Physical Divisions
Q240. The greatest portion of the Upper Ganga Plain lies in which state?
[RRB NTPC UG CBT-I, 16 June 2026, Shift 1 (2026)]
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) West Bengal
(C) Bihar
(D) Haryana
Answer: (a) Uttar Pradesh
Explanation: The Upper Ganga Plain extends prominently through western and central Uttar Pradesh. Its broad alluvial surfaces are drained by the Ganga and tributaries, while the Shiwalik foothills lie to the north and peninsular uplands rise toward the south.
Coastal Region
Q239. Which river forms a major delta on India’s eastern coastal plain?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 27 March 2026, Shift 2 (2026)]
(A) Narmada
(B) Mahi
(C) Godavari
(D) Tapi
Answer: (c) Godavari
Explanation: The Godavari carries sediment eastward across the Deccan Plateau and deposits it near the Bay of Bengal, building an extensive coastal delta. Narmada, Tapi and Mahi are west-flowing rivers that generally enter the Arabian Sea through estuarine mouths.
Coastal Region
Q238. Which river listed does not form a delta along the eastern coastal plain?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 27 March 2026, Shift 3 (2026)]
(A) Godavari
(B) Tapi
(C) Krishna
(D) Mahanadi
Answer: (b) Tapi
Explanation: The Tapi flows westward from the Satpura uplands to the Arabian Sea and is not an eastern coastal delta-building river. Godavari, Krishna and Mahanadi all drain toward the Bay of Bengal and develop major depositional delta systems.
Glaciers
Q237. Which Karakoram glacier is noted as the longest there and among the longest outside polar regions?
[RRB NTPC Graduate CBT-I, 24 March 2026, Shift 2 (2026)]
(A) Baltoro Glacier
(B) Gangotri Glacier
(C) Pindari Glacier
(D) Siachen Glacier
Answer: (d) Siachen Glacier
Explanation: Siachen lies in the eastern Karakoram and extends roughly 76 kilometres. It is often identified among the world’s longest nonpolar glaciers. Gangotri and Pindari are in Uttarakhand, while Baltoro is another major glacier of the Karakoram region.
Mountain Passes
Q236. Which pass connects Sikkim with Tibet?
[SSC GD Constable, 29 April 2026, Shift 3 (2026)]
(A) Nathu La
(B) Rohtang Pass
(C) Shipki La
(D) Zoji La
Answer: (a) Nathu La
Explanation: Nathu La crosses the eastern Himalayan frontier from Sikkim toward Tibet and was a route of the historic trade network. Shipki La is in Himachal Pradesh, Rohtang links Himalayan valleys there, and Zoji La is toward Ladakh.
Southern and Central Hills
Q235. For which feature were parts of the Western Ghats recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
[SSC GD Constable, 29 April 2026, Shift 3 (2026)]
(A) Mineral resources
(B) Rich biodiversity
(C) Ancient monuments
(D) Cultural significance
Answer: (b) Rich biodiversity
Explanation: The designated Western Ghats property protects exceptional biological diversity, including rare endemic species and varied montane ecosystems. Steep gradients and monsoonal rainfall support many habitats along the long western peninsular mountain chain, beyond its geological significance alone.
Islands
Q234. Great Nicobar Island lies closest to which neighbouring country?
[SSC GD Constable, 30 April 2026, Shift 2 (2026)]
(A) Myanmar
(B) Sri Lanka
(C) Indonesia
(D) Bangladesh
Answer: (c) Indonesia
Explanation: Great Nicobar is India’s southernmost major island in the Nicobar group. Across the waters toward the southeast lie islands of Indonesia, including Sumatra. The Six Degree Channel is an important geographical reference between the Nicobar region and Indonesia.
Southern and Central Hills
Q233. The Western Ghats are also commonly called which hills?
[SSC GD Constable, 5 May 2026, Shift 2 (2026)]
(A) Sahyadri Hills
(B) Vindhya Range
(C) Aravalli Hills
(D) Nilgiri Hills
Answer: (a) Sahyadri Hills
Explanation: Sahyadri is the broad regional name for the Western Ghats, especially familiar in Maharashtra. The Ghats parallel the Arabian Sea side of Peninsular India. Nilgiris are part of the southern complex, while Vindhya and Aravalli lie farther north.
Southern and Central Hills
Q232. Which is considered India’s oldest mountain range?
[SSC GD Constable, 4 May 2026, Shift 3 (2026)]
(A) Himalayas
(B) Aravalli
(C) Western Ghats
(D) Eastern Ghats
Answer: (b) Aravalli
Explanation: The Aravalli system originated from very ancient Precambrian mountain-building activity and has been worn down over immense periods. It is far older than the Cenozoic Himalayan orogeny and survives as subdued ridges and rocky uplands across northwestern India.
Southern and Central Hills
Q231. The Satpura Range is situated in which broad Indian region?
[SSC GD Constable, 29 April 2026, Shift 1 (2026)]
(A) Northern India
(B) Southern India
(C) Central India
(D) Eastern India
Answer: (c) Central India
Explanation: The Satpuras stretch mainly across central India, passing through areas of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and nearby states. They lie south of the Narmada Valley and broadly parallel to the Vindhyas, separating key parts of the central uplands and Deccan.
