UPSC NDA-1

31. Identify the land biome on the basis of the given characteristics: 1

Identify the land biome on the basis of the given characteristics:

Subscribe on YouTube
  • 1. Their climates are characterised by high rainfall and temperatures that vary from cold to mild.
  • 2. These forests contain primarily deciduous trees – including maple, oak, hickory and beechwood.
  • 3. Raccoons, opossums, bats and squirrels are found in the trees.

Select the correct land biome from the options given below:

Join Our Telegram Channel
Tropical forest
Temperate forest
Boreal forest
Mediterranean forest
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
The described land biome is the Temperate forest.
Temperate forests are characterized by moderate to high rainfall and distinct seasons, leading to temperature variations from cold in winter to mild in other seasons. They are predominantly composed of deciduous trees (trees that shed their leaves seasonally) like maple, oak, hickory, and beechwood. The fauna described, such as raccoons, opossums, bats, and squirrels, are commonly found in these forests.
Tropical forests have high rainfall and consistently high temperatures with evergreen trees. Boreal forests (Taiga) are found in colder regions with coniferous trees and lower rainfall. Mediterranean forests are characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters, often featuring evergreen shrubs and trees adapted to drought.

32. Which of the following statements regarding tropical cyclones is/are c

Which of the following statements regarding tropical cyclones is/are correct?
1. These storms develop during the summer and autumn in every tropical ocean except the South Atlantic and eastern South Pacific Oceans.
2. Tropical cyclones that occur in the North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific Oceans are known as typhoons.
3. Tropical cyclones that occur in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans are called cyclones.

Subscribe on YouTube
3 only
1 and 2 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statement 1 and Statement 3 are correct.
Tropical cyclones develop in most tropical oceans during the summer and autumn seasons, with the exception of the South Atlantic and southeastern South Pacific Oceans, where conditions are generally not conducive. These storms are given different regional names: ‘hurricanes’ in the North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific, ‘typhoons’ in the western North Pacific, and ‘cyclones’ in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.
Statement 1 is correct because while conditions for tropical cyclone formation exist in many tropical oceans, they are typically absent in the South Atlantic (due to wind shear) and the eastern South Pacific (due to cold water and wind shear). Statement 2 is incorrect as typhoons occur in the western North Pacific; hurricanes occur in the North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific. Statement 3 is correct as the term ‘cyclone’ is used in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific.

Join Our Telegram Channel

33. Which of the following statements regarding the World Climate Types an

Which of the following statements regarding the World Climate Types and their relation with Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is/are correct?
1. Tropical Wet Climate is one of the world’s rainiest due to the dominance of the ITCZ over it.
2. Tropical Savanna Climate experiences a distinctive alternation of wet and dry seasons, caused chiefly by the seasonal shift in latitude of the subtropical highs and ITCZ.
3. The Tropical Monsoonal Climate experiences heavy rainfall as a consequence of the nearness of the ITCZ for much of the year.

Subscribe on YouTube
1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
Statement 1 is correct. The Tropical Wet Climate (e.g., Amazon basin, Congo basin) is located near the equator where the ITCZ is dominant year-round or for most of the year. The ITCZ is a zone of low pressure and convergence, leading to significant convection and heavy, consistent rainfall. Statement 2 is correct. The Tropical Savanna Climate is typically located poleward of the Tropical Wet climate. It experiences distinct wet and dry seasons caused by the seasonal migration of the ITCZ (bringing rain during the high-sun season when it’s overhead) and the subtropical high-pressure belts (bringing dry conditions during the low-sun season when they are dominant). Statement 3 is correct. The Tropical Monsoonal Climate is characterized by a significant seasonal reversal of winds, leading to heavy rainfall during the wet season. The ITCZ plays a crucial role in the monsoonal circulation by creating a thermal low over land during the summer, which draws in moisture-laden winds from the ocean. The nearness and seasonal shift of the ITCZ are fundamental to the development of the monsoon trough and associated heavy rainfall.
The ITCZ is a band of low pressure that encircles the Earth near the equator, where trade winds from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres converge. Its position shifts seasonally with the sun’s zenith, moving poleward in the summer hemisphere.

Join Our Telegram Channel

34. Which of the following statements regarding the given rivers is/are co

Which of the following statements regarding the given rivers is/are correct?
1. Tsangpo crosses over into India under the name of Dihang.
2. Godavari has the second largest river basin covering about 10 percent of the area of India.
3. Rivers Chambal and Betwa are the important tributaries of river Ganga which join river Ganga directly in Uttar Pradesh.

