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Maharashtra SSC General Knowledge Grade study materials
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Maharashtra SSC General Knowledge Grade practice questions

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Question 1History and Political Science

Which article of the Indian Constitution declares that India shall be a Union of States?

  1. Article 3
  2. Article 1 Correct answer.
  3. Article 14
  4. Article 12

Explanation

Article 1 states that India, that is Bharat, shall be a Union of States and that the States and territories shall be as specified in the First Schedule. The word 'Union' was deliberately chosen to show that states were not the result of a compact and have no right to secede.

Question 2History and Political Science

The Battle of Plassey in 1757 was fought between the forces of the East India Company and which ruler of Bengal?

  1. Siraj-ud-Daulah Correct answer.
  2. Mir Qasim
  3. Alivardi Khan
  4. Shah Alam II

Explanation

Robert Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey in 1757 with the help of Mir Jafar, who was then installed as a puppet Nawab. The victory gave the Company control of Bengal's revenues and marked the beginning of territorial power in India.

Question 3History and Political Science

Which body elects the President of India?

  1. The Lok Sabha alone
  2. An electoral college of elected members of both Houses of Parliament and elected members of State Legislative Assemblies Correct answer.
  3. The Rajya Sabha alone
  4. The Supreme Court collegium

Explanation

The President is elected indirectly by an electoral college made up of the elected members of both Houses of Parliament and the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States, including Delhi and Puducherry. Nominated members do not take part in this election.

Question 4History and Political Science

Who founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 to challenge caste hierarchy and Brahmin ritual authority?

  1. Mahadev Govind Ranade
  2. Gopal Hari Deshmukh
  3. Jyotirao Phule Correct answer.
  4. B. R. Ambedkar

Explanation

Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in Pune in 1873 to promote rational thinking and social equality and to oppose caste-based priesthood. He also opened schools for girls and for Shudra and Atishudra children in Maharashtra.

Question 5History and Political Science

Under the Indian Constitution, a Money Bill can be introduced only in which House?

  1. Either House, with the President's prior permission
  2. The Lok Sabha Correct answer.
  3. The Rajya Sabha
  4. A joint sitting of both Houses

Explanation

Article 110 defines a Money Bill, and Article 109 provides that such a Bill can be introduced only in the Lok Sabha, and only on the recommendation of the President. The Rajya Sabha may make recommendations within fourteen days but cannot amend or reject a Money Bill.

Question 6History and Political Science

The Permanent Settlement of 1793 was introduced by the East India Company in which province?

  1. Bengal Correct answer.
  2. Bombay
  3. Punjab
  4. Madras

Explanation

Lord Cornwallis introduced the Permanent Settlement in Bengal and Bihar in 1793, fixing the land revenue demand permanently and recognising zamindars as owners of the land. It later spread to parts of northern Madras and the United Provinces.

Question 7History and Political Science

Which fundamental right is described in the Constitution as the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution by Dr B. R. Ambedkar?

  1. Right to life and personal liberty
  2. Right to equality
  3. Right to constitutional remedies Correct answer.
  4. Right to freedom of religion

Explanation

Ambedkar described Article 32, the right to move the Supreme Court for enforcement of fundamental rights, as the heart and soul of the Constitution. Without an effective remedy, the other fundamental rights would lose their practical value.

Question 8History and Political Science

The Third Battle of Panipat in 1761 was fought between the Marathas and which invading force?

  1. The East India Company's troops
  2. The forces of Ahmad Shah Abdali Correct answer.
  3. The forces of Nadir Shah
  4. The army of Babur

Explanation

At Panipat in 1761, Ahmad Shah Abdali of Afghanistan defeated a large Maratha army led by Sadashivrao Bhau. The defeat checked Maratha expansion in northern India for about a decade.

Question 9History and Political Science

A State Legislative Council can be created or abolished by Parliament only when the Legislative Assembly of that State passes a resolution by which majority?

  1. A special majority of two-thirds of members present and voting
  2. A simple majority of members present and voting
  3. A majority of the total membership of the Assembly and a majority of not less than two-thirds of members present and voting Correct answer.
  4. A unanimous vote of the Assembly

Explanation

Under Article 169, Parliament may create or abolish a Legislative Council if the State Assembly passes a resolution by a majority of its total membership and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of members present and voting. This is the same special majority used for constitutional amendments under Article 368.

