Geography PYQ UPSC Prelims (2020-2024) - Geography Questions in UPSC Prelims

Geography forms a crucial part of the General Studies Paper I in the UPSC Preliminary Examination. Analyzing geography questions in UPSC prelims reveals that they test not only factual knowledge but also conceptual clarity and application. Topics range from physical geography, Indian geography, and environment to current affairs-based geographical developments. Going through geography UPSC prelims questions over the years shows a balanced mix of static and dynamic content. Solving geography PYQ UPSC prelims helps aspirants understand the pattern, recurring themes, and the depth of questions asked. Thus, consistent practice of geography previous year questions UPSC prelims is essential for developing exam readiness and refining one’s preparation strategy.

Download the UPSC Geography Previous Year Question Papers with Answers PDF!

Geography Previous Year Questions in UPSC Prelims

Q1.The longest border between any two countries in the world is between :

(a) Canada and the United States of America

(b) Chile and Argentina

(d) Kazakhstan and Russian Federation

Ans: (a) Canada and the United States of America

Explanation: The Canada–USA border is the world’s longest international boundary, stretching over 8,800 km.

Q2.Consider the following statements

The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form.
No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (c) Both 1 and 2

Explanation: The Red Sea gets minimal rainfall and no river drains into it, making it one of the saltiest seas.

Q3.Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation.

Statement-II:

Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long wave radiation.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Ans: (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Explanation: The atmosphere is heated more by terrestrial (longwave) radiation, which greenhouse gases absorb well.

Q4.Consider the following statements:

Statement-I:

Thickness of the troposphere at the equator is much greater as compared to poles.

Statement-II:

At the equator, heat is transported to great heights by strong convectional currents.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Ans: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I

Explanation: Strong convection at the equator pushes heat upward, leading to a thicker troposphere compared to the poles.

Q5.Consider the following statements:

Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake.
Krishna River directly feeds Kolleru Lake.
Meandering of the Gandak River formed Kanwar Lake.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Answer: (a)

Explanation: Only the Jhelum passes through Wular Lake; Krishna doesn’t directly feed Kolleru, and Kanwar Lake is not formed by Gandak’s meandering.

Q6.Consider the following pairs:

Port	Well known as
1. Kamarajar Port	First major port in India registered as a company
2. Mundra Port	Largest privately owned port in India
3. Visakhapatnam	Largest container port in Port India

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a) Only one pair

(b) Only two pairs

(d) None of the pairs

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Kamarajar Port is the first corporatized major port; Mundra is the largest private port; but Visakhapatnam is not the largest container port.

Q7.Consider the following statements:

India has more arable areas than China.
The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.
The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(d) None

Answer: (b)

Explanation: India has more arable land and higher irrigation coverage than China, but China's per hectare productivity is higher.

Q8.Consider the following statements:

High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth.
Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth's surface and thus cause a warming effect.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation: High clouds can trap heat (warming effect), and low clouds primarily reflect solar radiation (cooling effect), making both statements incorrect.

Q9.Consider the following States:

Andhra Pradesh
Kerala
Himachal Pradesh
Tripura

How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?

(a) Only one State

(b) Only two States

(d) All four States

Ans: (c) Only three States

Explanation: Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Himachal Pradesh are known for tea cultivation; Tripura is not a major tea-producing state.

Q10.Which one of the following lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert?

(a) Lake Victoria

(b) Lake Faguibine

(d) Lake Volta

Ans: (b) Lake Faguibine

Explanation: Lake Faguibine in Mali (West Africa) dried up due to desertification and water diversion from the Niger River.

This is all about the UPSC questions asked in Prelims for Geography. We hope this guide will provide valuable information to the candidates and help them to enhance their preparation. Also, download the Testbook App to get more details and unlimited study materials for the UPSC exams.