Indian Geography

81. Consider the following minerals : Bentonite Chromite Kyanite Sill

Consider the following minerals :

  1. Bentonite
  2. Chromite
  3. Kyanite
  4. Sillimanite

In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”4 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”2, 3 and 4 only” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
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The correct option is D, as Chromite, Kyanite, and Sillimanite are officially designated as major minerals in India, while Bentonite is typically classified as a minor mineral.
Minerals in India are classified as ‘major’ or ‘minor’ under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. This classification impacts their regulation, such as rules for mining leases and royalty rates. The list of major and minor minerals changes based on government notifications.
As per the classification under the MMDR Act, as amended and notified periodically:
1. Bentonite: Generally classified as a Minor Mineral.
2. Chromite: Classified as a Major Mineral.
3. Kyanite: Classified as a Major Mineral.
4. Sillimanite: Classified as a Major Mineral.
Therefore, only Chromite, Kyanite, and Sillimanite among the given options are major minerals.

82. What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?

What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?

[amp_mcq option1=”Recently discovered uranium deposits” option2=”Tropical rain forests” option3=”Underground cave systems” option4=”Water reservoirs” correct=”option4″]

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The correct answer is D) Water reservoirs.
Aliyar, Isapur, and Kangsabati are all locations in India known for significant dams and associated water reservoirs.
– Aliyar Dam is in Tamil Nadu, creating the Aliyar Reservoir.
– Isapur Dam is in Maharashtra, forming the Isapur Reservoir on the Penganga river (also known as Yeldari Dam).
– Kangsabati Dam (or Mukutmanipur Dam) is in West Bengal, creating the Kangsabati Reservoir.
These locations are primarily recognized for their large water bodies created by dams, used for irrigation, water supply, and sometimes power generation. They are not commonly known for newly discovered uranium deposits, being part of tropical rainforests (as they span different climatic regions of India), or extensive underground cave systems. Thus, the commonality is that they are sites of water reservoirs.

83. Consider the following pairs: Glacier River 1. Band

Consider the following pairs:

Glacier River
1. Bandarpunch Yamuna
2. Bara Shigri Chenab
3. Milam Mandakini
4. Siachen Nubra
5. Zemu Manas

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

[amp_mcq option1=”1, 2 and 4 only” option2=”1, 3 and 4 only” option3=”2 and 5 only” option4=”3 and 5″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
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The correct answer is A) 1, 2 and 4 only.
This question tests the knowledge of the origin points of major rivers from specific glaciers.
1. Bandarpunch Glacier is the source of the Yamuna River: Correct. The Yamunotri Glacier, which is part of the Bandarpunch massif in Uttarakhand, is the source of the Yamuna River.
2. Bara Shigri Glacier is the source of the Chenab River: Correct. The Bara Shigri Glacier in Himachal Pradesh is the source of the Chandra River, which joins the Bhaga River to form the Chenab River at Tandi.
3. Milam Glacier is the source of the Mandakini River: Incorrect. Milam Glacier in Uttarakhand is the source of the Goriganga River, a tributary of the Kali River. The Mandakini River originates from the Chorabari Glacier near Kedarnath.
4. Siachen Glacier is the source of the Nubra River: Correct. The Siachen Glacier in Ladakh is the source of the Nubra River, a tributary of the Shyok River, which ultimately flows into the Indus River.
5. Zemu Glacier is the source of the Manas River: Incorrect. Zemu Glacier in Sikkim is the source of the Teesta River. The Manas River originates in Bhutan and flows into Assam, India, eventually joining the Brahmaputra River.
Identifying the sources of rivers from glaciers is a common topic in Indian geography. Based on the confirmed sources, pairs 1, 2, and 4 are correctly matched, while 3 and 5 are incorrect.

84. Consider the following pairs : Famous place River 1. Pandharp

Consider the following pairs :

Famous place River
1. Pandharpur Chandrabhaga
2. Tiruchirappalli Cauvery
3. Hampi Malaprabha

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2 only” option2=”2 and 3 only” option3=”1 and 3 only” option4=”1, 2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

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Option A is correct. Pairs 1 and 2 are correctly matched.
– Pair 1: Pandharpur is a major pilgrimage town in Maharashtra located on the banks of the Chandrabhaga River (a bend in the Bhima River that resembles the moon). This pair is correctly matched.
– Pair 2: Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) is a city in Tamil Nadu situated on the banks of the Cauvery River. This pair is correctly matched.
– Pair 3: Hampi, the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire in Karnataka, is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The Malaprabha River is a different river in Karnataka, a tributary of the Krishna River. This pair is incorrectly matched.
– The Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of the Tunga and Bhadra rivers, both originating in the Western Ghats.
– The Chandrabhaga River bend in Pandharpur is considered sacred by devotees.

85. In which one of the following States is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary loca

In which one of the following States is Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary located ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Arunachal Pradesh” option2=”Manipur” option3=”Meghalaya” option4=”Nagaland” correct=”option1″]

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Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Pakke Tiger Reserve, is located in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh in North-East India.
Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary is a well-known protected area, primarily recognized for its population of tigers and hornbills. It is located in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The sanctuary was declared a tiger reserve in 2002. It is known for its rich biodiversity, including various species of mammals, birds, and reptiles. The habitat consists of lowland evergreen and semi-evergreen forest.

