Geography MCQs for UPSC Prelims — February 2026
Q1. Before its emergence as a semiconductor cluster, the Sanand GIDC industrial estate in Gujarat was best known primarily as a manufacturing hub for which one of the following industries?
- A. Automobiles
- B. Textiles
- C. Iron and steel
- D. Petrochemicals
Q2. With reference to the island after which INS Anjadip is named, consider the following statements:
1. Anjadip Island lies off the coast of Karnataka in the Arabian Sea.
2. It lies in the vicinity of the Indian Navy's Karwar base developed under Project Seabird.
3. It lies off the coast of Tamil Nadu, close to the Chennai Port where the ship was commissioned.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Anjadip Island lies off the coast of Karnataka in the Arabian Sea.
- It lies in the vicinity of the Indian Navy's Karwar base developed under Project Seabird.
- It lies off the coast of Tamil Nadu, close to the Chennai Port where the ship was commissioned.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q3. Consider the following statements comparing two India–Nepal transboundary conservation landscapes:
1. The Terai Arc Landscape is a low-lying landscape shared between India and Nepal.
2. The Kailash Sacred Landscape is a transboundary landscape shared by India, Nepal and China.
3. The Kailash Sacred Landscape lies in the Terai plains straddling the open India–Nepal border.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- The Terai Arc Landscape is a low-lying landscape shared between India and Nepal.
- The Kailash Sacred Landscape is a transboundary landscape shared by India, Nepal and China.
- The Kailash Sacred Landscape lies in the Terai plains straddling the open India–Nepal border.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q4. The Indian portion of the Terai Arc Landscape, a key India–Nepal transboundary conservation area, extends across how many Indian States?
Q5. Which one of the following states accounts for the largest share of India's raw jute production?
- A. Bihar
- B. Assam
- C. West Bengal
- D. Odisha
Q6. Which one of the following states accounts for the largest share of India's raw jute production?
- A. Bihar
- B. Assam
- C. West Bengal
- D. Odisha
Q7. Brazil, a partner in the February 2026 mining pacts, is the world's largest producer of which one of the following minerals?
- A. Lithium
- B. Cobalt
- C. Niobium
- D. Nickel
Q8. In the context of India's under-utilised EEZ fishery resources, the term 'tuna and tuna-like species' primarily refers to which category of fishery resources?
- A. High-value oceanic pelagic species found largely in deep-sea and offshore waters
- B. Bottom-dwelling demersal species confined to the continental shelf
- C. Brackish-water estuarine species of coastal lagoons and backwaters
- D. Freshwater species of inland rivers and reservoirs
Q9. India's Exclusive Economic Zone covers an area of approximately how many square kilometres?
- A. About 24 lakh sq km
- B. About 12 lakh sq km
- C. About 20 lakh sq km
- D. About 30 lakh sq km
Q10. Under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976, which one of the following maritime zones extends to the greatest distance (up to 200 nautical miles) from the baseline?
- A. Territorial waters
- B. Contiguous zone
- C. Exclusive Economic Zone
- D. Internal waters
Q11. The HCL-Foxconn plant near Jewar is being developed within the industrial jurisdiction of which one of the following authorities?
- A. Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority
- B. New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA)
- C. Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA)
- D. Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA)
Q12. With reference to the location of the HCL-Foxconn project site, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- It lies within the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) region.
- It is located near the Noida International Airport at Jewar.
- It falls in the Gautam Buddh Nagar district of Uttar Pradesh.
- It is situated along the Ganga Expressway.
- A. 4 only
- B. 1 and 4
- C. 3 only
- D. 2 and 3
Q13. With reference to the spatial extent of India's Exclusive Economic Zone, consider the following statements:
1. India's EEZ covers about 24 lakh square kilometres.
2. Most Indian fishing is currently confined to within 40–50 nautical miles of the coast.
3. The EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
4. The EEZ lies entirely within the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters limit.
Which of the above is/are NOT correct?
- India's EEZ covers about 24 lakh square kilometres.
- Most Indian fishing is currently confined to within 40–50 nautical miles of the coast.
