Indian Geography

Statement 1 is Correct: The Dibang River is a major left-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra that flows through the Mishmi Hills in Arunachal Pradesh before joining the main river. Statement 2 is Correct: The Kameng River is a significant right-bank tributary of the Brahmaputra; it originates in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh and flows through the Kaziranga area. Statement 3 is Correct: The Lohit River is an important left-bank tributary that originates in eastern Tibet and flows through the Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh to join the Brahmaputra in the Assam valley.


India took a step forward in its ambitious but long-pending goal to interlink major rivers to form a national water grid. The Pattiseema project lifts flood water from the river Godavari and pumps it into the Polavaram right canal that empties into the river Krishna in Vijayawada.

Andhra Pradesh Government is interlinking Krishna-Godavari rivers through the Pattiseema lift irrigation scheme.

Hence, option B is the correct Answer.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India under the Ministry of Shipping had proposed to guide and support Rajasthan government for building an Inland Shipping Port at Jalore.

The port and the terminal that are to be created will help develop inland navigation facilities in western Rajasthan and will also bring about socio-economic development of the region.

Business development opportunities along the canal for limestone, gypsum, lignite, and cement factories are to be explored by the state government.

The Easternmost and Westernmost states of India are: - Easternmost: Arunachal Pradesh - Westernmost: Gujarat


1. Srisailam - Nallamala Hills (Correct): Srisailam, a revered Hindu pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Shiva and Parvati, is situated in the Nallamala Hills range on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

2. Omkareshwar - Satmala Hills (Incorrect): Omkareshwar, a holy island town on the Narmada River known for its 12 Shiva Jyotirlinga temples, is located in the Mandhata plateau region, not the Satmala Hills.

3. Pushkar - Mahadeo Hills (Incorrect): Pushkar, a sacred town famous for the only Brahma temple in India, is situated on the shores of Pushkar Lake in Rajasthan, not the Mahadeo Hills.

The Mahadeo Hills are located in Madhya Pradesh, a central Indian state.


Indravati and Pranhita: These are major left-bank tributaries of the Godavari River.


Vamsadhara: This river flows independently into the Bay of Bengal and is not a tributary of Godavari.

Pennar: This river flows entirely within Andhra Pradesh and drains into the Bay of Bengal south of Chennai. It's not a tributary of Godavari.

Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests are found in regions that have high temperatures and high rainfall throughout the year.


Arunachal Pradesh: This state is located in the eastern part of India and it receives high rainfall. It is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests.

Himachal Pradesh: This state is located in the northern part of India, in the Himalayan region. The climate here is more temperate and alpine due to its high altitude, and it does not support Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests.

Mizoram: This state is located in the northeastern part of India and it also receives high rainfall. It is known for its rich biodiversity and is home to Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests.

Therefore, Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests occur in Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram.

In India, teak is a dominant tree species in Tropical Deciduous Forests.

These forests are also known as "Monsoon Forests" and are characterized by:

- Rainfall: They receive moderate rainfall, typically ranging from 70 to 200 cm annually. - Seasonality: They experience a distinct dry season, leading to trees shedding their leaves during this period. - Vegetation: Tropical Deciduous forests are home to a variety of trees, including teak, sal, shisham, and sandalwood.


India has sufficient reserves of iron ore, a key raw material for steel production. However, it lacks coking coal, a specific type of coal essential for the steel-making process.

Saltpetre (option A) and rock phosphate (option B) are not directly used in steel production.

The unique "Living Root Bridges" are found in Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India.

These bridges are a testament to the ingenuity and sustainable practices of the Khasi and Jaintia tribes who inhabit the region. They train the aerial roots of specific tree species, like the Ficus elastica (Indian rubber tree), to grow and intertwine over time, forming strong and resilient bridges across rivers and streams.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, due to their unique island ecosystem, provide the ideal conditions for all three forest types to coexist:

Mangrove forests: Thrive in the coastal areas with brackish water.

Evergreen forests: Found in the wetter interior regions with high rainfall.

Deciduous forests: Exist in areas with a seasonal climate, experiencing periods of both rain and dryness.


Pair 1 is correctly matched: Dampa Tiger Reserve or Dampha Tiger Reserve, the largest wildlife sanctuary in Mizoram, India, was notified in 1985 and declared a Tiger Reserve in 1994.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary is in Tripura.

Pair 3 correctly matched: Mt. Saramati is the highest peak in Nagaland.

Statement 1 is correct: Oak trees are a common sight in the temperate forests of the Himalayas, particularly at mid-altitudes.

