Mountain Passes of India MCQs for Exam Preparation | 30 Questions with Answers
Mountain Passes of India MCQs for Exam Preparation
30 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers and Detailed Explanations
Exam Focus: UPSC • SSC • Banking • Railways • PSC • State Government Exams • CDS • CAPF • NDA • Other Competitive Exams
MCQ 1. What is a mountain pass?
A. A mountain peak
B. A low point or gap between mountains used for crossing
C. A river valley
D. A plateau
✅ Correct Answer: B. A low point or gap between mountains used for crossing
Explanation:
A mountain pass is a natural route through a mountain range that connects two regions. Mountain passes are important for transportation, trade, tourism, and defence.
- A. Mountain peak – Incorrect; a peak is the highest point.
- B. Low point or gap – Correct.
- C. River valley – Different geographical feature.
- D. Plateau – Elevated flat land.
MCQ 2. Which mountain pass connects Srinagar with Leh?
A. Shipki La
B. Zoji La
C. Nathu La
D. Bomdi La
✅ Correct Answer: B. Zoji La
Explanation:
Zoji La is situated in the Zaskar Range and connects Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir with Leh in Ladakh. It is one of India’s most strategically important mountain passes.
MCQ 3. Zoji La Pass is located in which mountain range?
A. Pir Panjal Range
B. Zaskar Range
C. Karakoram Range
D. Aravalli Range
✅ Correct Answer: B. Zaskar Range
Explanation:
Zoji La lies in the Zaskar Range of the Himalayas and serves as a vital gateway to Ladakh.
MCQ 4. Which mountain pass connects India with Tibet in Sikkim?
A. Lipulekh Pass
B. Nathu La Pass
C. Bara-Lacha La
D. Rohtang Pass
✅ Correct Answer: B. Nathu La Pass
Explanation:
Nathu La is located in East Sikkim on the Indo-China border. It was reopened for border trade in 2006 and is an important strategic and commercial route.
MCQ 5. Nathu La Pass lies on the border between India and ______.
A. Nepal
B. Bhutan
C. China (Tibet Autonomous Region)
D. Myanmar
✅ Correct Answer: C. China (Tibet Autonomous Region)
Explanation:
Nathu La connects Sikkim (India) with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China.
MCQ 6. Which mountain pass is known as the gateway to Kailash Mansarovar Yatra?
A. Rohtang Pass
B. Lipulekh Pass
C. Zoji La
D. Bomdi La
✅ Correct Answer: B. Lipulekh Pass
Explanation:
Lipulekh Pass, located in Uttarakhand, is an important route used by pilgrims travelling to Mount Kailash and Lake Mansarovar in Tibet.
MCQ 7. Lipulekh Pass is situated in which state?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Uttarakhand
C. Sikkim
D. Arunachal Pradesh
✅ Correct Answer: B. Uttarakhand
Explanation:
Lipulekh Pass lies in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China.
MCQ 8. Rohtang Pass connects Kullu Valley with which valley?
A. Kashmir Valley
B. Spiti Valley
C. Lahaul Valley
D. Zanskar Valley
✅ Correct Answer: C. Lahaul Valley
Explanation:
Rohtang Pass connects Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti region of Himachal Pradesh.
MCQ 9. Rohtang Pass is located in which state?
A. Uttarakhand
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Jammu & Kashmir
D. Sikkim
✅ Correct Answer: B. Himachal Pradesh
Explanation:
Rohtang Pass is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most famous tourist attractions and strategic mountain routes.
MCQ 10. Which tunnel has significantly reduced dependence on Rohtang Pass?
A. Atal Tunnel
B. Jawahar Tunnel
C. Banihal Tunnel
D. Chenani Tunnel
✅ Correct Answer: A. Atal Tunnel
Explanation:
The Atal Tunnel, inaugurated in 2020, provides all-weather connectivity between Manali and Lahaul, bypassing Rohtang Pass.
MCQ 11. Which pass connects Himachal Pradesh with Ladakh?
A. Nathu La
B. Bara-Lacha La
C. Bomdi La
D. Jelep La
✅ Correct Answer: B. Bara-Lacha La
Explanation:
Bara-Lacha La is located on the Leh-Manali Highway and connects Lahaul (Himachal Pradesh) with Ladakh.
MCQ 12. Which of the following passes lies on the Leh-Manali Highway?
A. Nathu La
B. Bara-Lacha La
C. Shipki La
D. Bomdi La
✅ Correct Answer: B. Bara-Lacha La
Explanation:
The Leh-Manali Highway crosses several high-altitude passes, including Rohtang, Bara-Lacha La, Lachulung La, and Tanglang La.
MCQ 13. Shipki La Pass is located in which state?
A. Uttarakhand
B. Himachal Pradesh
C. Arunachal Pradesh
D. Sikkim
✅ Correct Answer: B. Himachal Pradesh
Explanation:
Shipki La is situated in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh and connects India with Tibet.
MCQ 14. Shipki La Pass connects India with which country?
A. Nepal
B. Bhutan
C. China
D. Myanmar
✅ Correct Answer: C. China
Explanation:
Shipki La has historically served as a trade route between India and Tibet.
MCQ 15. Bomdi La Pass is located in which state?
A. Nagaland
B. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Meghalaya
D. Assam
✅ Correct Answer: B. Arunachal Pradesh
Explanation:
Bomdi La is an important pass in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh and connects the plains of Assam with Tawang.
MCQ 16. Bomdi La Pass is strategically important because it leads towards ______.
