MCQs with answers for the Civil Services Examination on the topic “The Physiographic Divisions of India: Diversity and Significance”

1. Which of the following is not a part of the Himalayan mountain system?

• A) The Eastern Himalayas
• B) The Western Ghats
• C) The Western Himalayas
• D) The Trans-Himalayas
  Answer: B) The Western Ghats

2. Which river is considered the lifeline of the Northern Plains of India?

• A) Godavari
• B) Krishna
• C) Ganga
• D) Brahmaputra
  Answer: C) Ganga

3. The Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats meet at which of the following hills?

• A) Aravalli Hills
• B) Satpura Range
• C) Nilgiri Hills
• D) Vindhya Range
  Answer: C) Nilgiri Hills

4. Which physiographic division of India is known for its black soil, suitable for cotton cultivation?

• A) The Northern Plains
• B) The Western Coastal Plains
• C) The Deccan Plateau
• D) The Eastern Coastal Plains
  Answer: C) The Deccan Plateau

5. Which of the following rivers does not originate in the Himalayas?

• A) Indus
• B) Yamuna
• C) Narmada
• D) Brahmaputra
  Answer: C) Narmada

6. The Aravalli Range is known for which of the following characteristics?

• A) It is the youngest mountain range in India.
• B) It extends from Gujarat to Rajasthan.
• C) It forms the eastern boundary of the Thar Desert.
• D) It is a volcanic mountain range.
  Answer: B) It extends from Gujarat to Rajasthan.

7. The Sundarbans delta is primarily formed by which two rivers?

• A) Ganga and Yamuna
• B) Brahmaputra and Yamuna
• C) Ganga and Brahmaputra
• D) Narmada and Tapi
  Answer: C) Ganga and Brahmaputra

8. Which of the following regions is known as the “Roof of the World”?

• A) Tibetan Plateau
• B) Deccan Plateau
• C) Chotanagpur Plateau
• D) Malwa Plateau
  Answer: A) Tibetan Plateau

9. The Vindhya Range separates which two major physiographic regions of India?

• A) Northern Plains and Deccan Plateau
• B) Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
• C) Coastal Plains and Islands
• D) Aravalli Range and Eastern Ghats
  Answer: A) Northern Plains and Deccan Plateau

10. Which of the following is a characteristic feature of the Western Coastal Plains of India?

• A) They are broader than the Eastern Coastal Plains.
• B) They have a smooth coastline.
• C) They feature lagoons and backwaters.
• D) They are arid and have less rainfall.
  Answer: C) They feature lagoons and backwaters.

11. The highest peak in the Indian Himalayas is:

• A) Mount Everest
• B) Nanda Devi
• C) Kanchenjunga
• D) K2
  Answer: C) Kanchenjunga

12. The Deccan Trap is known for which type of soil?

• A) Alluvial Soil
• B) Black Soil
• C) Red Soil
• D) Laterite Soil
  Answer: B) Black Soil

13. The Thar Desert is situated in which part of India?

• A) North-East India
• B) North-West India
• C) South India
• D) Central India
  Answer: B) North-West India

14. Which mountain range acts as a water divide between the Indus and Ganga river systems?

• A) Aravalli Range
• B) Satpura Range
• C) Vindhya Range
• D) Himalayas
  Answer: C) Vindhya Range

15. The highest peak in the Western Ghats is:

• A) Doddabetta
• B) Anamudi
• C) Mahendragiri
• D) Nilgiri
  Answer: B) Anamudi

16. Which of the following rivers forms an estuary before joining the Arabian Sea?

• A) Ganga
• B) Krishna
• C) Mahanadi
• D) Narmada
  Answer: D) Narmada

17. The Peninsular Plateau of India is composed mainly of:

• A) Sedimentary rocks
• B) Igneous and metamorphic rocks
• C) Alluvial soil
• D) Loess deposits
  Answer: B) Igneous and metamorphic rocks

18. Which of the following is known as the “Queen of the Arabian Sea”?

• A) Mumbai
• B) Mangalore
• C) Kochi
• D) Goa
  Answer: C) Kochi

19. The Lakshadweep Islands are situated in which water body?

• A) Arabian Sea
• B) Bay of Bengal
• C) Indian Ocean
• D) Red Sea
  Answer: A) Arabian Sea

20. The Meghalaya Plateau is an extension of which plateau?

• A) Deccan Plateau
• B) Chotanagpur Plateau
• C) Aravalli Range
• D) Malwa Plateau
  Answer: B) Chotanagpur Plateau

21. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are part of which major island group?

• A) Indian Ocean Island Group
• B) Bay of Bengal Island Group
• C) Arabian Sea Island Group
• D) Lakshadweep Island Group
  Answer: B) Bay of Bengal Island Group

22. Which of the following rivers does not drain into the Arabian Sea?

• A) Tapi
• B) Mahi
• C) Godavari
• D) Narmada
  Answer: C) Godavari

23. The Malwa Plateau is primarily known for the production of:

• A) Tea
• B) Coffee
• C) Opium
• D) Rubber
  Answer: C) Opium

24. The Konkan Coast is part of which of the following?

• A) Eastern Coastal Plains
• B) Western Coastal Plains
• C) Northern Plains
• D) Southern Plateaus
  Answer: B) Western Coastal Plains

25. Which river forms the largest river island in the world, Majuli?

• A) Ganga
• B) Brahmaputra
• C) Krishna
• D) Godavari
  Answer: B) Brahmaputra

26. Which is the smallest physiographic unit of India in terms of area?

• A) Islands
• B) Coastal Plains
• C) Desert
• D) Himalayan Mountains
  Answer: A) Islands

27. The rain shadow region of the Western Ghats is found in:

• A) Gujarat
• B) Karnataka
• C) Tamil Nadu
• D) Maharashtra
  Answer: C) Tamil Nadu

28. Which of the following is a characteristic of the Eastern Coastal Plains?

• A) Presence of estuaries
• B) High cliffs
• C) Presence of deltas
• D) Presence of backwaters
  Answer: C) Presence of deltas

29. The Chotanagpur Plateau is rich in:

• A) Agricultural produce
• B) Industrial units
• C) Mineral resources
• D) Forest cover
  Answer: C) Mineral resources

30. The Western Ghats are known for being a:

• A) Cold desert region
• B) Biodiversity hotspot
• C) Arid region
• D) Glacial region
  Answer: B) Biodiversity hotspot

These questions cover various aspects of the physiographic divisions of India, including mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, and coastal regions, relevant to the Civil Services Examination.