Question 10History and Political Science

Which of the following best explains why the Regulating Act of 1773 is treated as a landmark in Indian constitutional history?

  1. It brought the Company's affairs under the supervision of the British Parliament and created the post of Governor-General of Bengal Correct answer.
  2. It introduced elections to legislative councils in British India
  3. It abolished the zamindari system in Bengal
  4. It transferred Indian administration from the Company to the British Crown

Explanation

The Regulating Act of 1773 was the first step by the British Parliament to control the East India Company's political and administrative functions. It designated Warren Hastings as the first Governor-General of Bengal and set up a Supreme Court at Calcutta.

Question 11History and Political Science

In the Indian federal scheme, which subject is listed in the Concurrent List?

  1. Foreign affairs
  2. Education Correct answer.
  3. Defence
  4. Police

Explanation

Education was moved to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Amendment in 1976, so both Parliament and State legislatures can legislate on it, with central law prevailing in case of conflict. Police, defence and foreign affairs remain in the State and Union Lists respectively.

Question 12History and Political Science

Which Mughal emperor is associated with the construction of the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri?

  1. Jahangir
  2. Humayun
  3. Akbar Correct answer.
  4. Shah Jahan

Explanation

Akbar built the Buland Darwaza at Fatehpur Sikri around 1575 to commemorate his victory over Gujarat. The gateway is part of the Jama Masjid complex and is among the finest examples of Mughal architecture.

Question 13History and Political Science

In the Constituent Assembly, the Objectives Resolution moved by Jawaharlal Nehru in December 1946 primarily served which purpose?

  1. To divide India into linguistic provinces
  2. To lay down the guiding principles on which the Constitution would be based Correct answer.
  3. To fix the date of India's independence
  4. To create the office of the Election Commission

Explanation

The Objectives Resolution declared that India would be an independent sovereign republic in which power derived from the people, and it promised justice, equality and safeguards for minorities. It was adopted in January 1947 and later inspired the Preamble to the Constitution.

Question 14History and Political Science

The Charter Act of 1833 is significant because it

  1. Introduced separate electorates for Muslims
  2. Established the Supreme Court at Calcutta
  3. Ended the Company's trading monopoly and centralised British Indian administration under a Governor-General of India Correct answer.
  4. Created the office of the Viceroy

Explanation

The Charter Act of 1833 abolished the East India Company's remaining commercial monopoly and made the Governor-General of Bengal the Governor-General of India. It also provided for an all-India legislature and for Indian law codification.

Question 15History and Political Science

Which of the following is a Directive Principle of State Policy that directs the State to organise village panchayats?

  1. Article 44
  2. Article 48A
  3. Article 40 Correct answer.
  4. Article 51A

Explanation

Article 40 directs the State to take steps to organise village panchayats and endow them with powers to function as units of self-government. This principle was given effect through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment in 1992.

Question 16History and Political Science

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 in Bombay with which person as its first president?

  1. Dadabhai Naoroji
  2. Badruddin Tyabji
  3. Allan Octavian Hume
  4. Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee Correct answer.

Explanation

The Congress was founded in 1885 with A. O. Hume playing the key organising role, and W. C. Bonnerjee presided over its first session in Bombay. Hume himself was not president; he was the general secretary of the new body.

Question 17History and Political Science

Which writ is issued by a court to a person who has detained another, ordering that the detained person be produced before the court?

  1. Certiorari
  2. Mandamus
  3. Habeas corpus Correct answer.
  4. Quo warranto

Explanation

Habeas corpus literally means 'to have the body', and the writ commands the detaining authority to bring the person before the court so that the legality of detention can be examined. It protects personal liberty under Articles 32 and 226.

Question 18History and Political Science

The Poona Pact of 1932 between Gandhi and Ambedkar settled a dispute over which issue?

  1. The abolition of the zamindari system
  2. The transfer of power from the Company to the Crown
  3. Reserved seats for the Depressed Classes in legislatures Correct answer.
  4. The partition of Bengal

Explanation

The Poona Pact replaced the separate electorates for the Depressed Classes granted by the Communal Award with reserved seats within the general electorate, and it also provided for better educational and employment facilities. It followed Gandhi's fast in Yerwada jail in September 1932.

Question 19History and Political Science

Which schedule of the Indian Constitution deals with the administration of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in States other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram?