Statement 2 is correct: Rhododendrons are a diverse group of flowering shrubs that thrive in the cool, moist conditions of the Himalayas. They are known for their vibrant blooms and are a characteristic feature of the Himalayan landscape.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Sandalwood is not typically found in the Himalayas. It prefers drier climates and is more commonly associated with tropical regions like southern India.

Statement 1 is correct: The most significant characteristic of Indian coal is its high ash content, which varies from 35 to 45 per cent, compared with that of coal in other parts of the world, which is around 15 per cent.

Statement 2 is correct: Indian coal's sulphur content is low, about 0.5 per cent.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Besides high ash content, another reason for entrained gasifiers (that operate at higher temperatures than fluidised bed gasifiers), commonly used in IGCC plants abroad, being not suitable for Indian coal has a high ash fusion temperature of about 1,500.

Statement 1 is correct - Area under rice cultivation is highest among the Kharif crops; for example, it was 441.10 (Lakh Hectare) in 2014-15, 433.88 (Lakh Hectare) in 2015-16, etc.

Statement 2 is incorrect - Area under the cultivation of jowar is less than that of oilseeds.

Statement 3 is correct - Area of cotton cultivation is more than double that of sugarcane.

Statement 4 is incorrect - Area under sugarcane cultivation is fluctuating; it has not steadily decreased.


Pair 1 is correct: Pandharpur is a well-known pilgrimage town on the banks of Chandrabhaga River in Solapur district, Maharashtra, India.

Pair 2 is correct: Tiruchirapalli is located along the Kaveri River in Tamil Nadu, India.

Pair 3 is incorrect: Hampi, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in east-central Karnataka, India. It is located near the Tungabhadra River.

Thus, only 1 and 2 are correct.

Option A is incorrect. Aksai Chin is located to the east of Ladakh, whereas the Siachen Glacier is situated to the northwest of it.

Option B is incorrect. Leh is located to the south of the Siachen Glacier. The glacier lies in the eastern Karakoram range, far north of Leh.

Option C is incorrect. Gilgit is in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which is west of the Siachen Glacier. The glacier is not located to the north of Gilgit.

Option D is correct. The Siachen Glacier is located north of the Nubra Valley in the eastern Karakoram range of the Himalayas. It is the world's highest battlefield, where India maintains a military presence.


Hence, option D is the correct answer

Statement 1 is Incorrect: While OMT is measured up to the depth of the 26°C isotherm ($D_{26}$), this depth is approximately 59 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January-March, not 129 meters. Statement 2 is Correct: OMT is a more stable and reliable indicator of the upper ocean's heat content than Sea Surface Temperature (SST). Research by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has shown that OMT data collected from January to March can be used to predict whether the Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall (ISMR) will be above or below the long-term mean with greater accuracy than SST.

Major minerals are those specified in the first schedule appended in the MMDR Act. There is no official definition for major minerals in the MMDR Act.

1. Bentonite is a minor mineral. It is used in drilling mud, foundry sand, and civil engineering applications.

2. Chromite is a major mineral. It is the only ore of chromium, essential for stainless steel and alloy manufacturing.

3. Kyanite is a major mineral. It is a refractory mineral used in ceramics and high-temperature industries.

4. Sillimanite is a major mineral. It is also a refractory mineral with applications in metallurgy and industrial furnaces.

Therefore, Chromite, Kyanite and Sillimanite are major minerals, whereas Bentonite is a minor mineral.

Therefore, the correct answer is D.

Statement 1 is correct. Like most of the pulses in India, Black gram pulse too can be cultivated both in kharif as well as in rabi season in India.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Chickpea pulse, also known as Chana, is the most dominant pulse produced in India. It contributes around 40% of the total pulse production in India.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Both kharif and rabi pulse production have generally shown an increasing trend over the last three decades, largely due to government initiatives and technological advancements. Rabi pulses, which make up a larger share of the total production (more than 60%), have shown a substantial increase. Hence, option A is the correct answer.

The description provided matches the requirements for cotton cultivation.

- Subtropical nature and frost sensitivity: Cotton is a subtropical crop and is sensitive to frost. A hard frost can damage the cotton plants, making them unsuitable for cold regions. - Frost-free days: Cotton requires at least 210 frost-free days, which is typical for its growth cycle. It thrives in regions with a long growing season, free from frost. - Rainfall requirement: Cotton needs 50 to 100 cm of rainfall. The crop is drought-tolerant, but it still requires moderate rainfall for optimal growth. - Soil type: Cotton grows best in light, well-drained soil that can retain moisture, providing the right balance for its deep root system.





Cotton is the right answer. Hence, option A is the correct answer.

