UPSC Prelims 2019
Indian Geography Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — The level of mutual trust and harmony in the society

Social capital refers to the networks, norms, and trust that enable participants to act together more effectively to pursue shared objectives. It is an intangible asset that measures the quality of social relationships, mutual trust, and cooperation within a community or society.

❌ Option 1 – Incorrect: The proportion of literates represents human capital (individual skills and knowledge), not social capital which focuses on collective relationships and trust.

❌ Option 2 – Incorrect: The stock of buildings, infrastructure, and machines constitutes physical capital, which refers to tangible assets used in production.

❌ Option 3 – Incorrect: The size of the working-age population is a demographic indicator and represents potential human capital, but does not reflect social connections or trust.

✅ Option 4 – Correct: The level of mutual trust and harmony directly captures the essence of social capital, which emphasizes the quality of social bonds, civic engagement, and cooperative relationships in society.

📝 Short Notes: Forms of Capital

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1 and 2 only

This question tests the knowledge of famous places in India and the rivers associated with them. Out of the three pairs given, only pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Pandharpur is a renowned pilgrimage town located on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River (also known as Bhima River) in Solapur district, Maharashtra.

✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) is situated along the banks of the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu, which is one of the major rivers of South India.

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, not the Malaprabha River.

📝 Short Notes: Important Rivers and Associated Cities in India

• Chandrabhaga River: Also known as Bhima River; Pandharpur (Maharashtra) is located on its banks; it is a tributary of Krishna River.
• Cauvery River: Major river of South India; flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu; important cities include Tiruchirappalli, Srirangapatna, and Thanjavur.
• Tungabhadra River: Formed by confluence of Tunga and Bhadra rivers; flows through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh; Hampi is located on its banks.
• Malaprabha River: A tributary of Krishna River; flows through Karnataka; does not pass through Hampi.
• Krishna River: One of the longest rivers in India; flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh; receives tributaries like Bhima (Chandrabhaga) and Tungabhadra.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 1 — 1, 2 and 4

This question tests knowledge of major Himalayan glaciers and their associated river systems. The correctly matched pairs are Bandarpunch-Yamuna, Bara Shigri-Chenab, and Siachen-Nubra, making option 1 the correct answer.

✅ Pair 1 – Bandarpunch : Yamuna – Correct: Bandarpunch glacier in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand is one of the principal sources of the Yamuna River.

✅ Pair 2 – Bara Shigri : Chenab – Correct: Bara Shigri is the second-longest glacier in the Himalayas (after Gangotri) and feeds the Chenab River through its tributary system.

❌ Pair 3 – Milam : Mandakini – Incorrect: Milam Glacier in Uttarakhand feeds the Gori Ganga River (tributary of Kali River), not Mandakini. Mandakini originates from Chorabari Glacier near Kedarnath.

✅ Pair 4 – Siachen : Nubra – Correct: Siachen Glacier in the Karakoram Range is one of the world's longest mountain glaciers and is the source of the Nubra River, which later joins the Shyok River.

❌ Pair 5 – Zemu : Manas – Incorrect: Zemu Glacier in Sikkim feeds the Teesta River, not the Manas River. Manas originates in Bhutan and flows through Assam.

📝 Short Notes: Major Himalayan Glaciers and Their Rivers

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 4 — Water reservoirs

The common feature among Aliyar, Isapur, and Kangsabati is that they are all locations of significant water reservoirs in India. Aliyar Reservoir is located in Tamil Nadu, Isapur Dam is an irrigation project in Maharashtra, and Kangsabati Dam is situated on the Kangsabati River in West Bengal. All three serve as important water storage and irrigation infrastructure.

📝 Short Notes: Major Reservoirs in India

• Aliyar Reservoir: Located in Aliyar village, Pollachi taluk, Coimbatore district, Tamil Nadu. Created by the Aliyar Dam on the Aliyar River.
• Isapur Dam: An irrigation project located in Maharashtra, designed to support agricultural activities in the region.
• Kangsabati Reservoir: Located in West Bengal, created by the Kangsabati Dam (also known as Kumari Dam) on the Kangsabati River, primarily for irrigation and drinking water supply.
• Purpose: These reservoirs serve multiple purposes including irrigation, drinking water supply, flood control, and sometimes hydroelectric power generation.
• Importance: Such water infrastructure is critical for agricultural productivity, water security, and regional development in India.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 3-2-4-1

The question asks for the ascending order (lowest to highest) of forest cover as a percentage of total geographical area. According to the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2021, Maharashtra has the lowest percentage at 16.51%, followed by Madhya Pradesh at 25.14%, Odisha at 33.50%, and Chhattisgarh has the highest at 41.21%. Therefore, the correct ascending order is 3 (Maharashtra) - 2 (Madhya Pradesh) - 4 (Odisha) - 1 (Chhattisgarh).

📝 Short Notes: Forest Cover in Indian States