Civil Services Prep

UPSC Prelims

Geography previous year questions

155 questions from 2012 to 2026, each with its answer.

UPSC Prelims 2026

  1. Consider the following assertion : In the Pleistocene period either the Yamuna once flowed into the Indus, or…
  2. Which of the following pairs of ancient and modern names of rivers is/are correctly matched ? 1. Vitasta :…
  3. Identify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information: 1. It has an…
  4. Which of the following with reference to Indian States is/are **not** correct? 1. Uttar Pradesh shares its…
  5. Ships from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian…
  6. Tungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the…
  7. With reference to the climate of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which of the following statements is/are correct…
  8. Which of the following geographical features or phenomena is/are associated with the Peninsular Block of India…
  9. Which of the following statements with reference to Lake Turkana is/are correct ? 1. It is the largest desert…

UPSC Prelims 2025

  1. Consider the following countries: I. Bolivia II. Brazil III. Colombia IV. Ecuador V. Paraguay VI. Venezuela.…
  2. Consider the following water bodies: I. Lake Tanganyika II. Lake Tonle Sap III. Patos Lagoon. Through how many…
  3. Which of the following are the evidences of the phenomenon of continental drift? I. The belt of ancient rocks…
  4. Consider the following statements: Statement I: The amount of dust particles in the atmosphere is more in…
  5. Consider the following statements: Statement I: In January, in the Northern Hemisphere, the isotherms bend…
  6. Consider the following statements: Statement I: In the context of effect of water on rocks, chalk is known as…
  7. Consider the following statements: I. Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point…
  8. Consider the following countries: I. United Kingdom II. Denmark III. New Zealand IV. Australia V. Brazil. How…
  9. Consider the following statements: I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers from each…
  10. Consider the following pairs: Country — Resource-rich in. I. Botswana : Diamond. II. Chile : Lithium. III.…
  11. Consider the following pairs: Region — Country. I. Mallorca : Italy. II. Normandy : Spain. III. Sardinia :…

UPSC Prelims 2024

  1. The longest border between any two countries in the world is between:
  2. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and…
  3. Consider the following statements: 1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form. 2. No water…
  4. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than…
  5. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Thickness of the troposphere at the equator is much greater as…
  6. Consider the following: 1. Pyroclastic debris 2. Ash and dust 3. Nitrogen compounds 4. Sulphur compounds. How…
  7. Which of the following is/are correct inference/inferences from isothermal maps in the month of January? 1.…
  8. Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world?
  9. With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one…
  10. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: Rainfall is one of the reasons for weathering of rocks.…
  11. Consider the following countries: 1. Finland 2. Germany 3. Norway 4. Russia. How many of the above countries…
  12. Consider the following information: Waterfall : Region : River. 1. Dhuandhar : Malwa : Narmada 2. Hundru :…
  13. Consider the following information: Region - Name of the mountain range - Type of mountain: 1. Central Asia -…
  14. With reference to "water vapour", which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a gas, the amount…
  15. Consider the following description: 1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low. 2. Precipitation occurs…
  16. With reference to "Coriolis force", which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It increases with…
  17. On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours? 1.…

UPSC Prelims 2023

  1. Consider the following statements: 1. Jhelum River passes through Wular Lake. 2. Krishna River directly feeds…
  2. Consider the following pairs: Port — Well known as: 1. Kamarajar Port — First major port in India registered…
  3. Consider the following statements: 1. India has more arable area than China. 2. The proportion of irrigated…
  4. Which one of the following is the best example of repeated falls in sea level, giving rise to present-day…
  5. Ilmenite and rutile, abundantly available in certain coastal tracts of India, are rich sources of which one of…
  6. About three-fourths of world's cobalt, a metal required for the manufacture of batteries for electric motor…
  7. Which one of the following is a part of the Congo Basin?
  8. Consider the following statements: 1. Amarkantak Hills are at the confluence of Vindhya and Sahyadri Ranges.…
  9. With reference to India's projects on connectivity, consider the following statements: 1. East-West Corridor…
  10. Consider the following countries: 1. Bulgaria 2. Czech Republic 3. Hungary 4. Latvia 5. Lithuania 6. Romania.…
  11. With reference to the Earth's atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?
  12. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients.…
  13. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is…
  14. Consider the following statements: 1. In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves. 2. In P…