- The EEZ extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
- The EEZ lies entirely within the 12-nautical-mile territorial waters limit.
- A. 1 and 3 only
- B. 4 only
- C. 2 and 4 only
- D. 3 only
Q14. Which one of the following island groups, taken together, accounts for the single largest share (about 49%) of India's Exclusive Economic Zone?
- A. Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep
- B. Lakshadweep alone
- C. Andaman & Nicobar Islands alone
- D. Diu and Daman islands
Q15. With reference to the maritime zones defined under the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976, consider the following:
1. Territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
2. The contiguous zone extends up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
4. The continental shelf is limited to 100 nautical miles from the baseline.
Which of the above is/are correctly identified?
- Territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles from the baseline.
- The contiguous zone extends up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline.
- The Exclusive Economic Zone extends up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
- The continental shelf is limited to 100 nautical miles from the baseline.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1, 2 and 3 only
- C. 3 and 4 only
- D. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Q16. With reference to Cachar district of Assam, where VVP-II was launched, consider the following:
1. It lies in the Barak Valley region of Assam.
2. It shares an international border with Bangladesh.
3. It shares inter-state boundaries with Manipur and Mizoram.
4. It shares an international border with Myanmar.
Which of the above is NOT correct?
- It lies in the Barak Valley region of Assam.
- It shares an international border with Bangladesh.
- It shares inter-state boundaries with Manipur and Mizoram.
- It shares an international border with Myanmar.
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4
Q17. Regarding the location of the H-125 Final Assembly Line, which of the following statements is/are correctly identified?
- Vemagal lies in the Kolar district of Karnataka.
- Vemagal is located roughly 65 km east of Bengaluru.
- HAL's helicopter factory at Tumakuru, described as Asia's largest, is a facility separate from the Vemagal unit.
- Vemagal is situated in the Union Territory of Puducherry.
- A. 1, 2 and 3
- B. 2, 3 and 4
- C. 1 and 4 only
- D. 1, 3 and 4
Q18. The H-125 Light Utility Helicopter Final Assembly Line at Vemagal is located in the industrial area of which one of the following districts of Karnataka?
- A. Kolar
- B. Tumakuru
- C. Chikkaballapura
- D. Bengaluru Rural
Q19. In the context of India–Bangladesh water relations, the term 'Farakka Barrage' is best described as:
- A. a barrage on the Ganges in West Bengal, near the Bangladesh border, built to divert water into the Hooghly river
- B. a dam on the Teesta in Sikkim regulating flows into northern Bangladesh
- C. a barrage on the Brahmaputra in Assam controlling floods in Bangladesh
- D. a barrage on the Meghna near the Bangladesh coast to check saline ingress
Q20. The proposed Maitri-II research station in Antarctica is being developed primarily to serve which one of the following purposes?
- A. To replace the ageing Maitri station, which has exceeded its original design life
- B. To establish India's first permanent station in the Arctic region
- C. To decommission and replace the Bharati station
- D. To function as a permanent Indian naval base in the Southern Ocean
Q21. Consider the following research stations:
1. Dakshin Gangotri
2. Maitri
3. Bharati
4. Himadri
Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified as an Antarctic research station of India?
- Dakshin Gangotri
- Maitri
- Bharati
- Himadri
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 3 only
- D. 4 only
Q22. Consider the following statements regarding India's Antarctic research stations:
1. Dakshin Gangotri, India's first Antarctic station, was established in 1983.
2. Maitri was commissioned in 1988–89, superseding Dakshin Gangotri.
3. Bharati, the newest station, became operational in 2015.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Dakshin Gangotri, India's first Antarctic station, was established in 1983.
- Maitri was commissioned in 1988–89, superseding Dakshin Gangotri.
