 |
| UPSC Prelims Geography Questions 2025 |
UPSC Prelims Geography Questions 2025: Analysis, Answers, and Explanations
Geography remains a high-yield and conceptually significant section of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination (GS Paper I). The 2025 examination maintained the subject's balanced representation, with a mix of questions spanning Physical Geography, Indian Geography, and the intersection with Environmental Studies and Current Affairs. This analysis breaks down key questions from the 2025 paper, providing detailed explanations to aid aspirants in grasping the foundational concepts and contemporary linkages crucial for the exam.
Q.1. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: In January, in the Northern Hemisphere, the isotherms bend equatorward while crossing the landmasses, and poleward while crossing the oceans.
Statement II: In January, the air over the oceans is warmer than that over the landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
[A] Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
[B] Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
[C] Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
[D] Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
Answer: [A]
Explanation
- Statement I is correct.
- Statement II is correct and explains Statement I.
- The reason for this bending is the differential heating and cooling of land and water. Water has a higher specific heat capacity than land, meaning it takes more energy to change its temperature. Therefore, during the winter months (January), the oceans cool down much more slowly than the landmasses, resulting in the air over the oceans being significantly warmer than the air over the landmasses.
- This temperature contrast (warmer oceans, colder land) is precisely what causes the isotherms to bend as described in Statement I. The isotherms bend towards the poles over the warmer oceans and towards the equator over the colder land.
Source: NCERT-Class 11- Fundamentals of Physical Geography- Chapter 9: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature- Page 79
Q.2. Consider the following statements about turmeric during the year 2022-23:
I. India is the largest producer and exporter of turmeric in the world.
II. More than 30 varieties of turmeric are grown in India.
III. Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are major turmeric producing States in India.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] I and II only
[B] II and III only
[C] I and III only
[D] I, II and III
Answer and Explanation
Answer: D
Explanation:
Option D is the correct answer. All three statements are correct.
- The Government of India in 2023 constituted the National Turmeric Board to coordinate efforts to enhance production, promote exports, encourage value addition, and improve income for turmeric farmers.
- Statement I is correct. According to official data for the year 2022–23, India alone accounted for over 75% of global turmeric production, making it the largest producer. Furthermore, India is also the top exporter of turmeric, accounting for over 62% of the global turmeric trade.
- Statement II is correct. India’s diverse soil types and climatic conditions enable the cultivation of more than 30 known varieties of turmeric across various states, with each variety differing in aspects such as curcumin content, aroma, and colour.
- Statement III is correct. Maharashtra, Telangana, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu are consistently among the top turmeric producers in India.
Source:
Q.3. Consider the following pairs:
| Region | Country | |
| I. | Mallorca | Italy |
| II. | Normandy | Spain |
| III. | Sardinia | France |
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Options:
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All the three
[D] None
Answer: [D] None
Explanation:
- Pair I (Mallorca - Italy): Incorrect. Mallorca is the largest island in the Balearic Islands archipelago and belongs to Spain, not Italy.
- Pair II (Normandy - Spain): Incorrect. Normandy is a historical region located in northern France, known for the D-Day landings, not Spain.
- Pair III (Sardinia - France): Incorrect. Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean and is an autonomous region of Italy, not France.
Since all three pairs are incorrectly matched, the correct answer is None.
Source:
https://www.mallorca.es/en/about-mallorca https://en.normandie-tourisme.fr/about-normandy/some-landmarks/where-is-normandy/#:~:text=Where%20is%20Normandy%3F,beautiful%20landscapes%20and%20picturesque%20towns - https://www.history.com/articles/d-day
- https://www.italia.it/en/sardinia/guide-history-facts#origins-and-history-of-sardinia
Q.4. Consider the following pairs :
| Country | Resource - Rich in |
| I. Botswana | Diamond |
| II. Chile | Lithium |
| III. Indonesia | Nickel |
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
[A] Only one
[B] Only two
[C] All the three
[D] None
Answer: [C]
Explanation:
All three pairs are correctly matched.
- Pair I (Botswana - Diamond): Correct. Botswana is a leading global producer of diamonds by value. The discovery and efficient management of these resources, often in partnership with companies like De Beers, have been central to the country's economic stability and growth.
- Pair II (Chile - Lithium): Correct. Chile is a vital component of the "Lithium Triangle" (along with Argentina and Bolivia) and possesses some of the world's largest reserves of lithium, primarily extracted from its vast salt flats (e.g., Salar de Atacama). Lithium is essential for electric vehicle and electronics batteries.
