Indian Geography Mixed Quiz: WBPSC Clerkship 2024
A little practice. A step forward.
20 mixed questions on the geography of India, with explanations.
Through how many Indian states does the Tropic of Cancer pass?
The Tropic of Cancer (23°30′ N) crosses 8 states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. So 6, 7 and 9 are wrong.
- The line lies at 23°30′ N
- In West Bengal it passes through districts such as Purulia, Bankura and Nadia
- Odisha and Bihar are not on the list
- West to east: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram
| No. | State |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gujarat |
| 2 | Rajasthan |
| 3 | Madhya Pradesh |
| 4 | Chhattisgarh |
| 5 | Jharkhand |
| 6 | West Bengal |
| 7 | Tripura |
| 8 | Mizoram |
Which is the largest Indian state by area?
Rajasthan covers about 3,42,239 sq km, more than any other state. Madhya Pradesh is second and Maharashtra third. Uttar Pradesh is largest by population, not by area.
- Order by area: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
- The smallest state is Goa
- Largest by population (UP) and by area (Rajasthan) are different
Which is the longest river of Peninsular India?
The Godavari is about 1465 km long, the longest river of Peninsular India, also called the "Dakshin Ganga". The Krishna (about 1400 km) is second. The longest river of India overall is the Ganga.
- The Godavari falls into the Bay of Bengal
- Source: Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra
- The Narmada flows west into the Arabian Sea
- Dakshin Ganga = Godavari
| River | Length (km, approx.) |
|---|---|
| Godavari | 1465 |
| Krishna | 1400 |
| Narmada | 1312 |
| Mahanadi | 860 |
| Kaveri | 800 |
Lengths of peninsular rivers
In which state is Chilika, India's largest brackish-water lagoon?
Chilika lies on the Bay of Bengal coast in the Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha. It is India's largest coastal lagoon. Pulicat, on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border, is a different lagoon.
- Fresh river water and salt sea water mix in Chilika
- It is a Ramsar site
- Pulicat (AP-Tamil Nadu) is the second largest lagoon
Which is the largest freshwater lake in India?
Wular Lake in Jammu and Kashmir is known as the largest freshwater lake in India. Sambhar (Rajasthan) is the largest inland saltwater lake. Loktak is in Manipur and Dal in Srinagar.
- Wular is fed by the Jhelum
- Sambhar = largest inland salt lake
- Dal is famous but not the largest
From which rock is the black (regur) soil of the Deccan formed?
Black soil forms from the weathering of basalt in the Deccan lava region. It retains moisture well, which makes it ideal for cotton. Red soil usually comes from granite and gneiss.
- Black soil is also called regur
- Best for cotton, hence "black cotton soil"
- Red soil comes from granite-gneiss, not basalt
Which river is called the "Sorrow of Bihar"?
The Kosi descends from Nepal into Bihar, often shifts its course and causes severe floods, so it is called the "Sorrow of Bihar". The Gandak and Ghaghara also flood, but this name belongs to the Kosi.
- The Kosi is a tributary of the Ganga
- It carries heavy silt and shifts its channel
- The Damodar was called the "Sorrow of Bengal"
- Bihar = Kosi, Bengal (earlier) = Damodar
| River | Known as "Sorrow of" |
|---|---|
| Kosi | Bihar |
| Damodar | Bengal (formerly) |
| Brahmaputra | Assam |
Which is the highest peak of the Western Ghats?
Anamudi in Kerala (about 2695 m) is the highest peak of the Western Ghats and of South India. Doddabetta is the highest in the Nilgiris but lower than Anamudi. Mahendragiri belongs to the Eastern Ghats.
- Anamudi is in Idukki district, Kerala
- Mahendragiri is in the Eastern Ghats
- Doddabetta tops the Nilgiris, not the Western Ghats
What is the hot, dry local wind of summer in the plains of north India called?
"Loo" is the intensely hot, dry wind that blows over the north and north-west plains on summer afternoons. Kalbaisakhi is a thunderstorm, mango showers fall in Kerala and Karnataka, and the Chinook is a North American wind.
- Loo is strongest in May-June
- Kalbaisakhi is the Baisakh-month storm of West Bengal
- Kalbaisakhi is a storm, not a dry hot wind
Which is the longest national highway of India, running from Srinagar to Kanyakumari?
NH 44 runs from Srinagar to Kanyakumari for about 3,745 km, the longest national highway in India (formerly NH 7). NH 48 serves the Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai side and NH 19 is the Delhi-Kolkata route.
- NH 44 is the north-south corridor from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu
- NH 19 is Delhi-Kolkata
- Old NH 7 and new NH 44 are the same road
Which meridian, passing through Mirzapur, is used for Indian Standard Time (IST)?