- Bharati, the newest station, became operational in 2015.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 1 and 3 only
- C. 2 and 3 only
- D. 1, 2 and 3
Q23. In the context of Brahmaputra crossings such as the Bogibeel Bridge, the term 'rail-cum-road bridge' precisely denotes a structure that:
- A. carries both railway tracks and a road carriageway on the same bridge
- B. carries only a railway line, with a narrow service road solely for maintenance access
- C. is a road bridge whose deck can be temporarily re-laid with tracks during emergencies
- D. carries road traffic on the deck and a dedicated pedestrian-only walkway beneath
Q24. With reference to major crossings over the Brahmaputra, consider the following statements:
1. The Saraighat Bridge (1962) was the first bridge across the Brahmaputra in Assam and carries both road and rail.
2. The Bogibeel Bridge (2018) connects Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts.
3. The Kalia Bhomora Bridge near Tezpur was opened in 1987.
4. The Bhupen Hazarika (Dhola–Sadiya) Setu is a rail-cum-road bridge over the main stem of the Brahmaputra.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The Saraighat Bridge (1962) was the first bridge across the Brahmaputra in Assam and carries both road and rail.
- The Bogibeel Bridge (2018) connects Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts.
- The Kalia Bhomora Bridge near Tezpur was opened in 1987.
- The Bhupen Hazarika (Dhola–Sadiya) Setu is a rail-cum-road bridge over the main stem of the Brahmaputra.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4 only
Q25. In the context of Brahmaputra crossings such as the Bogibeel Bridge, the term 'rail-cum-road bridge' precisely denotes a structure that:
- A. carries both railway tracks and a road carriageway on the same bridge
- B. carries only a railway line, with a narrow service road solely for maintenance access
- C. is a road bridge whose deck can be temporarily re-laid with tracks during emergencies
- D. carries road traffic on the deck and a dedicated pedestrian-only walkway beneath
Q26. With reference to major crossings over the Brahmaputra, consider the following statements:
1. The Saraighat Bridge (1962) was the first bridge across the Brahmaputra in Assam and carries both road and rail.
2. The Bogibeel Bridge (2018) connects Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts.
3. The Kalia Bhomora Bridge near Tezpur was opened in 1987.
4. The Bhupen Hazarika (Dhola–Sadiya) Setu is a rail-cum-road bridge over the main stem of the Brahmaputra.
Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?
- The Saraighat Bridge (1962) was the first bridge across the Brahmaputra in Assam and carries both road and rail.
- The Bogibeel Bridge (2018) connects Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts.
- The Kalia Bhomora Bridge near Tezpur was opened in 1987.
- The Bhupen Hazarika (Dhola–Sadiya) Setu is a rail-cum-road bridge over the main stem of the Brahmaputra.
- A. 1 and 2 only
- B. 3 only
- C. 4 only
- D. 2 and 4 only
Q27. In the context of the 1996 Ganga Waters Treaty between India and Bangladesh, the term 'Farakka' refers to:
- A. A barrage on the Ganga in West Bengal, India, which diverts a part of the dry-season flow into the Hooghly river through a feeder canal
- B. A multipurpose dam on the Ganga in Bihar that exclusively regulates the entire trans-boundary flow of the river
- C. A reservoir located on the Bangladesh side of the border that stores monsoon Ganga waters for dry-season release
- D. A bilateral commission that adjudicates all trans-boundary river disputes between India and its neighbours
Q28. Consider the following high-speed rail corridors announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 and the pair of States they are said to connect:
1. Hyderabad–Bengaluru : Telangana and Karnataka
2. Pune–Hyderabad : Maharashtra and Telangana
3. Chennai–Bengaluru : Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
4. Varanasi–Siliguri : Uttar Pradesh and Odisha
Which of the above pairs is/are NOT correctly matched?
- Hyderabad–Bengaluru : Telangana and Karnataka
- Pune–Hyderabad : Maharashtra and Telangana
- Chennai–Bengaluru : Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
- Varanasi–Siliguri : Uttar Pradesh and Odisha
- A. 1 and 2
- B. 2 and 3
- C. 1 and 4
- D. 4 only
Q29. In 2025, which country was the single largest source of crude oil imported by the United States?
- A. Saudi Arabia
- B. Mexico
- C. Canada
- D. Iraq
Q30. According to 2025 Canada-U.S. energy trade data, what share of Canada's crude oil exports to the United States was moved by pipeline?
- A. About 63%
- B. About 72%
- C. About 82%
- D. About 91%