Islands
Q140. Where are atolls most commonly found among the following Indian regions?
[Jharkhand PSC Prelims (2021)]
(A) Near the Sundarbans
(B) Near the Gulf of Khambhat
(C) Near Lakshadweep
(D) Near Rameswaram
Answer: (c) Near Lakshadweep
Explanation: Lakshadweep is primarily a coral island chain in the Arabian Sea. Many islands are atolls: ring-like reefs that partly or completely enclose lagoons. They differ from the deltaic Sundarbans and most barrier or continental islands near India’s mainland coast.
Southern and Central Hills
Q139. Which range contains the source of the Krishna River?
[SSC CHSL, 8 June 2022, Shift 2, 2021 cycle (2021)]
(A) Satpura Range
(B) Sahyadri Range
(C) Vindhya Range
(D) Eastern Ghats
Answer: (b) Sahyadri Range
Explanation: The Krishna rises near Mahabaleshwar in Maharashtra’s Western Ghats, also called the Sahyadris. Its course travels eastward across the Deccan Plateau toward the Bay of Bengal, draining parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Southern and Central Hills
Q138. Which hill name is not associated with the Western Ghats?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 22 February 2021, Shift 1 (2021)]
(A) Mahendragiri Hills
(B) Nilgiri Hills
(C) Anaimalai Hills
(D) Sahyadri Hills
Answer: (a) Mahendragiri Hills
Explanation: Mahendragiri belongs to the Eastern Ghats of Odisha, whereas Sahyadri, Nilgiri and Anaimalai refer to regions of the Western Ghats. This distinction is useful because the Ghats run along opposite flanks of Peninsular India.
Southern and Central Hills
Q137. Which of the following Indian ranges is popularly called the Blue Mountains?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 11 January 2021, Shift 1 (2021)]
(A) Shiwalik Hills
(B) Garo Hills
(C) Nilgiri Hills
(D) Khasi Hills
Answer: (c) Nilgiri Hills
Explanation: Nilgiri means Blue Mountains and refers to the uplands near the Tamil Nadu–Kerala–Karnataka junction. These hills are part of the southern Western Ghats, with Dodda Betta as their highest peak and important montane grassland and forest habitats.
Plateaus
Q136. Hyderabad is located on which Indian plateau?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 8 April 2021, Shift 2 (2021)]
(A) Meghalaya Plateau
(B) Deccan Plateau
(C) Chota Nagpur Plateau
(D) Malwa Plateau
Answer: (b) Deccan Plateau
Explanation: Hyderabad in Telangana stands on the Deccan Plateau, a large expanse of ancient peninsular highlands. The city occupies rocky granitic terrain rather than the northern alluvial plain or the eastern Chota Nagpur and northeastern Meghalaya plateau systems.
Plateaus
Q135. Which statement about black soil and Indian relief is correct?
[RRB NTPC CBT-I, 25 January 2021, Shift 2 (2021)]
(A) Black soil covers much of the Deccan Plateau
(B) Black soil is the least fertile
(C) Black soil covers most of the Gangetic Plain
(D) Black soils are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus
Answer: (a) Black soil covers much of the Deccan Plateau
Explanation: Black cotton or regur soils are closely linked with the weathering of basaltic Deccan Trap rocks. They retain moisture and support crops including cotton, while alluvial rather than black soils dominate much of the northern Gangetic plains.
Valleys
Q134. According to the WBCS question’s range pairs, between which two ranges lies the Kashmir Valley?
[WBCS Prelims, 22 August 2021 (2021)]
(A) Zaskar and Pir Panjal
(B) Zaskar and Karakoram
(C) Karakoram and Shiwalik
(D) Zaskar and Shiwalik
Answer: (a) Zaskar and Pir Panjal
Explanation: The Kashmir basin lies between the Pir Panjal hills to the southwest and the high Himalayan mountain belt to the northeast, often associated with the Zanskar sector in regional descriptions. The Karakoram lies considerably farther north.
Northern Mountains
Q133. Which of the following is the youngest mountain system?
[UPPCS Prelims (2020)]
(A) Himadri
(B) Aravalli
(C) Western Ghats
(D) Vindhya
Answer: (a) Himadri
Explanation: The Himalayas are youthful fold mountains created by collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Himadri is part of that system. The Aravalli, Vindhya and Western Ghats belong to the much older Peninsular landmass or its margins.
Glaciers
Q132. Siachen Glacier lies in which relative position?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2020)]
(A) East of Aksai Chin
(B) East of Leh
(C) North of Gilgit
(D) North of Nubra Valley
Answer: (d) North of Nubra Valley
Explanation: Siachen lies in the eastern Karakoram, north of the Nubra Valley in Ladakh. Meltwater ultimately contributes to the Nubra–Shyok–Indus drainage. Its strategic setting is also associated with the Saltoro Ridge, west of the glacier.
Mountain Passes
Q131. Nathu La connects India with which neighbouring country?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 20 August 2021, Shift 2, 2020 cycle (2020)]
(A) Nepal
(B) Bangladesh
(C) Bhutan
(D) China
Answer: (d) China
Explanation: Nathu La lies in eastern Sikkim on the historical route toward Tibet, now administered by China. Its frontier location gives it strategic and trade significance. Other well-known trans-Himalayan passes include Shipki La, Lipulekh and Bomdi La.