  1. Seventh Schedule
  2. Sixth Schedule
  3. Fourth Schedule
  4. Fifth Schedule Correct answer.

Explanation

The Fifth Schedule provides for the administration and control of Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes in States other than Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram. It provides for a Tribes Advisory Council and gives the Governor special powers to adapt laws for these areas.

Question 20History and Political Science

Which of the following powers does the Governor of a State exercise in his or her own discretion?

  1. Appointment of the Advocate-General of the State
  2. Addressing the State legislature on the opening day of the first session
  3. Appointment of the Chief Minister after a fractured electoral verdict Correct answer.
  4. Giving assent to an ordinary Bill passed by the State legislature

Explanation

When no party has a clear majority, the Governor decides whom to invite to form the government, and this choice is recognised as a discretionary function. Other listed functions, such as assent to Bills and appointments, are normally exercised on the advice of the Council of Ministers.

Question 21History and Political Science

The Government of India Act 1935 introduced which feature that the Indian Constitution later adopted?

  1. Universal adult franchise
  2. A federal structure with a division of powers between the Centre and the provinces Correct answer.
  3. A parliamentary system with collective responsibility to the legislature
  4. Fundamental rights enforceable in courts

Explanation

The 1935 Act provided for an All-India Federation with a division of legislative powers into federal, provincial and concurrent lists, a scheme the Constitution adopted with modifications. It also introduced provincial autonomy, which took effect in 1937.

Question 22History and Political Science

Consider a situation where the President disagrees with the advice of the Council of Ministers and returns a Bill passed by Parliament for reconsideration. Which statement about this situation is correct?

  1. The President may withhold assent permanently if he or she disagrees with the Bill
  2. The Bill lapses automatically when returned
  3. If Parliament passes the Bill again, with or without amendment, the President must give assent Correct answer.
  4. The President must refer the Bill to the Supreme Court before deciding

Explanation

Under Article 111, the President may return a non-Money Bill for reconsideration, but if Parliament passes it again with or without amendment, the President shall not withhold assent. The veto power is therefore suspensive rather than absolute for ordinary Bills.

Question 23History and Political Science

Which of the following best explains why the Indian Constitution is described as a 'living document'?

  1. It was drafted by a foreign assembly
  2. It contains a fixed set of rules that cannot be changed
  3. It can be amended and has been interpreted by courts to meet changing needs Correct answer.
  4. It applies only to citizens of India

Explanation

The Constitution provides a defined amendment procedure under Article 368 and has been interpreted by the Supreme Court in cases such as Kesavananda Bharati to meet new circumstances without losing its basic structure. This capacity for change through amendment and judicial interpretation is what makes it a living document.

Question 24History and Political Science

In the context of the Revolt of 1857, which of the following pairs of leader and centre is correctly matched?

  1. Begum Hazrat Mahal - Lucknow Correct answer.
  2. Kunwar Singh - Kanpur
  3. Nana Saheb - Arrah
  4. Tantia Tope - Jhansi

Explanation

Begum Hazrat Mahal led the revolt in Lucknow on behalf of her minor son Birjis Qadr after the annexation of Awadh. The other leaders are associated with different centres, which is why only this pair is correctly matched.

Question 25History and Political Science

Which statement correctly describes the effect of the Kesavananda Bharati judgment of 1973 on Parliament's amending power?

  1. Parliament can amend the Constitution only with the consent of all State legislatures
  2. Parliament can amend any part of the Constitution, including fundamental rights, but cannot alter its basic structure Correct answer.
  3. Parliament's amending power is limited to matters in the Union List
  4. Parliament cannot amend fundamental rights at all

Explanation

The Supreme Court held that Parliament's amending power under Article 368 is wide but does not extend to destroying the basic structure of the Constitution. This doctrine of the basic structure has since been used to review constitutional amendments.

Question 26History and Political Science

Which body was set up by the Government of India Act 1919 to review the working of the Act and recommend further constitutional reforms?

  1. The Simon Commission Correct answer.
  2. The Hunter Commission
  3. The Butler Committee
  4. The Rowlatt Committee

Explanation

The Act of 1919 contained a provision for appointing a statutory commission after ten years to report on how the new system was working. Accordingly the Indian Statutory Commission, chaired by Sir John Simon, was appointed in 1927. Its all-British membership provoked widespread Indian protest, including the 'Simon Go Back' agitation.

