Economic Geography

1. The Trans-Siberian Railway runs from

The Trans-Siberian Railway runs from

Moscow to Vladivostok.
St. Petersburg to Moscow.
St. Petersburg to Vladivostok.
Moscow to Sochi.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CISF-AC-EXE – 2020
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The correct answer is Moscow to Vladivostok.
– The Trans-Siberian Railway is a network of railways connecting Moscow with the Russian Far East and the Sea of Japan.
– The main route, often referred to as the Trans-Siberian Railway, runs from Moscow to Vladivostok.
– Construction of the railway began in 1891 and was completed in 1916.
– It is the longest railway line in the world.
– Other routes in the network include the Trans-Manchurian and Trans-Mongolian railways.

2. Consider the following statements: 1. The Global Ocean Commission gr

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.
  • 2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.
  • 3. Rare earth minerals’ are present on seafloor in international waters.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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UPSC IAS – 2021
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Statement 1 is incorrect because the Global Ocean Commission is an advocacy body, not a licensing authority. The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is the body established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) that organizes and controls mineral-related activities in the international seabed area (‘the Area’), including granting exploration and exploitation licenses. Statements 2 and 3 are correct. India has received licenses from the ISA for exploration of polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulphides in the Indian Ocean. Rare earth minerals, along with other valuable minerals, are known to be present in deposits on the deep seafloor in international waters.
– The International Seabed Authority (ISA) regulates seabed mining activities in international waters.
– India holds licenses from the ISA for mineral exploration in the Indian Ocean.
– Rare earth elements (REEs) are found in deep-sea mineral deposits like polymetallic nodules and crusts.
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous international organization established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 1994 Agreement relating to the Implementation of Part XI of UNCLOS. India was the first country to receive the status of a ‘Pioneer Investor’ in 1987 and was allocated a site of 150,000 sq km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin for polymetallic nodule exploration. Later, India was also granted a license for exploration of polymetallic sulphides. Deep-sea mineral deposits are rich in various metals, including copper, nickel, cobalt, manganese, and rare earth elements.

3. Trans-Siberian Railway from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok does *not* r

Trans-Siberian Railway from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok does *not* run across:

Altai range
Caucasus mountains
Ural mountains
Ob and Yenisei rivers
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2023
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The Trans-Siberian Railway runs from St. Petersburg in European Russia, across the Ural Mountains into Siberia, and through to Vladivostok on the Pacific coast. Its route traverses the Ural Mountains and crosses major Siberian rivers like the Ob and Yenisei (or passes near them). The Altai range is located in Southern Siberia, south of the main Trans-Siberian route. The Caucasus Mountains are located far to the southwest of Russia, between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, completely separate from the Trans-Siberian path.
The Trans-Siberian Railway is a major east-west artery across Russia. While it passes through or near various geographical features in Siberia (like crossing rivers and passing north of certain mountain ranges), it is geographically distant from the Caucasus Mountains.
The route crosses the Urals near Yekaterinburg, spans the vast Siberian plains, and traverses several major river systems before reaching the Far East. The Caucasus region is a separate mountainous area in South Russia/Eurasia, unconnected to the course of the Trans-Siberian Railway.

4. Which one of the following is the busiest sea route and links two indu

Which one of the following is the busiest sea route and links two industrially developed regions of the world ?

Mediterranean – Indian Ocean sea route
The Northern Atlantic sea route
Cape of Good Hope sea route
The North Pacific sea route
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2023
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The correct option is B) The Northern Atlantic sea route.
The Northern Atlantic sea route is the busiest sea route in the world. It connects two major industrially developed regions: Western Europe and Eastern North America. The high volume of trade between these highly industrialized areas contributes to its status as the busiest route.
Other important sea routes:
– Mediterranean – Indian Ocean sea route connects Europe/North Africa/Middle East to Asia/Australia via the Suez Canal. It is extremely important and busy, but generally considered less busy than the North Atlantic in terms of total freight volume.
– Cape of Good Hope sea route goes around the southern tip of Africa. Historically vital before the Suez Canal, it is still used, particularly by very large vessels or when the Suez Canal is closed or congested, but it is not the busiest.
– The North Pacific sea route connects East Asia and North America. It is a major route for trade between these significant economies but carries less volume than the North Atlantic route.

5. Which among the following countries is not a member of the North Atlan

Which among the following countries is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)?

Hungary
Poland
Belarus
Turkey
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UPSC CAPF – 2022
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Belarus is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
– NATO is a military alliance established by the North Atlantic Treaty (Washington Treaty) of April 4, 1949.
– Hungary, Poland, and Turkey are all member states of NATO. Hungary and Poland joined in 1999, and Turkey joined in 1952.
– Belarus is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, allied with Russia, and is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), not NATO.
As of 2024, NATO has 32 member states. Membership is open to any other European state in a position to further the principles of the Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area. Belarus has no intention of joining NATO and has historically viewed the alliance with suspicion due to its close ties with Russia.

6. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List-I (Regional block) List-II (Headquarters)
A. ASEAN 1. Brussels
B. CIS 2. Vienna
C. EU 3. Minsk
D. OPEC 4. Jakarta

Code :

A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
A-4, B-1, C-3, D-2
A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
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UPSC CAPF – 2022
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The correct answer is A) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2.
– ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia.
– CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) has its headquarters (Executive Committee) in Minsk, Belarus.
– EU (European Union) has its main political headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
– OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) has its headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
– Regional blocks are intergovernmental organizations or groups formed to promote cooperation and achieve shared goals, often economic or political, among member states in a particular geographical area.
– Their headquarters serve as the administrative centres for their secretariats and official meetings.

