12 sample questions are shown here; sign up free to practise all 80.
Q1Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
The 2013 Uttarakhand disaster is often described as a 'Himalayan tsunami'. Which of the following were contributing factors?
1. Extremely heavy rainfall over a short period
2. Breach of Chorabari Lake above Kedarnath
3. Extensive construction activity in the floodplain
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 and 2 only
- B1 and 3 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. The 2013 Uttarakhand disaster resulted from a convergence of extreme rainfall, the breach of Chorabari Lake, and rampant construction in the floodplain which left no buffer zone. Over 5,000 people are estimated to have perished.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Item 3 is also correct. Unregulated construction in the Mandakini floodplain amplified the destruction.
- Option B
Item 2 is also correct. The breaching of the moraine-dammed Chorabari glacial lake released a massive volume of water and debris.
- Option C
Item 1 is also correct. Multi-day excessive rainfall was the primary meteorological trigger.
Q2Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which of the following areas in India is most vulnerable to a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF)?
1. Sikkim
2. Ladakh
3. Uttarakhand
4. Coastal Odisha
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 and 3 only
- B1, 2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C2 and 4 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Correct. Sikkim, Ladakh and Uttarakhand all lie in glaciated Himalayan terrain with numerous moraine-dammed lakes that can burst. Coastal Odisha faces cyclone and storm-surge risks, not GLOFs.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Ladakh (item 2) also has glacial lakes susceptible to outburst, particularly in the Karakoram range.
- Option C
Coastal Odisha (item 4) has no glaciers and therefore no GLOF risk.
- Option D
Coastal Odisha does not face GLOF risk. It is a low-lying coastal plain threatened by cyclones and riverine floods, not glacial lake outbursts.
Q3Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Scale — Measures
- ARichter scale — Wind speed
- BBeaufort scale — Earthquake intensity
- CEnhanced Fujita scale — Tornado intensityCorrect
- DSaffir-Simpson scale — Tsunami height
Explanation
Correct. The Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale classifies tornadoes by their estimated wind speeds and resulting damage, from EF0 (light damage) to EF5 (incredible destruction).
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
The Richter scale measures earthquake magnitude, not wind speed.
- Option B
The Beaufort scale measures wind speed, not earthquake intensity.
- Option D
The Saffir-Simpson scale classifies hurricanes by wind speed, not tsunami height.
Q4Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) of India functions under the chairpersonship of the:
- AHome Minister
- BPrime MinisterCorrect
- CChief Justice of India
- DCabinet Secretary
Explanation
Correct. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the National Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the Prime Minister of India.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
The Home Minister oversees the Ministry of Home Affairs, which houses the National Disaster Response Force, but does not chair the NDMA.
- Option C
The Chief Justice of India heads the judiciary and has no role in the NDMA.
- Option D
The Cabinet Secretary is the senior-most civil servant but does not chair the NDMA.
Q5Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Consider the following statements about cyclone shelters:
1. They are elevated structures built in cyclone-prone coastal areas to provide safe refuge during storm surges.
2. The design of cyclone shelters in India has been guided by NDMA guidelines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Cyclone shelters are elevated, wind-resistant structures that serve as safe havens during cyclones. NDMA, along with state disaster management authorities, has published guidelines for their design, capacity and maintenance.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 2 is also correct. NDMA has issued detailed guidelines for the construction and management of cyclone shelters.
- Option B
Statement 1 is also correct. Cyclone shelters are typically multi-storey reinforced structures in coastal hamlets, designed to withstand high winds and storm surges.
- Option D
Both statements are factually accurate.
Q6Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie in which seismic zone?
- AZone II
- BZone III
- CZone IV
- DZone VCorrect
Explanation
Correct. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie in Seismic Zone V due to their proximity to the Indo-Burma subduction zone and the Andaman Sea spreading centre. The devastating 2004 tsunami originated from an earthquake near this plate boundary.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Zone II represents the lowest seismic risk category. The islands are in the highest risk zone.
- Option B
Zone III indicates moderate risk. Given the islands' location near the active Sunda subduction zone, they fall in a much higher category.
- Option C
Zone IV indicates high risk, but the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, sitting directly on the plate boundary, are classified under Zone V.
Q7Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
The term 'El Nino' refers to:
- AA periodic cooling of the equatorial Pacific Ocean surface waters
- BA periodic warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean surface waters near the coast of PeruCorrect
- CA strengthening of the easterly trade winds across the Pacific
- DAn increase in upwelling along the South American coast
Explanation
Correct. El Nino is the warm phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), characterised by anomalous warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. It can trigger droughts in India and Australia and heavy rains in Peru.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
A cooling episode is called La Nina, not El Nino.
