462 RAS Prelims practice MCQs on Indian geography are on this page, in 9 chapters. They cover the physiographic divisions, rivers and lakes, climate, irrigation, agriculture, minerals, industrial regions, the iron and steel, textile and sugar industries, and petrochemical, IT and emerging industries. Each question has an answer and an explanation, in the formats the exam uses.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 121–130 of 462 questions
Browse Indian Geography chapters
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Climate of India
Q121. Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Dust storms are very common in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan during the month of May. Reason (R): Intense heating of the landmass creates strong low-pressure centers leading to rapid uplifting of air and associated localized storms. In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?
Explanation
In May, intense solar heating causes the northern plains to become extremely hot, creating localized low-pressure systems. These conditions lead to the formation of strong convection currents and rapid air uplift, resulting in frequent dust storms across Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. These storms, while often destructive, sometimes bring temporary relief by lowering temperatures through light rain or cloud cover.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q122. Which of the following best describes the primary reason for the high dependency on irrigation in Indian agriculture?
Explanation
Indian agriculture relies heavily on irrigation primarily due to the monsoon’s unpredictable nature and its skewed spatial and temporal distribution. Rainfall is concentrated within a few months, leaving most of the year dry. Consequently, artificial water supply becomes essential to ensure crop survival and to support multiple cropping cycles across various agro-climatic zones of the country.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q123. Among the various sources of irrigation in India, which source accounts for the highest net irrigated area?
Explanation
Ground water resources, utilized through tube wells and traditional wells, constitute the largest share of net irrigated area in India. This dominance is attributed to their widespread availability, decentralized nature, and the flexibility they offer to individual farmers. They currently surpass surface canals and tanks as the primary source for meeting agricultural water requirements on a nationwide scale.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q124. In the context of micro-irrigation, which of the following is an accurate definition of fertigation?
Explanation
Fertigation is an advanced agricultural technique where liquid or water-soluble fertilizers are injected into the irrigation system. This method allows for the precise delivery of nutrients directly to the plant’s root zone. It improves nutrient use efficiency, reduces fertilizer wastage, and minimizes environmental contamination compared to traditional broadcasting methods used in conventional farming and traditional soil management.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q125. Read the following statements and select the correct option: Assertion (A): Tank irrigation is highly prevalent and successful in the Peninsular region of India. Reason (R): The undulating relief and hard rock terrain of Peninsular India form natural depressions and make digging canals and wells difficult.
Explanation
The hard rock geology and undulating topography of the Peninsular plateau facilitate the natural collection of rainwater in depressions, making tank irrigation highly suitable. These physical conditions simultaneously make the construction of canals and the digging of wells extremely difficult and expensive. Therefore, traditional tanks remain the most effective and prevalent irrigation method in this specific geographical region.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q126. Which of the following regions in India represents the largest contiguous area under canal irrigation?
Explanation
The Indo-Gangetic Plains feature the largest contiguous area under canal irrigation due to the presence of perennial Himalayan rivers. The flat terrain and soft alluvial soil facilitate the easy construction of extensive canal networks. These factors, combined with high agricultural demand, have led to the development of some of the world’s most massive and integrated irrigation systems.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q127. Read the following statements regarding drip irrigation: I. It significantly reduces water loss through evaporation and deep percolation. II. It is highly suitable for closely sown crops like wheat and rice. III. It minimizes weed growth as water is applied directly to the root zone. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Drip irrigation systems deliver water precisely to the root zone, which significantly minimizes losses from evaporation and deep percolation. By keeping the non-crop areas dry, this method effectively restricts the growth of weeds. However, it is primarily designed for wide-spaced horticultural crops rather than closely sown field crops like rice or wheat, which usually require flooding.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q128. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
Irrigation Method
Region
A. Tank Irrigation
i. Western Rajasthan
B. Tube well Irrigation
ii. Punjab and Haryana plains
C. Khadin
iii. Historical floodplains of Punjab (Pre-independence)
D. Inundation Canals
iv. Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
Explanation
Tank irrigation is the traditional mainstay in the hard-rock terrains of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Tube wells are extensively utilized in the fertile alluvial plains of Punjab and Haryana. Khadins represent a unique rainwater harvesting practice in Western Rajasthan. Historically, inundation canals were common in the pre-independence floodplains of Punjab before the development of perennial systems.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q129. What is the most significant disadvantage associated with unlined surface canal irrigation in semi-arid tracts?
Explanation
In semi-arid regions, unlined surface canals often lead to significant seepage of water into the surrounding soil. This process causes the water table to rise, eventually reaching the root zone and creating waterlogged conditions. The subsequent evaporation of this water leaves behind harmful salts at the surface, leading to secondary salinization and long-term degradation of agricultural productivity.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q130. The Bhakra Nangal Project is a joint venture of which of the following groups of states?
Explanation
The Bhakra Nangal Project is one of India’s earliest and most significant multipurpose river valley schemes. It was developed as a collaborative effort between the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. This massive engineering undertaking utilizes the waters of the Sutlej River to provide essential irrigation and hydroelectric power, supporting the agricultural and industrial growth of these participating states.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
121
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
122
(b) Erratic and spatially uneven distribution of seasonal monsoon rainfall
123
(a) Tube well and well irrigation systems
124
(c) The application of soluble fertilizers directly to crops through irrigation water
125
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
126
(c) The Indo-Gangetic Plains
127
(c) I and III only
128
(a) A-iv, B-ii, C-i, D-iii
129
(c) Severe soil waterlogging and induced secondary salinization
130
(a) Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan
Key facts from Indian Geography
The RPSC syllabus lists Indian physiography, climate, rivers and lakes, irrigation, important crops, metallic and non-metallic minerals, and industrial regions and industries.
Physiography and rivers are asked through locations: the highest peak of a range, the origin of a river, a lake and its state.
Minerals and industries questions link a mineral or plant to its State, for example Khetri copper in Jhunjhunu or Bhilai steel in Chhattisgarh.
Agriculture and irrigation questions test crops, their leading States and the major projects and disputes.
The questions often include Rajasthan items, such as the Luni, Zawar and the Indira Gandhi Canal.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Indian Geography?
This page has 462 practice MCQs on Indian Geography. Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Which chapters does the Indian geography set cover?
Nine chapters: physiographic divisions of India, major rivers and lakes, climate, irrigation, agriculture (food, commercial and plantation crops), minerals (metallic and non-metallic), major industrial regions, iron and steel, textile and sugar industries, and petrochemical, IT and emerging industries.
Is Indian geography in the RAS Prelims syllabus?
Yes. RPSC lists the physiographic divisions, climate, rivers and lakes, irrigation, agriculture, minerals and industries of India in the Geography of World and India section of the syllabus.
How should I prepare Indian geography for RAS Prelims?
Keep a map of India and mark every place that comes up: peaks, rivers, lakes, mines and plants. Attempt each chapter, read the explanations and revise State-wise lists of crops, minerals and industries.
