OPSC: Geography PYQs

2024

Q1: Match List - I (Indian Rivers) with List - II (Their Tributaries) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

List-I (Indian Rivers)	List-II (Tributaries)
(a) Chambal	1. Bhima
(b) Cauvery	2. Noyyal
(c) Krishna	3. Banas
(d) Godavari	4. Manjra

(A) a-2, b-1, c-3, d-4;
(B) a-3, b-2, c-1, d-4;
(C) a-4, b-3, c-2, d-1;
(D) a-3, b-4, c-2, d-1

Q2: Match List - I (Rivers of Odisha) with List - II (Their Tributaries) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

List-I (Rivers of Odisha)	List-II (Tributaries)
(a) Mahanadi	1. Sankha
(b) Brahmani	2. Raru
(c) Baitarani	3. Ong
(d) Subarnarekha	4. Deo

(A) a-2, b-1, c-3, d-4;
(B) a-3, b-2, c-1, d-4;
(C) a-3, b-1, c-4, d-2;
(D) a-3, b-4, c-2, d-1

Q3: Match List I (Geological Structure) with List II (Economic Importance) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

List-I (Geological Structure)	List-II (Economic Importance)
(a) Siwalik Hills	1. Coal, Mica, and Uranium Resources
(b) Deccan Traps	2. Black cotton soils, Sugarcane agriculture
(c) Singhbhum Craton	3. Fossil-rich Sedimentary deposit
(d) Chhota Nagpur Plateau	4. Rich in Iron ore deposits

(A) a-2, b-3, c-1, d-4;
(B) a-3, b-1, c-2, d-4;
(C) a-3, b-2, c-4, d-1;
(D) a-3, b-4, c-2, d-1

Q4: Match List I (Sub divisions of Himalayas) with List - II (Characteristics) and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:

List-I (Sub divisions of Himalayas)	List-II (Characteristics)
(a) Trans-Himalaya	1. Known for hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie
(b) Greater Himalaya	2. Composed of unconsolidated sediments forming foothills
(c) Lesser Himalaya	3. Includes Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar range
(d) Siwaliks	4. Contain Mount Everest and Kanchenjunga

(A) a-1, b-4, c-2, d-3;
(B) a-3, b-2, c-1, d-4;
(C) a-3, b-2, c-4, d-1;
(D) a-3, b-4, c-1, d-2

Q5: Which of the following statements about Tropical Evergreen Forests in India are NOT correct?

They are confined only to the Eastern Ghats of India.
The trees shed their leaves simultaneously during the dry summer season.
They are found in regions receiving rainfall above 200 cm.
Ebony, mahogany, and rosewood are common species.

(A) 3 and 4 only;
(B) 1 and 2 only;
(C) 2 and 3 only;
(D) 1 and 4 only

Q6: The El Nino phenomenon is associated with:

(A) Weakening of monsoon in India
(B) Strengthening of monsoon in India
(C) No effect on the monsoon in India
(D) Only winter rains in India

Q7: Read the following statements and choose the correct alternative in respect of settlement geography of the world:

Statement-1: In humid tropical regions, rural settlements often take the form of compact villages.
Statement-2: Isolated farmsteads are more common in the densely populated rice-growing regions of Asia.
Statement-3: Physical barriers like mountains and deserts can lead to clustered settlements in limited habitable pockets.
Statement-4: Settlement morphology is linked to agricultural systems and land ownership patterns.

(A) Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct;
(B) Statements 1, 3 and 4 are correct;
(C) Statements 2, 3 and 4 are correct;
(D) Statement 3 is correct only

Q8: Which of the following statements about World Cultural Realms are NOT correct?

Occidental Realm: Includes Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.
Indic Realm: Centered in India; shaped by Hinduism, Buddhism and related cultural traditions.
Islamic Realm: Restricted solely to the Arabian Peninsula, excluding North Africa and Southeast Asia.
Sino-Japanese Realm: Comprises China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.
Sub-Saharan African Realm: Unified by Bantu linguistic roots and indigenous beliefs.

(A) 1 and 3 only;
(B) 2 and 4 only;
(C) 3 only;
(D) 1, 3 and 5

2023

Q1: Which of the following bauxite deposit is considered as the largest one in India?

