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 131–140 of 462 questions
Browse Indian Geography chapters
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q131. Read the following statements regarding the Hirakud Dam project: I. It is built across the Mahanadi river in the state of Odisha. II. It is one of the longest earthen dams in the world. III. It was solely designed for hydroelectric power generation with no irrigation component. IV. The project significantly mitigates flood situations in the Mahanadi delta. Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
Hirakud Dam is a prominent multipurpose project located on the Mahanadi River in Odisha. It is globally recognized as one of the longest earthen dams. While it generates significant hydroelectric power and provides flood control for the delta region, it was also specifically designed with a major irrigation component. Stating that it lacks an irrigation purpose is factually incorrect.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q132. The Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) was established primarily on the model of which renowned international river valley project?
Explanation
The Damodar Valley Corporation, established in 1948, was the first multipurpose river valley project of independent India. It was explicitly modeled after the Tennessee Valley Authority in the United States. The corporation was designed to manage the Damodar River basin through a unified approach focusing on flood control, irrigation, power generation, and overall socio-economic development of the region.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q133. Identify the correct sequence of the following major dams based on their geographical location from North to South:
Explanation
Geographically, the Bhakra Nangal Dam on the Sutlej in Himachal Pradesh is the northernmost. Moving south, the Tehri Dam is located in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand. Further south, the Sardar Sarovar Dam is situated on the Narmada River in Gujarat. Finally, the Nagarjunasagar Dam on the Krishna River lies in the southern part of the Indian peninsula.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q134. Which of the following is the primary river on which the Nagarjunasagar Dam is constructed?
Explanation
The Nagarjunasagar Dam is a massive masonry structure built across the Krishna River. It is situated on the border between the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. As one of the earliest multipurpose projects in southern India, it plays a vital role in providing irrigation to several districts and generating substantial hydroelectric power for the regional electrical grid.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q135. Read the following statements regarding the Sardar Sarovar Project: I. It is built on the Narmada River in Gujarat. II. It provides irrigation and power benefits to Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan. III. The Narmada Bachao Andolan strongly supported the raising of the dam’s height. IV. It is the largest dam in the Narmada Valley Project in terms of volume of concrete used. V. The project involves a network of canals that reaches the drought-prone areas of Kutch and Saurashtra. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Sardar Sarovar Project is a major terminal dam on the Narmada River, benefiting Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. It utilizes a massive volume of concrete and serves drought-prone areas like Kutch. However, the Narmada Bachao Andolan was a prominent social movement that strongly opposed the project, specifically protesting against the raising of the dam’s height.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q136. Which of the following states are the principal partners in the Tungabhadra multipurpose project?
Explanation
The Tungabhadra multipurpose project is a joint venture primarily between the states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It involves a dam constructed across the Tungabhadra River, which is a major tributary of the Krishna. The project was designed to provide irrigation, generate hydroelectric power, and assist in flood control for the semi-arid regions within both participating states.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q137. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
Major Dam/Project
Associated River
A. Tehri Dam
i. Sutlej
B. Sardar Sarovar
ii. Mahanadi
C. Bhakra Nangal
iii. Bhagirathi
D. Hirakud
iv. Narmada
Explanation
The Tehri Dam is built on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarakhand. The Sardar Sarovar Dam is a major project on the Narmada River in Gujarat. The Bhakra Nangal Dam is situated on the Sutlej River in the northern part of India. The Hirakud Dam is a massive earthen structure constructed across the Mahanadi River in Odisha.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q138. The Tehri Dam is recognized as the tallest dam in India. In which state is it located?
Explanation
The Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India and one of the highest in the world. It is located on the Bhagirathi River in the Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. This multi-purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam is vital for hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and providing municipal water supply to several regions, including the national capital.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q139. Which prominent environmental issue is specifically recognized as an exception to the direct agricultural benefits provided by large canal systems like the Indira Gandhi Canal?
Explanation
While the Indira Gandhi Canal has revolutionized agriculture in the Thar Desert, it has also led to significant environmental challenges. The introduction of intensive irrigation in areas with poor natural drainage and high evaporation rates has caused the water table to rise. This results in widespread waterlogging and secondary soil salinization, which negatively affects the long-term fertility of the land.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q140. Read the following historical stages of the Indira Gandhi Canal project: A. Construction of the Rajasthan Feeder B. Formation of the Rajasthan Canal Board C. Completion of Harike Barrage D. Renaming of Rajasthan Canal to Indira Gandhi Canal Which of the following represents the correct chronological order of these stages?
Explanation
The historical development of the project began with the completion of the Harike Barrage in 1953. This was followed by the formation of the Rajasthan Canal Board in 1958 to oversee construction. The Rajasthan Feeder was then built to transport water. Finally, in 1984, the Rajasthan Canal was officially renamed the Indira Gandhi Canal to honor the former Prime Minister.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
131
(b) III only
132
(b) Tennessee Valley Authority project based in the USA
(d) Large scale waterlogging and secondary salinization
140
(a) C, B, A, D
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.
