Southern and Central Hills
Q20. What is the common name of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra and Karnataka?
[44th BPSC Prelims (2000)]
(A) Nilgiri
(B) Sahyadri
(C) Deccan Plateau
(D) Maikal
Answer: (b) Sahyadri
Explanation: Sahyadri is a traditional name for the Western Ghats, especially across Maharashtra and Karnataka. The Nilgiris are a southern section near the three-state junction, whereas Deccan Plateau describes the broader upland to the east.
Northern Mountains
Q19. Which belt forms the foothills or outermost Himalaya?
[43rd BPSC Prelims (1999)]
(A) Trans-Himalaya
(B) Shiwalik
(C) Great Himalaya
(D) Aravalli
Answer: (b) Shiwalik
Explanation: The Shiwalik or Outer Himalaya is the southernmost major Himalayan range. It consists largely of geologically younger sediments transported from higher ranges. Longitudinal valleys called duns can occur between the Shiwalik and Lesser Himalayan belts.
Valleys
Q18. Between which ranges does the Kullu Valley lie?
[UPPCS Prelims (1999)]
(A) Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal
(B) Ranjoti and Nag Tibba
(C) Ladakh and Pir Panjal
(D) Middle Himalaya and Shiwalik
Answer: (a) Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal
Explanation: Kullu Valley lies in Himachal Pradesh between Dhauladhar and Pir Panjal highlands. It is a well-known Himalayan valley along the Beas drainage and should not be confused with Kashmir’s larger valley or Ladakh’s cold-desert basins.
Physical Divisions
Q17. Paleomagnetic evidence indicates that the Indian landmass migrated primarily in which direction?
[UPPCS Prelims (1998)]
(A) Northward
(B) Southward
(C) Eastward
(D) Westward
Answer: (a) Northward
Explanation: India was once attached to Gondwanaland in the Southern Hemisphere. After continental breakup it drifted northward and ultimately collided with Eurasia, producing the Himalayan mountain system. Remanent magnetism in rocks provides evidence for earlier plate positions.
Physical Divisions
Q16. Match Deccan Traps, Western Ghats, Aravalli and Narmada–Tapi deposits with their geological periods. Which coded sequence is correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (1997)]
(A) Cretaceous-Eocene, Pleistocene, late Cenozoic, Cambrian
(B) Cretaceous-Eocene, late Cenozoic, Precambrian, Pleistocene
(C) Precambrian, late Cenozoic, Cretaceous-Eocene, Cambrian
(D) Late Cenozoic, Cambrian, Precambrian, Pleistocene
Answer: (b) Cretaceous-Eocene, late Cenozoic, Precambrian, Pleistocene
Explanation: The examination associated Deccan basalt with Cretaceous–Eocene activity, the Western Ghats with later Cenozoic development, Aravalli rocks with Precambrian history and Narmada–Tapi alluvium with Pleistocene deposits. Different landforms thus record widely separated geologic eras.
Northern Mountains
Q15. Shiwalik sediments were accumulated chiefly during which geological era?
[42nd BPSC Prelims (1997)]
(A) Eozoic
(B) Palaeozoic
(C) Mesozoic
(D) Cenozoic
Answer: (d) Cenozoic
Explanation: The Shiwalik Group consists largely of Cenozoic foothill sediments carried from the uplifting Himalayas. Their relatively young age contrasts with the ancient crystalline terrain of Peninsular India. Folding later helped create the Outer Himalayan relief belt.
Islands
Q14. On which Andaman island is Saddle Peak located?
[UPSC CSE Prelims (1996)]
(A) Great Nicobar
(B) Middle Andaman
(C) Little Andaman
(D) North Andaman
Answer: (d) North Andaman
Explanation: Saddle Peak stands on North Andaman Island and is the highest summit of the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago. It should not be confused with Mount Thuillier, which is in the Nicobar sector.
Plateaus
Q13. The extra-peninsular mountain belt of India formed mainly in which era?
[41st BPSC Prelims (1996)]
(A) Eozoic
(B) Palaeozoic
(C) Mesozoic
(D) Cenozoic
Answer: (d) Cenozoic
Explanation: The Himalayas are part of the younger extra-peninsular mountain system that formed through Cenozoic collision and uplift. The Peninsular shield, meanwhile, preserves much older rock formations and deeply denuded relief.
Physical Divisions
Q12. How many broad natural divisions of India did the cited classification recognize?
[RAS Prelims (1996)]
(A) Four
(B) Six
(C) Seven
(D) Eight
Answer: (a) Four
Explanation: Some classical geography classifications group India into four broad natural regions: northern mountains, great plains, peninsular plateau, and coasts with islands. Other educational schemes divide the country into six major physiographic units, explaining differing classifications.
Mountain Peaks
Q11. Who was the first Indian woman to climb Mount Everest?
[UPPCS Prelims (1996)]
(A) Bachendri Pal
(B) Dicky Dolma
(C) Santosh Yadav
(D) P. T. Usha
Answer: (a) Bachendri Pal
Explanation: Bachendri Pal reached Mount Everest’s summit in 1984 and became the first Indian woman to achieve that feat. Santosh Yadav later became notable for summiting Everest twice. Both are associated with India’s Himalayan mountaineering history.