(A) Riasi and Poonch deposit (Jammu & Kashmir)
(B) Panchpat mali deposit (Odisha)
(C) Gandhamardan deposit (Odisha)
(D) Balaghat deposits (Madhya Pradesh)

Q2: Which states share the Tungbhadra Multipurpose project?

(A) Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
(B) Karnataka and M.P.
(C) Odisha and Jharkhand
(D) Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

Q3: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List I (Wind) - List II (Region)
(a) Chinook - 1. U.S.A.
(b) Sirocco - 4. Africa
(c) Brickfielder - 2. Australia
(d) Mistral - 3. Europe

(A) a-1, b-4, c-2, d-3
(B) a-2, b-3, c-4, d-1
(C) a-3, b-2, c-1, d-4
(D) a-4, b-1, c-3, d-2

Q4: The only landlocked country in south-east Asia is:

(A) Laos
(B) Thailand
(C) Vietnam
(D) Cambodia

Q5: Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
List I (Australian States) - List II (Cities)
(a) Queensland - 2. Brisbane
(b) South Australia - 1. Adelaide
(c) Victoria - 4. Melbourne
(d) Western Australia - 3. Kalgoorlie

(A) a-2, b-4, c-1, d-5
(B) a-3, b-4, c-1, d-2
(C) a-2, b-1, c-4, d-3
(D) a-1, b-3, c-5, d-2

Q6: Which one of the following pair is not correctly matched?

(A) June - Midday Sun overhead at tropic of Cancer
(B) December - Midday Sun overhead at tropic of Capricorn
(C) March - Midday Sun overhead on Equator
(D) September - Midday Sun overhead on Arctic Circle

Q7: Which of the following earthquake waves are more destructive at the epicenter?

(A) S waves
(B) P waves
(C) R waves
(D) L waves

Q8: Jhumming cultivation is known as 'Kuruwa' in which region/state?

(A) Madhya Pradesh
(B) Andhra Pradesh
(C) North-eastern Region
(D) Jharkhand

Q9: Match the following:
(a) Loess - 3. Wind deposits
(b) Moraines - 2. Glacier deposits
(c) Gravels - 1. River deposits
(d) Sand and Clay - 4. Sea deposits

(A) a-1, b-2, c-3, d-4
(B) a-3, b-2, c-1, d-4
(C) a-4, b-1, c-3, d-2
(D) a-3, b-4, c-1, d-2

Q10: Which year is known as the year of demographic divide?

(A) 1921
(B) 1920
(C) 1919
(D) 1918

Q11: Which climatic phenomenon is characterized by cooler than normal sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean?

(A) La Nina
(B) El Nino
(C) Monsoon
(D) Tornado

Q12: Consider the following statements:
(1) Meteorological Drought is based on the impact of rainfall deficits on the water supply.
(2) Socioeconomic Drought refers to the impact of drought conditions on supply and demand of economic goods.

(A) 1 only
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2

Q13: Tidal waves are caused by which of the following gravitational interactions?

(A) Sun's gravitational impact on the Moon
(B) Earth's gravitational impact on the Moon
(C) Moon's gravitational impact on the Earth
(D) Earth's gravitational impact on the Sun

Q14: The temperature variation of land near sea is very less compared to that far from sea. This is due to:

(A) Sun ray is not direct
(B) The sea absorbs the heat
(C) High heat capacity of humid air
(D) Heat is reflected by the sea

2022

Q1: Match List-I and List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below:
List-I:
a. Faulting
b. Wave erosion
c. Ice Scouring
d. Wind erosion
List-II:
1. Yardangs
2. Kettle Hole
3. Escarpment
4. Stacks
Codes:
(A) 3 4 1 2
(B) 4 3 1 2
(C) 3 4 2 1
(D) 4 3 2 1

Q2: Carefully read the following assertion(A) and reason (R) and select the correct option from the codes:
Assertion (A): Scandinavian countries have a regressive age-sex population structure
Reason (R): The population growth rate is negative in these countries.
Codes:
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is a correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not a correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true and Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is true.

