Physical Division of India – NDA Geography PYQs

Coastal States, Gulfs, Straits, Islands and Maritime Zones of India

Indian Geography • Coastal Geography • PYQs Included

Question 1 [NDA 2006-I]
In which one of the following states is Zojila Pass located?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Jammu and Kashmir
(c) Himachal Pradesh
(d) Sikkim

Answer: (b) Jammu and Kashmir
Zoji La is a high mountain pass in the Greater Himalayas in Jammu and Kashmir. It connects Srinagar to Leh. It is one of the most important passes in India — the only road connection between Kashmir and Ladakh in winter.

Question 2 [NDA 2006-II]
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of passes when one travels along the Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim?
(a) Zozila-Nathula-Shipkila
(b) Nathula-Shipkila-Zozila
(c) Nathula-Zozila-Shipkila
(d) Zozila-Shipkila-Nathula

Answer: (d) Zozila-Shipkila-Nathula
Travelling from Kashmir eastward to Sikkim: Zoji La (J&K) → Shipki La (Himachal Pradesh) → Nathu La (Sikkim). This follows the west to east direction of the Himalayas.

Question 3 [NDA 2006-II]
Where is the Nanda Devi peak located?
(a) Himachal Pradesh
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Sikkim
(d) Nepal

Answer: (b) Uttarakhand
Nanda Devi (7,816 m) is in Uttarakhand. It is the highest peak lying entirely within India’s undisputed territory. It is part of the Garhwal Himalayas.

Question 4 [NDA 2007-II]
Which one among the following peaks is the highest?
(a) Dhaulagiri
(b) Namcha Barwa
(c) Nanda Devi
(d) Nanga Parbat

Answer: (a) Dhaulagiri
Dhaulagiri at 8,167 m (in Nepal) is the highest among these four options. Nanga Parbat is 8,126 m (Pakistan). Namcha Barwa is 7,782 m (Tibet/Arunachal border). Nanda Devi is 7,816 m (India).

Question 5 [NDA 2007-II]
From West to East, which one of the following is the correct sequence of hills?
(a) Mahadeo Hills — Maikala Hills — Garhjat Hills
(b) Mahadeo Hills — Garhjat Hills — Maikala Hills
(c) Maikala Hills — Mahadeo Hills — Garhjat Hills
(d) Maikala Hills — Garhjat Hills — Mahadeo Hills

Answer: (a) Mahadeo Hills — Maikala Hills — Garhjat Hills
Moving from west to east in central India: Mahadeo Hills (Madhya Pradesh) → Maikala Hills (MP-Chhattisgarh border) → Garhjat Hills (Odisha). This is the sequence of hills in the Satpura-Mahadeo range system moving eastward.

Question 6 [NDA 2008-I]
Port Blair — the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands — is located on which one of the following islands?
(a) North Andaman
(b) Little Andaman
(c) Middle Andaman
(d) South Andaman

Answer: (d) South Andaman
Port Blair, the capital and main city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is located on South Andaman Island. It is the main gateway for visitors to the island group and has the main port and airport.

Question 7 [NDA 2008-II]
The Himalayas are an example of:
(a) Block mountains
(b) Fold mountains
(c) Volcanic mountains
(d) Residual mountains

Answer: (b) Fold mountains
The Himalayas were formed by the folding of the Earth’s crust when the Indian tectonic plate collided with the Eurasian plate. The sediments of the ancient Tethys Sea were folded and pushed upward. Block mountains are formed by faulting. Volcanic mountains are built by eruptions. Residual mountains are worn-down old mountains.

Question 8 [NDA 2009-I]
Match List I (Peak) with List II (State):
A. Dodabetta — B. Guru Shikhar — C. Kalsubai — D. Dhupgarh

  1. Maharashtra 2. Madhya Pradesh 3. Tamil Nadu 4. Rajasthan

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

Answer: (a) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
Dodabetta = Tamil Nadu (3) — highest peak of Nilgiris. Guru Shikhar = Rajasthan (4) — highest peak of Aravallis. Kalsubai = Maharashtra (1) — highest peak in Maharashtra. Dhupgarh = Madhya Pradesh (2) — highest peak of Satpura.

