Indian Geography

This question tests knowledge of historical and administrative facts about northeastern Indian states.

Pair I: Arunachal Pradesh – Correct * Itanagar, the capital, is named after Ita Fort. * The state has two National Parks: Namdapha and Mouling.

Pair II: Nagaland – Correct * Nagaland attained statehood via a constitutional amendment and came into being on 1 December 1963 through the State of Nagaland Act, 1962.

Pair III: Tripura – Correct * Tripura was a Part 'C' state, became a Union Territory in 1956, and was granted statehood in 1972.

* Cashew: Originally native to Brazil, cashew was brought to India by Portuguese traders in the 16th century.

* Papaya: Papaya also originated in the Americas, specifically in southern Mexico and Central America.

* Red Sanders: This tree, known for its valuable reddish wood, is endemic to India. It is found in the Eastern Ghats, particularly in Andhra Pradesh.

Therefore, only Red Sanders is native to India.

The correct sequence of the tributaries joining the Ganga from West to East is Gomati - Ghaghara - Gandak - Kosi.

Gomati: It is a plains-fed river that originates from Gomat Taal (Fulhaar Jheel) in the Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh. It joins the Ganga near Varanasi.

Ghaghara: It originates in the Mapchachungo glaciers near Mansarovar in Tibet. It flows through Nepal before joining the Ganga at Chhapra, Bihar.

Gandak: It rises in the Nepal Himalayas between the Dhaulagiri and Mount Everest. It enters the Ganga plain in Bihar and joins the Ganga at Sonpur near Patna.

Kosi: Known as the 'Sorrow of Bihar', it originates in the Himalayas (Tibet/Nepal) and joins the Ganga near Kursela in the Katihar district of Bihar.

* Donyi Polo Airport (Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh): This newly constructed airport was inaugurated in 2022. It was built on undeveloped land, making it a greenfield project.

* Kushinagar International Airport (Uttar Pradesh): This airport was inaugurated in 2021. It was also built as a new entity on undeveloped land, qualifying as a greenfield project.

* Vijayawada International Airport (Andhra Pradesh): This airport has existed for several decades. While it has undergone significant expansion and modernization, it wasn't built from scratch on undeveloped land. Therefore, it's not a greenfield project.

Therefore, only Donyi Polo Airport and Kushinagar International Airport are greenfield projects.

* Dhuandhar: This waterfall is located on the Narmada River, but the region is not Malwa. It is in Madhya Pradesh Mahakoshal region. Hence, pair 1 is incorrectly matched.

* Hundru: This waterfall is indeed located on the Subarnarekha River within the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.

* Gersoppa (also known as Jog Falls): This waterfall is on the Sharavati River in the Western Ghats, not the Netravati River. Hence, pair 3 is incorrectly matched.

* Statement 1 is incorrect: The Mundra Thermal Power Plant employs a closed-cycle induced draft circulating cooling water system that utilises seawater. Seawater is drawn from the Gulf of Kutch through robust glass reinforced pipes of significant diameter. In addition, purified seawater from a reverse osmosis plant is utilised by various supplementary systems.

* Statement 2 is incorrect: According to recent research by WRI (World Resources Institute), 40 percent of India's thermal power plants are situated in regions experiencing significant water stress. This poses a challenge as these plants rely on water for cooling purposes. The scarcity of water is already causing disruptions in electricity generation in these areas, with 14 out of India's 20 largest thermal utilities having experienced at least one shutdown between 2013 and 2016 due to water shortages.

* Statement 3 is incorrect: India has a total of 269 Thermal Power Plants, with 138 of them being owned by the public sector and the remaining 131 owned by the private sector.

* Statement 1 is incorrect: Amarkantak is a pilgrim town in Anuppur, Madhya Pradesh. Amarkantak Hills is the meeting point of the Vindhya, Satpura, and Maikal Ranges. It is also the origin of the Narmada, Son, and Johilla Rivers.

* Statement 2 is incorrect: The Billigirirangan Hills, also known as BR Hills, are not a part of the Satpura range. It is a hill range situated in south-western Karnataka, at its border with Tamil Nadu (Erode District). The area is called Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary or simply BRT Wildlife Sanctuary.

* Statement 3 is incorrect: The Seshachalam Hills, also known as Tirumala Hills, are not a part of the Western Ghats. Seshachalam Hills are hilly ranges part of the Eastern Ghats in southern Andhra Pradesh. The Seshachalam hill ranges are predominantly present in Tirupati district of the Rayalaseema region in Andhra Pradesh.

The Assertion is Correct: India possesses domestic uranium deposits in regions such as the Singhbhum Shear Zone (Jharkhand) and the Cuddapah Basin (Andhra Pradesh). Despite these reserves, coal remains the primary source of electricity in India, accounting for over 70% of the total power generation.