Question 27History and Political Science

Under the dyarchy introduced by the Government of India Act 1919, provincial subjects were divided into which two categories?

  1. Central and provincial subjects
  2. Federal and unitary subjects
  3. Original and delegated subjects
  4. Reserved and transferred subjects Correct answer.

Explanation

The 1919 Act split provincial subjects into 'reserved' subjects, administered by the Governor with his executive council, and 'transferred' subjects, administered by Indian ministers responsible to the legislative council. This dual arrangement is what the term dyarchy means. It was abolished by the Government of India Act 1935, which introduced provincial autonomy.

Question 28History and Political Science

Which session of the Indian National Congress first demanded 'Purna Swaraj', that is, complete independence, as its goal?

  1. The Calcutta session of 1928
  2. The Karachi session of 1931
  3. The Nagpur session of 1920
  4. The Lahore session of 1929 Correct answer.

Explanation

At the Lahore session in December 1929, presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru, the Congress adopted complete independence as its objective and authorised the celebration of Independence Day on 26 January 1930. The Karachi session of 1931 followed up by adopting a resolution on fundamental rights and economic policy.

Question 29History and Political Science

The partition of Bengal announced in 1905 by Lord Curzon provoked which form of protest that involved boycotting British goods and promoting indigenous industry?

  1. The Home Rule movement
  2. The Khilafat movement
  3. The Civil Disobedience movement
  4. The Swadeshi movement Correct answer.

Explanation

The Swadeshi movement arose directly out of the anti-partition agitation of 1905, urging people to boycott foreign cloth and use Indian-made goods. It also promoted national education and cottage industry. The other movements listed belong to later phases of the national struggle with different triggers.

Question 30History and Political Science

Which of the following pairs of Governor-General and the policy or event associated with him is correctly matched?

  1. Lord Dalhousie - Doctrine of Lapse Correct answer.
  2. Lord Wellesley - Abolition of sati
  3. Lord Cornwallis - Doctrine of Lapse
  4. Lord William Bentinck - Subsidiary Alliance

Explanation

Lord Dalhousie, Governor-General from 1848 to 1856, applied the Doctrine of Lapse to annex Satara, Jhansi, Nagpur and other states. The other pairings reverse well-known associations: Cornwallis is linked to the Permanent Settlement, Wellesley to the Subsidiary Alliance, and Bentinck to the abolition of sati in 1829.

Question 31History and Political Science

Which social reformer founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 to challenge caste hierarchy and Brahmin dominance in western India?

  1. Mahadev Govind Ranade
  2. B. R. Ambedkar
  3. Jyotirao Phule Correct answer.
  4. Gopal Hari Deshmukh

Explanation

Jyotirao Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in Pune in 1873, arguing for the education of lower castes and widow remarriage, and attacking priestly authority. His writings, such as Gulamgiri, linked caste oppression to social and economic exploitation.

Question 32History and Political Science

In the Constituent Assembly, who chaired the Drafting Committee that prepared the text of the Constitution of India?

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru
  2. Dr Rajendra Prasad
  3. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
  4. Dr B. R. Ambedkar Correct answer.

Explanation

The Drafting Committee was constituted on 29 August 1947 with Dr B. R. Ambedkar as chairman, and it produced the draft that the Assembly debated clause by clause. Rajendra Prasad presided over the Assembly itself, while Nehru and Patel led major committees on other subjects.

Question 33History and Political Science

A Bill passed by both Houses of Parliament is sent to the President, who is bound to act on the advice of the Council of Ministers. Which statement correctly describes the President's options in such a case?

  1. The President may hold the Bill indefinitely until the next general election
  2. The President may refer every Bill to the Supreme Court before deciding
  3. The President may return a non-Money Bill once for reconsideration, but must assent if Parliament passes it again Correct answer.
  4. The President may reject the Bill outright and it then lapses permanently

Explanation

Article 111 allows the President to assent, withhold assent, or return a non-Money Bill for reconsideration. If Parliament passes the Bill again, with or without amendment, the President must not withhold assent. The option to return a Bill does not extend to Money Bills.

Question 34History and Political Science

Which of the following best describes the significance of the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1976 for Indian federalism?

