Geomorphology is important part of Geography and its syllabus. Previous Year Question (PYQ) papers are invaluable resources for aspirants preparing for competitive exams like the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examinations. In this article we present important PYQ on Geomorphology.
PYQ on Geomorphology
Q- Consider the following pairs: (2022)
Peak Mountains
- Namcha Barwa Garhwal Himalaya
- Nanda Devi Kumaon Himalaya
- Nokrek Sikkim Himalaya
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 3 only
Answer- Option B
EXPLANATION
Pair 1 is incorrect: Namcha Barwa is not situated in the Garhwal Himalayas. Instead, it is located in the extreme east of the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh and is considered the easternmost point of the Himalayas. The height of Namcha Barwa is approximately 7782 meters, and the Brahmaputra River takes a U-turn upon reaching it.
Pair 2 is correctly matched: The region between the Satluj and Kali rivers is known as the Kumaon Himalayas. Nanda Devi, the second highest mountain in India and the highest entirely within the country, is situated in the Kumaon Himalayas, specifically in the state of Uttarakhand. It lies between the Rishiganga valley to the west and the Goriganga valley to the east, with the surrounding Nanda Devi National Park designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Q- Siachen Glacier is situated to the (2020)
(a) East of Aksai Chin
(b) East of Leh
(c) North of Gilgit
(d) North of Nubra Valley
Answer- Option D
EXPLANATION
The Nubra Valley serves as the entry point to the strategically significant Siachen Glacier and Karakoram Pass. Situated in the northwest, the Karakoram Pass links the valley to Xinjiang, China. The Nubra River, originating from the Siachen Glacier, flows through the Nubra Valley in Ladakh, India, ultimately joining the Shyok River, which is part of the Indus River system.
The Siachen Glacier, located in the Karakoram Range, is the longest glacier in the Karakoram and the second-longest glacier in non-polar regions worldwide. Historically, this region was an integral part of the ancient Silk Route, a prominent trade path connecting China to the Middle East. Often referred to as the “Third Pole,” the extensively glaciated portion of the Karakoram Range in the Indian subcontinent boasts significant geographical importance.
Q- Consider the following pairs: (2020)
River Flows into
- Mekong – Andaman Sea
- Thames – Irish Sea
- Volga Caspian Sea
- Zambezi Indian Ocean
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 4 only
Answer- Option C
EXPLANATION
The Irish Sea is fed by four major rivers: the River Clyde in Scotland, the River Dee in Wales, the River Liffey in the Republic of Ireland, and the River Mersey in England. However, the Thames River empties into the North Sea, making statement 2 incorrect.
On the other hand, the Volga River, Terek River, Ural River, and Mtkvari River flow into the Caspian Sea, validating statement 3. The Mekong River, ranking as the 11th largest river globally with a length of 4880 km, courses through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam before draining into the South China Sea. Therefore, statement 1 is inaccurate.
Lastly, rivers like the Zambezi, Ganges-Brahmaputra, Indus, Jubba, and Murray, as well as the Shatt al-Arab, Wadi Ad Dawasir, and Limpopo, discharge into the Indian Ocean, confirming statement 4.
Q-
| Glacier | River |
| Bandarpunch | Yamuna |
| Bara Shigri | Chenab |
| Milam | Mandakini |
| Siachen | Nubra |
| Zemu | Manas |
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched? (2019)
(a) 1, 2 and 4
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 5
(d) 3 and 5
Answer- Option A
EXPLANATION
Bandarpunch, located in Uttarakhand’s Garhwal division, is a mountain massif within the Sankari Range and lies within the Govind Pashu Vihar National Park and Sanctuary. It serves as the source of the Yamuna River, originating above Yamnotri, on the western end of the massif below White Peak. Hence, pair 1 is accurately matched.
The Bara-Shigri glacier, situated in Lahaul’s Chandra Valley, is the second longest glacier in the Himalayas after Gangotri. The name originates from the Lahaul dialect, where “Bara” means big and “Shigri” means glacier. This glacier feeds the Chenab River. Hence, pair 2 is correctly matched.
Milam Glacier, a significant glacier in the Kumaon Himalayas, lies in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district, approximately 15 kilometers northeast of Nanda Devi. It serves as the source of the Goriganga River.
However, the Mandakini River, often violent during monsoon, originates from the Chorabari glacier near Kedarnath and is fed by the Vasukiganga River at Sonprayag before joining the Alaknanda River at Rudraprayag. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
Siachen Glacier, located in the eastern Karakoram Range, serves as the source of the Nubra River in Ladakh, which ultimately drains into the Shyok River and then into the Indus River. Hence, pair 4 is accurately matched.