Q3: Match List-I and List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below:
List-I (Major cultural region of world):
a. Arctic region
b. Desert
c. Latin-American Region
d. Pacific Oceanic Region
List-II (Inhabitants):
1. Eskimos
2. The Indians, Negroes and Immigrants
3. Samoans, Tahitian, Tongan, etc.
4. Caravan
Codes:
(A) 4 1 3 2
(B) 1 4 2 3
(C) 1 3 2 4
(D) 4 2 3 1

Q4: Match List - I with List - II according to Koppen's Climatic classification system and select the correct answer from the codes given:
List - I (Climate Types):
a. Af
b. Aw
c. Am
d. As
List - II (Characteristics):
i. Humid Tropical Climate
ii. Tropical Humid and Dry climate
iii. Monsoon Climate
iv. Dry Summers
Codes:
(A) i ii iii iv
(B) ii iii i iv
(C) iii i ii iv
(D) iv ii i iii

Q5: Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R). Select your answer from the codes given below:
Assertion (A): The Peru desert is recognised as a Cold Desert
Reason (R): The temperature of Humbolt current plays a dominant role in controlling the surface atmospheric conditions of the coastal areas.
Codes:
(A) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is a correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(B) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true but Reason (R) is not a correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(C) Assertion (A) is true and Reason (R) is false.
(D) Assertion (A) is false and Reason (R) is true.

Q6: Match the following with respect to the occurrence of races in List - II to the type of Races in List - I.
List - I (Races):
a. The Turko-Iranian
b. The Indo-Aryan
c. The Scytho-Dravidian
d. The Mongolo-Dravidian
List - II (Area of Existence):
1. Rajasthan and Punjab
2. Odisha and Assam
3. West India (Gujarat to Karnataka)
4. North Western Frontier Agency
Codes:
(A) 4 1 3 2
(B) 1 4 2 3
(C) 1 3 2 4
(D) 4 2 3 1

Q7: Regarding agriculture in India, which one of the following statements is/are not correct?
1. Bajra is a Kharif crop, which requires 25°-31°C temperature and 40-50 cm rainfall.
2. Cotton is categorized into three groups long-staple, medium staple and short-staple.
3. Currently, India accounts for about 50% of the world's total jute production.
4. India is the second-largest producer of silk and the largest consumer of silk in the world.
Codes:
(A) 2 and 4
(B) Only 3
(C) 1 and 2
(D) Only 4

Q8: Match important projects in List - I with the area of implementation in List - II and select the correct answer using the code given below:
List - I (Multipurpose Projects in India):
a. Tungabhadra Multipurpose Project
b. The Sardar Sarovar Project
c. Nagarjuna Sagar Project
d. Bhakra Nangal Project
List - II (Area/ Place of implementation):
1. Lower Narmada Valley, Gujarat
2. Nalgonda district, Telangana
3. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
4. Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
Codes:
(A) 1 2 3 4
(B) 2 3 1 4
(C) 3 1 2 4
(D) 4 2 1 3

Q9: Among the following options which mountain pass doesn't belongs to the correct state?
(A) Shipki La → Himachal Pradesh
(B) Aghil Pass → Uttarakhand
(C) Dipher Pass → Arunachal Pradesh
(D) Jelep La → Sikkim

Q10: Which of the following factors are responsible for breaks in the monsoon?
I. Origin of tropical cyclones in Bay of Bengal
II. Erratic behavior of 2nd equatorial troughs
III. Inadequate heating of Tibetan Plateau
IV. Southern Branch of South West Tropical Jet re-establish over northern India
Options:
(A) I and IV
(B) I, II and III
(C) I, II and IV
(D) IV and III

Q11: Which of the following river/rivers are exhibiting the antecedent drainage pattern in Odisha?
(A) The Mahanadi and the Brahmani
(B) The Brahmani and The Baitarini
(C) The Mahanadi and the Baitarini
(D) The Baitarini and the Rushikulya

Q12: Black Earth soil has been developed in which region of Odisha?
(A) Brahmani Basin
(B) Mayurbhanj
(C) Anugul-Athamallik and Boudh
(D) Sambalpur Valley