India's standard meridian is 82°30′ E, which passes near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. IST is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT (82.5 × 4 min = 330 min).
- Each 1° of longitude equals 4 minutes
- IST = GMT + 5:30
- 82°30′ is the chosen standard meridian only
On which river are the Jog Falls situated?
The Sharavati river forms the Jog Falls in the Shivamogga area of Karnataka. The Shivanasamudra falls are on the Kaveri. The Sharavati drains into the Arabian Sea.
- Jog Falls is also called Gersoppa
- The Sharavati flows west
- Shivanasamudra is on the Kaveri, not Jog
Which Indian state has the longest coastline on the mainland?
Gujarat's coastline is about 1600 km, longer than any other state's. Andhra Pradesh is second. The question considers only the mainland, not island territories.
- Andhra Pradesh follows Gujarat
- West Bengal has a comparatively short coast
- Tamil Nadu's coast is long but shorter than Gujarat's
In the delta of which rivers is the Sundarbans located?
The Sundarbans lie in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna delta, spread over India and Bangladesh. It is one of the world's largest mangrove forests and home to the Royal Bengal Tiger. The other deltas belong to southern and western rivers.
- The Indian part is in South and North 24 Parganas, West Bengal
- A UNESCO World Heritage Site
- It is part of the world's largest delta
Which river flows west through a rift valley and falls into the Arabian Sea?
The Narmada (and the Tapi) flow west through the rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges and reach the Arabian Sea. The Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna flow east into the Bay of Bengal.
- The Narmada rises at Amarkantak
- Narmada and Tapi form estuaries, not deltas
- Most large peninsular rivers flow east; Narmada-Tapi are exceptions
Which is the highest peak of the Aravalli range?
Guru Shikhar on Mount Abu in Rajasthan (about 1722 m) is the highest peak of the Aravallis. Dhupgarh is the highest in the Satpura range (Madhya Pradesh). Doddabetta belongs to the Nilgiris and Mahendragiri to the Eastern Ghats.
- The Aravalli is among the oldest fold mountains of India
- It stretches from Delhi to Gujarat
- Dhupgarh is in the Satpura, not the Aravalli
| Range | Highest peak |
|---|---|
| Aravalli | Guru Shikhar |
| Satpura | Dhupgarh |
| Western Ghats | Anamudi |
| Nilgiris | Doddabetta |
| Eastern Ghats | Mahendragiri |
What is the Brahmaputra called in Tibet?
In Tibet the Brahmaputra is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo (Tsangpo). In Arunachal Pradesh it is the Siang or Dihang, and in Bangladesh the Jamuna. The Padma is a distributary of the Ganga.
- Source: Chemayungdung glacier near Mansarovar
- It enters India in Arunachal Pradesh
- Siang is the Arunachal name, not the Tibetan one
- Tibet = Tsangpo, Arunachal = Siang, Assam = Brahmaputra, Bangladesh = Jamuna
| Region | Name |
|---|---|
| Tibet | Yarlung Tsangpo |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Siang / Dihang |
| Assam | Brahmaputra |
| Bangladesh | Jamuna |
Which channel separates the Andaman and Nicobar groups of islands?
The Ten Degree Channel, along 10° N, separates the Andamans from the Nicobars. The Palk Strait lies between India and Sri Lanka, the Duncan Passage between South and Little Andaman, and the Eight Degree Channel between Minicoy and the Maldives.
- Ten Degree Channel lies at 10° N
- Palk Strait is between India and Sri Lanka
- Duncan Passage is within the Andamans, not toward the Nicobars
| Channel | Between |
|---|---|
| Palk Strait | India and Sri Lanka |
| Ten Degree Channel | Andaman and Nicobar |
| Duncan Passage | South and Little Andaman |
| Eight Degree Channel | Minicoy and Maldives |
Which is the most widespread soil in India by area?
Alluvial soil covers roughly 40% of the country. It is found in the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra plains and in coastal deltas. It is very fertile and best for rice and wheat.
- The most widespread and fertile soil
- Formed from river-borne silt
- Black soil is limited to the Deccan and covers less area
| Soil | Main region | Suitable crops |
|---|---|---|
| Alluvial | Northern plains, deltas | Rice, wheat, sugarcane |
| Black | Deccan | Cotton |
| Red | South and east plateau | Millets, pulses |
| Laterite | Western Ghats, Meghalaya | Cashew, tea, coffee |
Where is Indira Point, the southernmost point of India, located?
Indira Point lies at the southern tip of Great Nicobar Island in the Nicobar group (about 6°45′ N). Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of the mainland. So Kanyakumari is not the southernmost point overall.
- Indira Point is in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
- The mainland's southernmost point is Kanyakumari
- Mainland vs whole country give different answers
📊 Topic Analysis
20 mixed questions on the geography of India, with explanations.
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