UPSC CSE Prelims
Indian Geography Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Solved Previous Year Questions (PYQs) for Indian Geography in UPSC CSE Prelims in English & Hindi Medium.
Chapter Breakdown: Scroll →
Consider the following agricultural practices:
- Contour bunding
- Relay cropping
- Zero Tillage
In the context of global climate change, which of the above helps/help in carbon sequestration/storage in the soil?
Detailed Explanation:
Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO₂ in soil organic matter, helping mitigate climate change.
✅ Contour bunding: Prevents soil erosion on slopes, retains organic matter and moisture, enhancing carbon storage in soil.
✅ Relay cropping: Maintains continuous soil cover by sowing second crop before first harvest, reduces soil disturbance, increases biomass return and carbon sequestration.
✅ Zero tillage: Eliminates soil disturbance, preserves soil structure, increases organic matter retention and microbial activity, significantly enhances carbon storage.
All three practices contribute to carbon sequestration in soil.
When you travel to the Himalayas, you will see the following :
- Deep gorges
- U-turn river courses
- Parallel mountain ranges
- Steep gradients causing land-sliding
Which of the above can be said to be the evidence for the Himalayas being young fold mountains?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Deep gorges form due to intense vertical erosion by rivers cutting through rapidly rising young mountains; the Kali Gandaki Gorge exemplifies this feature of active orogeny.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: U-turn river courses (sharp bends) occur due to rugged topography and ongoing tectonic uplift forcing rivers to change direction abruptly.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Parallel mountain ranges (Greater, Lesser, Outer Himalayas) are characteristic of fold mountain systems formed by compression of sedimentary layers during continental collision.
✅ Statement 4 – Correct: Steep gradients combined with unconsolidated young rocks and active seismic activity make the Himalayas highly prone to landslides.
Which of the following is the chief characteristic of ‘mixed farming’?
Detailed Explanation:
Mixed farming is an agricultural system where crop cultivation and livestock rearing are practised together on the same farm.
The animals provide manure for crops while crops provide fodder for animals, creating an integrated farming system; this is distinct from mixed cropping (growing multiple crops simultaneously) or crop rotation (sequential planting).
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A particular State in India has the following characteristics :
- It is located on the same latitude which passes through northern Rajasthan.
- It has over 80% of its area under forest cover.
- Over 12% of forest cover constitutes Protected Area Network in this State.
Which one among the following States has all the above characteristics?
Detailed Explanation:
Arunachal Pradesh is located between 26°28'N to 29°30'N latitude, which overlaps with northern Rajasthan (around 27°N).
Forest cover exceeds 80% (approximately 79-80% officially, highest among Indian states), with over 12% of its geographical area under Protected Area Network (national parks and wildlife sanctuaries like Namdapha).
Assam has only ~36% forest cover; Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand lie on different latitudes (31-33°N) compared to northern Rajasthan.
Consider the following crops of India :
- Cowpea
- Green gram
- Pigeon pea
Which of the above is/are used as pulse, fodder and green manure?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Cowpea is used as pulse (Lobia for consumption), fodder (high-protein livestock feed), and green manure (rapid nitrogen fixation).
✅ Green gram serves as pulse (Moong dal), fodder (plant residues post-harvest), and green manure (short-duration soil enrichment crop).
✅ Pigeon pea functions as pulse (Arhar/Tur), fodder (leaves and pods), and green manure (nitrogen enhancement in intercropping systems).
All three crops serve triple purposes.
Consider the following crops of India :
- Groundnut
- Sesamum
- Pearl millet
Which of the above is/are predominantly rainfed crop/crops?
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: Groundnut is predominantly rainfed (75-80% of area), mainly cultivated during Kharif season in states like Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Sesamum (Til) is a drought-tolerant oilseed grown predominantly under rainfed conditions in West Bengal, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Pearl millet (Bajra) is a hardy cereal crop exceptionally suited to arid and semi-arid regions, cultivated almost entirely under rainfed conditions in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.
Consider the following specific stages of demographic transition associated with economic development:
- Low birth rate with a low death rate
- High birth rate with a high death rate
- High birth rate with a low death rate
Select the correct order of the above stages using the codes given below:
Detailed Explanation:
Stage 1 (High birth rate with high death rate): Pre-industrial societies with poor healthcare, sanitation and nutrition; population remains stable due to high mortality offsetting high fertility.
Stage 2 (High birth rate with low death rate): Improved healthcare, sanitation and food supply reduce mortality while birth rates remain high; results in rapid population growth (demographic explosion).
Stage 3 (Low birth rate with low death rate): Industrialized economies with improved education, urbanization, contraception availability and changing social norms; birth rates decline leading to population stabilization.
Correct sequence of demographic transition: 2 → 3 → 1
Recently, there has been a concern over the short supply of a group of elements called ‘rare earth metals’. Why?
- China, which is the largest producer of these elements, has imposed some restrictions on their export
- Other than China, Australia, Canada and Chile, these elements are not found in any country
- Rare earth metals are essential for the manufacture of various kinds of electronic items and there is a growing demand for these elements
Detailed Explanation:
✅ Statement 1 – Correct: China is the largest producer (controlling ~70% of global production) and has imposed export restrictions on rare earth metals, creating supply chain concerns.
❌ Statement 2 – Incorrect: Rare earth metals are found in many countries including the United States, India, Brazil, Vietnam, Russia, and South Africa, not just China, Australia, Canada, and Chile.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Rare earth metals are essential for manufacturing smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, LED screens, defence equipment, and other high-tech electronics, with demand growing rapidly.