UPSC solved previous year questions

UPSC Geography PYQ with Answers

164 solved Geography questions from previous UPSC papers, each with an answer and explanation.

Questions
164
Years covered
2016–2026
Exam years
11
With answers
164

Geography questions by year

UPSC Geography PYQ with Answers

21–40 of 48
  1. Q21 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements: I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers apart from each other, but when people in these cities wake up and get ready for breakfast, it would be a different day. II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

    1. Only I✓
    2. Only II
    3. I and II both
    4. Neither I nor II
    Answer explanation

    Only I Anadyr (Russia) and Nome (Alaska, USA) lie close to each other geographically but are separated by the International Date Line, so despite similar local clock times, the calendar date differs between them (Statement I is correct).…

    GeographyInternational date lineTime zones
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  2. Q22 2025 Prelims GS

    Consider the following pairs (Country : Resource-rich in): I. Botswana : Diamond II. Chile : Lithium III. Indonesia : Nickel. How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. All the three✓
    4. None
    Answer explanation

    All the three Botswana is one of the world's largest diamond producers, Chile holds among the largest lithium reserves globally, and Indonesia is the world's largest producer of nickel. All three pairs are correctly matched.

    GeographyMiningNatural resources
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  3. Q29 2024 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation.
    Statement-II: Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long-wave radiation.
    Which one of the following is correct?

    1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I.
    2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.
    3. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
    4. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.✓
    Answer explanation

    Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct. The atmosphere is heated primarily by terrestrial radiation emitted by Earth's surface, rather than directly by incoming solar radiation.…

    Atmospheric heatingClimatologyGeography
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  4. Q30 2024 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Thickness of the troposphere at the equator is much greater as compared to the poles.
    Statement-II: At the equator, heat is transported to great heights by strong convectional currents.
    Which one of the following is correct?

    1. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I.✓
    2. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I.
    3. Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.
    4. Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.
    Answer explanation

    Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. The troposphere is considerably thicker at the equator than at the poles.…

    Atmospheric layersClimatologyGeography
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  5. Q31 2024 Prelims GS

    Consider the following:
    1. Pyroclastic debris
    2. Ash and dust
    3. Nitrogen compounds
    4. Sulphur compounds
    How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two
    3. Only three
    4. All four✓
    Answer explanation

    All four Volcanic eruptions produce pyroclastic debris, ash and dust, along with gases and chemical compounds. Volcanic emissions can include sulphur compounds and nitrogen-containing compounds.…

    GeographyPyroclasts and volcanic gasesVolcanic materials
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  6. Q32 2024 Prelims GS

    Which of the following are correct inferences from isothermal maps in January?
    1. Isotherms deviate northward over the ocean and southward over the continent.
    2. Cold ocean currents, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift, make the North Atlantic colder and bend isotherms northward.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    1. 1 only✓
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer explanation

    1 only In January, the Northern Hemisphere continents cool more rapidly than oceans. Consequently, isotherms generally bend equatorward over continents and poleward over oceans, making Statement 1 correct.…

    ClimatologyGeographyIsotherms
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  7. Q33 2024 Prelims GS

    Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world?

    1. Algeria and Morocco
    2. Botswana and Namibia
    3. Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana✓
    4. Madagascar and Mozambique
    Answer explanation

    Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, both located in West Africa, are the world's leading cocoa-producing countries. Their tropical climates and suitable growing conditions support extensive cocoa cultivation.

    Agricultural commoditiesCocoa productionEconomic geography
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  8. Q34 2024 Prelims GS

    With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from west to east, which sequence is correct?

    1. Ghaghara – Gomati – Gandak – Kosi
    2. Gomati – Ghaghara – Gandak – Kosi✓
    3. Ghaghara – Gomati – Kosi – Gandak
    4. Gomati – Ghaghara – Kosi – Gandak
    Answer explanation

    Gomati – Ghaghara – Gandak – Kosi Moving downstream along the Ganga from west to east, the relevant tributaries join in the sequence Gomati, Ghaghara, Gandak and Kosi. This is the correct geographical order of their confluences.

    Ganga tributariesGeographyIndian geography
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  9. Q35 2024 Prelims GS

    Consider the following statements:
    Statement-I: Rainfall is one of the reasons for weathering of rocks.
    Statement-II: Rainwater contains carbon dioxide in solution.
    Statement-III: Rainwater contains atmospheric oxygen.
    Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

    1. Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct and both explain Statement-I.✓
    2. Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct, but only one of them explains Statement-I.
    3. Only one of Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement-I.
    4. Neither Statement-II nor Statement-III is correct.
    Answer explanation

    Both Statement-II and Statement-III are correct and both explain Statement-I. Rainwater contains dissolved carbon dioxide, which forms weak carbonic acid and promotes chemical weathering of rocks.…

    Chemical weatheringGeographyGeomorphology
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  10. Q36 2024 Prelims GS

    Consider the following countries:
    1. Finland
    2. Germany
    3. Norway
    4. Russia
    How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two✓
    3. Only three
    4. All four
    Answer explanation

    Only two Germany and Norway have coastlines along the North Sea. Finland borders the Baltic Sea, while Russia does not have a North Sea coastline. Therefore, only two of the listed countries border the North Sea.

    European geographyGeographyNorth sea littoral countries
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  11. Q37 2024 Prelims GS

    Consider the following information:
    Waterfall — Region — River
    1. Dhuandhar — Malwa — Narmada
    2. Hundru — Chota Nagpur — Subarnarekha
    3. Gersoppa — Western Ghats — Netravati
    In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

    1. Only one✓
    2. Only two
    3. All three
    4. None
    Answer explanation

    Only one Hundru Falls is located in the Chota Nagpur Plateau and is formed by the Subarnarekha River, making row 2 correct. Dhuandhar Falls is on the Narmada near Jabalpur, not in the Malwa region.…

    GeographyIndian geographyWaterfall-river locations
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  12. Q38 2024 Prelims GS

    Consider the following information:
    Region — Name of mountain range — Type of mountain
    1. Central Asia — Vosges — Fold mountain
    2. Europe — Alps — Block mountain
    3. North America — Appalachians — Fold mountain
    4. South America — Andes — Fold mountain
    How many of the above rows are correctly matched?

    1. Only one
    2. Only two✓
    3. Only three
    4. All four
    Answer explanation

    Only two The Appalachians in North America and the Andes in South America are fold mountain systems, so rows 3 and 4 are correct.…

    GeographyMountain classificationMountain systems
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  13. Q39 2024 Prelims GS

    Consider the following airports:
    1. Donyi Polo Airport
    2. Kushinagar International Airport
    3. Vijayawada International Airport
    Which of the above were constructed as Greenfield projects?

    1. 1 and 2 only✓
    2. 2 and 3 only
    3. 1 and 3 only
    4. 1, 2 and 3
    Answer explanation

    1 and 2 only Donyi Polo Airport at Hollongi in Arunachal Pradesh and Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh were developed as Greenfield airport projects.…

    Airport infrastructureGeographyGreenfield airports
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  14. Q40 2024 Prelims GS

    With reference to water vapour, which of the following statements are correct?
    1. It is a gas whose amount decreases with altitude.
    2. Its percentage is maximum at the poles.
    Select the correct answer using the code given below:

    1. 1 only✓
    2. 2 only
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Answer explanation

    1 only Water vapour is concentrated mainly in the lower atmosphere, and its amount generally decreases with altitude. Its concentration is usually highest in warm, humid tropical regions and lowest in cold polar regions.…

    Atmospheric moistureClimatologyGeography
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