Geography MCQs for UPSC Prelims — January 2026
Q1. Consider the following statements about India's lithium resource discoveries:
1. The ~1,600 tonne lithium resource in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district was established by the Atomic Minerals Directorate.
2. The ~5.9 million tonne lithium resource at Salal-Haimna, Reasi, was established by the Geological Survey of India.
3. Both the Karnataka and the Reasi lithium resources were established at the detailed (G1) exploration stage.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The ~1,600 tonne lithium resource in the Marlagalla area of Mandya district was established by the Atomic Minerals Directorate.
- The ~5.9 million tonne lithium resource at Salal-Haimna, Reasi, was established by the Geological Survey of India.
- Both the Karnataka and the Reasi lithium resources were established at the detailed (G1) exploration stage.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q2. The largest inferred (G3) lithium resource established in India so far — about 5.9 million tonnes of lithium ore — is located in which one of the following districts?
- A. Reasi
- B. Mandya
- C. Yadgiri
- D. Nalgonda
Q3. With reference to coking (metallurgical) coal, consider the following statements:
1. It possesses strong caking properties and forms a hard, porous coke used in blast furnaces.
2. It generally has lower ash content than non-coking coal.
3. Over 90% of India's coking coal reserves lie in the Jharia coalfield.
4. It is primarily used as a fuel for thermal power generation.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It possesses strong caking properties and forms a hard, porous coke used in blast furnaces.
- It generally has lower ash content than non-coking coal.
- Over 90% of India's coking coal reserves lie in the Jharia coalfield.
- It is primarily used as a fuel for thermal power generation.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q4. Consider the following states:
1. West Bengal
2. Assam
3. Punjab
4. Bihar
Which of the above are correctly identified as jute-growing states of India?
- West Bengal
- Assam
- Punjab
- Bihar
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1, 2 and 4
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q5. The Central Research Institute for Jute and Allied Fibres (CRIJAF), which partners the National Jute Board and the Jute Corporation of India in the Jute-ICARE cultivation programme, functions under which Ministry?
- A. Ministry of Textiles
- B. Ministry of Agriculture
- C. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- D. Ministry of Science and Technology
Q6. Consider the following pairings of National Waterways with their associated river/canal systems. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- National Waterway-1 — Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly river system (Prayagraj–Haldia).
- National Waterway-2 — Brahmaputra river (Dhubri–Sadiya).
- National Waterway-3 — West Coast Canal in Kerala (Kottapuram–Kollam).
- National Waterway-4 — Yamuna river in the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1, 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q7. Greenland, which figured in US President Donald Trump's January 2026 Davos call for ‘immediate negotiations’, is best described as which one of the following?
- A. The world's largest island
- B. The world's largest archipelago
- C. The world's largest peninsula
- D. The northernmost sovereign state
Q8. UNGEGN, frequently referenced in discussions on the standardisation of geographical names, is:
- A. The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names
- B. A UNESCO committee for naming World Heritage Sites
- C. A World Bank facility funding geospatial infrastructure
- D. An IUCN body that names protected areas
Q9. Which of the following is the nodal authority for the standardisation of geographical (place) names in India?
- A. Survey of India
- B. National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organisation
- C. Registrar General of India
- D. National Remote Sensing Centre
Q10. In the context of the National Geospatial Policy, 2022, a 'Digital Elevation Model (DEM)' is best described as:
- A. A digital representation of the terrain/ground-surface elevation of an area
- B. A metric that always measures the digital literacy level of a district
- C. A three-dimensional index solely of urban building density
- D. A register exclusively of digitised land-revenue records
Q11. Which one of the following is a flagship target set under the National Geospatial Policy, 2022?