Q13: Match the morphological units of Rolling uplands (List - I) with the correct river basin (List - II):
List - I (Morphological Units):
a. The Rajgangpur Panposh Uplands
b. The Jharsuguda Uplands
c. The Balangir - Titlagarh - Patnagarh uplands
d. The Malakanagiri Uplands
List - II (Basin Associated):
1. Ib Basin
2. Northern Tel Basin
3. The Sabari Basin
4. Koel and the Sankh Rivers
Codes:
(A) 4 1 2 3
(B) 1 2 3 4
(C) 3 2 1 4
(D) 2 3 1 4

Q14: Which of the following is associated with Chilika lake?
I. First Indian wetland under the Ramsar Convention.
II. Irrawaddy dolphins
III. Lacustrine plain
Codes:
(A) I and II only
(B) I and III only
(C) I only
(D) I, II and III

Q15: Odisha experiences which types of climates according to Koppen's climatic classification?
(A) Tropical Savanna
(B) Humid Subtropical
(C) Mediterranean
(D) Subtropical Steppe

2021

Q1: Which of the following issue is not taken into account while discussing the concept of sea-floor spreading?
(A) Volcanic activities along mid-oceanic ridges
(B) Distribution of fossils in different continents
(C) Stripes of normal and reverse magnetic field observed in rocks of ocean floor
(D) Age of rocks from the ocean floor

Q2: The streams which do not follow the regional slopes and drain across the geological structures are called:
(A) Subsequent stream
(B) Re-sequent stream
(C) Insequent stream
(D) Consequent stream

Q3: According to Weber, the most important factor in locating a factory is:
(A) Raw materials
(B) Transportation cost
(C) Agglomeration
(D) Labour

Q4: Match the followings and choose correct codes:
(I) Barchans - (i) Coastal
(II) Meander - (ii) Glacial
(III) Saddle - (iii) Aeolian
(IV) Stalk - (iv) Fluvial
Codes:
(A) (I)-(ii), (II)-(iii), (III)-(i), (IV)-(iv)
(B) (I)-(ii), (II)-(iv), (III)-(iii), (IV)-(i)
(C) (I)-(i), (II)-(iii), (III)-(ii), (IV)-(iv)
(D) (I)-(iii), (II)-(iv), (III)-(ii), (IV)-(i)

Q5: Population distribution of rural and urban areas can be shown by:
(A) Hythergraph
(B) Ergo graph
(C) Dots and sphere
(D) Line graph

Q6: Match the following lakes with their places state:
(I) Chilka - (i) Bihar
(II) Deepor Beel - (ii) Manipur
(III) Loktak - (iii) Assam
(IV) Kanwar - (iv) Odisha
Select the correct match:
(A) (I)-(iv), (II)-(iii), (III)-(i), (IV)-(ii)
(B) (I)-(iii), (II)-(ii), (III)-(i), (IV)-(iv)
(C) (I)-(iv), (II)-(iii), (III)-(ii), (IV)-(i)
(D) (I)-(i), (II)-(iii), (III)-(iv), (IV)-(ii)

Q7: In which stage of demographic transition the highest population growth rate is observed?
(A) First
(B) Second
(C) Third
(D) Fourth

Q8: Which of the following countries is the largest rice producing nation in the world?
(A) Australia
(B) USA
(C) India
(D) China

Q9: Match the following mountain peaks with the ranges in which they are located in regions:
(I) Doddabetta Peak - (i) Western Ghats
(II) Dhupgarh - (ii) Nilgiris hills
(III) Guru Shikhar - (iii) Aravali ranges
(IV) Anamudi - (iv) Satpura ranges
Select the correct codes:
(A) (I)-(iv), (II)-(iii), (III)-(ii), (IV)-(i)
(B) (I)-(iii), (II)-(ii), (III)-(iv), (IV)-(i)
(C) (I)-(ii), (II)-(iv), (III)-(ii), (IV)-(i)
(D) (I)-(ii), (II)-(iii), (III)-(iv), (IV)-(i) [Note: Corrected based on standard geography: I-ii, II-iv, III-iii, IV-i]

Q10: Which of the following tribe is not found in Madhya Pradesh?
(A) Birhors
(B) Khond
(C) Bhils
(D) Jarawa