- Pair III (Indonesia - Nickel): Correct. Indonesia is the world's largest producer and holder of significant reserves of nickel. This resource is crucial for global supply chains, especially for stainless steel and electric vehicle batteries.
Source:
- Botswana's Diamond Industry:
https://www.thehindu.com/business/botswana-the-country-with-the-biggest-diamonds-gets-an-improved-10-year-deal-with-miner-de-beers/article69265986.ece - Chile and Lithium:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1996380 - Indonesia and Nickel:
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/mining/booming-indonesian-nickel-industry-faces-challenges-ahead
Q.5. Consider the following countries:
I. United Kingdom
II. Denmark
III. New Zealand
IV. Australia
V. Brazil
How many of the above-countries have more than four time zones?
[A] All the five
[B] Only four
[C] Only three
[D] Only two
Answer
[B] Only four
Explanation
Option [B] Only four is the correct answer. The countries with more than four time zones are the United Kingdom, Denmark, New Zealand, and Australia (four countries). Brazil has only four time zones.
- I. United Kingdom (UK): Has 9 time zones, including its overseas territories (e.g., Pitcairn Islands, British Indian Ocean Territory).
- II. Denmark: Has 5 time zones, primarily due to the inclusion of Greenland and its time zones.
- III. New Zealand: Has 5 time zones, covering its main territory and associated islands (e.g., Cook Islands, Chatham Islands, Niue, Tokelau).
- IV. Australia: Has 9 time zones, covering its mainland and external territories (e.g., Heard and McDonald Islands, Christmas Island, Norfolk Island).
- V. Brazil: Has 4 time zones. Due to its vast size, it spans four time zones (UTC-02:00 to UTC-05:00), but this is not more than four.
Sources
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/countries-with-highest-number-of-time-zones/photostory/109942778.cms?picid=109942873 - https://www.worldatlas.com/time-zones/10-countries-with-the-most-time-zones.html
Q.6. The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35 degree Celsius Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above-said report?
I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts.
II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[A] I only
[B] II only
[C] Both I and II
[D] Neither I nor II
Answer: [C] Both I and II
Explanation
The correct option is (C), as both statements accurately reflect the implications of the rising wet-bulb temperature (WBT) in India, which is linked to broader climate change impacts.
What is Wet-Bulb Temperature?
Wet-bulb temperature is a measure of heat stress that combines dry air temperature and humidity. It represents the lowest temperature to which air can be cooled by the evaporation of water.
- When the WBT is 35°C, it indicates an extremely dangerous condition. At this point, the air is so saturated with moisture that sweat can no longer effectively evaporate from the skin.
- Evaporative cooling (sweating) is the human body's primary mechanism for shedding heat and regulating internal temperature. When this mechanism fails, the body's core temperature rises rapidly, leading to heatstroke and death.
Analysis of Statements
1. Statement I is Correct: The rise in WBT is a consequence of global warming and increasing humidity. The same underlying climate change intensifies the hydrological cycle, making tropical regions like Peninsular India vulnerable to:
- Intensified Monsoon Variability: Leading to extreme rainfall and flooding or the formation of tropical cyclones.
- Prolonged Heat: Which can exacerbate periods of inadequate rainfall, leading to droughts. The report's warning on WBT is a direct signal of these broader, interconnected climatic risks.
- As sweat fails to evaporate, humans and many animals can no longer cool themselves, making survival difficult even for healthy individuals, particularly those exposed to the heat (e.g., outdoor workers).
Sources
- The Guardian (July 31, 2022) - Why you need to worry about the wet-bulb temperature
- Down to Earth - How a massive anticyclone caused floods in Dubai and humid heat in Mumbai on the other side of the Arabian Sea
Q.7. Consider the following statements:
I. Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point everywhere on the Earth’s surface.
II. Heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere maintains our planet’s average temperature.
III. Atmosphere’s gases, like carbon dioxide, are particularly good at absorbing and trapping radiation.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[A] I and III only
[B] I and II only
[C] I, II and III
[D] II and III only
Answer: [D]
Explanation
- Statement I is incorrect. Without an atmosphere, there are no gases or clouds to scatter or absorb incoming solar radiation. Places in direct sunlight (daytime, especially near the equator) would become extremely hot (temperatures can exceed 100 Degree Celsius), as seen on the Moon, which lacks an atmosphere. While temperatures would plummet rapidly after sunset (becoming extremely cold) because there would be no greenhouse effect to trap heat, the statement claims temperatures would be well below freezing point everywhere, which is false for the sunlit side.
