Q1. Which of the following is the largest continent by area?
(a) Africa
(b) Asia
(c) North America (d) Antarctica
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Asia covers about 44.58 million km², making it the largest continent, followed by Africa.
Q2. The Strait of Malacca connects which two water bodies?
(a) Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea
(b) Indian Ocean and South China Sea
(c) Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea
(d) Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Strait of Malacca lies between the Malay Peninsula and the Indonesian island of Sumatra, linking the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea.
Q3. Which river forms the international boundary between India and Pakistan in the Punjab region?
(a) Ganges
(b) Yamuna
(c) Indus
(d) Sutlej
Answer: (c) Explanation: The Indus River, after entering Pakistan, serves as a natural boundary between the two countries in the Punjab region.
Q4. The ‘Ring of Fire’ is associated with:
(a) Tropical cyclones
(b) Volcanic and seismic activity
(c) Ocean currents
(d) Desert formation
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Ring of Fire is a horseshoe‑shaped zone around the Pacific Ocean where a large number of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.
Q5. Which of the following Indian states does NOT share a border with Bhutan?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Assam
(c) Sikkim
(d) West Bengal
Answer: (d)
Explanation: West Bengal touches Bhutan only via a narrow corridor; however, the states sharing a direct border are Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, and West Bengal’s northern part (Darjeeling & Jalpaiguri). Strictly, West Bengal does share a border, but the question expects the state with no direct boundary – none of the above; however, if considering only the main land border, Assam does not touch Bhutan directly (it touches via West Bengal). To avoid ambiguity, the correct answer is (b) Assam, as Assam’s border with Bhutan is only via West Bengal.
Q6. The Tropic of Cancer passes through which Indian state?
(a) Kerala
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) West Bengal
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N) crosses India through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. Among the options, Rajasthan is listed.
Q7. Which of the following is a landlocked country in South America? (a) Chile
(b) Peru (c) Bolivia
(d) Ecuador Answer: (c)
Explanation: Bolivia is one of only two landlocked countries in South America (the other being Paraguay).
Q8. The Deccan Plateau is chiefly composed of which type of rock?
(a) Sedimentary
(b) Metamorphic
(c) Igneous (basaltic)
(d) Limestone
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Deccan Plateau is largely made up of extensive lava flows that solidified into basalt, an igneous rock.
Q9. Which Indian Union Territory has the highest literacy rate as per the 2011 Census?
(a) Chandigarh
(b) Lakshadweep
(c) Puducherry
(d) Delhi
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Chandigarh recorded a literacy rate of about 86.05% in 2011, the highest among Union Territories.
Q10. The ‘Great Barrier Reef’ is located off the coast of which country?
(a) Australia
(b) Indonesia
(c) Philippines
(d) Malaysia
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Great Barrier Reef lies in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, Australia.
Q11. Which of the following rivers does NOT originate in the Himalayas?
(a) Brahmaputra
(b) Ganges
(c) Godavari
(d) Indus
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Godavari originates in the Western Ghats (Trimbak, Maharashtra), not the Himalayas.
Q12. The ‘Sundarbans’ mangrove forest spans which two countries?
(a) India and Bangladesh
(b) India and Myanmar (c) Bangladesh and Myanmar
(d) India and Sri Lanka
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, lies in the delta of the Ganges‑Brahmaputra‑Meghna system, shared by India (West Bengal) and Bangladesh.
Q13. Which continent is crossed by both the Equator and the Prime Meridian?
(a) Africa
(b) South America
(c) Asia
(d) Europe
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Equator (0° latitude) and the Prime Meridian (0° longitude) intersect in the Atlantic Ocean, but the landmass that lies on both lines is Africa (passing through Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, and Somalia).
Q14. The ‘Karakoram Pass’ connects which two regions?
(a) Ladakh and Xinjiang (China)
(b) Himachal Pradesh and Tibet
(c) Uttarakhand and Nepal
(d) Sikkim and Bhutan
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Karakoram Pass (about 5,540 m) links Ladakh in India with Xinjiang autonomous region of China.
Q15. Which of the following is NOT a Union Territory of India?
(a) Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
(b) Ladakh
(c) Puducherry (d) Goa
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Goa attained statehood in 1987; it is a state, not a Union Territory.
Q16. The ‘Great Victorian Desert’ is located in:
(a) Australia
(b) Africa
(c) South America
(d) Asia
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Great Victoria Desert is the largest desert in Australia, covering parts of Western Australia and South Australia.
Q17. Which Indian state has the longest coastline?
(a) Gujarat (b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Kerala
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Gujarat has the longest coastline among Indian states, approximately 1,600 km along the Arabian Sea.
Q18. The ‘International Date Line’ roughly follows which meridian?
(a) 0° Longitude
(b) 90° East
(c) 180° Longitude
(d) 45° West
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The International Date Line is an approximate line of 180° longitude, where the calendar date changes by one day.
Q19. Which of the following is a biodiversity hotspot in India? (a) Thar Desert
(b) Western Ghats
(c) Gangetic Plain
(d) Thar Desert
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Western Ghats, along with Sri Lanka, is recognized as one of the world’s 36 biodiversity hotspots.
Q20. The ‘Siachen Glacier’ is situated in which mountain range?
(a) Himalayas (b) Karakoram
(c) Zanskar
(d) Pir Panjal
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Siachen Glacier lies in the eastern Karakoram range in the Himalayas, at an average altitude of about 5,400 m.
Q21. Which of the following countries is NOT a member of SAARC?
(a) Afghanistan
(b) Myanmar
(c) Bhutan
(d) Maldives
Answer: (b)
Explanation: SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) comprises eight members: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Myanmar is not a member.
Q22. The ‘Palk Strait’ separates:
(a) India and Sri Lanka
(b) India and Myanmar
(c) India and Maldives
(d) Sri Lanka and Maldives
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Palk Strait lies between the Tamil Nadu coast of India and the northern part of Sri Lanka.
Q23. Which of the following is the highest waterfall in India?
(a) Jog Falls
(b) Nohkalikai Falls
(c) Dudhsagar Falls
(d) Athirappilly Falls
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Nohkalikai Falls, located near Cherrapunji in Meghalaya, drops about 340 m, making it the tallest plunge waterfall in India.
Q24. The ‘Latitudinal extent’ of India’s mainland lies between:
(a) 8° N to 37° N
(b) 6° N to 38° N
(c) 8° 4′ N to 37° 6′ N
(d) 10° N to 40° N
Answer: (c) Explanation: India’s mainland extends from approximately 8° 4′ N (Kanyakumari) to 37° 6′ N (indirectly measured near the northern tip of Kashmir).
Q25. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of the ‘Thar Desert’?
(a) High rainfall throughout the year
(b) Presence of laterite soil
(c) Sparse vegetation and sandy plains
(d) Dense evergreen forests
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Thar Desert (Great Indian Desert) is characterized by arid conditions, low rainfall, sandy terrain, and xerophytic vegetation.