  1. It created the Inter-State Council to settle water disputes
  2. It removed the residuary powers of Parliament
  3. It shifted education and forests from the State List to the Concurrent List, increasing central influence Correct answer.
  4. It abolished the Concurrent List and gave all its subjects to the States

Explanation

The 42nd Amendment transferred five subjects, including education, forests, weights and measures, and protection of wild animals and birds, from the State List to the Concurrent List. This enlarged the Union's legislative reach and is often cited as a centralising change. It also added the words socialist and secular to the Preamble.

Question 35History and Political Science

Which of the following is a constitutional duty of the Union under the Directive Principles requiring the State to secure a uniform civil code throughout India?

  1. Article 44 Correct answer.
  2. Article 40
  3. Article 51A
  4. Article 48A

Explanation

Article 44 directs the State to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India. It is a Directive Principle, non-justiciable but fundamental in governance. Article 40 concerns village panchayats, Article 48A environmental protection, and Article 51A fundamental duties.

Question 36History and Political Science

A person is arrested and detained by the police without being told the grounds of arrest. Which constitutional provision and right are most directly engaged?

  1. Article 22, the right to be informed of the grounds of arrest and to consult a lawyer Correct answer.
  2. Article 30, the right of minorities to establish institutions
  3. Article 25, the right to freedom of religion
  4. Article 19, the right to freedom of speech

Explanation

Article 22(1) requires that an arrested person be informed of the grounds of arrest and allowed to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of choice. It also requires production before a magistrate within twenty-four hours under clause (2). The other Articles protect freedoms unrelated to arrest procedure.

Question 37History and Political Science

The Battle of Plassey in 1757 was fought between the forces of the East India Company under Robert Clive and which ruler?

  1. Shah Alam II of Delhi
  2. Siraj-ud-Daulah of Bengal Correct answer.
  3. Tipu Sultan of Mysore
  4. Hyder Ali of Mysore

Explanation

At Plassey, Clive defeated Siraj-ud-Daulah, the Nawab of Bengal, with the help of Mir Jafar's defection. The victory gave the Company political control over Bengal and its revenues. Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali ruled Mysore and fought the Company in later Anglo-Mysore wars.

Question 38History and Political Science

Which of the following best explains why the Vernacular Press Act of 1878 was resented by Indian nationalists?

  1. It imposed a tax on all English-language newspapers only
  2. It required every newspaper to be owned by a British subject
  3. It banned the publication of newspapers in Bombay Presidency
  4. It empowered the government to confiscate the presses of Indian-language newspapers that published objectionable material Correct answer.

Explanation

The Vernacular Press Act, introduced by Lord Lytton, allowed the government to demand security and seize the printing press of any Indian-language paper whose writing was judged seditious. English-language papers were left untouched, which nationalists saw as discriminatory and repressive. It was repealed by Ripon in 1882.

Question 39History and Political Science

Which of the following describes the composition of the Rajya Sabha as provided in the Constitution?

  1. Members are elected by the elected members of State Legislative Assemblies and by the President for nominated seats Correct answer.
  2. Members are elected directly by the people of each State on the basis of adult franchise
  3. Members are elected by the Lok Sabha from among its own members
  4. Members are nominated entirely by the President from among eminent persons

Explanation

Rajya Sabha members are chosen by the elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and Union Territories by proportional representation with a single transferable vote. The President nominates twelve members for distinction in literature, science, art and social service. Direct election by the people applies to the Lok Sabha.

Question 40History and Political Science

The Quit India Movement was launched in August 1942 with which immediate demand?

  1. An orderly British withdrawal from India Correct answer.
  2. The convening of a Round Table Conference
  3. The repeal of the Rowlatt Act
  4. The immediate transfer of power to the Muslim League

Explanation

The Quit India resolution adopted by the All India Congress Committee in Bombay on 8 August 1942 demanded an orderly British withdrawal from India. Gandhi gave the call to 'do or die', and the government responded by arresting the entire Congress leadership. The Rowlatt Act and the Round Table Conferences belong to earlier phases.

Question 41Geography

Which of the following is the standard meridian of India, used to determine Indian Standard Time?

  1. 90°00' E
  2. 68°7' E
  3. 75°00' E
  4. 82°30' E Correct answer.

Explanation

Indian Standard Time is fixed on the meridian of 82°30' E longitude, which passes near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. This choice gives the country a single uniform time despite its wide east-west spread. The value is roughly the midpoint between India's westernmost and easternmost longitudes.

Question 42Geography

The Tropic of Cancer passes through which set of Indian states?

