UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Historic Breakthrough Achieved at Zojila Tunnel Project; Shri Nitin Gadkari Highlights Transformational Connectivity Initiatives Across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh

Q1. What is the approximate length of the main Zojila Tunnel, recently in the news for its breakthrough on NH-1 connecting Srinagar and Leh?

• A. About 9 km
• B. About 13 km
• C. About 18 km
• D. About 22 km

Q2. Which one of the following is the implementing/executing agency entrusted with the construction of the Zojila Tunnel on NH-1 under EPC mode?

• A. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
• B. Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
• C. National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL)
• D. IRCON International Ltd

Q3. The Zojila Pass, which forms a vital surface link between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, is a pass across which one of the following mountain ranges of the Himalayan system?

• A. Pir Panjal Range
• B. Ladakh Range
• C. Karakoram Range
• D. Zanskar Range

Q4. Strategic high-altitude motorable roads through Ladakh's mountain passes such as Khardung La and Chang La, and the seasonal clearing of Zoji La on the Srinagar–Leh highway, are primarily executed and maintained by which one of the following agencies?

• A. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
• B. Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
• C. National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)
• D. Central Public Works Department (CPWD)

Q5. The Shinkun La Tunnel, being constructed on the Nimmu-Padam-Darcha road to provide an all-weather alternative axis to Leh, is being executed by which one of the following agencies?

• A. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
• B. National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)
• C. Border Roads Organisation (BRO)
• D. Central Public Works Department (CPWD)

Q6. With reference to the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), the executing agency for the Zojila Tunnel Project, under which one of the following was it established?

• A. As a Section 8 (not-for-profit) company under the Companies Act, 2013, jointly owned by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region.
• B. As a statutory body created by an amendment to the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988.
• C. As a fully-owned company of the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, incorporated in 2014 under the Companies Act, 2013.
• D. As a Special Purpose Vehicle floated jointly by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

Q7. Which one of the following tunnels in the Himalayan strategic-connectivity corridor was dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister in January 2025?

• A. Atal Tunnel (Rohtang)
• B. Sonamarg (Z-Morh) Tunnel
• C. Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee (Chenani–Nashri) Tunnel
• D. Zojila Tunnel

Q8. In the context of strategic road connectivity in Jammu & Kashmir, the term 'Z-Morh' in 'Z-Morh Tunnel' refers to which one of the following?

• A. A Z-shaped bend of the existing Srinagar–Sonamarg highway near Gagangir, after which the tunnel is named
• B. The Zoji-la pass, of which the tunnel forms the western approach
• C. The Zanskar range through which the tunnel has been bored
• D. A code designation given by the Border Roads Organisation to tunnels exceeding 6 km on NH-1

Q9. Which one of the following tunnels has been officially recognised by the World Book of Records (UK) as the 'World's Longest Highway Tunnel above 10,000 feet'?

• A. Zojila Tunnel
• B. Atal Tunnel
• C. Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel (Chenani-Nashri)
• D. Z-Morh Tunnel

Q10. Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I, which envisages development and upgradation of about 34,800 km of National Highways including Border and International Connectivity Roads, was accorded investment approval by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in which one of the following years?

• A. 2015
• B. 2016
• C. 2017
• D. 2020

Q11. In the geography of the Kargil district of Ladakh, the term 'Sangham' refers to which one of the following?

• A. The watershed line between the Indus and Jhelum drainage systems at the Zojila Pass
• B. The confluence of the Suru and Dras rivers
• C. A high-altitude glacial lake regarded as the source of the Suru river
• D. The glacier from which the Dras river originates near Zojila

Q12. With reference to the river systems around the Zojila Pass, consider the following statements: 1. The Suru river is a tributary of the Indus river. 2. The Dras river joins the Suru river within the Kargil district before draining into the Indus system. 3. The Sindh river that meanders through Sonamarg and Ganderbal is a tributary of the Jhelum river. 4. The Dras river is a tributary of the Jhelum river. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The Suru river is a tributary of the Indus river.
2. The Dras river joins the Suru river within the Kargil district before draining into the Indus system.
3. The Sindh river that meanders through Sonamarg and Ganderbal is a tributary of the Jhelum river.
4. The Dras river is a tributary of the Jhelum river.

• A. 1, 2 and 3 only
• B. 1 and 3 only
• C. 2, 3 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4