- Option C
During El Nino, the easterly trade winds weaken rather than strengthen.
- Option D
El Nino suppresses upwelling along the South American coast. Increased upwelling is associated with normal or La Nina conditions.
Q8Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Embankments along rivers are used for flood control. Which of the following is a disadvantage of embankments?
1. They can lead to waterlogging of land behind the embankment.
2. Breaches in embankments can cause more destructive flooding than would occur without them.
3. They prevent silt deposition on agricultural fields in the floodplain.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 only
- B1 and 2 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. Embankments cause waterlogging by preventing drainage, create catastrophic flooding when breached (because water has accumulated behind them), and stop beneficial silt from reaching farmland — all well-documented disadvantages.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Items 2 and 3 are also disadvantages of embankments.
- Option B
Item 3 is also correct. Embankments confine river flow and prevent natural silt deposition, reducing soil fertility in floodplains.
- Option C
Item 1 is also correct. Water that would normally drain into the river is trapped behind the embankment, causing waterlogging.
Q9Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which of the following correctly describes a 'hazard zonation map'?
- AA map showing the distribution of hospitals in disaster-prone areas
- BA map demarcating areas according to their expected levels of hazard from potential disastersCorrect
- CA map showing real-time satellite imagery during a disaster event
- DA map of historical disaster fatalities over the last century
Explanation
Correct. A hazard zonation map divides a region into zones of varying degrees of expected hazard, based on factors such as geological structure, terrain, past events and susceptibility. Examples include seismic zone maps and landslide susceptibility maps.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Hospital distribution maps are useful for disaster response planning but are not hazard zonation maps.
- Option C
Real-time satellite imagery is a disaster monitoring tool, not a hazard zonation map.
- Option D
Historical fatality maps document past events but do not constitute hazard zonation, which is a forward-looking risk assessment tool.
Q10Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Consider the following statements:
1. Earthquakes along the Himalayan belt are primarily caused by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates.
2. The Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and the Main Central Thrust (MCT) are major fault systems in the Himalayas.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. The Indian plate has been colliding with the Eurasian plate for approximately 50 million years, making the Himalayan belt one of the most seismically active zones on Earth. The MBT and MCT are major thrust systems produced by this collision, and earthquakes frequently occur along and near these faults.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 2 is also correct. The MBT and MCT are major thrust faults associated with the convergent plate boundary in the Himalayas.
- Option B
Statement 1 is also correct. The ongoing collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate is the fundamental cause of Himalayan seismicity.
- Option D
Both statements are well-established geological facts.
Q11Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which of the following human activities can increase flood vulnerability in urban areas?
1. Encroachment on natural drainage channels
2. Excessive concretisation reducing percolation
3. Destruction of wetlands that act as sponges
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. All three activities increase urban flood risk. Encroachment blocks drainage, concretisation increases run-off, and wetland destruction eliminates natural water storage. The recurring floods in Mumbai, Chennai and Bengaluru illustrate these factors.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Item 3 is also correct. Wetlands absorb and store excess water; their destruction removes a natural flood buffer.
- Option B
Item 1 is also correct. Encroachment on drainage channels blocks water flow, causing backing up and flooding.
- Option C
Item 2 is also correct. Impermeable surfaces prevent water from seeping into the ground, increasing surface run-off.
Q12Geography·Disaster Geography and Vulnerability
Which of the following coasts of India is most vulnerable to tropical cyclones?
- AGujarat coast
- BKerala coast
- CEast coast, especially Andhra Pradesh and OdishaCorrect
- DKonkan coast of Maharashtra
Explanation
Correct. The east coast of India, especially the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, is the most cyclone-prone region. The Bay of Bengal generates far more cyclones than the Arabian Sea, and these frequently make landfall on the eastern seaboard.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
While Gujarat occasionally faces cyclones from the Arabian Sea (such as Cyclone Tauktae in 2021), their frequency is much lower than on the east coast.
- Option B
Kerala rarely experiences direct cyclone landfall because most Bay of Bengal cyclones turn northward and Arabian Sea cyclones are infrequent near Kerala.
- Option D
The Konkan coast faces fewer cyclones compared to the east coast. Arabian Sea cyclones are less frequent and often weaken before reaching this stretch.