MCQ FOR UPSC AND KPSC PRELIMS 6

Question

Consider the following statements about the Gandaki River:

1. The Gandaki River is also known as the Narayani and is a left-bank tributary of the Ganges in India.
2. It is formed by the union of the Kali and Trisuli rivers in the Great Himalaya Range.
3. The river has its entire catchment area located within India.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

a) only one
b) only two
c) all three
d) none

Answer: b) only two
Explanation: Statement 3 is incorrect because only 7,620 sq km of the Gandaki River's total catchment area is located in India, while the rest is in Nepal.

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Consider the following statements regarding the Gandaki River:

1. The Gandaki River flows along the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar state border and enters the Ganges near Patna.
2. The river is bounded on the north by the Himalayas and on the west by the Ghagra Basin.
3. Major tributaries of the Gandaki River include the Seti, Marsyandi, and Burhi Gandak.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statement 3 is incorrect because Burhi Gandak is not a tributary of the Gandaki River; rather, Seti, Marsyandi, Budhi Gandaki, and others are its major tributaries.

Answer 1

Consider the following statements about the Upper Siang Hydropower Project:

1. The Upper Siang Hydropower Project is a proposed 11,000 MW project on the Siang River, also known as the Brahmaputra in Arunachal Pradesh.
2. The project is being developed jointly by NHPC and NEEPCO.
3. The estimated storage capacity of the project's reservoir is 5 billion cubic meters (BCM).

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

a) only one
b) only two
c) all three
d) none

Answer: b) only two
Explanation: Statement 3 is incorrect because the storage capacity of the project's reservoir is 9 billion cubic metres (BCM), not 5 BCM.

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Consider the following statements regarding the strategic significance of the Upper Siang Hydropower Project:

1. The project aims to counter China’s hydropower projects on the Yarlung Zangbo (Brahmaputra) River.
2. It is located in the Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh, predominantly inhabited by the Adi tribe.
3. China’s ‘super dam’ on the Brahmaputra River has a planned capacity of 11,000 MW.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statement 3 is incorrect because China's ‘super dam’ on the Brahmaputra River in Tibet’s Medog county has a planned capacity of 60,000 MW, not 11,000 MW.

Answer 2

Consider the following statements about the Vizhinjam International Seaport:

1. The Vizhinjam International Seaport is being developed as India’s largest deep-water trans-shipment port.
2. The port is developed by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ) under a public-private partnership model.
3. It is designed to handle only container trans-shipment and not break bulk cargo.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

a) only one
b) only two
c) all three
d) none

Answer: b) only two
Explanation: Statement 3 is incorrect because the Vizhinjam International Seaport is designed to handle container trans-shipment as well as multi-purpose and break bulk cargo.

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Consider the following statements about the development model of Vizhinjam International Seaport:

1. The port is being developed under a landlord model with a Public Private Partnership (PPP) component.
2. The development follows the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model.
3. The project is solely financed by the Government of Kerala with no private involvement.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: a) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Statement 3 is incorrect because the Vizhinjam Seaport involves private investment through Adani Ports under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Consider the following statements about Pangong Lake:

1. Pangong Lake is situated at a height of about 4,350 meters, making it one of the world’s highest brackish water lakes.
2. Approximately 60% of the lake's length lies in India, with the remaining in China.
3. The lake freezes completely during winter despite being saline.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

a) only one
b) only two
c) all three
d) none

Answer: b) only two
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect because 60% of the lake's length lies in China, not India.

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Consider the following statements about the geographical significance of Pangong Lake:

1. Pangong Lake extends from India to China, with its Line of Actual Control (LAC) passing through the lake.
2. The lake is part of the Indus River basin and has a significant hydrological role in the region.
3. The lake’s water changes color from blue to red and green.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

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

Answer: b) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect because Pangong Lake is not part of the Indus River basin; it is a separate land-locked river basin.