- Statement II is correct. The atmosphere, primarily through the greenhouse effect, acts as natural insulation. It absorbs and traps some of the heat radiated from the Earth's surface, which slows the rate at which heat escapes into space. This maintains the Earth's average surface temperature at around 15 Degree Celsius (59 Degree fahrenheit), making the planet habitable.
- Statement III is correct. Gases known as Greenhouse Gases (GHGs), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor, and methane, are particularly effective at absorbing and re-radiating the longwave infrared radiation emitted by the Earth's surface. This absorption and trapping of radiation is the fundamental mechanism of the greenhouse effect.
Sources
https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/gess204.pdf - https://science.nasa.gov/earth/climate-change/steamy-relationships-how-atmospheric-water-vapor-amplifies-earths-greenhouse-effect/
Q.8. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The amount of dust particles in the atmosphere is more in subtropical and temperate areas than in equatorial and polar regions.
Statement II: Subtropical and temperate areas have less dry winds.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
[A] Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
[B] Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement i
[C] Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
[D] Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
Answer: [C] Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
Explanation:
- Statement I is Correct: Dust particles are indeed more concentrated in subtropical and temperate regions. These zones often contain major deserts (like the Sahara, Thar, and Arabian Desert) where the lack of vegetation and the presence of strong, dry winds easily lift dust into the atmosphere. Equatorial regions are humid and have dense vegetation, which washes dust out and suppresses its release. Polar regions are cold and ice-covered, limiting dust production.
- Statement II is Incorrect: Subtropical and temperate areas, especially the subtropical high-pressure belts, are characterized by abundant (not less) dry winds. These dry, descending air masses create arid (desert) and semi-arid climates. The prevalence of these dry winds is the reason Statement I is correct. Since Statement II is factually incorrect, it cannot explain Statement I.
Source:
- NCERT Geography Textbook (Fundamentals of Physical Geography)
- https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/kegy207.pdf
Q.9. Consider the following water bodies:
I. Lake Tanganyika
II. Lake Tonle Sap
III. Patos Lagoon
Through how many of them does the equator pass?
Answer: [D] None
Explanation:
The equator does not pass through any of the three water bodies.
- I. Lake Tanganyika: Located in central Africa, this lake lies entirely south of the Equator.
- II. Lake Tonle Sap: This lake in Cambodia is located at approximately 13 degree North of the Equator.
- III. Patos Lagoon: This coastal lagoon in southern Brazil lies around 30 degree South of the Equator.
Therefore, the Equator passes through none of them.
Sources:
- Orient BlackSwan School Atlas
- https://www.worldatlas.com/continents/south-america.html
Q.10. Consider the following countries:
I. Bolivia
II. Brazil
III. Colombia
IV. Ecuador
V. Paraguay
VI. Venezuela
Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?
Answer: [C] Only four
Explanation:
The Andes Mountains is the world's longest continental mountain range, running along the western side of South America.
The Andes pass through the following seven South American countries:
- Venezuela (VI) - $
- Colombia (III) - $
- Ecuador (IV) - $
- Peru
- Bolivia (I) - $
- Chile
- Argentina
Out of the countries listed in the question:
- Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela are traversed by the Andes (4 countries).
- Brazil (II) does not have the Andes; it is located to the east.
- Paraguay (V) does not have the Andes; it is located to the east.
Therefore, the Andes pass through four of the listed countries.
Source: https://www.worldatlas.com/continents/south-america.html
Q.11. Consider the following statements:
I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days.
II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[A] I only
[B] II only
[C] Both I and II
[D] Neither I nor II
Answer: [A] I only
Explanation:) option A is the correct answer.
Anadyr is a town located in the far eastern part of Russia in the region of Chukotka, and Nome is a town in western Alaska, USA. Although they are geographically close — separated only by the Bering Strait — they lie on opposite sides of the International Date Line (IDL). The IDL is an imaginary line, roughly along the $180^\circ$ longitude, where the calendar date changes by one day when crossed.
Statement I is correct. Anadyr in Russia and Nome in Alaska are geographically close and separated only by the Bering Strait. However, they lie on opposite sides of the International Date Line (IDL). This means that although it may be the same clock time, say, 8:00 AM in both places, the calendar date would be different. For example, if it’s Monday morning in Anadyr, it would still be Sunday morning in Nome. The IDL causes this one-day difference despite the small distance between the two locations.
