Q151. Which of the following districts of Rajasthan does NOT fall under the direct command area of the main Indira Gandhi Canal or its major lift branches?
Indian Geography: RAS Prelims MCQs
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 151–160 of 462 questions
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Q152. Which of the following statements about the Bhakra Nangal reservoir is factual?
Explanation
The reservoir behind the Bhakra Dam is called Gobind Sagar. Gandhi Sagar is on the Chambal, and the Bhakra project uses the Sutlej, not the Yamuna.
Q153. Read the following statements regarding the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal:
I. It was constituted under the Interstate River Water Disputes Act.
II. It adjudicated the dispute between Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
III. It restricted the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam permanently to 90 meters.
IV. It mandated proper rehabilitation and resettlement of project-affected families.
V. It allocated the maximum share of Narmada water to Madhya Pradesh.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
I. It was constituted under the Interstate River Water Disputes Act.
II. It adjudicated the dispute between Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
III. It restricted the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam permanently to 90 meters.
IV. It mandated proper rehabilitation and resettlement of project-affected families.
V. It allocated the maximum share of Narmada water to Madhya Pradesh.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
Explanation
The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal was set up under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, covered Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, provided for rehabilitation of affected families and gave Madhya Pradesh the largest share. It did not restrict the Sardar Sarovar Dam to 90 metres permanently, so only III is incorrect.
Q154. Which of the following statements about the Tungabhadra river is correct?
Explanation
The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers in the Western Ghats of Karnataka. It flows in a northeasterly direction across the Deccan Plateau. It is a significant right-bank tributary of the Krishna River, joining it in Andhra Pradesh. The river is essential for the agricultural economy of the semi-arid regions it traverses.
Q155. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
| Interstate Water Dispute | Rivers involved |
|---|---|
| A. Ravi and Beas Water Dispute | i. Andhra Pradesh and Odisha |
| B. Mahadayi Water Dispute | ii. Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan |
| C. Vamsadhara Water Dispute | iii. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha |
| D. Godavari Water Dispute | iv. Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra |
Explanation
The Ravi and Beas dispute involves Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan regarding surplus water sharing. The Mahadayi dispute is a conflict between Goa, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The Vamsadhara dispute involves Andhra Pradesh and Odisha over the construction of dams. The Godavari dispute includes several states like Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, reflecting the river’s extensive drainage basin.
Q156. Read the following statements and select the correct option:
Statement I: Over-exploitation of groundwater in coastal areas can lead to saline water intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
Statement II: The hydraulic gradient reverses when the water table falls below mean sea level, allowing seawater to move inland.
Statement I: Over-exploitation of groundwater in coastal areas can lead to saline water intrusion into freshwater aquifers.
Statement II: The hydraulic gradient reverses when the water table falls below mean sea level, allowing seawater to move inland.
Explanation
Over-exploitation of groundwater in coastal regions causes the water table to drop. If it falls below mean sea level, the natural hydraulic gradient that keeps freshwater flowing towards the sea is reversed. This allows saline seawater to migrate inland and infiltrate the freshwater aquifers. This process, known as saltwater intrusion, severely degrades the quality of local water resources for all uses.
Q157. The phenomenon of capillary action in poorly drained, heavily irrigated soils leads to which specific agricultural problem?
Explanation
In poorly drained areas with high irrigation levels, water can accumulate near the surface. As the surface water evaporates, capillary action draws more water and dissolved salts up from the lower soil layers. Once the water evaporates, these salts are left behind on the surface. Over time, this process leads to significant soil salinization, which inhibits plant growth and land quality.
Q158. In the context of India’s major irrigation projects, identify the correct pair:
Explanation
The Tehri Dam is correctly identified as being located at the confluence of the Bhagirathi and Bhilangna rivers in Uttarakhand. Other options are incorrect: the Damodar Valley Corporation regulates the Damodar basin, not the Mahanadi; the Sardar Sarovar is on the Narmada, not the Tapi; and the Hirakud Dam is on the Mahanadi River, not the Godavari River.
Q159. Which of the following components is primarily absent from the conventional scope of the Command Area Development programme?
Explanation
The Command Area Development programme focuses on the "on-farm" development aspects of irrigation. Its scope includes constructing field channels, land leveling, and promoting conjunctive water use to improve efficiency at the farm level. The construction of massive interstate gravity dams is a primary irrigation activity that takes place before the CAD programme begins and is generally handled by different departments.
Q160. Which of the following is an odd one out regarding the beneficiary states of the Indira Gandhi Canal project?
Explanation
The Indira Gandhi Canal project is a collaborative venture that primarily involves the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Haryana. These states share the water from the Ravi and Beas rivers diverted through the canal system. Madhya Pradesh, while a major state in Central India, is not a beneficiary of this specific canal project and does not receive any water from its network.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 151 | (a) Dungarpur |
| 152 | (c) The reservoir created behind the Bhakra dam is known as Gobind Sagar |
| 153 | (b) III only |
| 154 | (c) It serves as a major right-bank tributary of the Krishna river |
| 155 | (a) A-ii, B-iv, C-i, D-iii |
| 156 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I. |
| 157 | (a) Soil salinization |
| 158 | (c) Tehri Dam - Built at the confluence of Bhagirathi and Bhilangna rivers |
| 159 | (a) Construction of massive interstate gravity dams |
| 160 | (d) Madhya Pradesh |
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.