50 commonly asked geography questions from UPSC Prelims

Physical Geography

  1. Which of the following is a warm ocean current? (Year: 2015)
  2. What is 'El Niño'? How does it affect the Indian monsoon? (Year: 2017)

  3. Consider the following pairs of mountains and locations:
    1. Arakan Yoma - Myanmar
    2. Atlas - Africa
    3. Rockies - North America
    4. Andes - South America


  • What are the "Roaring Forties"? (Year: 2016)

  • Which one of the following best describes the term ‘tides’? (Year: 2014)

  • What is the significance of the 'Ring of Fire'? (Year: 2013)

  • The term 'Isostasy' is associated with: (Year: 2015)
  • Which of the following is the correct sequence of layers of the atmosphere? (Year: 2018)
  • What is the meaning of "Coral Bleaching"? (Year: 2020)

  • Which among the following are depositional features formed by glaciers? (Year: 2014)

    • Indian Geography

    1. Which of the following regions in India is the driest? (Year: 2016)
    2. Which states in India are prominent for the cultivation of 'Sandalwood'? (Year: 2021)
    3. The Western Ghats are known for which type of forests? (Year: 2018)

    4. What are the primary causes of desertification in India? (Year: 2017)

    5. Identify the correct sequence of rivers from north to south: (Year: 2016)
    6. The Keoladeo National Park is located in which state? (Year: 2014)

    7. What are 'Sholas'? (Year: 2019)

    8. Why is the Chilika Lake significant? (Year: 2015)

    9. Which Indian plateau is rich in minerals? (Year: 2013)

    10. What is the significance of the Thar Desert in India? (Year: 2020)

    World Geography

    1. The Great Rift Valley is located in: (Year: 2018)
    2. What is the 'Continental Shelf'? (Year: 2014)

    3. Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? (Year: 2017)
    4. What is the main cause of the Mediterranean Climate? (Year: 2016)

    5. Which country is the leading producer of uranium? (Year: 2021)

    6. Match the following rivers and continents:
      • Amazon - South America
    7. What are ‘Fjords’ and where are they found? (Year: 2019)

    8. Which among the following countries is landlocked? (Year: 2015)
    9. What is the significance of the “Mid-Atlantic Ridge”? (Year: 2018)

    10. Which of the following deserts is the coldest? (Year: 2016)

    Climate and Environment

    1. What is the primary cause of acid rain? (Year: 2017)

    2. What is the 'Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone' (ITCZ)? (Year: 2013)

    3. Which of the following gases contributes most to global warming? (Year: 2014)
    4. Which of the following is a characteristic of Tropical Cyclones? (Year: 2019)
    5. The Kyoto Protocol deals with: (Year: 2016)

    6. Which country has the highest biodiversity? (Year: 2020)

    7. What are 'Jet Streams'? (Year: 2015)

    8. Why does the leeward side of mountains receive less rainfall? (Year: 2018)

    9. What is the role of mangroves in coastal ecosystems? (Year: 2017)

    10. Which biome is referred to as the "lungs of the Earth"? (Year: 2019)

    Mapping and Cartography

    1. Which longitude is considered the Prime Meridian? (Year: 2014)

    2. What is the 'International Date Line'? (Year: 2015)

    3. Which of the following cities is closest to the Tropic of Cancer? (Year: 2016)
    4. Why do cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere? (Year: 2018)

    5. Which river is called the 'Sorrow of Bengal'? (Year: 2017)

    Human Geography

    1. What is 'Demographic Transition'? (Year: 2015)

    2. What is the primary reason for urbanization? (Year: 2018)

    3. Which country has the highest population density? (Year: 2019)

    4. What is 'Primate City'? (Year: 2020)

    5. What is the 'Hinterland' of a port? (Year: 2016)

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