- A. A high-resolution topographical survey with a national Digital Elevation Model for the entire country by 2030
- B. Universal 5G telecom coverage by 2030
- C. 100% renewable energy generation by 2047
- D. A nationwide household fibre-optic grid by 2025
Q12. In the context of the DIBD–Survey of India MoU of January 2026, the term 'toponym' refers to:
- A. A geographical place name
- B. A satellite-derived surface elevation value
- C. A cadastral record of land ownership
- D. A geodetic ground-control reference point
Q13. With reference to the Survey of India, consider the following statements:
1. It is regarded as the oldest scientific department of the Government of India.
2. It was founded in the year 1767.
3. It functions administratively under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
4. It is the nodal agency for the standardisation of geographical place names in India.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- It is regarded as the oldest scientific department of the Government of India.
- It was founded in the year 1767.
- It functions administratively under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- It is the nodal agency for the standardisation of geographical place names in India.
- A. 3 only
- B. 1 and 2
- C. 2 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q14. Who among the following was appointed as the first Surveyor General of Bengal in 1767, an event regarded as the origin of the Survey of India?
- A. James Rennell
- B. Colin Mackenzie
- C. William Lambton
- D. George Everest
Q15. The Long Range Forecast categorising the 2025 southwest monsoon as 'above normal', which augured well for rabi sowing, was issued by the India Meteorological Department functioning under which ministry?
- A. Ministry of Earth Sciences
- B. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare
- C. Ministry of Science & Technology
- D. Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change
Q16. The actual all-India southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall for 2025, which aided rabi soil moisture, was what percentage of the Long Period Average (LPA)?
- A. 96% of LPA
- B. 100% of LPA
- C. 108% of LPA
- D. 112% of LPA
Q17. With reference to Greenland, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Greenland is a self-governing territory of the Kingdom of Denmark under the Act on Greenland Self-Government of 2009.
- Under that Act, Denmark retains control of foreign relations and defence.
- Greenland is the world's largest island and lies entirely within the Arctic Circle.
- The US installation on Greenland, renamed Pituffik Space Base in 2023, was originally established as Thule Air Base in 1951–52.
- A. 1 and 3
- B. 2 and 4
- C. 1, 2 and 4
- D. 3 only
Q18. Greenland, which has been at the centre of a recent US–EU tariff dispute, is which one of the following with respect to global geography?
- A. The world's largest island
- B. The world's largest archipelago
- C. The world's largest non-continental landmass entirely north of the Arctic Circle
- D. The world's largest sub-national autonomous territory by population
Q19. With reference to the Karbi Anglong hills and their link to Kaziranga, consider the following statements:
1. Karbi Anglong is an autonomous hill district of Assam administered under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
2. Kaziranga National Park lies between the Brahmaputra River and the Karbi Anglong hills.
3. During floods, wildlife migrates southward from Kaziranga towards the Karbi Anglong hills.
4. The elevated corridor is designed to connect Kaziranga with the Patkai hills rather than the Karbi Anglong hills.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Karbi Anglong is an autonomous hill district of Assam administered under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution.
- Kaziranga National Park lies between the Brahmaputra River and the Karbi Anglong hills.
- During floods, wildlife migrates southward from Kaziranga towards the Karbi Anglong hills.
- The elevated corridor is designed to connect Kaziranga with the Patkai hills rather than the Karbi Anglong hills.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2 and 4 only
- C. 1 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2 and 4
Q20. Consider the following as components of the 85.675 km Kaliabor–Numaligarh (Kaziranga Elevated Corridor) project:
1. An elevated wildlife corridor of about 35 km
2. Greenfield bypasses of about 21 km around Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat
3. Widening of about 30 km of existing highway from two to four lanes
4. A river tunnel of about 12 km beneath the Brahmaputra
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- An elevated wildlife corridor of about 35 km
- Greenfield bypasses of about 21 km around Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat
- Widening of about 30 km of existing highway from two to four lanes
- A river tunnel of about 12 km beneath the Brahmaputra
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 2 and 3
- D. 3 only
Q21. Of the 85.675 km total length of the Kaliabor–Numaligarh project, which single component accounts for the largest share of the alignment?
- A. The elevated wildlife corridor (about 35 km)
- B. The widening of the existing highway (about 30 km)
- C. The greenfield bypass section (about 21 km)
- D. The service roads and approach ramps
Q22. The Kaziranga Elevated Corridor four-lanes the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715, described as the lifeline of Upper Assam. NH-715 corresponds to which erstwhile national highway that skirts the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park?