Question 9 [NDA 2010-II]
Which one of the following does NOT characterise the Himalayas?
(a) Various parallel ranges of the Himalayas form a convex arc
(b) There exist syntaxial bends at both terminals of the Himalayas
(c) Indus, Sutlej, and Brahmaputra rivers are examples of antecedent drainage
(d) The Himalayas are wider in the east than in the west

Answer: (d) The Himalayas are wider in the east than in the west
This statement is incorrect. The Himalayas are actually wider in the WEST (about 400 km) than in the east (about 150 km). The other three statements correctly describe the Himalayas.

Question 10 [NDA 2012-I]
Match List I (Mountain Pass) with List II (State):
A. Zoji La — B. Lipulekh — C. Shipki La — D. Nathu La

  1. Himachal Pradesh 2. Sikkim 3. Uttarakhand 4. Jammu & Kashmir

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

Answer: (d) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2
Zoji La = J&K (4). Lipulekh = Uttarakhand (3). Shipki La = Himachal Pradesh (1). Nathu La = Sikkim (2).

Question 11 [NDA 2012-II]
Match List I with List II:
A. K2 — B. Nanda Devi — C. Tara Pahar — D. Kanchenjunga

  1. Uttarakhand 2. Jammu & Kashmir 3. Sikkim 4. Himachal Pradesh

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

Answer: (b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
K2 = J&K (2). Nanda Devi = Uttarakhand (1). Tara Pahar = Himachal Pradesh (4). Kanchenjunga = Sikkim (3).

Question 12 [NDA 2013-II]
Match List I (Landform) with List II (Predominant rock):
A. Marwar upland — B. Bundelkhand upland — C. Meghalaya upland — D. Maharashtra plateau

  1. Quartzites, Shales, Schists 2. Sandstone, Shale, Limestone 3. Granite and Gneiss 4. Basalt

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

Answer: (a) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
Marwar = Sandstone, Shale, Limestone (2). Bundelkhand = Granite and Gneiss (3). Meghalaya = Quartzites, Shales, Schists (1). Maharashtra plateau = Basalt (4 — Deccan Trap).

Question 13 [NDA 2014-I]
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of physiographic divisions of India from North to South?
(a) Northern Plains → Himalayas → Peninsular Plateau → Coastal Plains
(b) Himalayas → Northern Plains → Peninsular Plateau → Coastal Plains
(c) Himalayas → Peninsular Plateau → Northern Plains → Coastal Plains
(d) Northern Plains → Peninsular Plateau → Himalayas → Coastal Plains

Answer: (b) Himalayas → Northern Plains → Peninsular Plateau → Coastal Plains
This is the correct order from north to south. The Himalayas are in the extreme north. Below them lie the vast Northern Plains. Further south is the Peninsular Plateau. The Coastal Plains flank the peninsula on both sides.

Question 14 [NDA 2014-I]
Considering the locations of mountains in India, which one among the following is in right sequence from south to north?
(a) Doddabetta, Kailash, Dhaulagiri, Vindhyachal
(b) Doddabetta, Vindhyachal, Dhaulagiri, Kailash
(c) Dhaulagiri, Kailash, Doddabetta, Vindhyachal
(d) Dhaulagiri, Vindhyachal, Doddabetta, Kailash

Answer: (b) Doddabetta, Vindhyachal, Dhaulagiri, Kailash
Doddabetta is in Tamil Nadu (southernmost). Vindhyachal is in central India. Dhaulagiri is in Nepal (further north). Kailash is in Tibet (northernmost). So south to north = Doddabetta → Vindhyachal → Dhaulagiri → Kailash.

Question 15 [NDA 2014-I]
Which one among the following is the coral group of islands of India?
(a) Andaman
(b) Nicobar
(c) Minicoy
(d) Lakshadweep

Answer: (d) Lakshadweep
Lakshadweep is a group of coral islands. The islands were formed from coral reefs and are entirely made of coral. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are volcanic in origin — not coral.

Question 16 [NDA 2015-I]
Which of the following statements with regard to the western coastal plain of India are correct?

  1. It is a narrow belt.
  2. It is an example of submerged coastal plain.
  3. It provides natural conditions for development of ports.
  4. It has well-developed deltas.

(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 3 and 4 only

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3 only
Statement 1 = correct (western coast is narrow — 10 to 25 km). Statement 2 = correct (it is a submerged coast — the land has sunk, creating a rocky, indented shoreline with natural harbours). Statement 3 = correct (the rocky, indented nature creates natural harbours). Statement 4 = wrong (the western coast does NOT have well-developed deltas — that is the eastern coast).

