Places and Locations: World Geography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)
3 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Places and Locations: World Geography (Geography). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 2018Geography · Places and Locations: World Geography
Q1. Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/ dried up the recent past due to human activities? 1. Aral Sea 2. Black Sea 3. Lake Baikal Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Option (a) is correct: The Aral Sea has experienced a dramatic reduction in size due to the diversion of its feeding rivers for irrigation purposes. The Aral Sea is a salt lake in Central Asia which was previously the fourth-largest salt lake in the world. It started to shrink in the 1960s as a result of the Soviet Union starting to divert water for agricultural use. According to NASA, water diversion for agricultural purposes in the region has caused the Aral Sea to lose nearly 75% of its original size during the past 50 years. The Aral Sea’s depth has similarly dropped, going from 68 metres in the 1960s to less than 10 meters now.
Additional insight:
The Black Sea is a large inland sea connected to the Mediterranean Sea via the Bosporus Strait. It has not experienced significant shrinkage or drying due to human activities. Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest and oldest freshwater lake, has faced environmental concerns, including pollution and invasive species. But it has not experienced significant shrinkage or drying in recent times.
UPSC 2018Geography · Places and Locations: World Geography
Q2. Consider the following pairs: Regions sometimes mentioned in news - Country 1. Catalonia - Spain 2. Crimea - Hungary 3. Mindanao - Philippines 4. Oromia - Nigeria Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Explanation
Pair 1 is correctly matched: Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain. It comprises of four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. It has a distinct history, culture, and language, with Catalan being widely spoken. Catalonia has pursued greater autonomy and independence in recent years, leading to political tensions with the Spanish government.
Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe and has no territorial claims or historical association with Crimea. It is a peninsula located on the northern coast of the Black Sea. In 1954, it was transferred from the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
Pair 3 is correctly matched: Mindanao is an island located in the Philippines. It is surrounded by the Bohol, Philippine, Cele-bes, and Sulu seas. It is known for its rich cultural diversity, with various indigenous groups and a significant Muslim population.
Pair 4 is incorrectly matched: Oromia is a regional state in Ethiopia, not Nigeria. It is the largest and most populous region in Ethiopia, predominantly inhabited by the Oromo people which is the largest ethnic group in the country. Ethiopia is a landlocked country located in Eastern Africa.
UPSC 2018Geography · Places and Locations: World Geography
Q3. Consider the following pairs: Towns sometimes mentioned in news Country 1. Aleppo - Syria 2. Kirkuk - Yemen 3. Mosul - Palestine 4. Mazar-i-sharif - Afghanistan Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
Explanation
Option 1 is correct: Aleppo is a major city in northern Syria. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It has been a focal point in the Syrian Civil War, experiencing significant destruction and humanitarian crises.
Option 2 is incorrect: Kirkuk is a city in northern Iraq and not Yemen. It is known for its ethnic diversity and significant oil re-serves. The city has been a point of contention due to its strategic importance and the presence of various ethnic groups such as Kurds, Arabs, and Turkmen.
Option 3 is incorrect: Mosul is a city in northern Iraq, not Palestine. It has been a significant cultural and economic center in Iraq. It was occupied by ISIS from 2014 to 2017, leading to extensive damage and loss of life.
Option 4 is correct: Mazar-i-Sharif is a city in northern Afghanistan. It known for its cultural significance and the Shrine of Hazrat Ali
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2018
(a) 1 only
2
2018
(c) 1 and 3 only
3
2018
(b) 1 and 4
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Places and Locations: World Geography?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Places and Locations: World Geography (Geography), asked from 1997 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Places and Locations: World Geography?
Questions on Places and Locations: World Geography (Geography) are available for 26 years, from 1997 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
