JKSSB Geography MCQs

Explanation

The chronological order of formation is as follows:

1. Gujarat (1960): Created from the Bombay State.

2. Haryana (1966): Carved out of Punjab.

3. Mizoram (1987): Elevated from a Union Territory to a State.

4. Uttarakhand (2000): Formed from Uttar Pradesh.

Explanation

• I – Incorrect:

  • Meghalaya’s capital is Shillong, not Imphal.

• II – Incorrect:

  • Manipur’s capital is Imphal, not Shillong.

• III – Correct:

  • Lakshadweep’s capital is Kavaratti.

• IV – Incorrect:

  • The capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu is Daman, not Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

Explanation

• Statement I – Correct: Tropical evergreen forests occur in regions with heavy rainfall (>200 cm) and high temperature.

• Statement II – Incorrect: These forests are called evergreen because trees do not shed leaves seasonally (no definite dry season).

• Statement III – Correct: Trees like Mahogany, Ebony, and Rosewood are typical species found in these forests

Explanation

• Mouling National Park is located in Arunachal Pradesh.

• Dibru-Saikhowa National Park lies in Assam, known for wetlands and biodiversity.

• Mollem National Park (part of Bhagwan Mahavir Sanctuary) is in Goa.

• Kanger Ghati National Park is in Chhattisgarh, famous for limestone caves.

Explanation

• The Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall due to orographic rainfall.

• The south-west monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea strike the Western Ghats first.

• Since they lie on the windward side, the moist air rises, cools, and condenses, causing heavy rainfall.

• Thus, both the Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion.

Explanation

The Mountain Railways of India is a UNESCO heritage group that recognizes three historic mountain railway systems built during the British period in India.

Included Railways

1. Darjeeling Himalayan Railway

   • Built in 1881.

   • Connects New Jalpaiguri/Siliguri to Darjeeling.

   • First of the mountain railways to receive UNESCO status (1999).

2. Nilgiri Mountain Railway

   • Connects Mettupalayam to Ooty (Udhagamandalam).

   • Added to the UNESCO listing in 2005.

3. Kalka–Shimla Railway

   • Connects Kalka to Shimla.

   • Added in 2008.

All three together form the UNESCO World Heritage property “Mountain Railways of India.”

Explanation

The correct answer is D) Storing water in the soil profile through mulching or contour bunding.

In rainwater harvesting, techniques are categorized based on where the water is stored:

In-situ Rainwater Harvesting

This involves harvesting the rain where it falls. The primary goal is to increase soil moisture and groundwater recharge directly within the field.

• Examples: Mulching, contour bunding, land leveling, and deep plowing. These methods prevent runoff and allow water to seep into the soil profile for crop use.

Ex-situ Rainwater Harvesting

This involves collecting and storing runoff in external structures for later use.

• Farm ponds (A): Water is collected from a catchment area and stored in a pond.

• Rooftop rainwater harvesting (B): Rain is collected from roofs and diverted to tanks.

• Underground storage tanks (C): Runoff is captured and stored in man-made pits or "tankas."

Explanation

The correct answer is D) All of the above.

The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023, introduced several significant exemptions to streamline the diversion of forest land for specific purposes without requiring prior approval from the Central Government.

Key Exemptions under the 2023 Amendment:

• Strategic Linear Projects: Forest land within 100 km of international borders, the Line of Control (LoC), or the Line of Actual Control (LAC) intended for strategic projects of national importance (like highways or railways) is exempt.

• Security Infrastructure: Up to 10 hectares of forest land can be diverted for security-related infrastructure (such as border outposts or communication towers) without prior central clearance.

• LWE-Affected Areas: To aid development in Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) districts, public utility projects (like schools, dispensaries, or water tanks) are exempt up to 5 hectares.

Explanation

The correct answer is B) The sun never sets at the Antarctic Circle.

On December 22nd, the Earth's South Pole is tilted toward the Sun, resulting in the following conditions:

• Antarctic Circle (True): The region south of the Antarctic Circle experiences 24 hours of daylight (the "Midnight Sun").

• Arctic Circle (False): Conversely, the Arctic Circle experiences 24 hours of darkness; the sun never rises there on this day.

• Tropic of Cancer (False): The sun stands directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn ($23.5^{\circ} S$) during the December Solstice, not the Tropic of Cancer.

• Insolation (False): The Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun and receives significantly more solar radiation (insolation) than the Northern Hemisphere, marking the start of their summer.

Explanation

The correct answer is C) Date will change to Thursday (one day forward).

When a ship or aircraft crosses the International Date Line (IDL) traveling from East to West (from the American side toward the Asian/Russian side), it enters a time zone that is ahead.

• The Rule: Crossing the IDL from East to West requires you to add a day.

• The Result: If it is Wednesday on the East side of the line, it immediately becomes Thursday once you cross to the West.

Conversely, if you were traveling from West to East (Russia to America), you would subtract a day and repeat the previous date.