Question 17 [NDA 2016-I]
Which one of the following is the oldest physical feature of India?
(a) Himalayan Mountains
(b) Northern Plains
(c) Peninsular Plateau
(d) Coastal Plains

Answer: (c) Peninsular Plateau
The Peninsular Plateau is part of the ancient Gondwana supercontinent — hundreds of millions of years old. The Himalayas are the youngest — formed about 70 million years ago. The Northern Plains are even younger — formed by alluvium deposited after the Himalayas rose. The Peninsular Plateau is the most stable and oldest landmass in India.

Question 18 [NDA 2016-I]
Structurally, the Meghalaya region is part of:
(a) Shivalik Range
(b) Deccan Plateau
(c) Greater Himalaya
(d) Aravalli Range

Answer: (b) Deccan Plateau
The Shillong Plateau (where Meghalaya is located) is geologically an extension of the Peninsular Plateau (Deccan Plateau). It was once connected to the main plateau but got separated by the wide Brahmaputra valley. Structurally, it belongs to the same ancient Gondwana landmass as the Peninsular Plateau.

Question 19 [NDA 2016-I]
In Thar region, the shifting sand dunes are locally known as:
(a) Dhrian
(b) Daurs
(c) Dhoros
(d) Dhaya

Answer: (c) Dhoros
In the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, the local name for shifting sand dunes is Dhoros. These are unstable dunes that move with the wind, making settlement and farming difficult.

Question 20 [NDA 2016-I]
Consider the following statements:

  1. Rajmahal highlands consist of lava flow deposits.
  2. Bundelkhand gneiss belong to the oldest Archaean rocks of India.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements are correct. The Rajmahal Hills in Jharkhand are made of lava flow deposits — similar to the Deccan Trap. Bundelkhand gneiss (in MP and UP) belongs to the Archaean era — some of the oldest rocks in India.

Question 21 [NDA 2019-I]
Which of the following pairs of old names and new names of islands in India is/are correctly matched?

  1. Ross Island : Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep
  2. Neil Island : Shaheed Dweep
  3. Havelock Island : Swaraj Dweep

(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 3 only

Answer: (a) 1, 2 and 3
All three renamings are correct. Ross Island was renamed Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Dweep. Neil Island was renamed Shaheed Dweep. Havelock Island was renamed Swaraj Dweep. These renamings were done in 2018.

Question 22 [NDA 2019-II]
Consider the following statements about Andaman and Nicobar Islands:

  1. The Ten Degree Channel separates Andaman from Nicobar Islands.
  2. Barren Island has India’s only active volcano.
  3. Indira Point is on Great Nicobar Island.

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three statements are correct. The Ten Degree Channel separates the two island groups. Barren Island has India’s only active volcano. Indira Point on Great Nicobar is the southernmost point of India.

Question 23 [NDA 2023-II]
Which one of the following is the narrow belt parallel to the Shiwalik foothills where streams and rivers deposit heavy materials of rocks and boulders?
(a) Tarai
(b) Bhangar
(c) Bhabar
(d) Khadar

Answer: (c) Bhabar
Bhabar is the narrow, rocky, porous belt at the base of the Shiwaliks. When rivers descend from the mountains, they drop their heavy load of boulders and pebbles here. The rivers even disappear underground in this zone because the ground is so porous.

Question 24 [NDA 2023-II]
Consider the following statements about physical features of India:

  1. The southern point of the Peninsular Plateau is formed by the Nilgiri Hills where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet.
  2. The Cardamom Hills may be regarded as a continuation of the Eastern Ghats.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only
Statement 1 is correct — the Nilgiri Hills form the southern tip of the plateau where the two Ghats meet. Statement 2 is wrong — the Cardamom Hills are a continuation of the WESTERN Ghats, not the Eastern Ghats.

Question 25 [NDA 2024-II]
Which of the following pairs of Himalayan Passes and the Ranges in which they are located is/are correctly matched?

  1. Zoji La — Great Himalayas
  2. Banihal Pass — Pir Panjal Range
  3. Photo La — Ladakh Range
  4. Khardung La — Karakoram

(a) 2 only
(b) 4 only
(c) 1 and 2 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Zoji La is in the Greater Himalayas — correct (1). Banihal Pass is in the Pir Panjal Range — correct (2). Photo La is in the Ladakh Range — correct (3). Khardung La is in the Karakoram — but this needs verification. The PYQ answer given is (d) 1, 2 and 3 — meaning statement 4 about Khardung La is incorrect or disputed.

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