MCQs on Seismic Zones in India: Causes and Vulnerability to Earthquakes

1. Which seismic zone in India is considered the most vulnerable to earthquakes?
   • a) Zone I
   • b) Zone II
   • c) Zone IV
   • d) Zone V
   • Answer: d) Zone V
2. Which Indian state is highly vulnerable due to its location in Seismic Zone V?
   • a) Gujarat
   • b) West Bengal
   • c) Assam
   • d) Rajasthan
   • Answer: c) Assam
3. What is the primary cause of earthquakes in the Himalayan region?
   • a) Volcanic activity
   • b) Human activities
   • c) Tectonic plate movements
   • d) Oceanic currents
   • Answer: c) Tectonic plate movements
4. Which of the following states falls under Seismic Zone IV?
   • a) Maharashtra
   • b) Kerala
   • c) Punjab
   • d) Madhya Pradesh
   • Answer: c) Punjab
5. The Indian subcontinent is part of which major tectonic plate?
   • a) Pacific Plate
   • b) African Plate
   • c) Indian Plate
   • d) North American Plate
   • Answer: c) Indian Plate
6. What is the scale used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake?
   • a) Richter Scale
   • b) Beaufort Scale
   • c) Fujita Scale
   • d) Saffir-Simpson Scale
   • Answer: a) Richter Scale
7. Which of the following Indian cities is located in Seismic Zone V?
   • a) Delhi
   • b) Kolkata
   • c) Chennai
   • d) Shillong
   • Answer: d) Shillong
8. Seismic Zone II is characterized by which of the following features?
   • a) Very high risk
   • b) High risk
   • c) Moderate risk
   • d) Low risk
   • Answer: d) Low risk
9. Which seismic zone includes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
   • a) Zone II
   • b) Zone III
   • c) Zone IV
   • d) Zone V
   • Answer: d) Zone V
10. The 2001 Gujarat earthquake that severely affected Bhuj occurred in which seismic zone?

• a) Zone III
• b) Zone IV
• c) Zone V
• d) Zone II
• Answer: c) Zone V

11. What is the name of the boundary where the Indian Plate meets the Eurasian Plate?

• a) Mid-Atlantic Ridge
• b) San Andreas Fault
• c) Himalayan Front
• d) East African Rift
• Answer: c) Himalayan Front

12. Which city is NOT considered vulnerable to earthquakes due to its location in Seismic Zone II?

• a) Mumbai
• b) Jaipur
• c) Chennai
• d) Lucknow
• Answer: a) Mumbai

13. Which factor is NOT a direct cause of earthquakes?

• a) Tectonic plate movements
• b) Volcanic activity
• c) Nuclear explosions
• d) Tsunami formation
• Answer: d) Tsunami formation

14. Which region is known as the ‘Seismic Gap’ due to its potential for a future earthquake?

• a) Assam Valley
• b) Kashmir Valley
• c) Kutch Region
• d) North Bihar
• Answer: b) Kashmir Valley

15. Seismic Zone IV is associated with which type of earthquake hazard?

• a) Very high damage risk
• b) Low damage risk
• c) Moderate damage risk
• d) Negligible damage risk
• Answer: a) Very high damage risk

16. Which Indian city has been classified under Seismic Zone IV due to its high vulnerability?

• a) Bengaluru
• b) Hyderabad
• c) Delhi
• d) Pune
• Answer: c) Delhi

17. Which of the following is the least earthquake-prone area in India?

• a) Western Ghats
• b) North-East India
• c) Himalayas
• d) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Answer: a) Western Ghats

18. Which region in India is known for the occurrence of shallow focus earthquakes?

• a) Deccan Plateau
• b) Indo-Gangetic Plain
• c) Western Himalayas
• d) Coastal Andhra Pradesh
• Answer: c) Western Himalayas

19. The frequency and intensity of earthquakes are generally higher in which seismic zone?

• a) Zone II
• b) Zone V
• c) Zone III
• d) Zone IV
• Answer: b) Zone V

20. The 2015 earthquake that devastated parts of Nepal and affected India occurred along which fault line?

• a) Koyna Fault
• b) Bhuj Fault
• c) Main Himalayan Thrust
• d) Son-Narmada Fault
• Answer: c) Main Himalayan Thrust

21. Which state is part of both Seismic Zones III and IV, making it prone to moderate earthquakes?

• a) Uttar Pradesh
• b) Maharashtra
• c) Tamil Nadu
• d) Kerala
• Answer: a) Uttar Pradesh

22. Which of the following is a common secondary effect of an earthquake?

• a) Landslides
• b) Cyclones
• c) Heatwaves
• d) Droughts
• Answer: a) Landslides

23. The northeastern region of India falls under which seismic zone?

• a) Zone II
• b) Zone III
• c) Zone IV
• d) Zone V
• Answer: d) Zone V

24. Which geological phenomenon is responsible for the majority of earthquakes in peninsular India?

• a) Tectonic Plate Movements
• b) Volcanic Activity
• c) Human-induced Vibrations
• d) Subduction Zones
• Answer: a) Tectonic Plate Movements

25. Which type of waves are typically recorded first during an earthquake?

• a) S-waves
• b) Surface waves
• c) P-waves
• d) L-waves
• Answer: c) P-waves

26. Which of the following regions is highly prone to liquefaction during an earthquake?

• a) Rocky Highlands
• b) Coastal Plains
• c) Desert Regions
• d) Deccan Plateau
• Answer: b) Coastal Plains

27. Which Indian river basin is known for being seismically active due to tectonic activity?

• a) Ganges Basin
• b) Krishna Basin
• c) Narmada Basin
• d) Cauvery Basin
• Answer: c) Narmada Basin

28. The major cause of earthquakes in the Himalayan region is due to the collision between which two tectonic plates?

• a) Indian and African Plates
• b) Indian and Pacific Plates
• c) Indian and Eurasian Plates
• d) Indian and Australian Plates
• Answer: c) Indian and Eurasian Plates

29. Which city, although not in Zone V, is still highly vulnerable due to its high population density and poor infrastructure?

• a) Chennai
• b) Delhi
• c) Kolkata
• d) Hyderabad
• Answer: b) Delhi

30. Which of the following regions is relatively stable with a lower risk of major earthquakes?

• a) Himalayan Belt
• b) Indo-Gangetic Plain
• c) Deccan Plateau
• d) North-East India
• Answer: c) Deccan Plateau

These questions are designed to cover a range of topics related to seismic zones in India, from geological causes to regional vulnerabilities, providing a comprehensive understanding for Civil Services Examination aspirants.