Q11: Match the following important places with the location/country:
(I) Gran Chaco - (i) Between the Missouri and Arkansas rivers in USA
(II) Yucatan Peninsula - (ii) Democratic Republic of Congo
(III) Ozark Plateau - (iii) Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia
(IV) Katanga basin - (iv) Mexico
Select the correct codes:
(A) (I)-(ii), (II)-(i), (III)-(iv), (IV)-(iii)
(B) (I)-(iv), (II)-(i), (III)-(ii), (IV)-(iii)
(C) (I)-(iii), (II)-(i), (III)-(iv), (IV)-(ii)
(D) (I)-(iii), (II)-(iv), (III)-(i), (IV)-(ii)

Q12: Which among the following is the highest peak of Appalachians Mountain?
(A) Mt. Mitchell
(B) Mt. Elbert
(C) Mt. Damavand
(D) Mt. Elbrus

Q13: Verkhoyansk, the lowest temperature recording station in Siberia is situated in the basin of:
(A) Kolyma
(B) Lena
(C) Yana
(D) Yenisey

Q14: Match List - I with List - II and give the correct answer using the codes given below the list:
(I) Mars - (i) Green Planet
(II) Venus - (ii) Red Planet
(III) Saturn - (iii) Ringed Planet
(IV) Uranus - (iv) Veiled Planet
Codes:
(A) (I)-(i), (II)-(iii), (III)-(iv), (IV)-(ii)
(B) (I)-(i), (II)-(iv), (III)-(iii), (IV)-(ii)
(C) (I)-(ii), (II)-(iii), (III)-(iv), (IV)-(i)
(D) (I)-(ii), (II)-(iv), (III)-(iii), (IV)-(i)

2020

Q1: The Middle Himalayan Range originated in:
(A) Eocene
(B) Miocene
(C) Oligocene
(D) Pliocene

Q2: Which of the following is not an example of a Block mountain?
(A) Vosjes Mountain
(B) Western Ghats Mountain
(C) Salt Range
(D) Sierra Nevada

Q3: Which of the following tributaries of Indus river emerges from the Pir Panjal Range?
(A) Satluj
(B) Ravi
(C) Chenab
(D) Jhelum

Q4: Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(A) Stack-Sea Waves
(B) Bajada-Winds
(C) Kame-Rivers
(D) Lappies-Ground Water

Q5: Which of the following is not correctly matched?
(A) Benguela Current-South Atlantic
(B) Irminger Current-North Pacific
(C) Peru Current-South Pacific
(D) Mozambique Current-Indian Ocean

Q6: Which of the following is not correctly matched?
(A) Tulbul Project - Jhelum River
(B) Koteshwar Project-Tapti River
(C) Dulhasti Project-Chenab River
(D) Sardar Sarovar Project - Narmada River

Q7: Which of the following human races has woolly hairs?
(A) Negroid
(B) Mangoloid
(C) Caucasoid
(D) Australoid

Q8: In which of the following demographic transition stages, the intensive subsistence farming is prevalent?
(A) Stage-1
(B) Stage-II
(C) Stage-III
(D) Stage-IV

Q9: It is 12 noon at Greenwich. What will be the time at a place situated at 60° East Longitude?
(A) 2 am
(B) 2 pm
(C) 4 am
(D) 4 pm

Q10: In India, El Nino is very often associated with:
(A) A good monsoon weather with heavy rain and good yield of crops
(B) A bad monsoon weather with low rain and crop failure
(C) A bad monsoon weather with no rain and crop failure
(D) A normal monsoon weather with no adverse effect on crops

Q11: Which of the following is a predominant species of the deciduous forests of Odisha?
(A) Mahogany
(B) Red wood
(C) Sal
(D) Teak

Q12: Slash and burn cultivation relates to which of the following?
(A) Intensive cultivation
(B) Extensive cultivation
(C) Subsistence agriculture
(D) Commercial agriculture

Q13: Which of the following is expected to be a cause of the rise in sea level?
(A) Ozone layer depletion
(B) Monsoon rain
(C) Melting of polar ice cap
(D) Continental drift