The Reason is Incorrect: Commercial electricity production does not require 60% enrichment. India's Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) use natural uranium (0.7% U-235) as fuel, while Light Water Reactors (LWRs) typically use Low Enriched Uranium (LEU) enriched to 3-5%. Uranium enriched to 60% or more is classified as Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU), which is used for research reactors or naval propulsion, not standard power plants.

The Reason is factually incorrect and does not explain the Assertion.

Statement 1 is Correct: The Jhelum River, which originates from the Verinag Spring in the Kashmir Valley, flows through Srinagar and enters the Wular Lake before continuing its course towards Baramulla.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: Kolleru Lake is located between the deltas of the Krishna and Godavari rivers in Andhra Pradesh. It is not directly fed by the main Krishna River; instead, it receives water from seasonal streams such as the Budameru and Tammileru, which are independent inflows and not distributaries of the Krishna or Godavari systems.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: Kanwar Lake (also known as Kabartal) in Bihar is an oxbow lake formed by the meandering of the Burhi Gandak River. The Burhi Gandak is a separate river system that flows parallel to the main Gandak River.

* Ilmenite (FeTiO3) and Rutile (TiO2) are both minerals that contain high concentrations of titanium.

* Titanium is a strong and lightweight metal known for its excellent corrosion resistance and high strength-to-weight ratio. It is widely used in various industries, including aerospace, automotive, medical, and construction.

* In India, certain coastal tracts are known for their significant ilmenite and rutile deposits. Hence these minerals are also called beach sand minerals. These minerals are commonly found in beach sand deposits and are extracted through beach sand mining operations. The extracted ilmenite and rutile are processed to obtain titanium dioxide (TiO2), which is then further refined to produce metallic titanium.

* Beach sand is rich in seven heavy minerals—ilmenite, leucoxene, rutile, zircon, sillimanite, garnet and monazite.

Statement 1 is not a deciduous tree: Jackfruit (*Artocarpus heterophyllus*) is a tropical evergreen tree native to the Western Ghats of India and other parts of Southeast Asia. It retains its foliage throughout the year and is typically found in regions with high rainfall.

Statement 2 is a deciduous tree: Mahua (*Madhuca indica*) is a common species found in tropical deciduous forests across the Indian subcontinent, particularly in central and northern India. It sheds its leaves during the dry season, usually between February and April.

Statement 3 is a deciduous tree: Teak (*Tectona grandis*) is the most dominant and economically important species of tropical deciduous forests (both moist and dry) in India. It is well-known for shedding its leaves during the dry season to conserve moisture.

Since only Mahua and Teak are deciduous trees, the correct answer is 'Only two'.

* The Rann of Kutch, located in the Thar Desert of Gujarat, India, is a vast seasonal salt marsh.

* Geological evidence suggests it was once a shallow extension of the Arabian Sea.

* Over time, due to a combination of factors like tectonic plate movement and climatic changes, the sea level receded repeatedly, leaving behind saline deposits and creating the marshland we see today.

* During the monsoon season, the Rann fills with water, transforming into a shallow lake, but dries up again in the summer, leaving behind a vast expanse of cracked white salt flats.

* Bhitarkanika Mangroves: Located in Odisha, Bhitarkanika Mangroves is a protected wetland area and a UNESCO Ramsar site. It is home to saltwater crocodiles, migratory birds, and various plant species. The mangroves provide coastal protection and support local fishing communities.

* Marakkanam Salt Pans: Marakkanam, in Tamil Nadu, is one of India's largest salt-producing regions. The salt pans are a major source of salt production, and the area also attracts migratory birds, including flamingos.

* Naupada Swamp: Located in Andhra Pradesh, is an important wetland for migratory birds and aquatic life. The swamp supports a wide variety of wildlife, including endangered species like the smooth-coated otter.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The East-West Corridor is a part of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) in India, which aims to connect Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat. It does not connect Dibrugarh in Assam and Surat in Gujarat.


Statement 2 is incorrect: The Trilateral Highway is a connectivity project that aims to connect Moreh in Manipur, India, with Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. It is an important infrastructure project to enhance trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties among the three countries.


Statement 3 is incorrect: The Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM) is a proposed economic corridor that aims to connect Kunming in China with Kolkata in India, passing through Myanmar and Bangladesh. Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh is not directly connected to this corridor.


Thus, none of the statements are correct

Monazite is a brown crystalline mineral consisting of cerium, lanthanum, other rare earth elements, and thorium. Monazite usually occurs in small, isolated crystals or grains that are resistant to weathering and become concentrated in soils.

