UPSC Mains PYQs on Geographical Features and Their Changes (GS Paper 1)
Every UPSC Mains question on Geographical Features and Their Changes between 2013 and 2025 is listed below, newest year first, with the marks it carried. Filter by microtheme to see one idea across all the years.
By Team MaargX UPSC · UPSC Mains 2013-2025
Short answer: UPSC has asked 24 questions on Geographical Features and Their Changes (syllabus item 15 of GS Paper 1) between 2013 and 2025, worth 300 marks in all, about 2.2 questions a year. The most-asked microthemes are Water Management (10), Flora and Fauna (4), Cryosphere (4), Climate Change (3). The busiest year was 2020 (4 questions, 50 marks).
UPSC syllabus, GS Paper 1, item 15: Geographical features and their location- Changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice- caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
Find Questions by GS Paper, Syllabus Topic and Microtheme
Step 1 paper → Step 2 syllabus topic → Step 3 subject → Step 4 microtheme. Each step opens after the one before it.
Geographical Features and Their Changes: questions year-wise with marks
2025 1 question · 10 marks
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How are climate change and the sea level rise affecting the very existence of many island nations? Discuss with examples.
2024 1 question · 15 marks
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The groundwater potential of the gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India?
2023 3 questions · 35 marks
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Identify and discuss the factors responsible for diversity of natural vegetation in India. Assess the significance of wildlife sanctuaries in rain forests regions of India.
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Discuss the consequences of climate change on the food security in tropical countries.
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Why is the world today confronted with a crisis of availability of and access to freshwater resources?
2021 1 question · 15 marks
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How does the melting of the Arctic ice and glaciers of the Antarctic differently affect the weather patterns and human activities on the Earth? Explain.
2020 4 questions · 50 marks
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Examine the status of forest resources of India and its resultant impact on climate change.
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The process of desertification does not have climaticboundaries. Justify with examples.
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The interlinking of rivers can provide viable solutions to the multi-dimensional inter-related problems of droughts, floods and interrupted navigation. Critically examine.
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How will the melting of Himalayan glaciers have a far-reaching impact on the water resources of India?
2019 3 questions · 40 marks
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Assess the impact of global warming on coral life system with examples.
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Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology.
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What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?
2018 1 question · 15 marks
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The ideal solution of depleting ground water resources in India is water harvesting system. How can it be made effective in urban areas?
2017 3 questions · 35 marks
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In what way can flood be converted into a sustainable source of irrigation and all-weather inland navigation in India?
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How does the cryosphere affect global climate?
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How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth?
2016 4 questions · 50 marks
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In what way micro-watershed Development projects help in water conservation in drought prone and semi-arid regions of India.
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Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations.
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The effective management of land and water resources will drastically reduce the human miseries. Explain
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South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context. Comment.
2015 2 questions · 25 marks
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India is well endowed with fresh water resources. Critically examine why it still suffers from water scarcity.
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Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?
2014 1 question · 10 marks
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Bring out the relationship between the shrinking Himalayan glaciers and the symptoms of climate change in the Indian sub-continent.
No question matches these choices. Try another year or microtheme, or reset.
Geographical Features and Their Changes at a Glance
| Syllabus item | GS Paper 1, item 15 (Geography) |
|---|---|
| Questions asked | 24 (2013-2025), about 2.2 a year |
| Total marks | 300 marks |
| Last five years | 6 questions, 75 marks (2021-2025) |
| Usual weight | 15 marks (9 questions) |
| Directive words | Examine (4), Explain (3), Discuss (2), Assess (2) |
| Busiest year | 2020 (4 questions, 50 marks) |
Year-Wise Summary
| Year | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 10 marks |
| 2024 | 1 | 15 marks |
| 2023 | 3 | 35 marks |
| 2021 | 1 | 15 marks |
| 2020 | 4 | 50 marks |
| 2019 | 3 | 40 marks |
| 2018 | 1 | 15 marks |
| 2017 | 3 | 35 marks |
| 2016 | 4 | 50 marks |
| 2015 | 2 | 25 marks |
| 2014 | 1 | 10 marks |
| Total | 24 | 300 marks |
Microthemes in Geographical Features and Their Changes
These are the ideas inside this topic, most asked first. Select one to see all its questions year-wise with marks.
