UPSC CSE Prelims Questions

Consider the airports:
1. Donya Polo Airport
2. Kushinagar International Airport
3. Vijayawada International Airport
In the recent past, which of the above have been constructed as Greenfield projects?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation:
• Donya Polo Airport (Itanagar) and Kushinagar International Airport have been constructed as Greenfield projects.
• Vijayawada International Airport was initially an existing airport and later upgraded to international status.
Possible Sources: News articles and official government announcements.

Consider the following information:

	Region	Name of the mountain range	Type of mountain
1.	Central Asia	Vosges	Fold mountain
2.	Europe	Alps	Block mountain
3.	North America	Appalachians	Fold mountain
4.	South America	Andes	Fold mountain

In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Correct Answer: Only two
Explanation:
• The Vosges in Central Asia is incorrectly listed as it is located in Europe and is a block mountain.
• The Alps in Europe are fold mountains, not block mountains.
• The Appalachians in North America are correctly listed as fold mountains.
• The Andes in South America are correctly listed as fold mountains.
Therefore, only two rows (Appalachians and Andes) are correctly matched.
Possible Sources: Geology and geography textbooks.

Consider the following information:

	Waterfall	Region	River
1.	Dhuandhar	Malwa	Narmada
2.	Hundru	Chota Nagpur	Subarnarekha
3.	Gersoppa	Western Ghats	Netravati

 In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) None
Answer: (a) Only one
Explanation:

• Dhuandhar Falls on the Narmada River is not associated with the Malwa region.
• Hundru Falls on the Subarnarekha River is correctly matched with the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
• Gersoppa Falls, also known as Jog Falls, is actually on the Sharavathi River, not the Netravati, and is located in the Western Ghats.

Consider the following countries:
1. Finland
2. Germany
3. Norway
4. Russia
How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Correct Answer: Only two
Explanation:
Germany and Norway have coastlines along the North Sea. Finland and Russia do not have borders with the North Sea.
Possible Sources: Maps and atlases.

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: Rainfall is one of the reasons for the weathering of rocks.
Statement II: Rainwater contains carbon dioxide in solution.
Statement III: Rainwater contains atmospheric oxygen.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
(b) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct, but only one of them explains Statement I
(c) Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
(d) Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
Correct Answer: (a) Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
Explanation:
Both statements II and III are correct because rainwater does contain carbon dioxide in solution (which forms carbonic acid, contributing to chemical weathering) and atmospheric oxygen. Both these factors contribute to the weathering of rocks.
Possible Sources: Earth science and geology textbooks.

With reference to the Himalayan rivers joining Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct?
(a) Ghaghara — Gomati — Gandak — Kosi
(b) Gomati — Ghaghara — Gandak — Kosi
(c) Ghaghara — Gomati — Kosi — Gandak
(d) Gomati — Ghaghara — Kosi — Gandak
Correct Answer: (b) Gomati – Ghaghara – Gandak – Kosi
Explanation:
The correct sequence of Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East is: (b) Gomati – Ghaghara –
Gandak – Kosi.