UPSC CSE mains GS- I "physically geography" PYQs

 

 

Physical Geography : 

Salient features of world’s physical geography. 

Q.1) Discuss the geophysical characteristics of the Circum-Pacific zone. [150 Words][10 Marks][2020] 

Q.2) How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and coastal environment? Give suitable examples. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2019] 

Q.3) Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2018] 

Q.4) How does the Juno Mission of NASA help to understand the origin and evolution of the Earth? [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2017] 

Q.5) How does the cryosphere affect global climate? [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2017] 

Q.6) Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects. [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2017] 

Q.7) What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia? [250 Words] [15 Marks] [2017] 

Q.8) Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in macro-climatic changes. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2016] 

Q.9) “The Himalayas are highly prone to landslides. “Discuss the causes and suggest suitable measures of mitigation. [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2016] 

Q.10) Explain the factors responsible for the origin of ocean currents. How do they influence regional climates, fishing and navigation? [200 Words] [12.5 Marks] [2015] 

Q.11) Most of the unusual climatic happenings are explained as an outcome of the El-Nino effect. Do you agree? [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2014] 

Q.12) Why are the world’s fold mountain systems located along the margins of continents? Bring out the association between the global distribution of fold mountains and the earthquakes and volcanoes. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2014] 

Q.13) Explain the formation of thousands of islands in Indonesian and Philippines archipelagos. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2014] 

Q.14) Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why? [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2014] 

Q.15) Whereas the British planters had developed tea gardens all along the Shivaliks and Lesser Himalayas from Assam to Himachal Pradesh, in effect they did not succeed beyond the Darjeeling area. Explain. [150 Words] [10 Marks] [2014] 

Q.16) What do you understand by the theory of continental drift? Discuss the prominent evidences  in its support. [100 Words] [5 Marks] [2013] 

Q.17) The recent cyclone on the east coast of India was called “Phailin”. How are the tropical cyclones named across the world? Elaborate. [100 Words] [5 Marks] [2013] 

Q.18) What do you understand by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in meteorology? How does it affect the weather and the habitants of the place? [100 Words] [5 Marks] [2013] 

Q.19) Major hot deserts in northern hemisphere are located between 20-30 degree north and on the western side of the continents. Why? [100 Words] [5 Marks] [2013]  

Q.20) Bringout the causes for more frequent landslides in the Himalayas than in Western Ghats. [100 Words] [5 Marks] [2013] 

Q.21) There is no formation of deltas by rivers of the Western Ghat. Why? [100 Words] [5 Marks] [2013]