known for the Sri Venkateswara National Park and the Tirumala Temple.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake and the lake controls its flow and water discharge. It is one of the largest freshwater lakes of Asia and is located in Bandipora district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Kolleru Lake is fed directly by water from the seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams and not the Krishna River. It is indirectly connected to the Krishna and Godavari systems by drains and channels. Kolleru Bird Sanctuary serves as a habitat for migratory birds.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Kanwar Jheel/Kabar Taal is a fresh-water residual oxbow lake formed due to the meandering of Burhi Gandak River, a tributary of Ganga(not Gandak River). It is located in Begusarai, Bihar. The lake is a significant bio-diversity hotspot, particularly for migratory birds, and has been designated as a Ramsar site.

Explanation

The Siachen Glacier lies to the north of the Nubra Valley, which is situated in the northern part of the Ladakh region of India. It is located in the Karakoram Range in the northernmost part of the Indian subcontinent. It is positioned in the region claimed by both India and Pakistan and is the longest glacier in the world outside the polar regions, spanning approximately 76 kilometers (47 miles).The Nubra Valley, located at the confluence of the Shyok and Nubra Rivers, is a key geographical feature in the vicinity of the Siachen Glacier. It is also the world’s highest battlefield.

Explanation

Pair 1 is correctly matched: Pandharpur is a famous pilgrimage town in Maharashtra and is located on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River. It is renowned for the Vitthal Temple which is dedicated to Lord Vitthal (a form of Lord Vishnu). It is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in Maharashtra. During the annual Ashadhi Ekadashi festival, thousands of devotees take a holy dip in the Chandrabhaga River.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Tiruchirappalli is an Indian city of Tamil Nadu on the banks of the Cauvery River. The city is historically and culturally significant with landmarks such as the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple and Rock Fort Temple.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara kingdom and is located on the bank of the Tungabhadra River in present state of Karnataka. The Malaprabha River is a separate river that originates in the Western Ghats and flows through the Belagavi district of Karnataka. It is a tributary of the Krishna River.

Explanation

Bengaluru located at 77.5946°E is approximately 0.378 degrees east of Delhi is closest to Delhi. Longitude of Indian Cities:

The longitude of Delhi is 77.216721°E The longitude of Bangalore is 77.59450 E. The longitude of Nagpur is 79.0888°E. The longitude of Pune is 73.8474" E.

Explanation

Option (a) is correct:

Great Nicobar is closest to Sumatra. Great Nicobar lies on the south of the Nicobar Islands of India and it is the largest island of the Nicobar Islands. South of Great Nicobar is the island of Sumatra. The distance between the two places is approximately 150 Kms. The close proximity of Sumatra to Great Nicobar has implications beyond mere geography. Historically, this nearness has influenced trade routes, cultural exchanges, and even ecological patterns between the two regions. For instance, certain flora and fauna exhibit similarities due to this geographical closeness.

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

The distance from Great Nicobar to Borneo is 2,398 kms. The distance from Great Nicobar to Java stands at 1,817 kms. The distance from Great Nicobar to Sri Lanka is 1437 kms.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Indian Himalayan spans 13 states and union territories: Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and Meghalaya.

Statement 2 is incorrect: The Western Ghats are spread over six states namely Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat and not 5 states.

Statement 3 is correct: Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lake in India and spreads over the two states namely Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Large varieties of birds, including Painted Storks and Grey pelicans, frequent the area every year.

Explanation

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Bodhgaya is located in the Magadh region of Bihar not Baghelkhand (which is in Madhya Pradesh and parts of Uttar Pradesh). It is one of the holiest Buddhist sites in the world. It is where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree around 5th-6th century BCE. The Mahabodhi Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a major pilgrimage center for Buddhists. The Great Buddha Statue, monasteries built by Buddhist communities worldwide, and the annual Kalachakra festival add to its spiritual significance.

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Khajuraho is in Madhya Pradesh, part of the Bundelkhand region, which spans Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. It is famous for its Hindu and Jain temples, built between the 10th-12th centuries by the Chandela dynasty. The temples are known for their intricate carvings and erotic sculptures which symbolizes Kama (desire) as one of the four goals of life (Purusharthas) in Hindu philosophy. Important temples include Kandariya Mahadev, Lakshmana, Vishwanath, and Parshvanath Jain Temple.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Shirdi is located in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra which is not part of Vidarbha region. Vidarbha is in eastern Maharashtra, covering districts like Nagpur, Amravati, and Chandrapur. It is known as the holy town of Sai Baba, one of India’s most revered saints, who preached love, unity, and service to humanity in the late 19th-early 20th century. Sai Baba’s teachings blended Hindu and Sufi traditions, promoting religious harmony. The Dwarkamai Mosque, Chavadi, and Gurusthan are other significant sites related to Sai Baba’s life.

Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Nashik is in northern Maharashtra, not Malwa (which is in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan).Nashik is an important Hindu pilgrimage site associated with the Ramayana. It hosts the Kumbh Mela every 12 years, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. It is home to the Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva.

Pair 5 is correctly matched: Tirupati located in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh. It is famous for the Venkateswara Temple, one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world.

Explanation

The Brahmaputra River, a major transboundary river in South Asia, is fed by numerous tributaries that enhance its volume and sustain the diverse ecosystems along its course. the Dibang, Kameng, and Lohit rivers are important tributaries of Brahmaputra River.

Option (d) is correct:

The Dibang River also known as the Sikang, originates in the Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh, India. It traverses through the rugged terrains of Arunachal Pradesh, carving out deep gorges and valleys. The Dibang merges with the Lohit River near the town of Sadiya in Assam. Together they join the main channel of the Brahmaputra River. The Kameng River originates from a glacial lake beneath the Gori Chen mountain in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The river flows through the Bhalukpong circle of West Kameng district in Arunachal Pradesh and then through the Sonitpur district of Assam. It joins the Brahmaputra River near the town of Tezpur in Assam. The Lohit River originate in the Zayü County of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Upon entering India in Arunachal Pradesh, the Lohit traverses the Mishmi Hills, flowing through dense forests and mountainous terrains. It meets the Dibang River near Sadiya in Assam and their combined waters subsequently merge with the Brahmaputra River.