Physical Geography, Rivers and Climate of India MCQs

Solved MCQs on India's location, mountains, plateaus, rivers, lakes, soils and monsoon climate, with short explanations.

1. 1

   The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states?

   A6B7C8D9

   Correct answer: C. 8

   It crosses eight states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.

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2. 2

   The southernmost point of the Indian mainland is:

   AIndira PointBRameswaramCKovalamDKanyakumari

   Correct answer: D. Kanyakumari

   Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) is the mainland's southern tip. Indira Point, in the Nicobar Islands, is the southernmost point of the whole country.

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3. 3

   The Ganga is formed at Devprayag by the meeting of the Bhagirathi and the:

   AYamunaBMandakiniCAlaknandaDRamganga

   Correct answer: C. Alaknanda

   The Bhagirathi and the Alaknanda join at Devprayag in Uttarakhand to form the Ganga.

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4. 4

   Which river is known as the "Sorrow of Bihar" because of its floods?

   AGandakBGhagharaCSonDKosi

   Correct answer: D. Kosi

   The Kosi shifts its course often and causes severe floods in north Bihar.

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5. 5

   Which river flows westward through a rift valley into the Arabian Sea?

   ANarmadaBKrishnaCGodavariDMahanadi

   Correct answer: A. Narmada

   The Narmada flows west between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges through a rift valley. The Tapi also flows west.

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6. 6

   Chilika, the largest brackish-water lagoon in India, is in:

   AAndhra PradeshBOdishaCWest BengalDTamil Nadu

   Correct answer: B. Odisha

   Chilika Lake lies on the Odisha coast and is a major wintering ground for migratory birds.

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7. 7

   The Western Ghats are also known as the:

   ASatpuraBAravalliCSahyadriDNilgiri

   Correct answer: C. Sahyadri

   The Western Ghats run parallel to the west coast and are called the Sahyadri in Maharashtra and Karnataka.

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8. 8

   The highest peak in peninsular (South) India is:

   AGuru ShikharBAnamudiCDoddabettaDMahendragiri

   Correct answer: B. Anamudi

   Anamudi (2,695 m) in Kerala's Anaimalai Hills is the highest peak south of the Himalayas. Guru Shikhar is the highest point of the Aravallis.

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9. 9

   The Thar Desert lies mostly in the state of:

   ARajasthanBPunjabCGujaratDHaryana

   Correct answer: A. Rajasthan

   Most of the Great Indian (Thar) Desert lies in western Rajasthan.

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10. 10

    Black soil (regur) is best suited for growing:

    ATeaBCottonCJuteDRice

    Correct answer: B. Cotton

    Black soil holds moisture well and is ideal for cotton, which is why it is also called black cotton soil.

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12. 11

    Laterite soil forms mainly as a result of:

    AIntense leaching in areas of heavy rainfall and high temperatureBWind depositsCGlacial actionDRiver deposits in deltas

    Correct answer: A. Intense leaching in areas of heavy rainfall and high temperature

    Heavy rain washes out lime and silica, leaving soil rich in iron and aluminium oxides.

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13. 12

    The south-west monsoon usually reaches the Indian mainland first in:

    AGoaBTamil NaduCKeralaDWest Bengal

    Correct answer: C. Kerala

    The monsoon normally sets in over Kerala around 1 June.

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14. 13

    Mawsynram, one of the wettest places on Earth, is in:

    AAssamBMeghalayaCSikkimDArunachal Pradesh

    Correct answer: B. Meghalaya

    Mawsynram and nearby Cherrapunji (Sohra) in Meghalaya receive extremely heavy rainfall.

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15. 14

    The Palk Strait separates India from:

    ASri LankaBMyanmarCMaldivesDIndonesia

    Correct answer: A. Sri Lanka

    The Palk Strait lies between Tamil Nadu and northern Sri Lanka.

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16. 15

    The Ten Degree Channel separates:

    AIndia from Sri LankaBLittle Andaman from North AndamanCthe Andaman Islands from the Nicobar IslandsDLakshadweep from the Maldives

    Correct answer: C. the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands

    The Ten Degree Channel runs along 10° N between Little Andaman and Car Nicobar.

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17. 16

    India's only active volcano is on:

    AHavelock IslandBMajuliCBarren IslandDNarcondam Island

    Correct answer: C. Barren Island

    Barren Island in the Andaman Sea is India's only active volcano; Narcondam is considered dormant.

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18. 17

    Indian Standard Time is based on the longitude:

    A75° EB82°30′ EC85° ED90° E

    Correct answer: B. 82°30′ E

    IST is calculated on the 82°30′ E meridian, which passes near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh; it is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT.

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19. 18

    By area, the largest state of India is:

    AMaharashtraBRajasthanCMadhya PradeshDUttar Pradesh

    Correct answer: B. Rajasthan

    Rajasthan covers about 10.4% of India's area; Madhya Pradesh is second.

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20. 19

    In Tibet, the Brahmaputra is known as the:

    ATsangpoBDihangCLohitDJamuna

    Correct answer: A. Tsangpo

    It is called the Tsangpo in Tibet, the Dihang (Siang) in Arunachal Pradesh and the Jamuna in Bangladesh.

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21. 20

    The longest river flowing within India is the:

    AGodavariBYamunaCBrahmaputraDGanga

    Correct answer: D. Ganga

    The Ganga flows about 2,500 km, most of it in India. The Godavari is the longest river of peninsular India.

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