A person stood alone in a desert on a dark night and wanted to reach his village which was situated 5 km east of the point where he was standing. He had no instruments to find the direction but he located the polestar. The most convenient way now to reach his village is to walk in the (2012)

Electrically charged particles from space traveling at speeds of several hundred km/sec can severely harm living beings if they reach the surface of the Earth. What prevents them from reaching the surface of the Earth? (2012)

Variations in the length of daytime and night time from season to season are due to: (2013)

On 21st June, the Sun: (2019)

Consider the following statements: (2022)
1. High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth.
2. Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth’s surface and thus cause a warming effect.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Westerlies in the southern hemisphere are stronger and persistent than in northern hemisphere. Why? (2011)
1. Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to northern hemisphere.
2. Coriolis force is higher in southern hemisphere as compared to northern hemisphere.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

What could be the main reason/reasons for the formation of the African and Eurasian desert belt? (2011)
1. It is located in the sub-tropical high-pressure cells.
2. It is under the influence of warm ocean currents.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?

The jet aircraft fly very easily and smoothly in the lower stratosphere. What could be the appropriate explanation? (2011)
1. There are no clouds or water vapour in the lower stratosphere.
2. There are no vertical winds in the lower stratosphere.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?

The 2004 Tsunami made people realize that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge? (2011)

Normally, the temperature decreases with the increase in height from the Earth’s surface, because (2012)
1. The atmosphere can be heated upwards only from the Earth’s surface
2. There is more moisture in the upper atmosphere.
3. The air is less dense in the upper atmosphere.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region? (2012)

Which of the following is/are unique characteristic/ characteristics of equatorial forests? (2013)
1. Presence of tall, closely set trees with crowns forming a continuous canopy
2. Coexistence of a large number of species
3. Presence of numerous varieties of epiphytes
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is/are the reason/reasons? (2013)
1. Thermal difference between land and water
2. Variation in altitude between continents and oceans
3. Presence of strong winds in the interior
4. Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coasts
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

“Climate is extreme, rainfall is scanty and the people used to be nomadic herders.”
The above statement best describes which of the following regions? (2013)

During a thunderstorm, the thunder in the skies is produced by the: (2013)
1. Meeting of cumulonimbus clouds in the sky.
2. Lightning that separates the nimbus clouds.
3. Violent upward movement of air and water particles.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of (2014)

In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason? (2015)

Consider the following statements: (2015)
1. The winds which blow between 30 N and 60 S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

“Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But the rain is soon over.”
Which of the following regions is described in the above passage? (2015)

Why are dewdrops not formed on a cloudy night? (2019)

Consider the following statements (2020)
1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.
3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C less than that of the surroundings.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following statements (2021)
1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.
2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

“Leaf litter decomposes faster than in any other biome and as a result the soil surface is often almost bare. Apart from trees, the vegetation is largely composed of plant forms that reach up into the canopy vicariously, by climbing the trees or growing as epiphytes, rooted on the upper branches of trees.”
This is the most likely description of (2021)

The acidification of oceans is increasing. Why is this phenomenon a cause of concern (2012)
1. The growth and survival of calcareous phytoplankton will be adversely affected.
2. The growth and survival of coral reefs will be adversely affected.
3. The survival of some animals that have phytoplanktonic larvae will be adversely affected.
4. The cloud seeding and formation of clouds will be adversely affected.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino? (2011)
1. La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in the equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Niño is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
2. El Nino has adverse effects on the south-west monsoon of India, but La Niña has no effect on monsoon climate.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following factors (2012)
1. Rotation of the Earth
2. Air pressure and wind
3. Density of ocean water
4. Revolution of the Earth
Which of the above factors influence the ocean currents?

