World's Physical Geography PYQ | UPSC GS I

2026

1. · Paper Q5 · 2026 · 10 marks · Solution

"Tundra regions are ecologically fragile but economically important." Examine this statement critically.

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2. · Paper Q6 · 2026 · 10 marks · Solution

Discuss the role of aeolian processes in desertification and land degradation.

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3. · Paper Q14 · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution

Compare the Loo, Chinook and Foehn winds with respect to their regions of prevalence, their nature and climatic impacts.

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4. · Paper Q16 · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution

"The centre of global trade is gradually shifting from the Atlantic region to the Indo-Pacific region." Examine this statement.

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5. · Paper Q17 · 2026 · 15 marks · Solution

Analyze the major drivers of human-induced land-use changes in India and their geographical consequences.

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2025

6. · Paper Q5 · 2025 · 10 marks · Solution

What are non-farm primary activities? How are these activities related to physiographic features in India? Discuss with suitable examples.

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7. · Paper Q6 · 2025 · 10 marks · Solution

Explain briefly the ecological and economic benefits of solar energy generation in India with suitable examples.

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8. · Paper Q9 · 2025 · 10 marks · Solution

The ethos of civil service in India stand for the combination of professionalism with nationalistic consciousness - Elucidate.

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9. · Paper Q16 · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution

Discuss how the changes in shape and sizes of continents and ocean basins of the planet take place due to tectonic movements of the crustal masses.

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10. · Paper Q19 · 2025 · 15 marks · Solution

Achieving sustainable growth with emphasis on environmental protection could come into conflict with poor people's needs in a country like India - Comment.

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2024

11. · Paper Q5 · 2024 · 10 marks · Solution

Why do large cities tend to attract more migrants than smaller towns? Discuss in the light of conditions in developing countries.

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12. · Paper Q6 · 2024 · 10 marks · Solution

What is the phenomenon of 'cloudbursts'? Explain.

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13. · Paper Q7 · 2024 · 10 marks · Solution

What is the concept of a 'demographic winter'? Is the world moving towards such a situation? Elaborate.

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14. · Paper Q14 · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution

The groundwater potential of the gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India?

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15. · Paper Q15 · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution

What are aurora australia and aurora borealis? How are these triggered?

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16. · Paper Q16 · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution

What is a twister? Why are the majority of twisters observed in areas around the Gulf of Mexico?

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17. · Paper Q20 · 2024 · 15 marks · Solution

Critically analyse the proposition that there is a high correlation between India's cultural diversities and socio-economic marginalities.

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2023

18. · Paper Q1 · 2023 · 10 marks · Solution

Explain the role of geographical factors towards the development of Ancient India.

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19. · Paper Q3 · 2023 · 10 marks · Solution

Bring out the socio-economic effects of the introduction of railways in different countries of the world.

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20. · Paper Q6 · 2023 · 10 marks · Solution

How are the fjords formed? Why do they constitute some of the most picturesque areas of the world?

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21. · Paper Q16 · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution

Why did human development fail to keep pace with economic development in India?

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22. · Paper Q17 · 2023 · 15 marks · Solution

From being net food importer in 1960s, India has emerged as a net food exporter to the world. Provide reasons.

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2022

23. · Paper Q4 · 2022 · 10 marks · Solution

Describe the characteristics and types of primary rocks.

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24. · Paper Q7 · 2022 · 10 marks · Solution

Examine the potential of wind energy in India and explain the reasons for their limited spatial spread.

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25. · Paper Q11 · 2022 · 15 marks · Solution

The political and administrative reorganization of states and territories has been a continuous ongoing process since the mid-nineteenth century. Discuss with examples.

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26. · Paper Q15 · 2022 · 15 marks · Solution

Describing the distribution of rubber producing countries, indicate the major environmental issues faced by them.

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27. · Paper Q16 · 2022 · 15 marks · Solution

Mention the significance of straits and isthmus in international trade.

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28. · Paper Q17 · 2022 · 15 marks · Solution

Troposphere is a very significant atmospheric layer that determines weather processes. How?

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2021

29. · Paper Q2 · 2021 · 10 marks · Solution

Trace the rise and growth of socio-religious reform movements with special reference to Young Bengal and Brahmo Samaj.

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30. · Paper Q8 · 2021 · 10 marks · Solution

Why is India considered as a sub-continent? Elaborate your answer.

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31. · Paper Q14 · 2021 · 15 marks · Solution

Briefly mention the alignment of major mountain ranges of the world and explain their impact on local weather conditions, with examples.

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2020

32. · Paper Q4 · 2020 · 10 marks · Solution

Discuss the geophysical characteristics of Circum- Pacific Zone.

