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 total 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 in Bangladesh.

Question 2

The Western Ghats mountain range is located in which part of India?

Accepted Answer

The Western Ghats are a mountain range running along the western coast of India, parallel to the Arabian Sea. They extend from Gujarat in the north to Kerala in the south, covering a distance of approximately 1,600 km.

Question 3

Which of the following is the highest peak in India?

Accepted Answer

Kangchenjunga is the highest peak in India with a height of 8,586 meters (28,169 feet). It is located in the Himalayas on the border between India and Nepal in Sikkim. Mount Everest (8,849 m) is higher but is located on the Nepal-China border, not within Indian territory.

Question 4

Which of the following is a tributary of the Ganges River?

Accepted Answer

The Yamuna River is a major tributary of the Ganges River. It originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas and joins the Ganges at Allahabad (Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh. The Yamuna is approximately 1,376 km long.

Question 5

Which of the following soil types is most commonly found in the Indo-Gangetic Plain?

Accepted Answer

Alluvial soil is the most common soil type found in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. These soils are formed by the deposition of sediments carried by rivers, particularly the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries. Alluvial soils are highly fertile and are ideal for agriculture.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

The Yamuna River is the longest tributary of the Ganges, with a length of approximately 1,376 km. It originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Western Himalayas and joins the Ganges at Allahabad (now Prayagraj). Other major tributaries like the Ghaghra and Kosi are shorter in length.

Question 7

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, extending approximately 1,600 km from the Tapti River in the north to Cape Comorin in the south, covering parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Kangchenjunga (also spelled Kanchenjunga), with a height of 8,586 meters, is the highest peak in the Eastern Himalayas and the third-highest peak in the world. It is located on the border between Nepal and Sikkim, India.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

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

Question 10

Which soil type is most commonly found in the Indo-Gangetic Plain?

Accepted Answer

Alluvial soil is the most common soil type in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. These soils are formed by the deposition of sediments carried by rivers, particularly the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries. They are highly fertile and support intensive agriculture.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

The Yamuna River is the longest tributary of the Ganges, with a total length of approximately 1,376 km. It originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Mussoorie Range of the Western Himalayas and joins the Ganges at Allahabad (Prayagraj). Other major tributaries like the Ghaghra (1,080 km) and Kosi (729 km) are shorter in length.

Question 12

The Brahmaputra River, one of India's major river systems, originates in the Chemayungdung glacier of the Kailash range. Through which of the following states does it NOT flow before entering Assam?

Accepted Answer

The Brahmaputra originates in Tibet (Chemayungdung glacier), enters India through Arunachal Pradesh, flows through Assam, and exits into Bangladesh. It does not flow through Meghalaya, Nagaland, or Manipur as a main channel.

Question 13

The Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, run parallel to the western coast of India. Which of the following statements about the Western Ghats is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

The Western Ghats run from Gujarat to Kerala, spanning approximately 1,600 km. They are a biodiversity hotspot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, they do NOT form the eastern boundary of the Deccan Plateau; the Eastern Ghats do that. The Western Ghats form the western boundary.

Question 14

The Narmada River, one of India's peninsular rivers, flows through multiple states before emptying into the Arabian Sea. Which state does the Narmada NOT flow through?

Accepted Answer

The Narmada River originates in the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat before emptying into the Arabian Sea. It does not flow through Rajasthan, though Rajasthan is nearby.

Question 15

The Deccan Plateau, a major physiographic region of India, is bounded by the Western Ghats on the west and the Eastern Ghats on the east. Which of the following is the CORRECT statement about the Deccan Plateau's characteristics?

Accepted Answer

The Deccan Plateau is a large triangular plateau in southern India, composed primarily of basaltic lava flows. It is bounded by the Western Ghats (west), Eastern Ghats (east), and the Satpura Range (north). The plateau has an average elevation of 600 meters and slopes towards the east.

Question 16

The Thar Desert, located in northwestern India, is the world's ninth-largest hot desert. Which of the following statements about the Thar Desert is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

The Thar Desert is located primarily in Rajasthan, with parts extending into Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. It receives less than 25 cm of annual rainfall and is characterized by sand dunes and sparse vegetation. However, it is NOT the largest desert in Asia; the Gobi Desert in Central Asia is larger.

Question 17

The Narmada River, one of India's major peninsular rivers, originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward to the Arabian Sea. Which of the following statements about the Narmada River is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

The Narmada River is approximately 1,312 km long and flows through Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. It forms the boundary between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat for a significant portion. The river has several important tributaries including the Hiran, Burhner, Tawa, and Machna. However, the Narmada does NOT form the boundary between Maharashtra and Karnataka—this is a common geographical misconception. The Godavari River forms part of the boundary between these states in some regions.

SSC MTS 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