The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where (2013)

What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter current? (2015)

Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following? (2015)
1. Gravitational force of the Sun
2. Gravitational force of the Moon
3. Centrifugal force of the Earth
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2017)
1. The IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
2. An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Consider the following statements (2018)
1. Most of the world’s coral reefs are in tropical waters.
2. More than one-third of the world’s coral reefs are located in the territories of Australia, Indonesia and Philippines.
3. Coral reefs host far more animal phyla than those hosted by tropical rainforests.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? (2020)
1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 metres in the south-western Indian Ocean during January–March.
2. OMT collected during January–March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean.
Select the correct using the code given below:

Which of the following statements regarding laterite soils of India are correct? (2013)
1. They are generally red in colour.
2. They are rich in nitrogen and potash.
3. They are well-developed in Rajasthan and UP.
4. Tapioca and cashew nuts grow well on these soils.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following statements: (2013)
1. Natural gas occurs in the Gondwana beds.
2. Mica occurs in abundance in Kodarma.
3. Dharwars are famous for petroleum.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following: (2013)
1. Electromagnetic radiation
2. Geothermal energy
3. Gravitational force
4. Plate movements
5. Rotation of the earth
6. Revolution of the earth
Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth?

Contour bunding is a method of soil conservation used in: (2013)

Which of the following adds nitrogen to the soil? (2013)
1. Excretion of urea by animals
2. Burning of coal by man
3. Death of vegetation
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Which of the following phenomena might have influenced the evolution of organisms? (2014)
1. Continental drift
2. Glacial cycles
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

In India, the problem of soil erosion is associated with which of the following? (2014)
1. Terrace cultivation
2. Deforestation
3. Tropical climate
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

With reference to the management of minor minerals in India, consider the following statements: (2019)
1. Sand is a ‘minor mineral’ according to the prevailing law in the country.
2. State Governments have the power to grant mining leases of minor minerals, but the powers regarding the formation of rules related to the grant of minor minerals lie with the Central Government.
3. The State Government has the power to frame rules to prevent illegal mining of minor minerals.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Consider the following minerals: (2020)
1. Bentonite
2. Chromite
3. Kyanite
4. Sillimanite
In India, which of the above is/are officially designated as major minerals?

The black cotton soil of India has been formed due to the weathering of: (2021)

Consider the following States: (2022)
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. Kerala
3. Himachal Pradesh
4. Tripura
How many of the above are generally known as tea-producing States?

With reference to India, consider the following statements: (2022)
1. Monazite is a source of rare earths.
2. Monazite contains thorium.
3. Monazite occurs naturally in the entire Indian coastal sands in India.
4. In India, government bodies only can process or export monazite.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

The lower Gangetic plain is characterized by a humid climate with high temperature throughout the year. Which one among the following pairs of crops is most suitable for this region? (2011)

Which of the following is the chief characteristic of ‘mixed farming’? (2012)

Consider the following crops of India: (2012)
1. Groundnut
2. Sesamum
3. Pearl millet
Which of the above is/are predominantly rainfed crop/crops?

Which of the following is/are the characteristic/ characteristics of Indian coal? (2013)
1. High ash content
2. Low sulphur content
3. Low ash fusion temperature
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

Consider the following crops (2013)
1. Cotton
2. Groundnut
3. Rice
4. Wheat
Which of these are Kharif crops?

Which one among the following industries is the maximum consumer of water in India? (2013)

Consider the following pairs: (2014)
Region | Well-known for the production of
1. Kinnaur : Areca nut
2. Mewat : Mango
3. Coromandel : Soya bean
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

Consider the following towns of India: (2014)
1. Bhadrachalam
2. Chanderi
3. Kancheepuram
4. Karnal
Which of the above are famous for the production of traditional sarees/fabric?

In India, the steel production industry requires the import of: (2015)

Consider the following statements: (2018)
1. In India, State Governments do not have the power to auction non-coal mines.
2. Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand do not have gold mines.
3. Rajasthan has iron ore mines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in which in the last five years, consider the following statements: (2019)
1. Area under rice cultivation is the highest.
2. Area under cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.
3. Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.
4. Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements: (2020)
1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crops.
2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased the production of rabi pulses has decreased.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

“The crop is subtropical in nature. A hard frost is injurious to it. It requires at least 210 frost-free days and 50 to 100 centimeters of rainfall for its growth. A light well-drained soil capable of retaining moisture is ideally suited for the cultivation of the crop.”
Which one of the following is that crop? (2020)

Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop? (2021)

Gandikota canyon of South India was created by which one of the following rivers? (2022)