UPSC Prelims 2023
Indian Geography Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Explore 4 solved UPSC Prelims 2023 Indian Geography questions with detailed step-by-step bilingual solutions, option analysis, and answer keys.
Consider the following statements:
- Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.
- Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range.
- Seshachalam Hills Constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats.
How many of the statements given above the correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — None
All three statements contain geographical inaccuracies regarding the location and classification of these hill ranges. Each statement incorrectly identifies either the confluence point or the range association of the respective hills.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya, Satpura, and Maikal Ranges, not Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Biligirirangan Hills are located in south-western Karnataka at the junction of Eastern and Western Ghats, not part of the Satpura Range.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Seshachalam Hills (Tirumala Hills) are part of the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh, not the southernmost part of Western Ghats.
📝 Short Notes: Major Hill Ranges of India
| Hill Range | Location | Associated Mountain System | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amarkantak Hills | Madhya Pradesh (Anuppur district) | Junction of Vindhya, Satpura & Maikal Ranges | Origin of Narmada, Son & Johilla Rivers |
| Biligirirangan (BR) Hills | Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border | Junction of Eastern & Western Ghats | BRT Wildlife Sanctuary; biodiversity hotspot |
| Seshachalam Hills (Tirumala) | Andhra Pradesh (Tirupati district) | Part of Eastern Ghats | Famous for Tirupati temple; red sanders habitat |
| Sahyadri Range | Western India (Maharashtra to Kerala) | Another name for Western Ghats | UNESCO World Heritage Site; high biodiversity |
| Satpura Range | Central India (MP, Maharashtra) | Independent range between Narmada & Tapti | East-west oriented; rich in minerals |
Consider the following statements:
- Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
- Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake
- Meandering of Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 1 — Only one
This question tests knowledge of Indian rivers and their associated lakes. Out of the three statements given, only the statement about Jhelum River and Wular Lake is correct, while the other two contain factual inaccuracies regarding the formation and feeding mechanisms of the respective lakes.
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: The Jhelum River, originating from Verinag Spring in Kashmir Valley, does pass through Wular Lake (one of Asia's largest freshwater lakes) before continuing towards Baramulla.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Kolleru Lake is located between Krishna and Godavari deltas but is NOT directly fed by the Krishna River; it receives water from seasonal streams like Budameru and Tammileru, which are independent tributaries.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Kanwar Lake (Kabartal) in Bihar is an oxbow lake formed by the meandering of the Burhi Gandak River, not the main Gandak River—these are two separate river systems.
📝 Short Notes: Important Indian Lakes and Associated Rivers
| Lake | State/Location | Associated River/Formation | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wular Lake | Jammu & Kashmir | Jhelum River passes through it | Freshwater lake (tectonic origin) |
| Kolleru Lake | Andhra Pradesh | Between Krishna-Godavari deltas; fed by Budameru, Tammileru streams | Freshwater lake |
| Kanwar Lake (Kabartal) | Bihar (Begusarai) | Oxbow lake of Burhi Gandak River | Oxbow lake (Ramsar Site) |
| Sambhar Lake | Rajasthan | Ephemeral river systems | Saline lake (largest in India) |
| Chilika Lake | Odisha | Lagoon connected to Bay of Bengal | Brackish water lagoon |
| Loktak Lake | Manipur | Manipur River; known for Phumdis (floating islands) | Freshwater lake |
With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:
- East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
- Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
- Bangladesh-China- India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 4 — None
All three statements contain factual errors regarding India's major connectivity projects. Each statement incorrectly identifies either the terminal points or the route of the respective corridor/highway.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The East-West Corridor under NHDP connects Silchar (Assam) to Porbandar (Gujarat), not Dibrugarh to Surat.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: The Trilateral Highway connects Moreh (Manipur) with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar, not Chiang Mai.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: The BCIM Economic Corridor connects Kunming (China) with Kolkata (India), not Varanasi.
📝 Short Notes: Major Connectivity Projects of India
| Project/Corridor | Route/Terminal Points | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) | Connects Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata | 5,846 km; launched in 2001 under NHDP Phase I |
| North-South Corridor | Srinagar (J&K) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) | 4,076 km; part of NHDP Phase II |
| East-West Corridor | Silchar (Assam) to Porbandar (Gujarat) | 3,640 km; part of NHDP Phase II |
| Trilateral Highway | Moreh (Manipur) - Mae Sot (Thailand) via Myanmar | 1,360 km; enhances India-ASEAN connectivity |
| BCIM Corridor | Kunming (China) - Kolkata (India) via Myanmar & Bangladesh | 2,800 km; proposed economic corridor |
| Kaladan Multimodal Project | Sittwe Port (Myanmar) to Mizoram (India) | Connects northeastern India via Myanmar |
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Consider the following pairs:
Port : Well known as
- Kamarajar Port : First major port in India registered as a company
- Mundra Port : Largest privately owned port in India
- Visakhapatnam : Largest container port in India
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — Only two pairs
This question tests knowledge about India's major ports and their distinctive features. Out of the three pairs given, two are correctly matched while one is incorrect.
✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Kamarajar Port is indeed the first major port in India registered as a company and is the only corporatized major port among the 12 major ports.
✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Mundra Port, operated by Adani Ports and SEZ Limited in Gujarat, is the largest privately owned port in India.
❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Visakhapatnam is not the largest container port in India; Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Nhava Sheva, Maharashtra, holds this distinction.
📝 Short Notes: Major Ports of India
| Port | Key Feature |
|---|---|
| Kamarajar Port (Ennore) | First major port registered as a company; 12th major port of India; located near Chennai |
| Mundra Port | Largest private port in India; operated by Adani Ports; located in Gujarat |
| JNPT (Nhava Sheva) | Largest container port in India; located in Maharashtra; handles maximum container traffic |
| Visakhapatnam Port | Major port on the east coast; handles cargo, containers, and has shipbuilding facilities |
| Chennai Port | Oldest artificial port in India; located on Coromandel Coast |
UPSC Prelims 2023 - Indian Geography Chapter-wise Distribution
Transport, Communication & Trade
2 Qs (50%)Physical Geography of India
2 Qs (50%)UPSC Prelims 2023 - Indian Geography Questions FAQs
Q1 How many Indian Geography questions were asked in UPSC Prelims 2023?
Q2 What is the chapter-wise question distribution for Indian Geography in UPSC Prelims 2023?
- Transport, Communication & Trade: 2 questions (50%)
- Physical Geography of India: 2 questions (50%)