Explanation

Venus – “Morning Star”

Statement I: The planet Venus is also known as the 'Morning Star'.

✅ Correct

• Venus is one of the brightest objects visible from Earth.

• When it appears before sunrise in the eastern sky, it is called the Morning Star.

• When visible after sunset, it is called the Evening Star.

Asteroid Belt

Statement II: The asteroid belt lies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

✅ Correct

• The main asteroid belt is a region filled with rocky objects orbiting the Sun.

• It lies between the planets:

  • Mars

  • Jupiter

Kuiper Belt

Statement III: The Kuiper belt lies between the orbits of Saturn and Uranus.

❌ Incorrect

• The Kuiper Belt is located beyond the orbit of Neptune, not between Saturn and Uranus.

• It contains icy bodies and dwarf planets like Pluto.

Explanation

I. Atapaka Bird Sanctuary — Andhra Pradesh ✅

• Correct. Atapaka Bird Sanctuary is located in the Kolleru Lake area, Andhra Pradesh.

II. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary — Goa ✅

• Correct. Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary is located on Chorao Island, Goa.

III. Attiveri Bird Sanctuary — Karnataka ✅

• Correct. Attiveri Bird Sanctuary is in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka.

✅ All pairs are correctly matched.

Explanation

The concept of biodiversity hotspots was developed by Norman Myers and later adopted by Conservation International.

Criteria for a Biodiversity Hotspot

A region must satisfy both of the following:

1. At least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species (≈0.5% of the world’s total). ✅

2. Loss of at least 70% of its original natural vegetation (i.e., 30% or less remains). ✅

Evaluate the Statements

• I. It must have 30% or less of its original natural vegetation. ✔ Correct

• II. It must have at least 1,500 vascular plants as endemics. ✔ Correct

• III. It must be located in a tropical area only. ✘ Incorrect (some hotspots occur outside strict tropical zones, e.g., Mediterranean regions)

✅ Correct Answer: C) I and II only

Explanation

1. Rosewood – Typical species of evergreen/semi-evergreen forests. ✅

2. Mahogany – Also found in tropical evergreen forests. ✅

3. Palash – Characteristic of tropical deciduous forests, not evergreen. ❌

4. Sal – Dominant tree of moist deciduous forests, not evergreen. ❌

5. Aini – A common species of evergreen forests in Western Ghats. ✅

Count

Evergreen / Semi-evergreen species:

• Rosewood

• Mahogany

• Aini

Total = 3 or III Only

Explanation

According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, the Union Territory of Lakshadweep has the highest proportion of forest cover relative to its total geographical area.

Key Data (ISFR 2023)

• Lakshadweep – 91.33% forest cover

• Mizoram – 85.34%

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands – 81.62%

Thus, Lakshadweep ranks first in terms of forest cover percentage of total geographical area.

Explanation

Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests occur in areas receiving about 70–100 cm of annual rainfall. These forests have a distinct dry season, during which most trees shed their leaves completely to conserve water. Because of this leaf fall, the forest often looks open and grassland-like in the dry months.

Key Features

• Rainfall: 70–100 cm annually

• Leaf shedding: Trees lose leaves in the dry season

• Appearance: Open canopy, grassy ground layer during dry months

• Common trees: Teak, sal, bamboo, tendu

Explanation

• Law Lyngdoh (Meghalaya): These are among the most famous sacred groves in India, particularly in the Khasi Hills. They are strictly protected by local religious customs; it is a taboo to even remove a leaf or a twig from these forests.

• Sarpa Kavu (Kerala): Literally meaning "Abode of Snakes," these are traditional biological patches of land believed to be inhabited by snake deities. They play a massive role in preserving local biodiversity and water tables.

• Devban (Himachal Pradesh): These "Forests of God" are dedicated to local deities and are often managed by village temple committees. They usually consist of dense stands of Deodar trees.

• Gumpa Forest (Arunachal Pradesh): These are sacred groves attached to Buddhist monasteries (Gumpas) and are managed by the Lamas and local tribal communities.

Explanation

Before 2020, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu were two separate Union Territories (UTs). Following the Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (Merger of Union Territories) Act, 2019, they were officially merged into a single entity on January 26, 2020.

• Current Capital: Daman serves as the administrative headquarters for the combined UT.

• Former Status of Silvassa: Silvassa was previously the capital of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, but it lost its status as a capital city following the merger.

• Mahe: This is actually an enclave of the Union Territory of Puducherry, located on the Malabar Coast of Kerala.

Explanation

Evaluate each pair:

I. Maharashtra – Nagpur (summer), Mumbai (winter)
❌ Incorrect. The Maharashtra Legislature holds its winter session in Nagpur, while Mumbai is the main capital and hosts most sessions. It is not classified as summer/winter legislative capitals.