Statement II is incorrect. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it cannot be Tuesday in Nome. In fact, it’s the reverse. Nome lags behind Anadyr by a day. So if it is Monday in Anadyr, it is still Sunday in Nome. The International Date Line adds a day as one travels westward, and subtracts a day as one travels eastward — which makes Russia (west of the IDL) ahead of the U.S. (east of the IDL).
Source:
- https://www.worldatlas.com/geography/international-date-line.html
- https://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/anadyr-russia-travel/
Q.12. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Scientific studies show that the rotation and axis of the Earth are changing.
Statement II: Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) bombard the Earth's outer atmosphere with enormous amounts of energy.
Statement III: As the Earth's polar ice melts, water moves towards the equator.
Which of the following is correct with respect to the above statements?
[A] Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both explain Statement I.
[B] Both Statement II and Statement III are correct, but only one of them explains Statement I.
[C] Only one of the statements II and III is correct and explains statement I.
[D] Neither statement II nor statement III is correct.
Answer: [B]
Explanation:
- Statement I is correct: Scientific studies confirm that Earth's rotation and axis are shifting. These shifts are primarily driven by climate change and the redistribution of mass caused by human activities .
- Statement II is correct: Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are powerful bursts of energy from the Sun that reach Earth's atmosphere. However, this energy is largely reflected back into space by Earth's magnetic field and these energy bursts do not contribute to changes in Earth's rotation or axis .
- Statement III is correct: When polar ice and glaciers melt, water is redistributed across the planet and moves toward the equator due to the centrifugal force generated by Earth's rotation. This redistribution of mass has a measurable effect on Earth's inertia and balance, which can cause a shift in its axis of rotation. This process is similar to how a spinning top changes direction when its internal weight is changed.
Conclusion:
Both Statement II and Statement III are correct, but only Statement III (shift in axis due to redistribution of mass) explains Statement I.
Therefore, the correct answer is [B] .
Sources:
https://www.indiatoday.in/science/story/climate-change-is-altering-earths-rotation-as-polar-ice-melts-2567942-2024-07-17 - https://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-qa/do-solar-storms-cause-heat-waves-earth
Q.13. Consider the following statements:
Statement I: With reference to the effect of water on rocks, chalk is known as very permeable rock, whereas clay is known as fairly impermeable or least permeable rock.
Statement II: Chalk is porous and hence can absorb water.
Statement III: Soil is not porous at all.
Which of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
[A] Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both explain Statement I.
[B] Both Statement II and Statement III are correct, but only one of them explains Statement I.
[C] Only one of the statements II and III is correct and explains statement I.
[D] Neither statement II nor statement III is correct.
Answer: [C]
Explanation
- Statement I: Correct.
Chalk is a soft limestone with large, interconnected pores . These pores allow water to pass through easily, so chalk is a highly permeable rock.
- Statement II: Correct.
Statement III: is incorrect.
Conclusion
- Statement I is correct.
- Statement II is correct.
- Statement III is incorrect.
- Since only statement II is correct (statement III is incorrect) and it explains the high permeability of chalk through porosity , hence option [C] is the correct answer.
Porosity: The total amount of empty space or pores in a rock or soil.Permeability: The ability of a rock or soil to allow fluids (such as water) to flow through it.
- High porosity + large, connected pores = high permeability (e.g. chalk)
- High porosity + small, loosely connected pores = low permeability (e.g. clay)
Source:
- https://www.deq.louisiana.gov/assets/docs/Water/DWPP_forkidsandeducators/PorosityandPermeability.pdf
https://ncert.nic.in/textbook/pdf/kegy206.pdf - https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/ks3/gsl/education/resources/rockcycle/page3824.html
Q.14. Which of the following are evidences of continental drift?
I. The belt of ancient rocks of the Brazilian coast resembles the rocks of West Africa.
II. Ghana's gold deposits were derived from the Brazilian Plateau when the two continents were adjacent to each other.
III. The Gondwana system of sediments of India is known to have counterparts in six different landmasses of the Southern Hemisphere.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
[A] Only I and III
[B] Only I and II
[C] I, II and III
[D] Only II and III
Answer: [C] I, II and III
Explanation
The theory of continental drift implies that Earth's continents have moved relative to each other over time. These three statements are important evidence supporting this theory.
- Statement I is correct:
- Statement II is correct:
- Statement III is correct:
.png)
