Exams › SSC CGL (Prelims) › General › Geography
73 questions with worked solutions.
Answer: A is true, but R is false
The Chotanagpur Plateau is considered part of the eastern extension of the Central Highlands, so the assertion is true. However, it is not chiefly drained by the Chambal and Betwa rivers; those rivers belong to the Central Highlands region, so the reason is false.
Q2. Non-metallic minerals in India are best described as:
Answer: Abundant and essential for key sectors
Non-metallic minerals such as limestone, mica, gypsum, and dolomite are abundant in India and are important for many industries. They play a key role in industrial development.
Answer: Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere, and the ionosphere lies above the mesosphere in the upper atmosphere.
Q4. Spot the correct spelling of a metamorphic rock texture with large, conspicuous crystals.
Answer: Porphyroblastic
Porphyroblastic is the correct spelling for a metamorphic rock texture characterized by large crystals called porphyroblasts. The other options are misspellings or nonstandard forms.
Q5. Which of the following are features of glacial landforms?
Answer: Formation of moraines and drumlins
Glaciers erode and deposit material, forming landforms such as moraines and drumlins. The other options are formed by wind, marine activity, or river deposition.
Answer: Floodplains of meandering rivers
Ox-bow lakes form when a meander loop is cut off from a river, which usually happens on floodplains of meandering rivers. They are not formed in glacial, desert, or plateau environments.
Answer: Mahanadi basin
The Mahanadi basin, especially in Odisha and adjoining regions, is associated with major iron ore deposits. The other basins are not as prominently linked with iron ore resources.
Q8. Which statements correctly describe rivers in arid regions?
Answer: Rivers often dry up seasonally
Rivers in arid regions generally receive irregular rainfall and have limited groundwater support, so they do not flow year-round. As a result, many of them dry up during the dry season.
Q9. Which wetland is famous for migratory birds in Rajasthan?
Answer: Keoladeo National Park
Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, is famous for migratory birds and is a major bird sanctuary. The other options are wetlands or lakes in different states.
Q10. Mineral-rich regions generally experience population growth because:
Answer: They generate employment through industries
Mineral-rich regions often develop mining and related industries. These industries create jobs and attract people, leading to population growth.
Q11. Which factor primarily causes orographic rainfall?
Answer: Air rising over mountain barriers
Orographic rainfall occurs when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain barrier. As it rises, it cools and condenses, producing rain on the windward side.
Q12. India’s population is approximately what percentage of the world’s population?
Answer: 18%
India’s population is commonly estimated at around 18% of the world’s population. This is an approximate factual question based on demographic share. Therefore, the correct answer is 18%.
Q13. Match the feature with the plate boundary: 1. Rift valley 2. Island arc 3. Strike-slip fault
Answer: 1 - Divergent, 2 - Convergent, 3 - Transform
Rift valleys are formed at divergent boundaries due to tensional forces. Island arcs are associated with convergent boundaries and subduction, while strike-slip faults occur at transform boundaries where plates slide laterally.
Q14. The Kaladan Multi-Modal Project connects India with which neighboring country?
Answer: Myanmar
The Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project connects India with Myanmar. It is designed to improve access from India’s northeast to the Bay of Bengal through Myanmar.
Q15. Which region in India is famous for mangrove forests?
Answer: Sundarbans
The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest region in India, located in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta. It is well known for its dense tidal mangrove vegetation.
Q16. Which of the following best distinguishes a delta from an estuary?
Answer: Delta forms by river deposition; estuary by tidal action
A delta is formed when a river deposits sediments at its mouth, creating a fan-shaped landform. An estuary is a tidal mouth of a river where seawater mixes with freshwater, so tidal action is the key distinction.
Q17. Which of the following is a mineral-based industry?
Answer: Iron and steel
Iron and steel is a mineral-based industry because it uses mineral raw materials such as iron ore and coal. The other options are agro-based or forest-based industries.
Answer: Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. Equatorial regions receive near-vertical sun rays, leading to high temperatures year-round, while polar regions receive low solar insolation and remain very cold for most of the year.
Answer: Ken and Betwa
The Ken-Betwa River Linking Project connects the Ken and Betwa rivers. It is India’s first major river interlinking project.
Answer: Bauxite
Bauxite is the chief ore of aluminium and is found in several parts of India. It is the main raw material used in the aluminium industry.
Q21. Which river originates from the Amarkantak Plateau?
Answer: Narmada
The Narmada River originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh. It is one of the major west-flowing rivers of India.
Q22. Which corridor is associated with enhancing India’s connectivity with Russia and Europe via Iran?
Answer: International North–South Transport Corridor
The International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is designed to improve connectivity between India, Iran, Russia, and Europe through a multimodal transport network. The other options do not specifically describe this route.
Q23. The Bhilai Steel Plant, one of India’s major public sector steel plants, is located in which state?
Answer: Chhattisgarh
The Bhilai Steel Plant is located in Bhilai, near Durg in Chhattisgarh. It is one of India’s major integrated steel plants and a key public sector industrial unit.
Q24. Why is the Sundarbans region globally important?
Answer: Unique mangrove ecosystem
The Sundarbans is globally significant because it contains a unique mangrove ecosystem, adapted to saline tidal conditions. It is also an important biodiversity hotspot and habitat for the Royal Bengal tiger.
Q25. Which Indian state has the largest bauxite reserves?
Answer: Odisha
Odisha has the largest bauxite reserves in India. It is one of the most mineral-rich states and is a major source of aluminium ore.
Q26. Which factor is NOT part of demographic transition?
Answer: Literacy curriculum
Demographic transition is concerned with changes in fertility, mortality, and sometimes migration over time. Literacy curriculum is an education-related term and not part of demographic transition.