II. Himachal Pradesh – Shimla (summer), Dharamshala (winter)
✔ Correct. Shimla hosts the summer session, and Dharamshala hosts the winter session of the state assembly.

III. Uttarakhand – Gairsain (summer), Dehradun (winter)
✔ Correct. Gairsain is the summer legislative capital, while Dehradun hosts the winter session.

✅ Correct Answer: II and III only.

Explanation

Evaluate each statement about the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats:

I. The Western Ghats are a continuous chain of mountains that can be crossed only through specific passes, whereas the Eastern Ghats are highly dissected by east-flowing rivers.
✔ Correct – Western Ghats form a more continuous range, while Eastern Ghats are broken by rivers like the Godavari River, Krishna River, Mahanadi River, and Kaveri River.

II. Deciduous forests are more dominant in the Western Ghats, while the Eastern Ghats are characterized primarily by Tropical Evergreen forests.
❌ Incorrect – The Western Ghats are famous for tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, while the Eastern Ghats mostly have tropical dry deciduous forests.

III. The Great Escarpment of the Western Ghats acts as a primary water divide between the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
✔ Correct – It separates rivers flowing west to the Arabian Sea from those flowing east to the Bay of Bengal.

✅ Correct Statements: I and III only.

Explanation

The correct answer is:

✅ Sahnewal (Punjab) and Dankuni (West Bengal)

Explanation:
The Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) runs from Sahnewal near Ludhiana in Punjab to Dankuni near Kolkata in West Bengal, facilitating faster and more efficient freight movement.

✔️ So, the correct option is Sahnewal (Punjab) and Dankuni (Bengal).

Explanation

The correct answer is:

✅ Weather describes short-term conditions, while climate represents long-term average

Explanation:

• Weather → day-to-day or short-term conditions of the atmosphere (temperature, rain, wind, etc.)

• Climate → long-term average of weather conditions over many years (usually 30 years or more)

Why others are incorrect:

• Long-term trends describe climate, not weather

• They are not interchangeable

• Climate includes all atmospheric elements, not just temperature

✔️ So, the best distinction is that weather is short-term, climate is long-term.

Explanation

The correct answer is:

✅ i-1, ii-2, iii-4, iv-3

Explanation:

• Mettur Dam → Kaveri River (1)

• Ukai Dam → Tapti River (2)

• Bisalpur Dam → Banas River (4)

• Pillur (Pilur) Dam → Bhavani River (3)

✔️ So, the correct matching is i-1, ii-2, iii-4, iv-3.

Explanation

Tributaries of the Kaveri River are:

• Arkavati ✅

• Shimsha ✅

• Lakshman Tirtha ✅

Not tributaries of Kaveri:

• Painganga ❌ (tributary of the Godavari)

• Tungbhadra ❌ (tributary of the Krishna)

So, the correct combination should be:
👉 I, III, and IV only

Explanation

The correct answer is:

✅ Damodar

Explanation:
The Damodar River rises from the Khamarpat Hill in the Chhotanagpur Plateau and is famously known as the “River of Sorrow” due to its history of frequent floods causing devastation in Jharkhand and West Bengal.

Why others are incorrect:

• Mahanadi → rises in Sihawa, Chhattisgarh

• Son → rises near Amarkantak

• Ghaggar → seasonal river, origin in the Shivalik range

✔️ So, the correct option is Damodar.

Explanation

The correct answer is:

✅ Manipur

Explanation:
The Tropic of Cancer (23½° N latitude) passes through the following Indian states:

• Gujarat

• Rajasthan

• Madhya Pradesh

• Chhattisgarh

• Jharkhand

• West Bengal

• Tripura

• Mizoram

🚫 It does NOT pass through Manipur.

✔️ So, the correct option is Manipur.

Explanation

The correct answer is:

✅ India lies in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres.

Explanation:

• India is located north of the Equator → Northern Hemisphere

• India is located east of the Prime Meridian → Eastern Hemisphere

Why others are incorrect:

• India is not entirely tropical (Tropic of Cancer passes through India)

• India is not in the Western Hemisphere

• India is not entirely temperate

✔️ So, the correct option is India lies in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres.

Explanation

The scientific name of the Markhor is ¹$Capra\ falconeri$.²

Explanation

Correct Option: All are correctly matched (1, 2, 3, and 4)

Explanation:

1. Banihal Pass: Located in the Pir Panjal Range, it connects the Kashmir Valley with Jammu. It is a vital link in Jammu & Kashmir.

2. Bara Lapcha La (Baralacha La) & Shipki La:

   • Baralacha La: Connects Lahaul district (HP) to Leh (Ladakh).

   • Shipki La: Located in Kinnaur district (Himachal Pradesh), connecting India to Tibet.

3. Bomdi La: Located in Arunachal Pradesh, connecting the state with Lhasa (Tibet).

4. Nathu La & Jelep La: Both are strategic high-altitude passes located in Sikkim, connecting India with the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Explanation

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