A. Gangtok
B. Leh
C. Tawang
D. Imphal
✅ Correct Answer: C. Tawang
Explanation:
The route through Bomdi La is crucial for reaching Tawang, an important border district near China.
MCQ 17. Which mountain pass connects Sikkim with Tibet besides Nathu La?
A. Jelep La
B. Zoji La
C. Banihal Pass
D. Rohtang Pass
✅ Correct Answer: A. Jelep La
Explanation:
Jelep La is another important pass in Sikkim connecting India with Tibet.
MCQ 18. Banihal Pass is located in which Union Territory?
A. Ladakh
B. Jammu & Kashmir
C. Chandigarh
D. Delhi
✅ Correct Answer: B. Jammu & Kashmir
Explanation:
Banihal Pass connects the Kashmir Valley with the Jammu region through the Pir Panjal Range.
MCQ 19. Banihal Pass lies in which mountain range?
A. Great Himalayas
B. Pir Panjal Range
C. Karakoram Range
D. Vindhya Range
✅ Correct Answer: B. Pir Panjal Range
Explanation:
Banihal Pass is situated in the Pir Panjal Range, a part of the Lesser Himalayas.
MCQ 20. Which mountain pass is famous for Indo-China border trade?
A. Nathu La
B. Banihal Pass
C. Rohtang Pass
D. Palghat Gap
✅ Correct Answer: A. Nathu La
Explanation:
Nathu La was reopened for border trade in 2006 and remains one of India’s key trade routes with Tibet.
MCQ 21. Which pass is located near the India-Nepal-China tri-junction?
A. Rohtang Pass
B. Lipulekh Pass
C. Zoji La
D. Shipki La
✅ Correct Answer: B. Lipulekh Pass
Explanation:
Lipulekh Pass is strategically located near the trijunction of India, Nepal, and China.
MCQ 22. Which mountain pass is situated in Ladakh and is one of the highest motorable passes?
A. Khardung La
B. Bomdi La
C. Jelep La
D. Banihal Pass
✅ Correct Answer: A. Khardung La
Explanation:
Khardung La is a high-altitude pass in Ladakh and serves as the gateway to the Nubra Valley.
MCQ 23. Khardung La connects Leh with which valley?
A. Kashmir Valley
B. Nubra Valley
C. Kullu Valley
D. Kangra Valley
✅ Correct Answer: B. Nubra Valley
Explanation:
Khardung La provides road access from Leh to the strategically important Nubra Valley.
MCQ 24. Which pass is crossed while travelling from Manali to Leh?
A. Bara-Lacha La
B. Nathu La
C. Jelep La
D. Bomdi La
✅ Correct Answer: A. Bara-Lacha La
Explanation:
The Manali-Leh Highway crosses several famous passes, including Bara-Lacha La.
MCQ 25. Which of the following is correctly matched?
A. Zoji La — Srinagar to Leh
B. Nathu La — Jammu to Srinagar
C. Rohtang — Assam to Arunachal
D. Lipulekh — Kerala to Karnataka
✅ Correct Answer: A. Zoji La — Srinagar to Leh
Explanation:
Zoji La serves as the main road link between Srinagar and Leh.
MCQ 26. Which pass is famous among tourists visiting Manali?
A. Rohtang Pass
B. Lipulekh Pass
C. Jelep La
D. Nathu La
✅ Correct Answer: A. Rohtang Pass
Explanation:
Rohtang Pass is a popular tourist destination known for snow-covered landscapes and adventure activities.
MCQ 27. Which of the following mountain passes is located in Arunachal Pradesh?
A. Bomdi La
B. Shipki La
C. Lipulekh
D. Banihal
✅ Correct Answer: A. Bomdi La
Explanation:
Bomdi La is one of the most important mountain passes in Arunachal Pradesh due to its strategic location.
MCQ 28. Which mountain pass is associated with the Silk Route?
A. Nathu La
B. Rohtang Pass
C. Banihal Pass
D. Bara-Lacha La
✅ Correct Answer: A. Nathu La
Explanation:
Nathu La formed a part of the historic Silk Route, facilitating trade between India and Tibet.
MCQ 29. Which of the following pass–state pairs is correctly matched?
A. Rohtang — Himachal Pradesh
B. Nathu La — Uttarakhand
C. Lipulekh — Sikkim
D. Bomdi La — Nagaland
✅ Correct Answer: A. Rohtang — Himachal Pradesh
Explanation:
- Rohtang — Himachal Pradesh ✅
- Nathu La — Sikkim ❌
- Lipulekh — Uttarakhand ❌
- Bomdi La — Arunachal Pradesh ❌
MCQ 30. Which one of the following statements about mountain passes in India is correct?
A. They are important only for tourism.
B. They have no strategic importance.
C. They are important for transport, defence, trade, and tourism.
D. They exist only in the Western Ghats.
✅ Correct Answer: C. They are important for transport, defence, trade, and tourism.
Explanation:
Mountain passes play a crucial role in India by:
- Connecting remote regions.
- Facilitating transportation and trade.
- Supporting tourism.
- Enhancing border security and military logistics.
- Providing access for pilgrimage routes such as the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
Exam Tip: For UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, PSC, and other competitive exams, remember the Pass – State – Mountain Range – Connecting Regions – Border Country – Strategic Importance for major mountain passes such as Zoji La, Nathu La, Lipulekh, Rohtang, Khardung La, Bara-Lacha La, Shipki La, Jelep La, Banihal, and Bomdi La. Matching and location-based questions from these passes are frequently asked in competitive examinations.