86. Consider the following statements : 1. The Barren Island volcano is

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 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”2 and 3″ option3=”3 only” option4=”1 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
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The correct answer is A) 1 only.
Let’s evaluate each statement about Barren Island volcano:
1. **The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory:** This statement is correct. Barren Island is India’s only active volcano and is located in the Andaman Sea, part of the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
2. **Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar:** This statement is incorrect. Barren Island is located in the Andaman Sea, roughly 135-140 km northeast of Port Blair (South Andaman Island). Great Nicobar Island is located much further south, over 400 km from Barren Island.
3. **The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then:** This statement is incorrect. While there was a significant eruption in 1991 after nearly two centuries of dormancy, the volcano has erupted several times since then, including in 1995, 2005-06 (linked to the 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake), and most recently exhibiting eruptions in 2017 and subsequent years. It is considered active.
Barren Island is a sub-aerial part of the volcanic arc that extends from Sumatra to Myanmar. It is uninhabited by humans. The recent eruptions highlight the ongoing volcanic activity in the region.

87. Which one of the following is an artificial lake ?

Which one of the following is an artificial lake ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Kodaikanal (Tamil Nadu)” option2=”Kolleru (Andhra Pradesh)” option3=”Nainital (Uttarakhand)” option4=”Renuka (Himachal Pradesh)” correct=”option1″]

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Kodaikanal Lake is an artificial, star-shaped lake located in the town of Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu. It was created in 1863 by Sir Vere Henry Levinge, the then Collector of Madurai, by damming a stream.
Artificial lakes are man-made reservoirs or bodies of water, whereas natural lakes are formed through geological processes like tectonic activity, volcanic activity, or glaciation.
Kolleru Lake is a large natural freshwater lake located between the Krishna and Godavari deltas in Andhra Pradesh. Nainital Lake is a natural crescent-shaped lake in Uttarakhand, believed to be of tectonic origin. Renuka Lake is a natural lake in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, known for its religious significance and biodiversity.

88. Consider the following pairs : Craft Heritage of 1. Puthu

Consider the following pairs :

Craft Heritage of
1. Puthukkuli shawls Tamil Nadu
2. Sujni embroidery Maharashtra
3. Uppada Jamdani saris Karnataka

Which of the pairs given above is/are correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 only” option2=”1 and 2″ option3=”3 only” option4=”2 and 3″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
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The correct answer is A) 1 only.
This question tests knowledge of specific Indian traditional crafts and their associated states.
1. Puthukkuli shawls are traditionally woven by the Toda people of the Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu. This pair is correct.
2. Sujni embroidery is a form of folk embroidery originating from Bihar, not Maharashtra.
3. Uppada Jamdani saris are woven in Uppada, East Godavari district, in Andhra Pradesh, not Karnataka.
Therefore, only pair 1 is correctly matched.

89. Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to t

Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi?

[amp_mcq option1=”Bengaluru” option2=”Hyderabad” option3=”Nagpur” option4=”Pune” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2018
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The correct answer is A) Bengaluru.
– The question asks which city lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi.
– Approximate longitudes of the cities are:
– Delhi: ~77.2° E
– Bengaluru: ~77.6° E
– Hyderabad: ~78.5° E
– Nagpur: ~79.1° E
– Pune: ~73.8° E
– Comparing the differences in longitude from Delhi:
– Bengaluru: |77.6 – 77.2| = 0.4°
– Hyderabad: |78.5 – 77.2| = 1.3°
– Nagpur: |79.1 – 77.2| = 1.9°
– Pune: |73.8 – 77.2| = 3.4°
– Bengaluru’s longitude (77.6° E) is closest to Delhi’s longitude (77.2° E), with a difference of only 0.4°.
Longitudes are imaginary vertical lines on Earth’s surface that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. They are used to measure positions east or west of the Prime Meridian (0° longitude). Cities on roughly the same longitude will experience local noon at approximately the same time.

90. Consider the following statements : In India, State Governments do n

Consider the following statements :

  • In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines.
  • Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines.
  • Rajasthan has iron ore mines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”1 and 2″ option2=”2 only” option3=”1 and 3″ option4=”3 only” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
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The correct answer is D) 3 only.
– Statement 1 is incorrect. Under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act), as amended, State Governments have the power to grant mineral concessions (Prospecting License and Mining Lease) for most non-coal major minerals. The MMDR Amendment Act, 2015, made the auction of mineral concessions for specified minerals mandatory, and the auction process is conducted by the State Governments.
– Statement 2 is incorrect. Andhra Pradesh does have gold deposits and has historically mined gold (e.g., the Kolar Gold Fields extended into AP, and there are deposits like Ramagiri). Jharkhand also has known occurrences of gold, including historical small-scale mining. Therefore, claiming they “do not have gold mines” is false.
– Statement 3 is correct. Rajasthan is one of the significant iron ore producing states in India, with deposits found in districts such as Jaipur, Udaipur, Bhilwara, and Sikar.
The MMDR Act, 1957 is the principal legislation governing the mining sector in India. The Central Government has the power to regulate minerals, but the administration of minor minerals is entirely delegated to the State Governments, while major minerals (excluding coal, petroleum, etc.) are jointly regulated, with states being the grantors of concessions under the central law.
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