Geography MCQs for UPSC Prelims — February 2026

Q1. 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

Q2. 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

Q3. With reference to the IMD's February 2026 weather briefing on ENSO and the 2026 outlook, consider the following statements: 1. ENSO-neutral conditions were stated to be likely to persist until around July 2026, with a probability of a shift to El Niño thereafter. 2. A clearer picture of El Niño formation was expected to emerge only after April 2026, on account of the boreal spring predictability barrier. 3. The Niño 3.4 region in the equatorial Pacific is used as the primary index for ENSO classification. 4. El Niño is characterised by anomalous cooling of the central-eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. ENSO-neutral conditions were stated to be likely to persist until around July 2026, with a probability of a shift to El Niño thereafter.
  2. A clearer picture of El Niño formation was expected to emerge only after April 2026, on account of the boreal spring predictability barrier.
  3. The Niño 3.4 region in the equatorial Pacific is used as the primary index for ENSO classification.
  4. El Niño is characterised by anomalous cooling of the central-eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 2 and 4 only

Q4. The atmospheric east-west overturning circulation across the equatorial Pacific, whose weakening is associated with El Niño events, is named after which one of the following scientists?

  • A. Sir Gilbert Walker
  • B. Jacob Bjerknes
  • C. Klaus Wyrtki
  • D. Carl-Gustaf Rossby

Q5. With reference to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian monsoon, consider the following statements: 1. As per IMD, El Niño is identified when the central equatorial Pacific records sea-surface temperatures at least 0.5°C above average for five consecutive overlapping three-month seasons. 2. ENSO-neutral conditions are those in which Pacific sea-surface temperature anomalies lie within ±0.5°C of the long-term average. 3. La Niña refers to anomalous warming of the central equatorial Pacific Ocean. 4. Historically, about six out of every ten El Niño years have coincided with below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall over India. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. As per IMD, El Niño is identified when the central equatorial Pacific records sea-surface temperatures at least 0.5°C above average for five consecutive overlapping three-month seasons.
  2. ENSO-neutral conditions are those in which Pacific sea-surface temperature anomalies lie within ±0.5°C of the long-term average.
  3. La Niña refers to anomalous warming of the central equatorial Pacific Ocean.
  4. Historically, about six out of every ten El Niño years have coincided with below-normal southwest monsoon rainfall over India.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q6. With reference to the India Meteorological Department's operational definition, El Niño is best described as:

  • A. A sustained warming of the central equatorial Pacific Ocean by at least 0.5°C above average for five consecutive overlapping three-month periods
  • B. A sustained warming of the western equatorial Pacific Ocean by at least 1.0°C above average for three consecutive months
  • C. A sustained cooling of the central-eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean by at least 0.5°C below average for five consecutive months
  • D. An anomalous warming of the equatorial Indian Ocean coupled with weakening of the Somali Jet over six consecutive months

Q7. Which one of the following is the primary monitoring region whose sea-surface temperature anomalies are used to classify El Niño and La Niña events?

  • A. Niño 1+2 region
  • B. Niño 3 region
  • C. Niño 3.4 region
  • D. Niño 4 region
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