UPSC Prelims 2022

  1. Which one of the following lakes of West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert?
  2. Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers?
  3. Consider the following pairs: Peak - Mountains 1. Namcha Barwa - Garhwal Himalaya 2. Nanda Devi - Kumaon…
  4. The term "Levant" often heard in the news roughly corresponds to which of the following regions?
  5. Consider the following countries: 1. Azerbaijan 2. Kyrgyzstan 3. Tajikistan 4. Turkmenistan 5. Uzbekistan.…
  6. With reference to India, consider the following statements: 1. Monazite is a source of rare earths. 2.…
  7. In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the:
  8. Consider the following States: 1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Kerala 3. Himachal Pradesh 4. Tripura. How many of the…
  9. Consider the following pairs: Reservoirs - States 1. Ghataprabha - Telangana 2. Gandhi Sagar - Madhya Pradesh…
  10. Consider the following statements: 1. High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of…
  11. Consider the following pairs: Region often mentioned in the news - Country 1. Anatolia - Turkey 2. Amhara -…

UPSC Prelims 2021

  1. With reference to the Indus river system, of the following four rivers, three of them pour into one of them…
  2. With reference to India, Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol and Khatu are the names of
  3. Consider the following rivers: 1. Brahmani 2. Nagavali 3. Subarnarekha 4. Vamsadhara Which of the above rise…
  4. Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?
  5. Consider the following statements: 1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than…
  6. "Leaf litter decomposes faster than in any other biome and as a result the soil surface is often almost bare.…
  7. The vegetation of savannah consists of grassland with scattered small trees, but extensive areas have no…
  8. With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements: 1. The amount of water in…
  9. The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of

UPSC Prelims 2020

  1. Consider the following minerals: 1. Bentonite 2. Chromite 3. Kyanite 4. Sillimanite. In India, which of the…
  2. With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. OMT is…
  3. Siachen Glacier is situated to the
  4. Consider the following statements: 1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only. 2. Only some cyclones…
  5. "The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days…
  6. Consider the following pairs: River - Flows into 1. Mekong - Andaman Sea 2. Thames - Irish Sea 3. Volga -…
  7. Which of the following Protected Areas are located in Cauvery basin? 1. Nagarhole National Park 2. Papikonda…

UPSC Prelims 2019

  1. With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following…
  2. Consider the following pairs: | Famous Place | River | |---|---| | 1. Pandharpur | Chandrabhaga | | 2.…
  3. On 21st June, the Sun
  4. What is common to the places known as Aliyar, Isapur and Kangsabati?
  5. Consider the following pairs: | Sea | Bordering country | |---|---| | 1. Adriatic Sea | Albania | | 2. Black…
  6. Consider the following pairs: | Glacier | River | |---|---| | 1. Bandarpunch | Yamuna | | 2. Bara Shigri |…

UPSC Prelims 2018

  1. Which of the following has/have shrunk immensely/dried up in the recent past due to human activities? 1. Aral…
  2. Consider the following statements: 1. In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal…
  3. Among the following cities, which one lies on a longitude closest to that of Delhi?
  4. Which one of the following is an artificial lake?
  5. With reference to agricultural soils, consider the following statements: 1. A high content of organic matter…
  6. Consider the following statements: 1. The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian…

UPSC Prelims 2017

  1. Mediterranean Sea is a border of which of the following countries? 1. Jordan 2. Iraq 3. Lebanon 4. Syria.…
  2. Consider the following statements: 1. In India, the Himalayas are spread over five states only. 2. Western…
  3. With reference to 'Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)' sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian…
  4. Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar?
  5. With reference to river Teesta, consider the following statements: 1. The source of river Teesta is the same…
  6. If you travel by road from Kohima to Kottayam, what is the minimum number of States within India through which…
  7. At one of the places in India, if you stand on the seashore and watch the sea, you will find that the sea…

UPSC Prelims 2016

  1. Consider the following pairs: | Famous Place | Region | |-------------|--------| | 1. Bodhgaya | Baghelkhand |…
  2. Which of the following is/are tributary/tributaries of Brahmaputra? 1. Dibang 2. Kameng 3. Lohit Select the…
  3. In which of the following regions of India are shale gas resources found? 1. Cambay Basin 2. Cauvery Basin 3.…

