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.
