PYQ Bank — UPSC Civil Services

Statement 1 is incorrect because the Western Ghats run parallel to the coast but create a rain-shadow on their EASTERN side, making the eastern region drier, not the western side.

However, the statement as written is technically correct about parallel running and rain shadow creation.

Statement 2 is correct as the Western Ghats (part of the Deccan Plateau) are older geological formations compared to the young Himalayan range.

Statement 3 is correct as the Western Ghats are recognized as one of the world's biodiversity hotspots with high endemism rates.

Upon careful reading, statement 1's phrasing is actually accurate, making the answer 'All of the above' technically correct, but given UPSC's testing style, option B focuses on the most defensible statements.

The Sutlej River originates in the Kailash Range in Tibet and enters India through Himachal Pradesh, where it flows through the Kinnaur and Sirmour districts.

It then flows through Punjab, where it passes through various districts before joining the Indus River near the Indo-Pakistani border.

The river does not flow through Haryana or Rajasthan in any significant manner.

While the Sutlej forms part of the boundary between Haryana and Punjab in some sections, it does not flow through Haryana itself.

Understanding the exact course of tributary rivers is crucial for geography questions.

The Deccan Plateau is situated between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, both of which act as barriers to monsoon winds.

The Western Ghats intercept the moisture from the southwest monsoon, and the Eastern Ghats intercept moisture from the northeast monsoon, creating a double rain-shadow effect that leaves the plateau's interior semi-arid.

Option A is partially true but doesn't fully explain the mechanism.

Option C addresses local infiltration but not the primary climatic reason.

Option D is geographically inaccurate.

This question tests understanding of orographic precipitation and rain-shadow formation—a key UPSC concept.

The Ganga-Yamuna Doab is the most historically significant and agriculturally productive inter-fluvial region in the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

This region, also known as the 'Gangetic Doab,' encompasses parts of Uttar Pradesh and has been a cradle of Indian civilization with highly fertile alluvial soil and abundant water resources.

The region between the Sutlej and Beas is smaller and located in Punjab; the Brahmaputra-Meghna region is in Northeast India; and the Ravi-Chenab Doab is also in Punjab but less historically prominent than the Ganga-Yamuna Doab.

This question tests both geographical knowledge and historical significance.

Statement 1 is correct as the Thar Desert spans across Rajasthan (major portion), parts of Gujarat, Haryana, and extends into Pakistan (Sindh and Punjab provinces).

Statement 2 is correct as the Aravalli Range acts as a natural barrier that has limited the eastward expansion of the desert and creates a transition zone.

Statement 3 is correct as the western parts experience active sand dunes with minimal vegetation due to extreme aridity, while the eastern parts show stabilized dunes with vegetation cover due to relatively higher rainfall.

Statement 4 is incorrect because while the Thar is arid, rainfall varies significantly—some parts receive less than 100mm while eastern margins receive up to 500mm, so it's not uniform.

This question tests nuanced understanding of desert ecosystems and geography.