Question 1

Which of the following rivers is the longest river in India?

Accepted Answer

The Ganges (Ganga) River is the longest river in India with a length of approximately 2,525 km. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas and flows through the Indo-Gangetic Plain before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. The Brahmaputra (2,900 km) is longer but flows mainly outside India.

Question 2

The Deccan Plateau is primarily composed of which type of rock?

Accepted Answer

The Deccan Plateau is primarily composed of basaltic lava flows, which are igneous rocks formed from ancient volcanic activity. These lava flows occurred during the Cretaceous period (approximately 66 million years ago) and cover an area of about 500,000 square kilometers across central and southern India.

Question 3

The Western Ghats mountain range runs parallel to which coast of India?

Accepted Answer

The Western Ghats run parallel to the western coast of India, stretching approximately 1,600 km from Gujarat in the north to Kerala in the south. They form a natural barrier and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Question 4

Which of the following rivers is the longest in India?

Accepted Answer

The Ganges (Ganga) River is the longest river in India with a total length of approximately 2,525 km. It originates from the Gangotri Glacier in the Himalayas and flows through northern India before emptying into the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh.

Question 5

The Western Ghats mountain range is located along which coast of India?

Accepted Answer

The Western Ghats (also called Sahyadri) run along the western coast of India, parallel to the Arabian Sea. They extend approximately 1,600 km from Gujarat in the north to Kerala in the south, and are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Question 6

Which of the following passes connects India with Tibet?

Accepted Answer

Nathu La Pass, located in Sikkim at an altitude of 4,330 meters, is one of the major passes connecting India with Tibet (China). It is an important trade route and was reopened for bilateral trade between India and China in 2006. Other notable passes include Khardung La and Chang La.

Question 7

Which soil type is most suitable for cotton cultivation in India?

Accepted Answer

Black soil (also called Regur soil or Deccan soil) is the most suitable for cotton cultivation in India. It is rich in iron oxide, magnesium, and lime, and has excellent water retention capacity. Black soil is primarily found in the Deccan Plateau region (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh).

Question 8

Which of the following is the highest peak in India?

Accepted Answer

Kangchenjunga, located in the eastern Himalayas on the India-Nepal border in Sikkim, is the highest peak in India with a height of 8,586 meters. Mount Everest (8,849 m) is higher but lies on the Nepal-Tibet border, not within Indian territory.

Question 9

Which of the following is the highest peak in the Western Ghats?

Accepted Answer

Anamudi is the highest peak in the Western Ghats at an elevation of 2,695 meters (8,842 feet). It is located in Kerala's Idukki district and is part of the Anaimalai Range. Anamudi is a popular trekking destination and is surrounded by tea and spice plantations.

Question 10

Which of the following is the highest peak in the Eastern Himalayas?

Accepted Answer

Kanchenjunga, located on the India-Nepal border in Sikkim, is the highest peak in the Eastern Himalayas at 8,586 meters. It is the third-highest peak in the world and the second-highest in India after Mount Everest.

Question 11

Which of the following mountain passes connects India with Tibet and is located in the Himalayas?

Accepted Answer

The Nathu La pass, located at an altitude of 4,330 meters in the Sikkim Himalayas, connects India with Tibet (China). It is one of the most important trade routes between India and Tibet and was reopened for trade in 2006 after remaining closed for 44 years following the 1962 Sino-Indian War.

Question 12

The Narmada River, one of India's major rivers, flows into which water body?

Accepted Answer

The Narmada River, originating from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh, flows westward for approximately 1,312 km and empties into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Cambay (Khambhat) in Gujarat.

Question 13

Which soil type is predominantly found in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and is formed by the deposition of alluvium by rivers?

Accepted Answer

Alluvial soil is the predominant soil type in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, formed by the deposition of fine sediments (silt, clay, and sand) by rivers over thousands of years. This soil is highly fertile and supports intensive agriculture.

Question 14

Which of the following rivers is the longest tributary of the Ganges River?

Accepted Answer

The Yamuna River, originating from the Yamunotri glacier in the Western Himalayas, is the longest tributary of the Ganges at approximately 1,376 km in length. It joins the Ganges at Allahabad (Prayagraj).

Question 15

The Brahmaputra River, after originating in the Kailash Range of the Tibetan Plateau, flows through which of the following states in India before joining the Ganges?

Accepted Answer

The Brahmaputra originates in the Kailash Range (Chemayungdung Peak) in Tibet and flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India. It is one of the largest rivers in the world by discharge volume. The river enters India in Arunachal Pradesh and flows through Assam before joining the Ganges in Bangladesh to form the Meghna River.

Question 16

Which of the following rivers originates from the Western Ghats and flows eastward to form the second-longest river system in the Deccan Plateau?

Accepted Answer

The Godavari River originates from the Western Ghats near Trimbakeshwar in Maharashtra and flows eastward across the Deccan Plateau for approximately 1,465 km before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. It is the second-longest river in India after the Ganges and is often called the 'Dakshin Ganga' (Southern Ganges). The river crosses multiple states including Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh.

Question 17

The Zoji La pass connects which two regions in India?

Accepted Answer

Zoji La is a high mountain pass located in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. It connects the Kashmir Valley (Srinagar) with the Ladakh region (Leh). It lies on National Highway 1 and is a strategically important pass in the western Himalayas at an altitude of approximately 3,528 metres.

Question 18

Which of the following is the correct sequence of the Western Ghats mountain ranges from north to south?

Accepted Answer

The Western Ghats, also known as the Sahyadri Mountains, extend for approximately 1,600 km along the western coast of India. From north to south, the major mountain ranges and peaks are: Sahyadri (Northern Western Ghats in Maharashtra and Goa), Nilgiri Hills (Tamil Nadu and Kerala border), Cardamom Hills (Kerala), and Anaimalai Hills (Tamil Nadu and Kerala). The highest peak is Anamudi (2,695 m) located in the Anaimalai Hills of Kerala.

Question 19

The Deccan Plateau is primarily composed of which type of rock formation, and which volcanic eruption event is responsible for its formation?

Accepted Answer

The Deccan Plateau is primarily composed of basaltic lava flows and is one of the largest volcanic plateaus in the world. It was formed by massive volcanic eruptions during the Late Cretaceous period, approximately 66-68 million years ago. These eruptions are known as the Deccan Traps (or Deccan Volcanism), which covered an area of approximately 500,000 km² with lava flows reaching depths of up to 2,400 meters in some regions.

Question 20

Which mountain pass in the Himalayas connects the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh with the Tibetan Plateau and is located at an elevation of approximately 4,270 meters?

Accepted Answer

The Kunzum La (or Kunzum Pass) is a high mountain pass in the Himalayas located at approximately 4,270 meters elevation. It connects the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh with the Kinnaur district and provides access to the Tibetan Plateau. The pass is situated on the border between Himachal Pradesh and Tibet and is an important trade route. It experiences heavy snowfall during winter months and is typically open only from June to September.

SSC CHSL Physical Geography of India

Physical Geography of India— Rules & Concept

Key Points to Remember

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Physical Geography of India — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Physical Geography of India