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Monazite is a major source of rare earths and thorium. It yields several rare-earth elements, such as neodymium and praseodymium. Both of these are in demand internationally for making high-performance rare-earth magnets (components of power wind turbines, electric vehicles and robotics)

Statement 3 is incorrect. Though monazite is found in most coastal areas of India. It is questionable to be found along the entire coast. The main mines are found along the coasts of southern India in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and in Orissa.

Statement 4 is correct. Export of monazite without a license from AERB is a violation of the Atomic Energy (Radiation Protection) Rules 2004. Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL), a wholly owned Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India (GOI) under DAE, is the only entity that has been permitted to produce and process monazite and handle it for domestic use as well as for export.

Pair 1 is not correctly matched. Ghataprabha Reservoir Located in Karnataka, not Telangana.

Pair 2 is correctly matched. Gandhi Sagar Reservoir Located in Madhya Pradesh (correctly matched).

Pair 3 is not correctly matched. Indira Sagar Reservoir Located in Madhya Pradesh, not Andhra Pradesh.

Pair 4 is not correctly matched. Maithon Reservoir Located in Jharkhand, not Chhattisgarh.


Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Brahmani river is formed by the confluence of the Sankh and South Koel rivers near Rourkela; these headstreams originate in the Chota Nagpur Plateau of Jharkhand, not the Eastern Ghats.

Statement 2 is Correct: The Nagavali river (also known as Langulya) originates in the Eastern Ghats near Lakhbahal in the Kalahandi district of Odisha.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Subarnarekha river originates in the Chota Nagpur Plateau near Ranchi in Jharkhand and flows through West Bengal and Odisha before entering the Bay of Bengal.

Statement 4 is Correct: The Vamsadhara river originates in the Eastern Ghats near Lanjigarh in the Kalahandi district of Odisha and flows through Andhra Pradesh before joining the Bay of Bengal.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: Moringa oleifera (drumstick tree) is a deciduous tree, not an evergreen one. Furthermore, it belongs to the family Moringaceae and is not a leguminous plant; it does not possess root nodules for nitrogen fixation.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: The Tamarind tree (*Tamarindus indica*) is native to tropical Africa. While it is widely grown and naturalized in India, it is not endemic to South Asia.

Statement 3 is Correct: In India, tamarind is categorized and collected as Minor Forest Produce (MFP). It serves as a vital source of income for many tribal and forest-dwelling communities.

Statement 4 is Correct: India is a major exporter of tamarind. Similarly, moringa seeds are exported for their high oil content and medicinal properties.

Statement 5 is Correct: Seeds of both plants have biofuel potential. Moringa seeds have a high oil content (about 30-40%) that can be processed into biodiesel, and tamarind seed oil is also researched for similar applications in the energy sector.

Statement 1 is correct: The bud chip method involves raising sugarcane settlings in a nursery before transplanting them into the main field. This method reduces seed material requirements by using only the bud instead of the entire sett, leading to cost savings and better efficiency.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Multi-budded setts generally have a higher germination percentage than single-budded setts. Single-budded setts may face more difficulty in germination compared to setts with multiple buds, which provide better shoot emergence.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Under adverse weather conditions, large setts have better survival rates because they store more nutrients and moisture. Single-budded setts are more vulnerable to unfavorable conditions and may have lower survival rates.

Statement 4 is correct: Tissue culture techniques are successfully used for sugarcane cultivation. Settlings prepared from tissue culture help in producing disease-free, high-yielding plants and allow rapid multiplication of quality planting material.

Hence, option C is the correct answer.

The common feature among the places Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati is that they are all known for their water reservoirs.

- Aliyar Reservoir is located in Aliyar village, Tamil Nadu. - Isapur Dam is an irrigation project in Maharashtra. - Kangsabati Dam is located on the Kangsabati River in West Bengal.


Bandarpunch : Yamuna - This is correct. Bandarpunch is a mountain massif of the Garhwal division of the Himalayas, in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is a source of the Yamuna River.

Bara Shigri : Chenab - This is also correct. Bara Shigri is the second-longest glacier in the Himalayas and it feeds the Chenab River.

Milam : Mandakini - This is incorrect. The Mandakini River originates from the Chorabari Glacier, not the Milam Glacier.

Siachen : Nubra - This is correct. The Siachen Glacier, one of the world's longest mountain glaciers, lies in the Karakoram Range system of Kashmir and is the source for the Nubra River.

Zemu : Manas - This is incorrect. The Zemu Glacier is in Sikkim and it feeds the Teesta River, not the Manas River.

So, the correctly matched pairs are 1, 2, and 4.

