Southern and Central Hills
Q40. The Narmada and Tapi river systems occur on opposing sides of which hills?
[UPPCS Prelims (2007)]
(A) Vindhya
(B) Satpura
(C) Rajmahal
(D) Aravalli
Answer: (b) Satpura
Explanation: The Satpura uplands lie broadly between the west-flowing Narmada river to the north and Tapi river to the south. Both are associated with important rift-valley drainage structures within central Peninsular India.
Valleys
Q39. Match Markha, Dzukou, Sangla and Yumthang valleys with Ladakh, Nagaland, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim.
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2006)]
(A) Himachal, Nagaland, Ladakh, Sikkim
(B) Ladakh, Sikkim, Himachal, Nagaland
(C) Himachal, Sikkim, Ladakh, Nagaland
(D) Ladakh, Nagaland, Himachal, Sikkim
Answer: (d) Ladakh, Nagaland, Himachal, Sikkim
Explanation: Markha Valley lies in Ladakh, Dzukou on the Nagaland–Manipur highlands, Sangla in Himachal Pradesh and Yumthang in Sikkim. These valleys occur in widely separated Himalayan and northeastern physiographic settings.
Mountain Passes
Q38. Match Bum La, Jelep La, Muling La and Shipki La to Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.
[UPPCS Mains (2006)]
(A) Arunachal, Himachal, Sikkim, Uttarakhand
(B) Arunachal, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal
(C) Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Himachal, Arunachal
(D) Sikkim, Arunachal, Uttarakhand, Himachal
Answer: (b) Arunachal, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal
Explanation: Bum La is on the Arunachal frontier, Jelep La is associated with Sikkim, Muling La with Uttarakhand and Shipki La with Himachal Pradesh. The passes occur across different longitudinal sections of the Indian Himalayan border.
Mountain Passes
Q37. Nathu La Pass is found in which Indian state?
[UPPCS Prelims (2006)]
(A) Arunachal Pradesh
(B) Assam
(C) Meghalaya
(D) Sikkim
Answer: (d) Sikkim
Explanation: Nathu La lies east of Gangtok in Sikkim and opens into the Chumbi Valley of Tibet. It is a historic border trade route in the eastern Himalaya and should not be confused with passes in Arunachal Pradesh.
Physical Divisions
Q36. Artesian wells are notably associated with which Uttarakhand foothill belt?
[Uttarakhand PSC Mains (2006)]
(A) Bhabar
(B) Tarai
(C) Shiwalik Hills
(D) Deccan Plateau
Answer: (b) Tarai
Explanation: The Tarai belt lies south of the permeable Bhabar deposits and often has a high groundwater table. Confined groundwater conditions can create artesian wells. The zone is wetter and more marshy than the gravel-dominated Bhabar belt.
Northern Mountains
Q35. Where does the Lesser Himalaya lie relative to the other Himalayan belts?
[Uttarakhand PSC Prelims (2006)]
(A) Between Trans-Himalaya and Great Himalaya
(B) Between Shiwalik and Great Himalaya
(C) Between Trans-Himalaya and Shiwalik
(D) South of the Outer Himalaya
Answer: (b) Between Shiwalik and Great Himalaya
Explanation: The Lesser, or Middle, Himalaya lies north of the Shiwaliks and south of the Greater Himalaya. Ranges such as Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal belong broadly to this belt. This north–south arrangement is fundamental to Himalayan physiography.
Southern and Central Hills
Q34. Which statement about Western Ghats, Anamudi, Tapi and the Narmada–Tapi valleys is incorrect?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2005)]
(A) Western Ghats are generally higher in their northern section
(B) Anamudi is the Western Ghats’ highest peak
(C) Tapi lies south of the Satpuras
(D) Narmada and Tapi follow old rift valleys
Answer: (a) Western Ghats are generally higher in their northern section
Explanation: The Western Ghats attain especially high elevations in their southern sector, including Anamudi. The Tapi lies south of the Satpura range, and the Narmada and Tapi are associated with ancient structural troughs. Thus the north-is-higher claim is false.
Valleys
Q33. Consider Silent Valley: 1. It lies in Nallamalai. 2. Pathrakkadavu hydropower was proposed nearby. 3. Kunthi River rises in the valley’s rainforest. What is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (2005)]
(A) 1 and 3
(B) 2 only
(C) 2 and 3
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (c) 2 and 3
Explanation: Silent Valley National Park lies in Kerala’s Western Ghats, not the Nallamalai range of the Eastern Ghats. The Kunthipuzha runs through its rainforest, and a hydroelectric project was proposed nearby. Thus the last two statements are correct.
Islands
Q32. What separates the Andaman and Nicobar island groups?
[UPPCS Prelims (2005)]
(A) Ten Degree Channel
(B) Palk Strait
(C) Eight Degree Channel
(D) Nine Degree Channel
Answer: (a) Ten Degree Channel
Explanation: The Ten Degree Channel is the wide marine passage between the Andaman group to the north and Nicobar Islands to the south, approximately along 10°N. The Eight and Nine Degree channels relate instead to the Lakshadweep–Minicoy region.
Coastal Region
Q31. India’s territorial sea normally extends how far from its baseline?
[UPPCS Mains (2005)]
(A) 3 nautical miles
(B) 6 nautical miles
(C) 12 nautical miles
(D) 24 nautical miles
Answer: (c) 12 nautical miles
Explanation: India’s territorial sea extends up to 12 nautical miles from the legally defined baseline. This should not be confused with the 24-nautical-mile contiguous zone or the much broader exclusive economic zone that can extend up to 200 nautical miles.