Zemu Glacier, the largest glacier in the Eastern Himalaya, is situated at the base of Kangchenjunga in Sikkim, India. It feeds numerous rivers, including the Teesta River. However, Manas River, the largest river system of Bhutan, flows through Tibet, Bhutan, and Assam before joining the Brahmaputra River at Jogighopa. Hence, pair 5 is not correctly matched.
Q- The Earth’s magnetic field has reversed every few hundred thousand years. (2018)
- When the Earth was created more than 4000 million years ago, there was 54% oxygen and no carbon dioxide.
- When living organisms originated, they modified the early atmosphere of the Earth.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer- Option C
EXPLANATION
Scientists have estimated that magnetic reversals have occurred numerous times over the past three billion years. In the last 20 million years, the Earth’s magnetic north and south poles have flipped approximately every 200,000 to 300,000 years, with the most recent major reversal happening around 780,000 years ago. During the Archaean and Proterozoic periods, which spanned from 4.5 to 2.5 billion years ago, the earliest secondary atmosphere consisted of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), water vapor (H2O), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen (N), and hydrogen (H). Despite the presence of carbon dioxide, living organisms that originated during this time did not significantly impact the early atmosphere. Therefore, according to the provided information, statements 1 and 3 are correct.
Q- Consider the following statements: (2018)
- The Barren Island volcano is an active volcano located in the Indian territory.
- Barren Island lies about 140 km east of Great Nicobar.
- The last time the Barren Island volcano erupted was in 1991 and it has remained inactive since then.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 only
(d) 1 and 3
Answer- Option A
EXPLANATION
Barren Island, situated approximately 140 km from Port Blair in the Andaman Sea, hosts the sole active volcano within Indian territory, specifically in the Andaman Islands. Positioned along a volcanic arc linking Sumatra and Myanmar, Barren Island witnessed its most recent eruption in 2017.
Q- Consider the following statements: (2017)
- In India, the Himalayas are spread over five states only.
- Western Ghats are spread over five states only.
- Pulicat Lake is spread over two States only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1 and 3 only
Answer- Option B
EXPLANATION
The Indian Himalayan Region extends across 12 Indian states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, as well as two districts of Assam (Dima Hasao and Karbi Anglong), and Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal. Therefore, statement 1 is inaccurate. The Western Ghats are present in six states: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. Thus, statement 2 is incorrect. Pulicat Lake, the second largest brackish water lake in India, spans two states, namely Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Consequently, statement 3 is correct.
Q- Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar? (2017)
(a) Sumatra
(b) Borneo
(c) Java
(d) Sri Lanka
Answer- Option A
EXPLANATION
Great Nicobar is situated south of the Nicobar Islands within India and is the largest island in the Nicobar archipelago. Sumatra is located to the south of Great Nicobar, making it the closest island, with a distance of 1,192 kilometers separating the two. Therefore, option 1 is accurate. The distance from Great Nicobar to Borneo measures 2,398 kilometers, while the distance to Java is 1,817 kilometers. Additionally, the distance from Great Nicobar to Sri Lanka is approximately 1,437 kilometers.
Q- If you travel by road from Kohima to Kottayam, what is the minimum number of States within India through which you can travel, including the origin and the destination? (2017)
(a) 6
(b) 7
(c) 8
(d) 9
Answer- Option B
EXPLANATION
To journey by road from Kohima to Kottayam, one must traverse through several states within India. Commencing from Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, the route encompasses the states of Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, travelers may proceed through either Tamil Nadu or Andhra Pradesh to reach Kerala, with Kottayam as the final destination. Thus, the minimum number of Indian states traversed, including the origin and destination, is seven.
Q- In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclones do not originate. What is the reason? (2015)
(a) Sea surface temperatures are low
(b) Inter-tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs
(c) Coriolis force is too weak
(d) Absence of land in those regions
Answer- Option B
EXPLANATION
Sea surface temperatures run a shade cooler than the one ideal for tropical cyclone formation. Climatologically high values of vertical wind shear across that basin throughout the year even in summer. Vorticity: Lack of pre-existing centres of rotation in the area. Absence of tropical waves.
The Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITZC), which shifts toward the north in northern summer and toward the south in the southern summer, usually stays at or north of the equator. The tropospheric vertical wind shear is much too strong and there is typically no inter-tropical convergence zone (ITCZ) over the ocean.
