Mountain Peaks
Q70. In which state is Nanda Devi situated?
[Jharkhand PSC Prelims (2013)]
(A) Himachal Pradesh
(B) Uttarakhand
(C) Nepal
(D) Sikkim
Answer: (b) Uttarakhand
Explanation: Nanda Devi is a major Himalayan summit in the Chamoli region of Uttarakhand. It rises within the Garhwal Himalaya and lends its name to a protected high-altitude landscape recognized for its exceptional alpine environment.
Northern Mountains
Q69. Put Dhauladhar, Zanskar, Ladakh and Karakoram from south to north.
[Jharkhand PSC Prelims (2013)]
(A) Dhauladhar, Zanskar, Ladakh, Karakoram
(B) Dhauladhar, Ladakh, Karakoram, Zanskar
(C) Karakoram, Ladakh, Dhauladhar, Zanskar
(D) Karakoram, Dhauladhar, Zanskar, Ladakh
Answer: (a) Dhauladhar, Zanskar, Ladakh, Karakoram
Explanation: Dhauladhar is associated with the Lesser Himalaya. North of the principal Himalayan highlands are Zanskar and Ladakh, followed by Karakoram. This ordering is useful for understanding passes, river valleys and high-altitude cold deserts.
Islands
Q68. Lakshadweep is composed of how many islands in the common exam enumeration?
[UPPSC UDA/LDA Prelims (2013)]
(A) 17
(B) 27
(C) 36
(D) 47
Answer: (c) 36
Explanation: Lakshadweep is conventionally described as a group of 36 islands in the Arabian Sea, although only a smaller number are inhabited. Most emerged islands and reefs are coral in origin and lie southwest of the Kerala coast.
Mountain Peaks
Q67. Which of these peaks is the highest in the Nilgiris?
[UPPSC UDA/LDA Prelims (2013)]
(A) Anamudi
(B) Dodda Betta
(C) Mahendragiri
(D) Guru Shikhar
Answer: (b) Dodda Betta
Explanation: Dodda Betta is the highest summit of the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu. Anamudi is higher overall but belongs to another sector of the Western Ghats in Kerala. Guru Shikhar is in Rajasthan’s Aravalli Range.
Northern Mountains
Q66. Which phenomena indicate a youthful folded Himalaya: 1. Deep gorges 2. U-turn rivers 3. Parallel chains 4. Landslide-prone steep slopes?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2012)]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1, 2 and 4 only
(C) 3 and 4 only
(D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: All four reflect the Himalayan mountain belt’s comparatively recent uplift and active tectonics. Rivers cut deep gorges through rising rock, valleys exhibit complex bends, long chains remain parallel, and unstable steep slopes frequently produce landslides.
Southern and Central Hills
Q65. Which peak is the highest in South India?
[UPPCS Prelims (2012)]
(A) Anamudi
(B) Dodda Betta
(C) Amarkantak
(D) Mahendragiri
Answer: (a) Anamudi
Explanation: Anamudi, in Kerala’s Western Ghats, reaches approximately 2,695 metres and is the highest peak of South India. Dodda Betta crowns the Nilgiris but is lower, while Amarkantak and Mahendragiri lie in different physiographic regions.
Plateaus
Q64. The Deccan Trap basalt chiefly formed during which geological period?
[Uttarakhand PSC Prelims (2012)]
(A) Cretaceous
(B) Pleistocene
(C) Carboniferous
(D) Miocene
Answer: (a) Cretaceous
Explanation: Enormous basaltic lava eruptions around the end of the Cretaceous built the Deccan Traps. Multiple lava flows solidified into layered rock, producing a distinctive plateau surface and soils. This volcanic history differs from sedimentary formation of the northern plains.
Northern Mountains
Q63. Which Indian state among these has no Himalayan mountain ranges?
[MPPSC Prelims (2012)]
(A) Uttarakhand
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Sikkim
(D) Himachal Pradesh
Answer: (b) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: Uttar Pradesh consists chiefly of the northern plains and adjoining plateau margins; the Himalayan highlands lie immediately to its north in Uttarakhand and Nepal. Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh are both strongly mountainous Himalayan states.
Mountain Peaks
Q62. Which of the listed Aravalli peaks is tallest?
[RAS Prelims (2012)]
(A) Sajjangarh
(B) Lilagarh
(C) Kumbhalgarh
(D) Taragarh
Answer: (c) Kumbhalgarh
Explanation: Guru Shikhar is the highest summit in the entire Aravalli chain, but it is absent from the given options. Among those listed, Kumbhalgarh is higher than Sajjangarh, Taragarh and Lilagarh.
Northern Mountains
Q61. Himalayan rivers are perennial, and the Himalayas receive southwest-monsoon rain. Which assertion–reason option is correct?
[UPPCS Mains (2011)]
(A) Both true and reason correctly explains assertion
(B) Both true but reason does not correctly explain assertion
(C) Assertion true, reason false
(D) Assertion false, reason true
Answer: (b) Both true but reason does not correctly explain assertion
Explanation: Many major Himalayan rivers receive snowmelt and glacier melt in addition to seasonal precipitation. Their year-round flow is therefore not explained solely by southwest-monsoon rainfall. Both statements can hold, but the proposed reason is insufficient.
