UPSC CSE Prelims
Political Geography of India Previous Year Questions (PYQs)

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 2 — 7

To travel by road from Kohima (Nagaland) to Kottayam (Kerala), the minimum number of states one must pass through, including origin and destination, is 7. The most direct route is: Nagaland → Assam → West Bengal → Odisha → Andhra Pradesh → Tamil Nadu → Kerala. This route utilizes the Siliguri Corridor through West Bengal and follows the eastern coastal highway southward before reaching Kerala via Tamil Nadu.

Detailed Explanation:

Answer: Option 3 — 2 and 5 only

✅ Pair 2 – Correct: Khajuraho is located in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh, famous for its medieval Hindu and Jain temples with intricate sculptures.

❌ Pair 1 – Incorrect: Bodhgaya is situated in the Magadh region of Bihar, not Baghelkhand. Baghelkhand is a region in eastern Madhya Pradesh.

❌ Pair 3 – Incorrect: Shirdi is located in Ahilyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) district in western Maharashtra, not in the Vidarbha region which is in eastern Maharashtra.

❌ Pair 4 – Incorrect: Nashik is located in the northwestern region of Maharashtra, not in Malwa. Malwa is a plateau region in western Madhya Pradesh.

✅ Pair 5 – Correct: Tirupati is situated in the Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, known for the famous Venkateswara Temple.

Detailed Explanation:

✅ Pair 1 – Correct: Limboo (Limbu) are indigenous Kiranti people residing primarily in Sikkim, West Bengal, and Assam in India, and eastern Nepal.

❌ Pair 2 – Incorrect: Karbi tribe primarily inhabits the Karbi Anglong district of Assam and parts of Meghalaya, not Himachal Pradesh.

✅ Pair 3 – Correct: Dongaria Kondh is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) residing in the Niyamgiri Hills of Odisha, known for their opposition to mining activities.

❌ Pair 4 – Incorrect: Bonda (Bondo) tribe is found in the Malkangiri district of Odisha, not Tamil Nadu; they are also a PVTG.