7. Which one among the following is the major occupation in equatorial

Which one among the following is the major occupation in equatorial region?

Growing of tropical crops
Growing of cereals
Growing of citrus fruits
Animal rearing
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2013
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The correct answer is A. The equatorial region is characterized by a hot and wet climate throughout the year, which is ideal for the cultivation of various tropical crops.
– The climate of the equatorial region (lying roughly between 5° North and 5° South latitude) is characterized by high temperatures, high humidity, and heavy rainfall.
– This climate supports dense tropical rainforests and is suitable for growing crops like rubber, cocoa, coffee, palm oil, spices, bananas, etc.
– Plantation agriculture, focused on these tropical crops, is a significant economic activity in many equatorial regions.
While other activities may exist locally, the cultivation of tropical crops is the most widespread and defining major agricultural occupation across the equatorial belt compared to cereal farming (more common in temperate zones), citrus fruit farming (more sub-tropical/tropical), or animal rearing (highly variable and often limited by disease in dense rainforest environments).

8. Which one of the following is the correct descending order of countrie

Which one of the following is the correct descending order of countries in terms of per capita availability of arable land ?

India – China – Brazil
China – Brazil – India
Brazil – China – India
Brazil – India – China
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2016
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The correct answer is D) Brazil – India – China. Per capita availability of arable land is calculated by dividing the total arable land area by the total population. Using approximate figures (as of recent years, trends were similar earlier):
– Brazil: Large land area, relatively smaller population compared to India and China. High per capita arable land.
– India: Significant arable land area, but very high population. Moderate per capita arable land.
– China: Significant arable land area, but also very high population (similar to India’s), and slightly less arable land area than India. Low per capita arable land compared to India and Brazil.

Therefore, the descending order of per capita availability of arable land is Brazil > India > China.

– Per capita arable land = Arable land area / Population.
– Brazil has a large land area and lower population density compared to India and China.
– India and China have very large populations, which significantly reduces their per capita figures despite having large absolute areas of arable land.
– Factors affecting arable land availability include total land area, climate, topography, soil quality, land use patterns, and population size.
– China’s arable land area has been under pressure due to urbanization, industrialization, and desertification.
– India faces challenges related to land degradation, fragmentation, and high population density.

9. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List I
(Classification of resources)		 List II
(Example)
A. Basic inexhaustible resource 1. Hydel power
B. Conventional non-renewable resource 2. Coal
C. Non-conventional renewable resource 3. Solar energy
D. Non-conventional non-renewable resource 4. Natural gas
3 2 1 4
3 1 2 4
4 1 2 3
4 2 1 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2017
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This question asks to match different classifications of resources with their examples. The classifications relate to whether resources are renewable or non-renewable, and whether they are conventionally used or considered basic/inexhaustible or non-conventional.
Let’s match the lists based on standard resource classifications:
A. Basic inexhaustible resource: These are resources available in unlimited quantities and are continuously replenished, like solar energy. Solar energy (3) fits this description.
B. Conventional non-renewable resource: These are widely used resources that exist in finite quantities and are not replenished on a human timescale, primarily fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Coal (2) is a clear example.
C. Non-conventional renewable resource: These are renewable resources that are not traditionally used on a large scale or are derived from less conventional methods. While Hydel power (1) from large dams is often considered conventional, smaller hydro or other renewables like wind, geothermal, biomass fit ‘non-conventional renewable’. Given the options, and having matched A and B, Hydel power is the only renewable option left that hasn’t been matched with A. So, C likely matches with Hydel power (1) in this context, despite the ambiguity of ‘conventional’ for large hydro.
D. Non-conventional non-renewable resource: This category is less standard. Non-renewable resources like natural gas (4) are typically considered conventional. The pairing of D with Natural gas (4) seems incorrect based on standard definitions. However, if we follow the matches derived from A, B, and C (A-3, B-2, C-1), the remaining option for D is 4. The code 3 2 1 4 corresponds to option A.
Assuming there might be a specific classification framework used by the question setter or a slight imprecision in the categories/examples provided for option D, based on the clear matches for A and B, and the likely match for C within the given options, option A (3 2 1 4) is the most plausible answer structure. The classification of large-scale Hydel power as ‘non-conventional renewable’ might be debatable in some contexts, and ‘Natural gas’ as ‘non-conventional non-renewable’ is generally inaccurate (it’s conventional non-renewable). However, based on the provided options and common exam patterns where some pairings might be less precise, we select the best fit.

10. Urban sprawl takes place when:

Urban sprawl takes place when:

residential densities increase within an urban area.
an urban area expands into the countryside.
population of towns and cities decline due to out-migration.
a rural area expands into the neighbouring city.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2021
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Urban sprawl is characterized by the outward expansion of cities and their suburbs into the surrounding low-density rural land. It results in dispersed, low-density development with a heavy reliance on automobiles.
The key aspect of urban sprawl is the physical expansion of the urban area into previously non-urban (often countryside) areas.
Increased residential densities within an urban area (densification) is the opposite of sprawl. Population decline in cities due to out-migration might be a consequence or related phenomenon but is not the definition of sprawl itself. The phrase “a rural area expands into the neighbouring city” is inaccurate; it is the urban activities and built environment that expand into rural land.
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