UPSC Prelims 2022
Indian Geography Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Only three pairs

Out of the four given pairs, only Gandhi Sagar Reservoir in Madhya Pradesh is correctly matched. The other three pairs are incorrectly matched: Ghataprabha is in Karnataka (not Telangana), Indira Sagar is in Madhya Pradesh (not Andhra Pradesh), and Maithon is in Jharkhand (not Chhattisgarh).

❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Ghataprabha Reservoir is located in Karnataka (on Ghataprabha River, a tributary of Krishna), not in Telangana.
✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Gandhi Sagar Reservoir is correctly matched with Madhya Pradesh (on Chambal River).
❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Indira Sagar Reservoir is located in Madhya Pradesh (on Narmada River), not in Andhra Pradesh.
❌ Pair 4 – Incorrect: Maithon Reservoir is located in Jharkhand (on Barakar River), not in Chhattisgarh.

📝 Short Notes: Major Reservoirs in India

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 1, 2 and 4 only

Monazite is a radioactive mineral that serves as a major source of rare earth elements and thorium. In India, its processing and export are strictly regulated by government bodies due to its strategic importance and radioactive nature. Statement 3 is incorrect because monazite is not found along the entire Indian coastal stretch but is concentrated in specific regions.

✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Monazite is a primary source of rare earth elements like cerium, lanthanum, neodymium, and praseodymium.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Monazite contains significant amounts of thorium, making it an important mineral for nuclear energy applications.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Monazite deposits are not found along the entire Indian coast; major deposits are concentrated in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a Government of India PSU under the Department of Atomic Energy, is the only authorized entity to process and export monazite under the Atomic Energy Act.

📝 Short Notes: Monazite in India

• Composition: Brown crystalline mineral containing cerium, lanthanum, thorium, and other rare earth elements
• Occurrence: Found in placer deposits along coastal sands; main deposits in Kerala (Chavara, Manavalakurichi), Tamil Nadu, and Odisha
• Economic Importance: Source of rare earths used in high-performance magnets for wind turbines, electric vehicles, and robotics
• Strategic Importance: Contains thorium (8-10%), crucial for India's three-stage nuclear power program
• Regulatory Framework: Governed by Atomic Energy Act and Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules 2004; export requires AERB license
• Processing Entity: Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) is the sole government-authorized body for monazite extraction, processing, and export

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — Pennar

Gandikota, located in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, is famously known as the "Grand Canyon of India." This spectacular gorge was carved out over millions of years by the Pennar River, which flows from the Erramala hills. The canyon is characterized by its striking red-hued, layered, and jagged rock formations that resemble the Grand Canyon of the United States.

📝 Short Notes: Major Rivers and Geographical Features of South India

• Pennar River: Rises in the Nandi Hills of Karnataka, flows through Andhra Pradesh, and drains into the Bay of Bengal. Famous for creating the Gandikota gorge.
• Cauvery River: Originates in the Western Ghats (Talakaveri, Karnataka), flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, creating the Hogenakkal Falls and Shivanasamudra Falls.
• Tungabhadra River: A tributary of the Krishna River, formed by the confluence of Tunga and Bhadra rivers, flows through Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• Manjira River: A tributary of the Godavari River, originates in Maharashtra and flows through Telangana.
• Gandikota Canyon: Located near Gandikota village, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh; known for its red sandstone formations and steep cliffs rising up to 300 feet.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 2 only

This question tests the matching of peaks with their respective mountain ranges in India. Only Pair 2 is correctly matched, as Nanda Devi is indeed located in the Kumaon Himalayas.

❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Namcha Barwa is located in the Arunachal Himalayas (Eastern Himalayas) in the Great Bend of the Brahmaputra River, not in the Garhwal Himalayas.

✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Nanda Devi is the highest peak of the Kumaon Himalayas in Uttarakhand and is the second-highest mountain in India (7,816 m), and the highest located entirely within India.

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Nokrek is the highest peak of the Garo Hills in Meghalaya, part of the Meghalaya Plateau, not the Sikkim Himalayas.

📝 Short Notes: Major Himalayan Peaks and Ranges