UPSC 2012 Geography Previous Year Questions

Question 1

What is the difference between the antelopes Oryx and Chiru?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Oryx is adapted to live in hot and arid areas whereas Chiru is adapted to live in steppes and semi-desert areas of cold high mountains | Oryx is poached for its antlers whereas Chiru is poached for its musk | Oryx exists in western India only whereas Chiru exists in north-east India only | None of the statements (a), (b) and (c) given above is correct. Oryx is adapted to hot arid habitats, while chiru or Tibetan antelope lives in cold high-altitude steppes and semi-deserts. Ch

Question 2

In which one among the following categories of protected areas in India are local people not allowed to collect and use the biomass?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Biosphere Reserves | National Parks | Wetlands declared under Ramsar Convention | Wildlife Sanctuaries. National Parks have the strictest protection among the listed categories, and extraction/collection of biomass by local people is generally not permitted. Biosphere reserves and wildlife sanctuaries can have more flexible zonation or regulated use.

Question 3

Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Rainfall throughout the year | Rainfall in winter only | An extremely short dry: season | A definite dry and wet season. Tropical savanna climates have distinct wet and dry seasons, with rainfall concentrated in the high-sun season and a marked dry period.

Question 4

Consider the following statements:

1. The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India.
2. The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from east to west.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1 only | 2 only | Both 1 and 2 | Neither 1 nor 2. The monsoon arrives earlier and lasts longer in southern India, so duration generally decreases northward. In the northern plains, rainfall decreases from the wetter east toward the drier west.

Question 5

Consider the following protected areas: 1. Bandipur 2. Bhitarkanika 3. Manas 4. Sunderbans Which of the above are declared Tiger Reserves?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 and 2 only | 1, 3 and 4 only | 2, 3 and 4 only | 1, 2, 3 and 4. Bandipur, Manas and Sunderbans are Tiger Reserves. Bhitarkanika is famous for mangroves and crocodiles, not as a Tiger Reserve.

Question 6

A person stood alone in a desert on a dark night and wanted to reach his village which was situated 5 km east of the point where he was standing. He had no instruments to find the direction but he located the polestar. The most convenient way now to reach his village is to walk in the

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. direction facing the polestar | direction opposite to the polestar | direction keeping the polestar to his left | direction keeping the polestar to his right. The Pole Star indicates north. To go east, he should face a direction such that north is on his left; therefore he should walk keeping the Pole Star to his left.

Question 7

Despite having large reserves of coal, why does India import millions of tonnes of coal? 1. It is the policy of India to save its own coal reserves for future, and import it from other countries for the present use. 2. Most of the power plants in India are coal based and they are not able to get sufficient supplies of coal from within the country. 3. Steel companies need large quantity of coking coal which has to be imported. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. 1 only | 2 and 3 only | 1 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. India imports coal because domestic supply has often been insufficient for coal-based power plants and because steel plants require high-quality coking coal, much of which is imported. It is not mainly a policy of saving domestic reserves for the future.

Question 8

Normally, the temperature decreases with the increase in height from the Earth's surface, because 1. the atmosphere can be heated upwards only from the Earth's surface. 2. there is more moisture in the upper atmosphere. 3. the air is less dense in the upper atmosphere. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. 1, 2 and 3 only | 2 only | 1 and 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. The lower atmosphere is heated mainly from the Earth's surface, and thinner upper air holds less heat. Moisture generally decreases with height, so statement 2 is incorrect.

Question 9

When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following: 1. Deep gorges. 2. U-turn river courses. 3. Parallel mountain ranges. 4. Steep gradients causing landsliding. Which of the above can be said to be the evidences for Himalayas being young fold mountains?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1 and 2 only | 1, 2 and 4 only | 3 and 4 only | 1, 2, 3 and 4. Deep gorges, sharp river bends, parallel ranges and steep unstable slopes are all features of active uplift and youthful relief in the Himalayas. Together they indicate young fold mountains.

Question 10

Consider the following crops of India: 1. Groundnut. 2. Sesamum. 3. Pearl millet. Which of the above is/are predominantly rainfed crop/crops?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1 and 2 only | 2 and 3 only | 3 only | 1, 2 and 3. Groundnut, sesamum and pearl millet are widely grown under rainfed conditions in India, especially in semi-arid regions. Hence all three are predominantly rainfed crops.

UPSC 2012 Geography Question 1

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UPSC 2012 Geography Question 9

UPSC 2012 Geography Question 10

Geography — UPSC 2012