- A. Old NH-37
- B. Old NH-31
- C. Old NH-52
- D. Old NH-54
Q23. The Ten Degree Channel, which separates the Andaman group of islands from the Nicobar group, is approximately how many kilometres wide?
- A. 50 km
- B. 100 km
- C. 150 km
- D. 250 km
Q24. Consider the following statements about the Andaman & Nicobar Islands:
1. The capital, formerly Port Blair, has been renamed Sri Vijaya Puram.
2. ACOSTI, the island ocean-science centre, is located at Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair).
3. The Great Nicobar Project aims to strengthen India's presence in the Andaman Sea and Southeast Asia.
4. The islands lie in the Arabian Sea and are separated from the mainland by the Nine Degree Channel.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- The capital, formerly Port Blair, has been renamed Sri Vijaya Puram.
- ACOSTI, the island ocean-science centre, is located at Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair).
- The Great Nicobar Project aims to strengthen India's presence in the Andaman Sea and Southeast Asia.
- The islands lie in the Arabian Sea and are separated from the mainland by the Nine Degree Channel.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 1 and 4 only
- C. 2, 3 and 4
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q25. All surface (rail and road) connectivity between the North Eastern Region and the rest of India passes through the narrow Siliguri Corridor, which lies within which one of the following States?
- A. West Bengal
- B. Assam
- C. Bihar
- D. Sikkim
Q26. With reference to the physical geography of Malda district, West Bengal, consider the following statements. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Mahananda river divides the district into two regions.
- The river Ganga makes its first entry into West Bengal in this district.
- The district shares its entire eastern boundary with the State of Bihar.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q27. The detained Indian seafarers from MT Valiant Roar were lodged in prison at which Iranian port — the country's largest commercial port and the principal IRGC Navy base on the Persian Gulf?
- A. Bandar-e Bushehr
- B. Bandar-e Anzali
- C. Bandar Abbas
- D. Chabahar
Q28. Which one of the following correctly describes National Waterway-1 (NW-1), on which the Balagarh terminal of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port lies?
- A. The Ganga–Bhagirathi–Hooghly river system from Prayagraj (Allahabad) to Haldia
- B. The Brahmaputra river from Sadiya to Dhubri
- C. The West Coast Canal from Kollam to Kottapuram in Kerala
- D. The Krishna–Godavari river stretch in Andhra Pradesh
Q29. Consider the following statements regarding the projects dedicated by the Prime Minister in West Bengal in January 2026:
1. The Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur new rail line is part of the Tarakeswar–Bishnupur project.
2. The Malda projects were worth more than ₹3,250 crore.
3. The Singur (Hooghly) development projects were worth around ₹830 crore.
4. The Tarakeswar–Bishnupur line connects two districts of northern West Bengal.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- The Jayrambati–Barogopinathpur–Maynapur new rail line is part of the Tarakeswar–Bishnupur project.
- The Malda projects were worth more than ₹3,250 crore.
- The Singur (Hooghly) development projects were worth around ₹830 crore.
- The Tarakeswar–Bishnupur line connects two districts of northern West Bengal.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 3 only
- D. 4 only
Q30. Consider the following statements comparing India's coal-bearing formations:
1. About 98% of India's coal reserves belong to the Gondwana formation rather than the Tertiary formation.
2. Gondwana coalfields are distributed largely along the Damodar, Son, Mahanadi and Godavari river valleys.
3. Gondwana coal is geologically younger than Tertiary coal and is found mainly in Assam and Meghalaya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- About 98% of India's coal reserves belong to the Gondwana formation rather than the Tertiary formation.
- Gondwana coalfields are distributed largely along the Damodar, Son, Mahanadi and Godavari river valleys.
- Gondwana coal is geologically younger than Tertiary coal and is found mainly in Assam and Meghalaya.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 2 and 3 only
- C. 1 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3