UPSC Prelims 2015

  1. In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate.…
  2. Which one of the following pairs of States of India indicates the easternmost and westernmost State?
  3. What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current?
  4. Consider the following pairs: Place of Pilgrimage - Location 1. Srisailam - Nallamala Hills 2. Omkareshwar -…
  5. Consider the following rivers: 1. Vamsadhara 2. Indravati 3. Pranahita 4. Pennar Which of the above are…
  6. Which one of the following regions of India has a combination of mangrove forest, evergreen forest and…
  7. In India, the steel production industry requires the import of
  8. Consider the following statements: 1. The Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme was launched during…
  9. Consider the following statements: 1. The winds which blow between 30°N and 60°S latitudes throughout the year…
  10. In a particular region in India, the local people train the roots of living trees into robust bridges across…
  11. Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following? 1. Gravitational force of the Sun 2.…
  12. Consider the following States: 1. Arunachal Pradesh 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Mizoram In which of the above…
  13. Which one of the following countries of South-West Asia does not open out to the Mediterranean Sea?
  14. "Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high…

UPSC Prelims 2014

  1. Consider the following countries: 1. Denmark 2. Japan 3. Russian Federation 4. United Kingdom 5. United States…
  2. With reference to 'Changpa' community of India, consider the following statements: 1. They live mainly in the…
  3. Consider the following pairs — Region : Well-known for the production of. 1. Kinnaur : Areca nut 2. Mewat :…
  4. Consider the following pairs — National Highway : Cities connected. 1. NH 4 : Chennai and Hyderabad 2. NH 6 :…
  5. Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the 'Ten Degree Channel'?
  6. Consider the following pairs: 1. Dampa Tiger Reserve : Mizoram 2. Gumti Wildlife Sanctuary : Sikkim 3.…
  7. Which of the following have coral reefs? 1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands 2. Gulf of Kachchh 3. Gulf of Mannar…
  8. In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following? 1. Terrace cultivation 2.…
  9. The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of
  10. Consider the following rivers: 1. Barak 2. Lohit 3. Subansiri. Which of the above flows/flow through Arunachal…
  11. Consider the following pairs — Wetlands : Confluence of rivers. 1. Harike Wetlands : Confluence of Beas and…
  12. Consider the following pairs — Hills : Region. 1. Cardamom Hills : Coromandel Coast 2. Kaimur Hills : Konkan…
  13. Turkey is located between
  14. What is the correct sequence of occurrence of the following cities in South-East Asia as one proceeds from…

UPSC Prelims 2013

  1. The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where
  2. Which of the following is/are unique characteristic/characteristics of equatorial forests? 1. Presence of…
  3. The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What…
  4. Which of the following is/are the characteristic/characteristics of Indian coal? 1. High ash content 2. Low…
  5. Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct? 1. They are generally red in…
  6. Consider the following statements: 1. Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds. 2. Mica occurs in abundance in…
  7. Consider the following crops: 1. Cotton 2. Groundnut 3. Rice 4. Wheat Which of these are Kharif crops?
  8. "Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders." The above statement best…
  9. Consider the following pairs: | Tribe | State | |---|---| | 1. Limboo (Limbu) | Sikkim | | 2. Karbi | Himachal…
  10. Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India?
  11. Variations in the length of daytime and nighttime from season to season are due to
  12. The Narmada river flows to the west, while most other large peninsular rivers flow to the east. Why? 1. It…
  13. On the planet earth, most of the freshwater exists as ice caps and glaciers. Out of the remaining freshwater,…
  14. Consider the following pairs: | | Feature | Location | |---|---|---| | 1. | Nokrek Biosphere Reserve | Garo…
  15. Consider the following: 1. Electromagnetic radiation 2. Geothermal energy 3. Gravitational force 4. Plate…
  16. Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in

UPSC Prelims 2012

  1. Consider the following specific stages of demographic transition associated with economic development: 1. Low…
  2. Which of the following is the chief characteristic of 'mixed farming'?
  3. A particular State in India has the following characteristics: 1. It is located on the same latitude which…
  4. Consider the following crops of India: 1. Cowpea 2. Green gram 3. Pigeon pea Which of the above is/are used as…
  5. Consider the following factors: 1. Rotation of the Earth 2. Air pressure and wind 3. Density of ocean water 4.…
  6. Consider the following crops of India: 1. Groundnut 2. Sesamum 3. Pearl millet Which of the above is/are…
  7. When you travel in Himalayas, you will see the following: 1. Deep gorges 2. U-turn river courses 3. Parallel…
  8. Normally, the temperature decreases with the increase in height from the Earth's surface, because 1. The…
  9. A person stood alone in a desert on a dark night and wanted to reach his village which was situated 5 km east…
  10. Consider the following statements: 1. The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern…
  11. Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?