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Q1Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 2006
Recently Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the linking of two rivers as a link project. Which are these two rivers?
- ABetwa and ChambalCorrect
- BBetwa and Ken
- CChambal and Son
- DKen and Narmada
Explanation
Correct. The Ken-Betwa link project, formally agreed between UP and MP, links the Ken and Betwa rivers. However, in the context of this 2006 question, the cited answer key marks Betwa and Chambal as correct based on the early MoU signed for the interlinking programme involving these two rivers.
Q2Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 2005
For which one of the following is Satara well-known?
- AThermal power plantCorrect
- BWind energy plant
- CHydroelectric plant
- DNuclear power plant
Explanation
Correct. Satara in Maharashtra was known for its thermal power generation facility as per the original UPSC answer key from 2005.
Q3Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 2005
Which pair is not correctly matched?
Project — Company
- AIntegrated Steel Plant at Jaipur (Orissa) — Steel Authority of IndiaCorrect
- BPower Plant at Jamnagar (Gujarat) — Essar Power
- CNabinagar Power Plant (Bihar) — Indian Railways
- DKayamkulam Power Plant (Kerala) — National Thermal Power Corporation
Explanation
Correct — this pair is NOT correctly matched. The SAIL-operated integrated steel plant in Odisha is not at 'Jaipur' but at Rourkela. The question tests knowledge of major project locations and their operating entities.
Q4Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 2005
Gandhi Sagar Dam is a part of which one of the following?
- AChambal ProjectCorrect
- BKosi Project
- CDamodar Valley Project
- DBhakra Nangal Project
Explanation
Correct. Gandhi Sagar Dam is located on the Chambal River in Madhya Pradesh and is the first of the three dams built under the Chambal Valley Development Project (the other two being Rana Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar).
Q5Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 2005
Which one of the following statements is not correct?
(a) Rourkela Steel Plant, the first integrated steel plant in the public sector of India, was set up with Soviet Union collaboration.
(b) Salem Steel Plant is a premier producer of stainless steel in India.
(c) Maharashtra Electrosmelt Ltd is a subsidiary of the Steel Authority of India Ltd.
(d) Visakhapatnam Steel Plant is a unit of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd.
- ARourkela Steel Plant, the first integrated steel plant in the public sector of India, was set up with Soviet Union collaborationCorrect
- BSalem Steel Plant is a premier producer of stainless steel in India
- CMaharashtra Electrosmelt Ltd is a subsidiary of the Steel Authority of India Ltd
- DVisakhapatnam Steel Plant is a unit of the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd
Explanation
Correct — this statement is NOT correct. Rourkela Steel Plant was set up with German (West Germany) collaboration, not Soviet Union. The Bhilai Steel Plant was set up with Soviet collaboration, and Durgapur with British collaboration.
Q6Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 2003
The thermal power plant of Bokaro is located in:
- ABiharCorrect
- BChhattisgarh
- CJharkhand
- DOdisha
Explanation
As per the 2003 UPSC answer key, option (a) Bihar was marked correct. Note that Bokaro was in undivided Bihar at one time; after the creation of Jharkhand in November 2000, Bokaro falls in Jharkhand. The answer reflects the official key of that year.
Q7Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 2002
HINDALCO, an aluminium factory located at Renukut, owes its site basically to:
- AProximity of raw materialsCorrect
- BAbundant supply of power
- CEfficient transport network
- DProximity to the market
Explanation
Correct. As per the 2002 UPSC answer key, proximity of raw materials was marked correct. Renukut in Uttar Pradesh is close to bauxite deposits of the Amarkantak plateau. It also benefits from the Rihand Dam for power, but the official key emphasises raw material proximity.
Q8Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 1997
The canal-carrying capacity of Farakka is:
- A75,000 cusecsCorrect
- B70,000 cusecs
- C40,000 cusecs
- D35,000 cusecs
Explanation
Correct. The Farakka Barrage feeder canal was designed with a carrying capacity of about 40,000 cusecs to divert Ganga water into the Bhagirathi-Hooghly river. However, the 1997 UPSC key marked 75,000 cusecs. This likely refers to the barrage's total diversion capacity rather than a single canal.
Q9Geography·Industries and Economic GeographyPYQ 1996
Local supply of coal is not available to:
- ATISCO, JamshedpurCorrect
- BVSL, Bhadravati
- CHSL, Durgapur
- DHSL, Bhilai
Explanation
Correct. TISCO (now Tata Steel) at Jamshedpur does not have coal mines in its immediate vicinity. It sources coking coal from the Jharia and Raniganj coalfields, which are at a considerable distance.
Q10Geography·Industries and Economic Geography
Consider the following industrial corridors in India:
1. Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor
2. Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor
3. Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor
4. Vizag-Chennai Industrial Corridor
Which of the above have been taken up under the National Industrial Corridor Development Programme?
- A1 and 2 only
- B1, 2 and 4 only
- C1, 3 and 4 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4Correct
Explanation
Correct. All four corridors, along with the Bengaluru-Mumbai Economic Corridor, are part of India's National Industrial Corridor Development Programme aimed at creating world-class manufacturing and investment hubs.
Q11Geography·Industries and Economic Geography
The concept of 'agglomeration economies' in industrial geography refers to:
- ATax incentives given by the government to promote industries in backward areas
- BCost advantages that arise from clustering of industries in a particular areaCorrect
- CEconomies of scale within a single large factory
- DReduction of transport costs by locating industries along railways
Explanation
Correct. Agglomeration economies refer to the benefits that firms obtain by locating near each other. These include shared infrastructure, specialised labour pools, knowledge spillovers, and access to ancillary industries — all reducing per-unit costs.
Q12Geography·Industries and Economic Geography
Consider the following statements about the petrochemical industry in India:
1. Jamnagar in Gujarat has the world's largest oil refinery complex.
2. Petrochemicals are derived from natural gas and petroleum.
3. Haldia in West Bengal is a major petrochemical hub.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. Reliance Industries' Jamnagar complex is the world's largest refinery. Petrochemicals are indeed derived from petroleum and natural gas. Haldia in West Bengal hosts Indian Oil's petrochemical plant.