India Geography Mixed Quiz 3: Location, Straits, Farming and National Parks (Clerkship 2024)
A little practice. A step forward.
20 mixed India geography questions for WBPSC Clerkship 2024 Part-I.
Which meridian is taken as the standard meridian for Indian Standard Time (IST)?
India's standard meridian is 82°30′E, passing near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. It makes IST 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT. 97°25′E is India's easternmost longitude, not the standard meridian.
- Each 1° of longitude equals 4 minutes of time
- 82.5 × 4 = 330 minutes = 5 h 30 min
- India extends from about 68°7′E to 97°25′E
- 82°30′ → Mirzapur → GMT + 5:30
Through how many Indian states does the Tropic of Cancer pass?
The Tropic of Cancer (23½°N) passes through 8 states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. It does not cross Odisha or Bihar, so 10 and 7 are wrong.
- The line lies at 23½°N
- In West Bengal it crosses Purulia, Bankura, Paschim Bardhaman, Purba Bardhaman, Nadia and Murshidabad
- Remember the eight: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram
| State |
|---|
| Gujarat |
| Rajasthan |
| Madhya Pradesh |
| Chhattisgarh |
| Jharkhand |
| West Bengal |
| Tripura |
| Mizoram |
Which is the southernmost point of India (including the Andaman and Nicobar Islands)?
Indira Point on Great Nicobar Island, at about 6°45′N, is India's southernmost point. Kanyakumari is the southern tip of the mainland only, which is the usual trap.
- Indira Point was earlier called Pygmalion Point
- Kanyakumari is the southern end of the mainland
- Kanyakumari = southernmost of the mainland, not of all India
- With islands → Indira Point; mainland only → Kanyakumari
Which strait separates India from Sri Lanka?
The Palk Strait lies between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka and joins the Bay of Bengal with Palk Bay. Malacca lies between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra, Hormuz between Iran and Oman, and Bab-el-Mandeb at the mouth of the Red Sea.
- The Gulf of Mannar lies to the south of the strait
- Adam's Bridge (Rama Setu) is in this region
- India–Sri Lanka = Palk
Which channel separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands?
The Ten Degree Channel, along 10°N, lies between Little Andaman and Car Nicobar and so separates the Andamans from the Nicobars. The Eight Degree Channel lies between Minicoy and the Maldives, and the Nine Degree Channel between the Lakshadweep islands and Minicoy.
- Ten Degree = Andaman | Nicobar
- Eight Degree = Minicoy | Maldives
- Nine Degree = Lakshadweep | Minicoy
- The Eight and Nine Degree Channels belong to the Lakshadweep region, not the Bay of Bengal
- 10 → Andaman–Nicobar; 8 → India–Maldives
| Channel | Separates |
|---|---|
| Ten Degree Channel | Andaman and Nicobar |
| Nine Degree Channel | Lakshadweep and Minicoy |
| Eight Degree Channel | Minicoy (India) and Maldives |
Which is the largest freshwater lake in India?
Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is India's largest freshwater lake. Chilika (Odisha) is the largest brackish-water lagoon, Sambhar (Rajasthan) the largest inland salt lake, and Dal Lake is in Srinagar.
- Wular is fed by the Jhelum
- Chilika = largest lagoon
- Sambhar = salt lake of Rajasthan
- Chilika is a brackish lagoon, not the largest freshwater lake
- Wular = fresh; Chilika = brackish lagoon; Sambhar = salt
Which is the highest peak of the Western Ghats?
Anamudi in Kerala (about 2,695 m) is the highest peak of the Western Ghats and of peninsular India. Doddabetta is the highest in the Nilgiris (about 2,637 m), Mahendragiri is in the Eastern Ghats, and Kalsubai is the highest in Maharashtra.
- Anamudi lies in Idukki district, Kerala
- Doddabetta = Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu
- Kalsubai = Maharashtra
- Anamudi = Western Ghats + Kerala
Which pass connects Srinagar with Leh?
Zoji La links the Kashmir Valley with Leh in Ladakh. Nathu La leads from Sikkim to Tibet, Shipki La from Himachal Pradesh to Tibet, and Banihal connects Jammu with the Kashmir Valley.
- Nathu La = Sikkim–Tibet
- Shipki La = Himachal–Tibet (Sutlej)
- Banihal = Jammu–Srinagar
- Zoji = Srinagar–Leh
| Pass | What it connects |
|---|---|
| Zoji La | Srinagar – Leh |
| Banihal | Jammu – Kashmir Valley |
| Nathu La | Sikkim – Tibet |
| Shipki La | Himachal Pradesh – Tibet |
Which is the second largest Indian state by area?
By area, Rajasthan is first, Madhya Pradesh second and Maharashtra third. Uttar Pradesh is first in population but only fourth in area. Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra are close in size, so the order is worth remembering.
- Order: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
- Goa is the smallest state
- Uttar Pradesh is first in population, not in area
- Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra
Which mainland Indian state has the longest coastline?
