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 161–170 of 462 questions
Browse Indian Geography chapters
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q161. Read the following statements and select the correct option: Assertion (A): Drip irrigation is highly promoted under the Per Drop More Crop component of the PMKSY. Reason (R): Drip irrigation guarantees a higher rate of deep percolation, thereby efficiently recharging underground aquifers.
Explanation
Drip irrigation is indeed strongly promoted under the "Per Drop More Crop" component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana due to its high water-use efficiency. However, the reason provided is false; drip irrigation is designed to deliver water directly to the root zone and minimize deep percolation, rather than increasing it, as deep percolation represents a loss of water.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q162. Which of the following states is considered a major beneficiary of the Damodar Valley Corporation project in terms of flood control and irrigation?
Explanation
The Damodar Valley Corporation project was primarily designed to manage the Damodar River, which flows through the states of Jharkhand and West Bengal. These two states are the principal beneficiaries of the project’s various components, including flood control measures, irrigation networks, and hydroelectric and thermal power plants, which have significantly contributed to the industrial and agricultural development of the valley.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q163. Read the following statements regarding Khadin: I. It is primarily designed to harvest surface runoff for agriculture in arid rocky tracts. II. It is extensively used in the Jaisalmer district of Rajasthan. III. It consists of an earthen embankment built across the lower hill slopes. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Khadin is a traditional and highly effective rainwater harvesting system used in the arid regions of Rajasthan, especially Jaisalmer. It involves building an earthen embankment across lower hill slopes to capture surface runoff from rocky catchments. The harvested water saturates the soil, allowing for successful agriculture in the desert environment while simultaneously recharging the local groundwater aquifers effectively.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q164. Which of the following best defines "Irrigation Efficiency"?
Explanation
Irrigation efficiency is a crucial metric that measures how effectively water is used in an irrigation system. It is defined as the ratio between the volume of water actually consumed by the crops through evapotranspiration and the total volume of water diverted or delivered at the head of the canal. This helps identify losses due to seepage and evaporation.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q165. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the options given below:
Lift Canal of IGNP - Old Name
New Name
A. Bikaner-Lunkaransar Lift Canal
i. Dr. Karni Singh Lift Canal
B. Nohar-Sahwa Lift Canal
ii. Guru Jambheshwar Lift Canal
C. Kolayat Lift Canal
iii. Kanwar Sen Lift Canal
D. Phalodi Lift Canal
iv. Chaudhari Kumbharam Lift Canal
Explanation
The lift canals of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project were renamed to honor prominent figures. The Bikaner-Lunkaransar Lift Canal is now the Kanwar Sen Lift Canal. The Nohar-Sahwa became the Chaudhari Kumbharam Lift Canal. The Kolayat was renamed the Dr. Karni Singh Lift Canal, and the Phalodi Lift Canal is now known as the Guru Jambheshwar Lift Canal.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q166. Based on the guidelines of typical National Water Policies in India, select the correct descending order (highest priority first) of the following water allocation priorities: A. Ecology B. Drinking water C. Agro-industries D. Irrigation E. Hydropower
Explanation
According to India’s National Water Policy, the allocation of water resources follows a specific hierarchy based on necessity. Drinking water is always the top priority. This is followed by ecological requirements to maintain river health. Irrigation is prioritized next to ensure food security, followed by hydropower generation. Industrial use, specifically agro-industries, typically occupies the lower end of the priority list.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q167. Read the following statements and select the correct option: Statement I: The Indira Gandhi Canal has transformed barren deserts into lush agricultural fields in Western Rajasthan. Statement II: The extensive canal network in the Thar desert has caused severe waterlogging and problems of ‘Sem’ in several areas like Badopal.
Explanation
The Indira Gandhi Canal has successfully transformed large parts of the Thar Desert into productive agricultural land. However, this intensive irrigation in an area with high evaporation and poor drainage has directly led to severe waterlogging problems, locally known as ‘Sem’. Areas like Badopal are classic examples where the environmental consequence of rising water tables has negatively impacted the landscape.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q168. Read the following statements regarding Rainwater Harvesting (RWH): I. Rooftop rainwater harvesting is primarily an urban phenomenon in modern times. II. RWH helps in reducing peak storm runoff and thus mitigates urban flooding. III. It strictly involves the storage of water in surface tanks without any groundwater recharge. IV. The Central Ground Water Board highly recommends RWH to tackle overexploited dark zones. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
Rooftop rainwater harvesting is a common urban practice that helps reduce storm runoff and mitigate flooding. The Central Ground Water Board strongly advocates for these systems to recharge depleted aquifers in overexploited zones. However, RWH is not limited to surface storage; it often involves direct injection into the ground to replenish groundwater levels, making the third statement factually incorrect.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q169. What is the fundamental difference between surface water irrigation and groundwater irrigation?
Explanation
The fundamental distinction between these two types of irrigation lies in their source and extraction method. Surface water irrigation involves utilizing water from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs through a network of open canals and channels. In contrast, groundwater irrigation involves extracting water stored in underground aquifers through the use of traditional wells, tube wells, or borewells equipped with mechanical pumps.
RAS PrelimsIndian Geography · Irrigation: Types, Sources and Major Projects
Q170. Identify the correct East to West geographical sequence of the major rivers of the Peninsular plateau that feature prominent irrigation projects:
Explanation
Following the geography of India from the east coast towards the west, the Mahanadi River flows through Odisha in the east. Moving westward across the peninsula, one encounters the Godavari and then the Krishna River systems. Finally, the Narmada River is a major west-flowing river that drains into the Arabian Sea, placing it furthest west among the group of rivers mentioned.
Answer key for these questions
Q
Correct answer
161
(c) A is true but R is false.
162
(c) West Bengal and Jharkhand
163
(d) I, II and III
164
(a) Ratio of water consumed by crops to water delivered at the canal head
165
(a) A-iii, B-iv, C-i, D-ii
166
(c) B, A, D, E, C
167
(c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II is a direct consequence of the activities described in Statement I.
168
(a) I, II and IV only
169
(d) Surface water uses rivers and canals, while groundwater uses subsurface wells
170
(a) Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Narmada
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.
