UPSC Previous Years (Prelims & Mains) Questions

Correct Answer : Option (D) - None

Note : East–west Corridor connects Silchar to Porbandar. Hence, statement 1 is NOT correct.

India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway connects the three countries from Moreh in India to Mae Sot in Thailand via Bagan in Myanmar. Hence, statement 2 is NOT correct.

The 2800 km BCIM corridor proposes to link Kunming in China’s Yunnan province with Kolkata, passing through nodes such as Mandalay in Myanmar and Dhaka in Bangladesh before heading to Kolkata. Hence, statement 3 is NOT correct.

Hence, option (d) is correct.

Correct Answer : Option (D) - None

Note : The Amarkantak Hill is a unique natural heritage area and is the meeting point of the Vindhya and the Satpura Range. Hence, statement 1 is NOT correct.

Biligirirangan Hills is situated in south-eastern Karnataka while the Satpura Range rises in eastern Gujarat running east through the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh and ends in Chhattisgarh. Hence, statement 2 is NOT correct.

Seshachalam Hills are hilly ranges part of the Eastern Ghats in southern Andhra Pradesh while Western Ghats traverse the States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Hence, statement 3 is NOT correct.

Hence, option (d) is correct.

Correct Answer :   Cameroon

Note : The Congo Basin spans across six countries—Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Hence, option (a) is correct.

Correct Answer :   the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Note : The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is by far the world's largest producer of cobalt, accounting for roughly 70 percent of global production.

Hence, option (c) is correct.

Correct Answer :   Titanium

Note : India is endowed with large resources of heavy minerals which occur mainly along coastal stretches of the country.

Heavy mineral sands comprise a group of seven minerals, viz, ilmenite, leucoxene (brown ilmenite), rutile, zircon, sillimanite, garnet and monazite. Ilmenite (FeO.TiO2) and rutile (TiO2) are the two chief mineral sources of titanium.

Hence, option (d) is correct.

Correct Answer :   Rann of Kutch

Note : * The Rann of Kutch is a large salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in Gujarat, India.

Source : ToI

Correct Answer : Option (A) - Only one

Note : * Arable land is the land that can be used for growing crops. Arable land is an important indicator of a country’s agricultural potential and food security.

* China's irrigated cropland is about 52% of its total cropland. This is one of the highest proportions of irrigated land in the world. India is another country with a high proportion of irrigated land, at about 30%. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

* In agriculture, productivity can be measured by the yield per unit area of land, which is the amount of crop produced per hectare or acre.
Source : Economic Times

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Only two

Note : * Jackfruit are evergreen, latex-producing trees of up to 25 m that are native to India and Malaysia, that have spread to Sri Lanka, China, South-east Asia and to tropical Africa. They are cultivated for the large fruits that can vary in shape and size, and for timber.

* Mahua is a tropical deciduous fast-growing tree and home to Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra, and Bihar.

* Teak is a tropical hardwood tree and deciduous in nature. It is native to south and southeast Asia, but is also cultivated in many other regions.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Source : Science Direct

Correct Answer : Option (B) - Only two pairs

Note : * Kamarajar Port, formerly known as Ennore Port, is the first major port in India registered as a company and is the only corporatized major port in India. Hence, pair 1 is correctly matched.

* Mundra Port is India's largest commercial port located on the northern shores of the Gulf of Kutch near Mundra, Kutch district, Gujarat. It is owned and operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited (APSEZ), which is a part of Adani Group.



* Visakhapatnam Port, located on the east coast of India in Andhra Pradesh, is not the largest container port in India. It is one of the oldest and largest major ports in India, handling various types of cargo such as iron ore, coal, petroleum products, fertilisers, containers, etc.


Source : Marine Insight

Correct Answer : Option (A) - Only one

Note : Wular Lake is the 2nd largest fresh-water lake of Asia. It is sited in the Bandipora district in Jammu and Kashmir, India. Main source of water for Wular Lake is River Jhelum. This lake also has a small island in its centre called the ‘Zaina Lank’. This island was constructed by King Zainul-Abi-Din. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

Wular Lake is also said to be a remnant of Satisar Lake that existed in ancient times. The premises of this lake also form a popular sunset point.

Kolleru, one of the largest freshwater lakes in India, (it was designated a sanctuary in October 1999) is situated between the Krishna and West Godavari districts of the state.

The Krishna River does not directly feed the Kolleru Lake. The Kolleru Lake is fed by two seasonal rivers, Budameru and Tammileru, which are tributaries of the Krishna River. Therefore, the Krishna River indirectly feeds the Kolleru Lake through its tributaries. Hence, statement 2 is NOT correct.

The meandering of Gandak River did not form the Kanwar Lake, which is a freshwater oxbow lake located in Begusarai district of Bihar, India.

The Kanwar Lake was formed by a cut-off meander of an old channel of Burhi Gandak River. The Burhi Gandak River flows parallel to the eastern side of the Gandak River through an old channel. Hence, Statement 3 is NOT correct.