Without an ITCZ to provide synoptic vorticity and convergence resulting in large-scale spin and thunderstorm activity as well as having strong wind shear, it becomes very difficult to generate tropical cyclones. ITCZ stays at or near the equator and does not shift southward over the south Atlantic or South Pacific region.
Therefore, these regions do not have the ITCZ over them which is a major cause of the lack of cyclones. Lower sea temperatures are also a reason.
Q- Consider these pairs (2014)
| 1. Cardamom Hills | Coromandel Coast |
| 2. Kaimur Hills | Konkan Coast |
| 3. Mahadeo Hills | Central India |
| 4. Mikir Hills | North-East India |
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 4
Answer- Option C
EXPLANATION
The Cardamom Hills are situated in the states of Kerala and southwest Tamil Nadu, located on the southwestern side of India. This region is known for producing tea, coffee, teak, cardamom, and bamboo, with its highest peak being Anamudi, reaching 2,695 meters (8,842 ft) in height.
The Kaimur Hills constitute the eastern part of the Vindhya Range, spanning across the states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
The Mahadeo Hills are a hill range located in Madhya Pradesh, situated in the northern region of the Satpura Range.
The Mikir Hills are positioned to the south of the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, forming part of the Karbi Plateau in northeastern India, with Dambuchko being its highest peak.
The Coromandel Coast refers to the coastal plain in eastern Tamil Nadu state, bordered by the Utkal Plains to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east, the Kaveri delta to the south, and the Eastern Ghats to the west, covering an area of approximately 22,800 square kilometers.
The Konkan coast lies along the western coastline of India, extending across the western coasts of Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka.
Q- Which one of the following pairs of islands is separated from each other by the ‘Ten Degree Channel’? (2014)
(a) Andaman and Nicobar
(b) Nicobar and Sumatra
(c) Maldives and Lakshadweep
(d) Sumatra and Java
Answer- Option A
EXPLANATION
The Andaman and Nicobar are separated by a water body which is called the Ten-degree channel.
Q- Which of the following phenomena might have influenced the evolution of organisms? (2014)
- Continental drift
- Glacial cycles
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2.
Answer- Option C
EXPLANATION
The theory of continental drift explores the arrangement of continents and oceans on Earth’s surface. According to this theory, all continents were once part of a single landmass known as Pangaea, surrounded by a vast ocean called Panthalassa. Over time, Pangaea began to separate, eventually splitting into two large landmasses known as Laurasia and Gondwanaland, which formed the northern and southern components, respectively. These landmasses continued to fragment into smaller continents, ultimately resulting in the continents as we know them today.
The process of continental drift likely facilitated the movement of certain animal species from one continent to another, while others remained isolated in their respective regions, influencing their evolutionary paths. Additionally, glacial cycles and changes in sea levels resulting from glacial melting could have had significant impacts on species evolution. Organisms may have faced challenges adapting to extreme cold temperatures during glaciations, leading to extinction events. Furthermore, rising sea levels could have altered habitats and ecosystems, further shaping the course of evolution for various species.
Q- Which one of the following pairs is correctly matched? (2013)
Geographical Feature Region
(a) Abyssinian Plateau : Arabia
(b) Atlas Mountains: North-Western Africa
(c) Guiana Highlands: South-Western Africa
(d) Okavango Basin : Patagonia
Answer- Option B
EXPLANATION
The Abyssinian Plateau, also known by various names such as Altipiano Etiopico, Amhara Plateau, Ethiopian Massif, and Ethiopian Plateau, is located in Ethiopia, Africa. It ranges from 1290 to 3000 meters above sea level and is traversed by several rivers, with the Blue Nile being the most prominent, originating from Lake Tana.
The Atlas Mountains, situated in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa, separate the Mediterranean and Atlantic coastlines from the Sahara Desert. Toubkal, standing at 4167 meters, is the highest peak in this range, found in Morocco, although the mountains extend into Algeria and Tunisia as well. The Atlas Mountains are home to indigenous Berber populations.
The Guiana Highlands are positioned north of the Amazon and south of the Orinoco River in South America, spanning parts of Venezuela, the Guianas, Brazil, and Colombia. These highlands feature rolling hilly mountains, low mountains, and tabular plateaus. Mount Roraima, at 2772 meters, marks the highest point in this region.
The Okavango Basin stretches across Angola, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe in southwestern Africa. Named after its primary river, the Okavango River, this basin gives rise to the Okavango Delta in Botswana. The basin is formed by the merging of the Cuito and Cubango rivers, with the Nwako salt pan to the south and the Makdadikgadi salt pan to the southeast.
Also read about UPSC PYQ on Climatology and Oceanography