Q27. Why are crude birth rates limited as indicators?
Answer: Do not reflect age composition
Crude birth rate is a broad measure based on total population, so it does not account for the age structure of the population. Because age composition strongly affects births, the indicator can be misleading when comparing populations.
Q28. Which one of the following National Park–State pairs is correctly matched?
Answer: Silent Valley National Park – Kerala
Silent Valley National Park is located in Kerala. The other pairs are incorrect because Keibul Lamjao is in Manipur, Hemis is in Ladakh, and Kanger Valley is in Chhattisgarh.
Q29. Which landforms are typical of arid plateau regions? 1. Inselbergs 2. Yardangs 3. Alluvial fans
Answer: 1, 2 and 3
Inselbergs and yardangs are common arid-region landforms, and alluvial fans also form in dry areas where intermittent streams deposit sediments. Hence, all three are typical.
Q30. Mumbai High and Bassein oil fields are located in:
Answer: Western offshore basin
Mumbai High and Bassein are major offshore oil fields located in the Western Offshore Basin off India's west coast. They are not part of the eastern offshore or river basins.
Q31. The Trilateral Highway project connects India with Myanmar and:
Answer: Thailand
The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway is a major connectivity project linking the three countries. Therefore, the third country is Thailand.
Q32. Replacement-level fertility implies:
Answer: Two children per couple on average
Replacement-level fertility is the birth rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next. In simple exam terms, it is about two children per couple on average.
Q33. Glacier monitoring in the Himalayas is prominently conducted by:
Answer: Geological Survey of India
The Geological Survey of India is the main government agency involved in geological studies, including glacier monitoring in the Himalayas. The other options are not primarily responsible for this work.
Q34. Incorrect match:
Answer: Mesosphere – satellites
The troposphere is associated with weather, the stratosphere with the ozone layer, and the thermosphere with auroras. Satellites are not typically placed in the mesosphere, so that match is incorrect.
Q35. Find the odd one out: Weather, Rainfall, Temperature, Humidity
Answer: Weather
Rainfall, temperature, and humidity are elements used to describe weather. Weather itself is the combined condition, so it is different from the others.
Answer: Both A and R are true and R explains A
Both statements are true. The Deccan Plateau has large areas of black soil, and black soil retains moisture well, making it suitable for cotton cultivation; thus, the reason correctly explains the assertion.
Q37. The Deccan Trap region of India is primarily associated with which type of rock?
Answer: Basalt
The Deccan Trap is made up mainly of extensive lava flows from ancient volcanic activity. These lava flows solidified into basalt. Therefore, basalt is the correct answer.
Answer: Only 1 and 2 are correct
The National Monsoon Mission was launched to improve monsoon prediction and forecasting accuracy in India. It is implemented under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It is not related to agricultural subsidies, so statement 3 is incorrect.
Q39. Which of the following maritime chokepoints connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea?
Answer: Suez Canal
The Suez Canal is the man-made waterway that links the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. The other options connect different seas or regions.
Q40. A slowdown of the El Niño phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean is likely to:
Answer: Increase monsoon rainfall in India
El Niño tends to suppress the Indian monsoon, so a slowdown or weakening of El Niño usually supports better monsoon rainfall in India. The other options are scientifically incorrect or exaggerated.
Q41. Which of the following statements about coastal landforms is correct?
Answer: Stacks are formed due to marine erosion.
Stacks are formed by marine erosion when waves erode a headland and leave behind isolated rock pillars. The other statements incorrectly match landforms with unrelated processes.
Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
Both the assertion and the reason are true. The Loo is a hot, dry wind of northern India, and it forms due to intense summer heating of the land surface, which makes the reason the correct explanation.
Q43. Which of these countries is known as the 'Land of the White Elephant'?
Answer: Thailand
Thailand is known as the 'Land of the White Elephant' because white elephants are historically considered sacred and royal symbols there.
Answer: Tarai region of the Himalayas
Artesian wells occur where groundwater is confined between impermeable layers and is under pressure, causing it to rise naturally. The Tarai region of the Himalayas is known for such groundwater conditions due to its geological setting.
Answer: 1, 2 and 3
The Ken-Betwa River Link Project is the first project under the National Perspective Plan for interlinking rivers. It transfers surplus water from the Ken to the Betwa and is intended to benefit the Bundelkhand region. Hence, all three statements are correct.
Q46. In which region of India is the Amw climate (monsoon type with a short dry season) found?
Answer: Western Coast of India
The monsoon type climate with a short dry season is found along the western coast of India. This region receives abundant rainfall due to the southwest monsoon and the Western Ghats.
Q47. Why does the Ladakh region remain a cold desert with very scanty rainfall throughout the year?
Answer: Because it lies in the rain shadow area of the Himalayas
Ladakh receives very little rainfall because it lies in the rain shadow of the Himalayas. The mountains block moisture-laden winds, leaving the region dry and cold.
Q48. The El Nif1o phenomenon, which affects global weather patterns, is primarily characterized by:
Answer: Abnormal warming of surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean
El Nif1o is the warm phase of the ENSO cycle and is marked by unusual warming of sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. This disrupts normal atmospheric circulation and affects weather worldwide.
Answer: Iceland
Iceland has repeatedly been ranked as the most peaceful country in the Global Peace Index. It is known for low crime rates, political stability, and minimal internal conflict.
Q50. Find the odd one out: Everest, K2, Kanchenjunga, Aravali.
Answer: Aravali
Everest, K2, and Kanchenjunga are individual mountain peaks. Aravali is a mountain range, so it is the odd one out.