- Water Management 10 · 135 marks
- Flora and Fauna 4 · 55 marks
- Cryosphere 4 · 45 marks
- Miscellaneous 3 · 35 marks
- Climate Change 3 · 30 marks
Other Topics in GS Paper 1
- 01. Indian Art, Culture and Literature 33 · 380 marks
- 02. Modern Indian History 20 · 230 marks
- 03. Freedom Struggle 10 · 125 marks
- 04. Post-Independence Consolidation 11 · 127.5 marks
- 05. World History 17 · 207.5 marks
- 06. Indian Society and Diversity 18 · 220 marks
- 07. Women, Population and Poverty 22 · 262.5 marks
- 08. Urbanisation 15 · 182.5 marks
- 09. Globalisation and Indian Society 10 · 135 marks
- 10. Social Empowerment, Communalism, Regionalism and Secularism 19 · 232.5 marks
- 11. World Physical Geography 23 · 252.5 marks
- 12. Distribution of Natural Resources 13 · 157.5 marks
- 13. Location of Industries 23 · 270 marks
- 14. Geophysical Phenomena 12 · 122.5 marks
How to Use Mains PYQs Topic Wise
- Start with the microthemes. Open a topic and read its microtheme list. The ones with the most questions are the ideas UPSC returns to.
- Read the demand words. Note how questions begin: discuss, examine, critically analyse, comment. Each asks for a different answer structure.
- Write by marks. A 10-mark question needs a tight answer of about 150 words, and a 15-mark question about 250 words.
- Cover all years of a microtheme. Write the oldest and the latest question on the same microtheme, and see how the angle changed.
- Revise and rewrite. Revise the topic from the notes, and write the same question again after a week.
For the method in full, read the Mains answer writing strategy. The official papers are on our UPSC PYQs page.
Questions are shown as printed in the UPSC Civil Services (Main) General Studies papers of 2013-2025. The grouping into topics and microthemes is by Team MaargX UPSC. Check any wording against the official paper on upsc.gov.in.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Mains questions have been asked on Geographical Features and Their Changes?
24 questions on Geographical Features and Their Changes appeared in UPSC Mains GS Paper 1 between 2013 and 2025, worth 300 marks in all. That is about 2.2 questions a year. Every one of them is listed on this page, year-wise with its marks.
Which Geographical Features and Their Changes microthemes does UPSC ask most often?
The most-asked microthemes in Geographical Features and Their Changes are Water Management (10), Flora and Fauna (4), Cryosphere (4), Climate Change (3). The number in brackets is how many questions each has had since 2013. Use the microtheme filter to see all of them together, year by year, with marks.
In which year was Geographical Features and Their Changes asked the most in UPSC Mains?
The busiest year for Geographical Features and Their Changes was 2020 (4 questions, 50 marks). The lightest was 2025 (1 questions, 10 marks). Treat these swings as noise: UPSC does not repeat a fixed pattern, so cover the whole topic.
How many marks do Geographical Features and Their Changes questions carry?
Of the 24 questions on Geographical Features and Their Changes, 9 of 15 marks, 6 of 12.5 marks, 9 of 10 marks. Plan your word limit by marks: 10-marker answers run to about 150 words and 15-marker answers to about 250 words.
What kind of questions does UPSC ask on Geographical Features and Their Changes?
The directive words in the 24 questions on Geographical Features and Their Changes are Examine (4), Explain (3), Discuss (2), Assess (2). Match your answer to the word: discuss and examine want both sides with a conclusion, while comment and critically analyse want a reasoned stand.
Is Geographical Features and Their Changes important for UPSC Mains?
In the last five years (2021-2025) UPSC asked 6 questions on Geographical Features and Their Changes, worth 75 marks. In the first five years (2013-2017) it asked 10, worth 120 marks.
Which GS paper does Geographical Features and Their Changes belong to?
Geographical Features and Their Changes belongs to UPSC Mains GS Paper 1, titled Indian Heritage and Culture, History and Geography of the World and Society. The questions on this page are all from that paper.
How should I use these Geographical Features and Their Changes PYQs?
Read the microtheme list first, then pick one and write two or three answers in the time limit. Compare each with what the question demands (discuss, examine, critically analyse). Revise the topic from the Maarg Manthan notes and write the same question again after a week.
Official Sources
These are the primary sources behind this page. Rules, dates and papers can change, so confirm them on the official pages.
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers
- UPSC: Previous Year Question Papers (Archives)
- UPSC: Revised Syllabus and Scheme
- UPSC: Civil Services Examination Rules