Join Our Telegram Channel
1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
Statement 1 is correct. The Brahmaputra River originates in Tibet where it is known as Tsangpo. It flows eastwards, makes a sharp turn south at the Namcha Barwa bend, and enters Arunachal Pradesh, India, where it is called Siang or Dihang. Statement 2 is correct. The Ganga basin is the largest river basin in India. The Godavari basin is the second largest, covering approximately 10% of the total geographical area of India. Statement 3 is incorrect. The Chambal and Betwa rivers are major tributaries of the Yamuna River. The Yamuna is a major tributary of the Ganga, joining it at Prayagraj (Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh. Therefore, Chambal and Betwa join the Yamuna, not the Ganga directly.
Major right-bank tributaries of the Ganga include the Yamuna, Son, and Damodar (though Damodar joins the Hooghly, a distributary). Major left-bank tributaries include the Ghaghara, Gandak, and Kosi.

Subscribe on YouTube

35. Which of the following statements regarding Earth’s internal structure

Which of the following statements regarding Earth’s internal structure is/are correct?
1. The oceanic crust is heavier than the continental crust.
2. Most of the Earth’s internal heat is contained within the mantle.
3. Large convective cells in the crust circulate heat and drive plate-tectonic processes.

Join Our Telegram Channel
3 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statements 1 and 2 are correct, while statement 3 is incorrect.
Statement 1 is correct. Oceanic crust, primarily composed of basalt, has a higher density (about 3.0 g/cm³) than continental crust, which is mainly granitic in composition (density around 2.7 g/cm³). This difference in density explains why oceanic plates subduct beneath continental plates. Statement 2 is correct. While the Earth’s core is hotter, the mantle, being the largest layer by volume (about 84% of Earth’s volume), contains a significant portion of the Earth’s internal heat, generated from primordial heat and radioactive decay. This heat drives convection within the mantle. Statement 3 is incorrect. Large convective cells responsible for driving plate tectonics are located within the Earth’s *mantle*, not the crust. The crust is the rigid outer shell that is broken into tectonic plates, which move atop the convecting mantle.
The Earth’s internal structure consists of the crust, mantle, outer core (liquid), and inner core (solid). Temperature increases with depth, but the state of matter depends on pressure and composition as well.

Subscribe on YouTube

36. Identify the Iron and Steel Plant on the basis of the given characteri

Identify the Iron and Steel Plant on the basis of the given characteristics :

Subscribe on YouTube
  • 1. It receives coal from Jharia and iron-ore from Sundargarh and Kendujhar.
  • 2. Power for the electric furnaces is procured from Hirakund.
  • 3. Water is obtained from Koel and Sankh rivers.

Select the correct Iron and Steel Plant from the options given below :

Bhilai Steel Plant
Durgapur Steel Plant
Rourkela Steel Plant
Bokaro Steel Plant
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
The characteristics describe Rourkela Steel Plant.
Rourkela Steel Plant, located in Odisha, is strategically situated to access raw materials. It receives coal from the Jharia coalfields in Jharkhand. Iron ore is sourced from nearby regions, including Sundargarh and Kendujhar districts in Odisha. Power for the plant is obtained from the Hirakud hydroelectric project, also in Odisha. The plant gets its water supply from the rivers Koel and Sankh, which merge near Rourkela to form the Brahmani River. These specific details precisely match the location and sourcing of the Rourkela Steel Plant.
Bhilai Steel Plant is in Chhattisgarh, Durgapur Steel Plant is in West Bengal, and Bokaro Steel Plant is in Jharkhand. Their sourcing patterns and water sources differ from those described.

Join Our Telegram Channel

37. Identify the sea-port in India on the basis of the given characteristi

Identify the sea-port in India on the basis of the given characteristics :

  • 1. It is more than a century old port on the west coast of India.
  • 2. It is a natural harbour protected by a breakwater and also by a mole.
  • 3. A deep draft channel of about 14 metres depth permits large vessels to enter the harbour.

Select the correct sea-port from the options given below :

Join Our Telegram Channel
Mormugao Port
Deendayal Port
Cochin Port
Jawaharlal Nehru Port
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
The characteristics describe Mormugao Port.
Mormugao Port, located on the west coast of India in Goa, is situated at the mouth of the Zuari River estuary. Its history as a port dates back to the construction of the railway line to the coast in the late 19th century, making it over a century old. It is known as a natural harbour, enhanced by structures like a breakwater and a mole for protection. It is equipped with deep draft channels to handle large vessels.
Deendayal Port (formerly Kandla) is located in Gujarat, developed post-partition. Cochin Port in Kerala is a natural harbour but its modern development is more recent than Mormugao’s historical roots. Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) near Mumbai is a modern, planned container port developed in the 1980s.

