UPSC 2023 Geography Previous Year Questions

Question 1

Consider the following statements 1. In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves. 2. In P waves, the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of wave propagation whereas in S waves, the particles vibrate up and down at right angles to the direction of wave propagation. 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. P waves travel faster and arrive before S waves. P waves are longitudinal, while S waves are transverse, so both statements are correct.

Question 2

Consider the following statements Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter. Statement-II: The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I | Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I | Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect | Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct. The land-sea temperature contrast is generally greater in winter than summer in many monsoon-climate explanations, making Statement-I incorrect. Water h

Question 3

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. Statement-II: The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I | Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I | Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect | Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct. Tropical rainforest soils are often nutrient-poor because rapid decomposition is followed by rapid uptake/leaching. Statement-II is correct, but Stateme

Question 4

With reference to the Earth's atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. The total amount of insolation received at the equator is roughly about 10 times of that received at the poles. | Infrared rays constitute roughly two-thirds of insolation. | Infrared waves are largely absorbed by water vapour that is concentrated in the lower atmosphere. | Infrared waves are a part of visible spectrum of electromagnetic waves of solar radiation.. Water vapour in the lower atmosphere absorbs much of the infrared radiation. The other statements overstate or mis

Question 5

Consider the following countries: 1. Bulgaria 2. Czech Republic 3. Hungary 4. Latvia 5. Lithuania 6. Romania How many of the above-mentioned countries share a land border with Ukraine?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Only two | Only three | Only four | Only five. Only Hungary and Romania share land borders with Ukraine among the listed countries. Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Latvia and Lithuania do not.

Question 6

With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements: 1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat. 2. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar. 3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Only one | Only two | All three | None. The East-West Corridor runs from Porbandar to Silchar, not Dibrugarh-Surat. The India-Myanmar-Thailand highway links Moreh with Mae Sot/Bangkok region rather than Chiang Mai as stated. BCIM is Kolkata-Kunming, not Varanasi-Kunming.

Question 7

Consider the following statements 1. Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges. 2. Biligirirangan Hills constitute the easternmost part of Satpura Range. 3. Seshachalam Hills constitute the southernmost part of Western Ghats. How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Only one | Only two | All three | None. Amarkantak is linked with the Vindhya and Satpura ranges, not Sahyadri; Biligirirangan is in the Eastern Ghats; Seshachalam is also in the Eastern Ghats region, not the Western Ghats. Hence none is correct.

Question 8

Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Cameroon | Nigeria | South Sudan | Uganda. Cameroon lies partly in the Congo Basin. Nigeria, South Sudan and Uganda are not normally identified as core Congo Basin countries in this context.

Question 9

About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor vehicles, is produced by

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Argentina | Botswana | the Democratic Republic of the Congo | Kazakhstan. The Democratic Republic of the Congo produces the dominant share of the world's cobalt, which is crucial for many battery chemistries.

Question 10

Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. Aluminium | Copper | Iron | Titanium. Ilmenite and rutile are titanium-bearing minerals and major sources for titanium dioxide/titanium extraction.

UPSC 2023 Geography PYQs with Answers