Geography chapter practice

Physiography of India MCQs

Practise 80+ Physiography of India MCQs for UPSC Prelims in Geography, including 17+ previous year questions. The sample set below is shown with correct answers and explanations.

80
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17
PYQs
12
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Sample Physiography of India questions

12 sample questions are shown here; sign up free to practise all 80.

Q1GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2023

Consider the following statements: 1. Amarkantak plateau is at the junction of the Vindhya and Sahyadri ranges. 2. Biligirirangan Hills are part of the Satpura Range. 3. Seshachalam Hills constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats. How many of the above statements are correct?

  • AOnly one
  • BOnly two
  • CAll three
  • DNoneCorrect

Explanation

Correct. Amarkantak is associated with the Vindhya-Satpura-Maikal junction, not Sahyadri. Biligirirangan Hills are in the Western-Eastern Ghats transition zone of Karnataka, not the Satpuras. Seshachalam Hills belong to the Eastern Ghats system, not the Western Ghats.

Q2GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2022

Consider the following pairs: Peak/Place — Sub-region of Himalayas 1. Nanda Devi — Kumaon Himalaya 2. Namcha Barwa — Assam Himalaya 3. Nokrek — Sikkim Himalaya Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

  • A1 and 2
  • B2 onlyCorrect
  • C1 and 3
  • D3 only

Explanation

Correct. Nanda Devi is in the Garhwal Himalaya (not Kumaon), Namcha Barwa is correctly placed in the eastern Himalaya near the Tibet-Arunachal sector, and Nokrek is in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, not the Sikkim Himalaya.

Q3GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2022

Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers?

  • ACauvery
  • BManjira
  • CPennarCorrect
  • DTungabhadra

Explanation

Correct. Gandikota canyon in Andhra Pradesh was carved by the Pennar River cutting through Erramala quartzite formations of the Cuddapah basin.

Q4GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2020

Siachen Glacier is situated to the:

  • AEast of Aksai Chin
  • BEast of Leh
  • CNorth of Gilgit
  • DNorth of Nubra ValleyCorrect

Explanation

Correct. Siachen Glacier lies at the head of the Nubra Valley, extending northward from it between the Karakoram and Saltoro ranges in the Ladakh region.

Q5GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2018

Consider the following statements: 1. The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory. 2. Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar. 3. The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  • A1 onlyCorrect
  • B2 and 3 only
  • C3 only
  • D1 and 3

Explanation

Correct. Barren Island in the Andaman Sea is the only confirmed active volcano in Indian territory. It lies about 135 km northeast of Port Blair (not east of Great Nicobar), and it has erupted multiple times after 1991, including in 2017.

Q6GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2016

'Gadgil Committee Report' and 'Kasturirangan Committee Report', sometimes seen in the news, are related to:

  • AConstitutional reforms
  • BGanga Action Plan
  • CLinking of rivers
  • DProtection of Western GhatsCorrect

Explanation

Correct. The Gadgil Committee (Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, 2011) and the Kasturirangan Committee (2013) both assessed the ecological sensitivity of the Western Ghats and recommended measures for its protection.

Q7GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2014

Consider the following pairs: Hills — Region 1. Cardamom Hills: Coromandel Coast 2. Kaimur Hills: Konkan Coast 3. Mahadeo Hills: Central India 4. Mikir Hills: North-East India Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

  • A1 and 2
  • B2 and 3
  • C3 and 4Correct
  • D2 and 4

Explanation

Correct. Mahadeo Hills are part of the Satpura Range in Central India (Madhya Pradesh), and Mikir Hills (Karbi Anglong) are in Assam in North-East India. Cardamom Hills are in Kerala's Western Ghats, and Kaimur is in the Vindhyan belt.

Q8GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2010

Which one of the following is the appropriate reason for considering the Gondwana rocks as most important of rock systems of India?

  • AMore than 90% of limestone reserves of India are found in them
  • BMore than 90% of India's coal reserves are found in themCorrect
  • CMore than 90% of fertile black cotton soils are spread over them
  • DNone of the reasons given above is appropriate in this context

Explanation

Correct. The Gondwana rock system is of paramount economic importance because it contains over 90% of India's coal reserves, found in basins across Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh.

Q9GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2007

Where are the Shevaroy Hills located?

  • AAndhra Pradesh
  • BKarnataka
  • CKerala
  • DTamil NaduCorrect

Explanation

Correct. The Shevaroy (Servarayan) Hills are located in the Salem and Namakkal districts of Tamil Nadu, forming part of the Eastern Ghats system.

Q10GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2006

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below: List-I (Valley) A. Markha Valley B. Dzukou Valley C. Sangla Valley D. Yumthang Valley List-II (State) 1. Sikkim 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Jammu and Kashmir 4. Nagaland

  • AA-2, B-4, C-3, D-1
  • BA-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
  • CA-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
  • DA-3, B-4, C-2, D-1Correct

Explanation

Correct. Markha Valley is a famous trekking route in Ladakh (J&K). Dzukou Valley lies on the Nagaland-Manipur border. Sangla Valley (Baspa Valley) is in Kinnaur, Himachal Pradesh. Yumthang Valley is in North Sikkim.

Q11GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2005

Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given hills starting from the north and going towards the south?

  • ANallamalai Hills, Nilgiri Hills, Javadi Hills, Anaimalai Hills
  • BAnaimalai Hills, Javadi Hills, Nilgiri Hills, Nallamalai Hills
  • CNallamalai Hills, Javadi Hills, Nilgiri Hills, Anaimalai HillsCorrect
  • DAnaimalai Hills, Nilgiri Hills, Javadi Hills, Nallamalai Hills

Explanation

Correct. From north to south: Nallamalai Hills (Andhra Pradesh, ~15-16°N), Javadi Hills (northern Tamil Nadu, ~12°N), Nilgiri Hills (~11°N), and Anaimalai Hills (~10°N at the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border).

Q12GeographyPhysiography of IndiaPYQ 2005

Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

  • AThe Western Ghats are relatively higher in their northern regionCorrect
  • BAnai Mudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats
  • CTapi river lies to the south of the Satpura Range
  • DThe Narmada and the Tapi river valleys are said to be old rift valleys

Explanation

Correct (this is the incorrect statement). The Western Ghats are actually higher in their southern section; Anai Mudi (2,695 m) and Doda Betta are in the south, while the northern stretches near the Tapi are relatively lower.

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How many Physiography of India MCQs are available for UPSC Prelims practice?
PrelimsAI currently has 80+ Physiography of India MCQs under Geography. This page shows 12 sample questions in full.
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17+ questions in this chapter are tagged as UPSC Prelims PYQs. PYQs are prioritised in the visible sample set when available.
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Yes. The 12 visible sample questions show the correct option and explanation on this page.
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