Plateaus
Q120. Which Bihar district lacks Dharwar-type geological formations among the options?
[65th BPSC Prelims (2019)]
(A) Munger
(B) Rohtas
(C) Jamui
(D) Nawada
Answer: (b) Rohtas
Explanation: Rohtas is mainly associated with Vindhyan formations, while Dharwar-age rocks occur in parts of southeastern Bihar, including areas around Munger, Jamui and Nawada. Identifying the geological province distinguishes older crystalline plateau terrain from Vindhyan sedimentary strata.
Mountain Ranges
Q119. Which central Indian hill sequence runs from west to east?
[UPPCS Prelims (2019)]
(A) Maikal–Satpura–Mahadeo–Chotanagpur
(B) Satpura–Mahadeo–Maikal–Chotanagpur
(C) Maikal–Mahadeo–Satpura–Chotanagpur
(D) Satpura–Mahadeo–Chotanagpur–Maikal
Answer: (b) Satpura–Mahadeo–Maikal–Chotanagpur
Explanation: The central Indian highlands grade from the Satpura region through the Mahadeo and Maikal hills to the Chotanagpur Plateau farther east. The geographic sequence tracks older peninsular uplands across Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
Glaciers
Q118. Which glacier–river pairs are correctly matched: 1. Bandarpunch–Yamuna 2. Bara Shigri–Chenab 3. Milam–Mandakini 4. Siachen–Nubra 5. Zemu–Manas?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2019)]
(A) 1, 2 and 4
(B) 1, 3 and 4
(C) 2 and 5
(D) 3 and 5
Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 4
Explanation: Bandarpunch contributes to the Yamuna headwaters, Bara Shigri drains toward the Chenab, and Siachen feeds the Nubra system. Milam is linked to the Goriganga, not Mandakini, while Zemu drains the Teesta system rather than the Manas.
Southern and Central Hills
Q117. Which among these hills is traditionally known as the Blue Mountains?
[SSC MTS, 21 August 2019, Shift 1 (2019)]
(A) Khasi Hills
(B) Anaimalai Hills
(C) Cardamom Hills
(D) Nilgiri Hills
Answer: (d) Nilgiri Hills
Explanation: The Nilgiris, literally blue mountains, form part of the southern Indian highlands near Ooty. Their distinctive high-altitude ecosystems include grasslands and shola forests. Khasi hills are in Meghalaya, while Anaimalai and Cardamom hills are other southern ranges.
Mountain Passes
Q116. Which pass is a well-known tourist destination in Himachal Pradesh?
[SSC CGL, 6 June 2019, Shift 2 (2019)]
(A) Rohtang Pass
(B) Mintaka Pass
(C) Chang La Pass
(D) Aghil Pass
Answer: (a) Rohtang Pass
Explanation: Rohtang Pass lies above the Kullu Valley near Manali and crosses the Pir Panjal section of the Himalayas toward Lahaul. The other passes are in high Karakoram or Ladakh regions rather than Himachal’s familiar Manali tourist circuit.
Mountain Passes
Q115. Which Sikkim–Tibet pass reopened for trade in 2006 after decades of closure?
[SSC CGL, 6 June 2019, Shift 1 (2019)]
(A) Lanak La
(B) Imis La
(C) Pensi La
(D) Nathu La
Answer: (d) Nathu La
Explanation: Nathu La historically served caravans along routes connecting Sikkim and Tibet. Cross-border trade through the pass resumed in 2006 after prolonged closure following the 1962 conflict. Pensi La belongs to the Zanskar region rather than Sikkim.
Mountain Passes
Q114. Which mountain pass and location are incorrectly paired?
[SSC MTS, 7 August 2019, Shift 2 (2019)]
(A) Nathu La – Sikkim
(B) Shipki La – Arunachal Pradesh
(C) Zoji La – Ladakh region
(D) Mana – Uttarakhand
Answer: (b) Shipki La – Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation: Shipki La lies in Himachal Pradesh near the Sutlej valley and the Tibet frontier, not Arunachal Pradesh. Nathu La is in Sikkim, Mana in Uttarakhand, and Zoji La links Kashmir toward Ladakh.
Mountain Passes
Q113. Which pass was selected as the highest motorable among these in the historical paper?
[SSC GD Constable, 1 March 2019, Shift 1 (2019)]
(A) Jelep La
(B) Nathu La
(C) Shipki La
(D) Dungri La
Answer: (d) Dungri La
Explanation: Dungri La, also called Mana Pass in some descriptions, is a very high motorable pass near Uttarakhand’s India–Tibet border. Records for highest motorable roads are revised as new routes open, so the answer belongs to the paper’s timeframe and options.
Plateaus
Q112. Which hill group is NOT part of the Meghalaya Plateau?
[64th BPSC Prelims (2018)]
(A) Bhuban Hills
(B) Garo Hills
(C) Khasi Hills
(D) Jaintia Hills
Answer: (a) Bhuban Hills
Explanation: The Meghalaya Plateau contains the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills. Bhuban Hills lie farther southeast in the Barak Valley sector. The plateau is an outlying part of the Peninsular shield, separated from the main block by intervening lowlands.
Islands
Q111. Between which two countries lies the Palk Strait?
[MPPSC Prelims (2018)]
(A) India and Pakistan
(B) India and Bangladesh
(C) India and Sri Lanka
(D) India and Maldives
Answer: (c) India and Sri Lanka
Explanation: The Palk Strait is the shallow waterway between southeastern India and northern Sri Lanka. Along with Palk Bay and Adam’s Bridge shoals, it forms a distinctive coastal zone between the Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mannar.