- Black soil in India is formed by the weathering of fissure volcanic rock. - Climatic conditions along with the parent rock material are the important factors for the formation of black soil. - Black soils are spread mostly across interior Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh on the Deccan lava plateau and the Malwa Plateau, where there is both moderate rainfall and underlying basaltic rock.


Brown Forest Soil: - Develops in temperate forest regions with moderate rainfall. - It is rich in organic matter, fertile, and well-drained.

Granite and Schist: - Granite is a hard, igneous rock rich in quartz and feldspar, used in construction. - Schist is a metamorphic rock with flaky layers, formed under heat and pressure.

Shale and Limestone - Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock, often a source of oil and natural gas. - Limestone is a sedimentary rock rich in calcium carbonate, used in cement production.

Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol, and Khatu are the names of saline lakes of Rajasthan.

The Sutlej is the river that joins the Indus directly after receiving the collective drainage of the other three rivers. According to NCERT Class 11 (India: Physical Environment), the Jhelum and Ravi rivers join the Chenab, and the Chenab subsequently joins the Sutlej in Pakistan. The Sutlej then flows into the Indus a few kilometres above Mithankot. Thus, the Sutlej acts as the final conduit for the combined waters of the Jhelum, Ravi, and Chenab before their confluence with the Indus. This geographical sequence is confirmed by the official UPSC Answer Key for the 2021 Prelims, which identifies Option D as the correct answer.

Statement 1 is correct: Although less common than coffee, tea is grown in the high-altitude regions of Andhra Pradesh (such as the Chintapalli and Araku areas).

Statement 2 is correct: Kerala is a major tea producer, especially in the Munnar, Wayanad, and Idukki districts.

Statement 3 is correct: Himachal Pradesh is famous for its Kangra Tea, which holds a GI tag and is known for its unique flavor.

Statement 4 is correct: Tripura is a significant tea-producing state in the Northeast, ranking among the top 5-6 producers in the country.

Note: This is a UPSC Prelims 2022 Previous Year Question. Per the Official Answer Key, Andhra Pradesh is included as a tea-producing state.


Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: Namcha Barwa is located in the Arunachal Himalayas (Eastern Himalayas) in the Great Bend of the Brahmaputra River. The Garhwal Himalayas are located further west in Uttarakhand (e.g., Kamet, Trisul).

Pair 2 is correctly matched: Nanda Devi is the highest peak in the Kumaon Himalayas (Uttarakhand). It is the second-highest mountain in India and the highest located entirely within the country.

Pair 3 is incorrectly matched: Nokrek is the highest peak of the Garo Hills in Meghalaya. It is part of the Shillong Plateau/Meghalaya Plateau, not the Sikkim Himalayas.


Gandikota is a small village in the Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. The village is majorly known for housing the spectacular gorge which is famously adjudged as the "Grand Canyon of India".

The canyon is a gorge carved out over millions of years by the Pennar River that streams from the Erramala hills.

It's known for its red-hued, layered, and jagged rock formations.

Chandipur Beach, located in the Balasore district of Odisha, is characterized by an exceptionally shallow gradient and a flat sea bed. This unique topography causes the seawater to recede by approximately 2 to 5 kilometers during low tide, exposing the sea floor and allowing people to walk on it. The water returns to the shore during high tide, a cycle that repeats twice daily following the rhythmic tidal fluctuations of the Bay of Bengal.

The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman Islands (specifically Little Andaman) from the Nicobar Islands (specifically Car Nicobar) at the 10°N latitude in the Bay of Bengal. It is approximately 150 km wide and serves as a significant maritime boundary between these two island groups.

Context for other options: - Nicobar and Sumatra: These are separated by the Great Channel (also known as the Six Degree Channel). - Maldives and Lakshadweep: The Eight Degree Channel separates the Maldives from Minicoy Island (the southernmost part of Lakshadweep), while the Nine Degree Channel separates Minicoy from the rest of the Lakshadweep archipelago. - Sumatra and Java: These Indonesian islands are separated by the Sunda Strait, which connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean.

National Highway 4 or NH 4: It is 230.7 km in length. This highway is known as the Andaman Trunk Road (The Great Andaman Trunk Road).

Pair 1 is incorrect: A stretch of national highway from Mumbai to Pune to Hubli to Bangalore to Chennai was earlier called NH 4 before the renumbering of national highways in the year 2010. The former NH 4 is now renumbered as NH 48.

Pair 2 is incorrect: National Highway 6 is a national highway in India running from Jorabat in Meghalaya to Selling in Mizoram. The highway passes through the Indian states of Meghalaya, Assam, and Mizoram.

Pair 3 is incorrect: National Highway 15 (NH 15) starts from Baihata in Assam and terminates at Wakro in Arunachal Pradesh.