Subscribe on YouTube

38. Which of the following statements regarding cyclones and anti-cyclones

Which of the following statements regarding cyclones and anti-cyclones is/are correct ?

Subscribe on YouTube
  • 1. In the Northern Hemisphere, cyclones rotate counter clockwise and anticyclones rotate clockwise.
  • 2. Cyclones are often associated with cloudy or rainy weather, whereas anticyclones are often associated with fair weather.
  • 3. In the Southern Hemisphere, the cyclonic spiral will be clockwise because the Coriolis force acts to the left.

Select the answer using the code given below :

Join Our Telegram Channel
1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
Statement 1 is correct. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect deflects moving objects (like air) to the right. Air flows inwards towards a low-pressure system (cyclone), and this deflection causes it to rotate counter-clockwise. Air flows outwards from a high-pressure system (anticyclone), and this deflection causes it to rotate clockwise. Statement 2 is correct. Cyclones are areas of low pressure where air converges and rises, leading to cooling, condensation, cloud formation, and precipitation. Anticyclones are areas of high pressure where air diverges and sinks, leading to warming and dissipation of clouds, resulting in fair, stable weather. Statement 3 is correct. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect deflects moving objects to the left. Therefore, air flowing inwards towards a low-pressure system (cyclone) is deflected to the left, resulting in clockwise rotation.
The Coriolis effect is zero at the equator and increases towards the poles. Cyclones and anticyclones do not typically form near the equator.

39. Which of the following statements regarding humidity is/are correct ?

Which of the following statements regarding humidity is/are correct ?

Join Our Telegram Channel
  • 1. It is a ratio between the actual amount of water vapour present in the atmosphere and the maximum amount it can hold at a given temperature.
  • 2. When the relative humidity is high, more water evaporates from the skin.
  • 3. Higher the air temperature, lower the relative humidity of the air.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statements 1 and 3 are correct, while statement 2 is incorrect.
Statement 1 is correct. Relative humidity is indeed the ratio, usually expressed as a percentage, of the amount of water vapour currently in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapour the air can hold at that specific temperature and pressure (its saturation capacity). Statement 2 is incorrect. When relative humidity is high, the air is already close to saturation, meaning it has little capacity to absorb more moisture. Therefore, evaporation from surfaces like skin is *reduced*, making it feel hotter and more uncomfortable. Statement 3 is correct. For a fixed amount of water vapour in the air, if the air temperature increases, the maximum amount of water vapour that air can hold also increases. Since relative humidity is the ratio of actual to maximum capacity, the relative humidity will decrease.
Absolute humidity is the mass of water vapour in a unit volume of air. Specific humidity is the mass of water vapour per unit mass of moist air. Dew point is the temperature at which air becomes saturated and condensation begins.

Subscribe on YouTube

40. Which of the following statements regarding air temperature is/are cor

Which of the following statements regarding air temperature is/are correct ?

Join Our Telegram Channel
  • 1. Air temperature is measured at a standard height of 1.2 m (4.0 feet) above the ground surface.
  • 2. The average rate of temperature decrease with height is termed as the environmental temperature lapse rate.

Select the answer using the code given below :

Subscribe on YouTube
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
Download PDFAttempt Online
Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Statement 1 is correct. Air temperature is typically measured at a standard height of about 1.2 to 1.25 meters (around 4 feet) above a representative surface, often inside a Stevenson screen to shield the thermometer from direct sunlight and precipitation. This standard height is used globally for consistent data collection. Statement 2 is correct. The environmental temperature lapse rate refers to the actual decrease in temperature with increasing height in the atmosphere at a given time and location. The average rate of temperature decrease in the troposphere is about 6.5°C per kilometer, often referred to as the standard or average lapse rate.
The lapse rate can vary significantly depending on atmospheric conditions. An adiabatic lapse rate refers to the change in temperature of a parcel of air as it rises or falls without exchanging heat with its surroundings (e.g., Dry Adiabatic Lapse Rate is about 9.8°C/km, Saturated Adiabatic Lapse Rate is typically less).

Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5
Test 1Test 2Test 3Test 4Test 5Test 6Test 7Test 8Test 9Test 10Test 11Test 12Test 13Test 14Test 15Test 16Test 17Test 18