Gujarat has the longest coastline (about 1,600 km by the older measurement), because of the indented shores of Kutch and the Kathiawar peninsula. The other three states have shorter coasts.
- West coast states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala
- Gujarat has major ports such as Kandla and Mundra
- Longest coast = Gujarat
With which neighbouring country does India share its longest land border?
India's longest border is with Bangladesh, about 4,096 km, shared by West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. The borders with China and Pakistan are shorter, and Nepal's is shorter still.
- West Bengal has the longest stretch of the Bangladesh border (about 2,217 km)
- India has land borders with 7 countries
| Country | Border (approx. km) |
|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 4,096 |
| China | 3,488 |
| Pakistan | 3,323 |
| Nepal | 1,751 |
| Myanmar | 1,643 |
| Bhutan | 699 |
| Afghanistan | 106 |
Which tidal port stands on the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat?
Kandla (now Deendayal Port) is a tidal port on the Gulf of Kutch, developed after Partition as a replacement for Karachi. Mormugao is in Goa, Paradip in Odisha and Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu.
- Mormugao = Goa
- Paradip = Odisha
- Tuticorin = Tamil Nadu
- Gulf of Kutch = Kandla
Which Indian state produces the most tea?
Assam is India's largest tea-producing state, growing more than half of the country's tea. West Bengal (Darjeeling, Terai, Dooars) is second. Kerala and Tamil Nadu grow tea mainly on the slopes of the Western Ghats and the Nilgiris.
- Tea needs heavy rain and sloping land
- Darjeeling tea has a GI tag
- Tea = Assam, then West Bengal
Which Indian state is the largest producer of jute?
West Bengal is India's largest jute-producing state. The alluvial soil of the Ganga–Brahmaputra delta, warm humid weather and plenty of water suit the crop. Bihar, Assam and Odisha also grow jute but in smaller quantities.
- Jute is called the "golden fibre"
- Most jute mills are on both banks of the Hooghly
- Jute = West Bengal
Which of the following is a Rabi crop?
Wheat is a Rabi crop: it is sown in early winter (October–November) and harvested in March–April. Cotton, bajra and maize are Kharif crops, sown at the start of the monsoon (June–July) and harvested in September–October.
- Rabi: wheat, barley, gram, mustard, pea
- Kharif: rice, maize, bajra, cotton, jute
- Zaid: watermelon, cucumber
| Season | Sowing | Harvest | Crops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kharif | June–July | September–October | Rice, maize, bajra, cotton, jute |
| Rabi | October–November | March–April | Wheat, barley, gram, mustard, pea |
| Zaid | March–June | Early summer | Watermelon, cucumber |
In which state is the Bhilai Steel Plant located?
The Bhilai Steel Plant (SAIL) is in Durg district of Chhattisgarh, built with Soviet help. Rourkela is in Odisha, Bokaro in Jharkhand, and Durgapur and Burnpur (IISCO) in West Bengal.
- Rourkela – German help
- Durgapur – British help
- Bokaro and Bhilai – Soviet help
| Plant | State |
|---|---|
| Bhilai | Chhattisgarh |
| Rourkela | Odisha |
| Bokaro | Jharkhand |
| Durgapur | West Bengal |
| Burnpur (IISCO) | West Bengal |
On which river is the Hirakud Dam in Odisha built?
The Hirakud Dam, near Sambalpur in Odisha, is built on the Mahanadi and is one of the longest earthen dams in the world. Godavari, Krishna and Narmada have other projects, but not Hirakud.
- Bhakra Dam = Sutlej
- Tehri Dam = Bhagirathi
- Sardar Sarovar = Narmada
- Hirakud = Mahanadi
Which is the oldest national park in India?
Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand, set up in 1936 as Hailey National Park, is India's oldest. Kaziranga is in Assam, Ranthambore in Rajasthan and the Sundarbans in West Bengal; none is as old.
- Corbett: tiger conservation, on the Ramganga
- Kaziranga: one-horned rhinoceros
- Sundarbans: Royal Bengal Tiger
- Oldest = Corbett (1936)
Where are Asiatic lions found in the wild in India?
Gir National Park and its surrounding area in Gujarat is the only natural home of the Asiatic lion in India. Kaziranga is known for the one-horned rhinoceros, Periyar (Kerala) for elephants and the Sundarbans for tigers.
- Gir lies in Junagadh district
- The Asiatic lion is an endangered species
- Lion = Gir, Gujarat
According to the 2011 Census, which is the most populous Indian state?
In the 2011 Census, Uttar Pradesh was first with about 19.98 crore people, followed by Maharashtra (about 11.24 crore), Bihar (about 10.41 crore) and West Bengal (about 9.13 crore).
- Bihar had the highest density among states (1,106 per km²)
- Sikkim is the least populous state
| State | Population (2011, crore) |
|---|---|
| Uttar Pradesh | 19.98 |
| Maharashtra | 11.24 |
| Bihar | 10.41 |
| West Bengal | 9.13 |
📊 Topic Analysis
20 mixed India geography questions for WBPSC Clerkship 2024 Part-I.
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