  1. Maharashtra, Goa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal
  2. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Assam
  3. Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar Correct answer.
  4. Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Odisha

Explanation

The Tropic of Cancer at about 23°30' N crosses India from west to east through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. The set Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar (adjoining the belt) fits this latitudinal zone. States lying wholly north of this line, such as Punjab, or wholly south, such as Kerala, are not crossed by it.

Question 43Geography

Which physical division of India is described as a triangular plateau bounded by the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats?

  1. The Thar Desert
  2. The Deccan Plateau Correct answer.
  3. The Indo-Gangetic Plain
  4. The Himalayan Range

Explanation

The Deccan Plateau is a large triangular tableland lying between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats, with its apex towards the south. It is a stable block of old crystalline rock and slopes gently eastwards. The other features listed are a northern plain, a western desert and a young fold mountain belt.

Question 44Geography

The narrow strip of fertile plain between the Shiwaliks and the Lesser Himalaya is known as:

  1. Terai
  2. Khadar
  3. Dun Correct answer.
  4. Bhabar

Explanation

Longitudinal valleys lying between the Shiwalik ranges and the Lesser Himalaya are called duns, such as Dehra Dun and Kotli Dun. They are flat-floored, fertile valleys formed by sediment deposition. Bhabar, Terai and Khadar are related to the alluvial plains further south.

Question 45Geography

Which of the following is the highest peak entirely within Indian territory?

  1. Kanchenjunga Correct answer.
  2. Nanga Parbat
  3. K2
  4. Mount Everest

Explanation

Kanchenjunga, on the border of Sikkim and Nepal, is the highest peak lying within Indian territory. Mount Everest and K2 lie outside India, in Nepal and in Pakistan-administered territory respectively. Nanga Parbat is in the Pakistan-occupied Himalayan region, not in India.

Question 46Geography

The Ganga river originates from which glacier?

  1. Siachen Glacier
  2. Pindari Glacier
  3. Gangotri Glacier Correct answer.
  4. Zemu Glacier

Explanation

The Bhagirathi, a headstream of the Ganga, rises from the Gangotri Glacier at Gaumukh in Uttarakhand. The river then flows south through the Gangetic plain to the Bay of Bengal. The other glaciers feed different rivers or lie in other Himalayan areas.

Question 47Geography

Which of the following peninsular rivers flows westward into the Arabian Sea?

  1. Narmada Correct answer.
  2. Kaveri
  3. Krishna
  4. Godavari

Explanation

The Narmada flows westward through a rift valley between the Vindhya and Satpura ranges and drains into the Arabian Sea. The Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri are east-flowing rivers that reach the Bay of Bengal. Peninsular India is thus divided into east-flowing and west-flowing drainage.

Question 48Geography

The Sundarbans delta, famous for its mangrove forests, is formed mainly by which river system?

  1. The Narmada and Tapi
  2. The Indus and its tributaries
  3. The Ganga and Brahmaputra Correct answer.
  4. The Godavari and Krishna

Explanation

The Sundarbans is the seaward part of the delta built by the Ganga and Brahmaputra, together with the Meghna, in West Bengal and Bangladesh. Its tidal creeks support dense mangrove vegetation. The other river systems form deltas or estuaries elsewhere.

Question 49Geography

The retreat of the monsoon in India generally begins from which region?

  1. The Coromandel Coast
  2. The Brahmaputra valley
  3. Kerala
  4. Northwest India Correct answer.

Explanation

The southwest monsoon begins to withdraw from northwest India around September and progressively retreats southwards. Its withdrawal allows the northeast monsoon to bring rain to the Coromandel Coast later in the year. Kerala and the Brahmaputra valley receive heavy monsoon rain earlier in the season.

Question 50Geography

Mawsynram and Cherrapunji receive exceptionally heavy rainfall mainly because:

  1. The funnel-shaped Khasi hills force moist Bay of Bengal winds to rise Correct answer.
  2. They are close to the Thar Desert
  3. Cold dry winds from Tibet converge there
  4. They lie on the leeward side of the Western Ghats

Explanation

Moist winds from the Bay of Bengal are trapped and forced upwards by the funnel-shaped topography of the Khasi hills, causing intense orographic rainfall. Their location on the Meghalaya plateau facing the incoming monsoon explains the world-record totals. Leeward locations and deserts receive much less rain.