To determine the ascending order (lowest to highest) of forest cover as a percentage of the total geographical area of the state, we refer to the ISFR 2021 data:

1. Maharashtra (3): 16.51% 2. Madhya Pradesh (2): 25.14%

3. Odisha (4): 33.50% 4. Chhattisgarh (1): 41.21%

Ascending Order: 16.51% (Maharashtra) < 25.14% (Madhya Pradesh) < 33.50% (Odisha) < 41.21% (Chhattisgarh). Therefore, the correct sequence is 3-2-4-1.


Kodaikanal Lake, also known as Kodai Lake is a manmade lake located in the Kodaikanal city in Dindigul district in Tamil Nadu, India.

Sir Vere Henry Levinge, the then Collector of Madurai, was instrumental in creating the lake in 1863, amidst the Kodaikanal town which was developed by the British and early missionaries from the USA.


The correct statement is 3 only.

Statement 1 is incorrect. Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act of 2015, state governments conduct auctions for non-coal mine licenses.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Both Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand have gold deposits and ongoing mining activities.

Statement 3 is correct. Rajasthan is known for its rich iron ore deposits and mining.


Statement 1 is Correct: Barren Island is the only confirmed active volcano in India and is located in the Andaman Sea, part of the Indian Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: Barren Island is located approximately 135–140 km East of Port Blair, not Great Nicobar. Geographically, Barren Island (approx. 12.2° N) is located significantly North of Great Nicobar (approx. 7° N), which is the southernmost island of the archipelago.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: After the 1991 eruption, which occurred after nearly 150 years of dormancy, the volcano has erupted several times, including in 1994-95, 2005-07, and as recently as 2017. It has not remained inactive since 1991.

Delhi and Bengaluru are located almost on the same longitude.

- Longitude of Delhi- 77.1025 E - Longitude of Bengaluru- 77.5946 E - Longitude of Hyderabad- 78.4867 E - Longitude of Nagpur- 79.0882 E - Llongitude of Pune- 73.8567 E


Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is characterized by a difference in sea surface temperature between the tropical Western Indian Ocean and the tropical Eastern Indian Ocean. The comparison involving the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean refers to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, not the IOD.

Statement 2 is Correct: The IOD can significantly influence the impact of El Niño on the Indian monsoon. A positive IOD often compensates for the deficit rainfall usually associated with El Niño, while a negative IOD can exacerbate the drought conditions caused by El Niño. These two climate patterns interact to determine the overall strength of the monsoon.

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Himalayas stretch across several states in northern and northeastern India, including Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and parts of Assam and West Bengal.


Statement 2 is incorrect: The Western Ghats encompass six states in western India Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.


Statement 3 is correct: Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lagoon in India, situated on the Coromandel Coast. It is shared by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Distribution: Roughly 84% of the lake lies in the Tirupati district (formerly Nellore) of Andhra Pradesh, and about 16% lies in the Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.


Hence, option B is the correct answer.

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Teesta River originates from the Pahunri (or Teesta Kangse) glacier and Tso Lhamo Lake in North Sikkim. In contrast, the Brahmaputra River originates from the Angsi Glacier (or Chemayungdung Glacier) in the Kailash range of Tibet. Therefore, their sources are not the same.

Statement 2 is Correct: The Rangeet River originates from the Rathong Glacier in West Sikkim. It is the largest tributary of the Teesta River and joins it at Melli, near the border of Sikkim and West Bengal.

Statement 3 is Incorrect: After flowing through Sikkim and West Bengal, the Teesta enters Bangladesh and joins the Brahmaputra River (known as the Jamuna in Bangladesh) at Fulchhari. It does not flow directly into the Bay of Bengal, nor does it reach the sea on the India-Bangladesh border.

Hence, option B is the correct answer.

To travel from Kohima (Nagaland) to Kottayam (Kerala) by road, the minimum number of states one must pass through is 7. The most direct route follows this sequence:

1. Nagaland (Origin: Kohima) 2. Assam (Necessary to connect from Nagaland to mainland India) 3. West Bengal (Must pass through the Siliguri Corridor) 4. Odisha 5. Andhra Pradesh 6. Tamil Nadu (or Karnataka) 7. Kerala (Destination: Kottayam)

To reach Kerala from Andhra Pradesh by road, one must pass through either Tamil Nadu or Karnataka. Therefore, the total count including the origin and destination states is 7.

Shale gas is a natural gas that is found trapped within shale formations.

- In India, shale gas resources are found in several regions. - The Cambay Basin, located in western India, is one of the oldest and most productive sedimentary basins in India and has been a major source of conventional oil and gas. - The Cauvery Basin and Krishna-Godavari Basin are also known to have shale gas resources.


Therefore, all three basins mentioned in the options are known to have shale gas resources. Hence, the correct answer is (d) 1, 2 and 3.