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33. · Paper Q12 · 2020 · 15 marks · Solution

Persian literary sources of medieval India reflect the spirit of the age. Comment.

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34. · Paper Q16 · 2020 · 15 marks · Solution

India has immense potential of solar energy though there are regional variations in its developments. Elaborate.

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35. · Paper Q19 · 2020 · 15 marks · Solution

Customs and traditions suppress reason leading to obscurantism. Do you agree?

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36. · Paper Q20 · 2020 · 15 marks · Solution

How have digital initiatives in India contributed to the functioning of the education system in the country? Elaborate your answer.

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2019

37. · Paper Q3 · 2019 · 10 marks · Solution

Examine the linkages between the nineteenth century's 'Indian Renaissance' and the emergence of national identity.

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38. · Paper Q4 · 2019 · 10 marks · Solution

Assess the impact of global warming on the coral life system with examples.

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39. · Paper Q5 · 2019 · 10 marks · Solution

Discuss the causes of depletion of mangroves and explain their importance in maintaining coastal ecology.

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40. · Paper Q14 · 2019 · 15 marks · Solution

What is water stress? How and why does it differ regionally in India?

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41. · Paper Q15 · 2019 · 15 marks · Solution

How can the mountain ecosystem be restored from the negative impact of development initiatives and tourism?

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42. · Paper Q17 · 2019 · 15 marks · Solution

How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts on marine life and coastal environment? Give suitable examples.

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43. · Paper Q18 · 2019 · 15 marks · Solution

Do we have cultural pockets of small India all over the nation? Elaborate with examples.

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44. · Paper Q20 · 2019 · 15 marks · Solution

Are we losing our local identity for the global identity? Discuss.

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2018

45. · Paper Q2 · 2018 · 10 marks · Solution

Assess the importance of the accounts of the Chinese and Arab travellers in the reconstruction of the history of India.

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46. · Paper Q4 · 2018 · 10 marks · Solution

Why is Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System (IRNSS) needed? How does it help in navigation?

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47. · Paper Q5 · 2018 · 10 marks · Solution

Why is India taking keen interest in the Arctic region?

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48. · Paper Q6 · 2018 · 10 marks · Solution

Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics.

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49. · Paper Q7 · 2018 · 10 marks · Solution

What are the consequences of spreading of 'Dead Zones' on marine ecosystem?

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50. · Paper Q12 · 2018 · 15 marks · Solution

Discuss whether formation of new states in recent times is beneficial or not for the economy of India.

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51. · Paper Q17 · 2018 · 15 marks · Solution

Mention core strategies for the transformation of aspirational districts in India and explain the nature of convergence, collaboration and competition for its success.

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2017

52. · Paper Q2 · 2017 · 10 marks · Solution

Clarify how mid-eighteenth century India was beset with the spectre of a fragmented polity.

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53. · Paper Q7 · 2017 · 10 marks · Solution

Mention the advantages of the cultivation of pulses because of which the year 2016 was declared as the International Year of Pulses by United Nations.

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54. · Paper Q14 · 2017 · 15 marks · Solution

Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its multi-dimensional effects. (250 words).

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55. · Paper Q20 · 2017 · 15 marks · Solution

"The growth of cities as I.T. hubs has opened up new avenues of employment, but has also created new problems". Substantiate this statement with examples (250 words).

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2016

56. · Paper Q13 · 2016 · 12 marks · Solution

Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in macro-climatic changes.

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57. · Paper Q16 · 2016 · 12 marks · Solution

South China Sea has assumed great geopolitical significance in the present context. Comment.

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58. · Paper Q18 · 2016 · 12 marks · Solution

Present an account of the Indus Water Treaty and examine its ecological, economic and political implications in the context of changing bilateral relations.

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59. · Paper Q19 · 2016 · 12 marks · Solution

Enumerate the problems and prospects of inland water transport in India.

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60. · Paper Q20 · 2016 · 12 marks · Solution

In what way micro-watershed development projects help in water conservation in drought-prone and semi-arid regions of India?

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2015

61. · Paper Q5 · 2015 · 12 marks · Solution

It would have been difficult for the Constituent Assembly to complete its historic task of drafting the Constitution for Independent India in just three years, but its experience gained with the Government of India Act, 1935 .Discuss.

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62. · Paper Q15 · 2015 · 12 marks · Solution

Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the three Mega cities of the country but the air pollution is much more serious problem in Delhi as compared to the other two. Why is this so?

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63. · Paper Q17 · 2015 · 12 marks · Solution

The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are reaching the limits of ecological carrying capacity due to tourism. Critically evaluate.

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