Question 1

In the end of its mountainous journey at Attock, the Indus river is joined by which river from Afghanistan?

Accepted Answer

The Kabul River joins the Indus River near Attock, Pakistan. It is the main river of eastern Afghanistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. The Amu Darya River is one of the largest rivers in Central Asia, primarily flowing from Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan. The Helmand River is the longest river entirely in Afghanistan. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

Question 2

Which one of the following is the well-publicized wildlife campaign in the world launched in 1973?

Accepted Answer

Project Tiger is a centrally sponsored scheme run by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Launched on 1 April 1973 from Jim Corbett National Park, Uttarakhand, it is run by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), established in 2006 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. So far, 53 tiger reserves have been established across 18 states, covering an area of 72,749.02 sq km. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true about the Troposphere?

Accepted Answer

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere with an average height of 13 km, ranging from 8 km at the poles to 18 km at the equator due to convection currents. Temperature decreases by 6.5°C per km in the troposphere (normal lapse rate). All weather activities occur here. The uppermost layer is the tropopause, where fast-moving winds called Jet Streams blow. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

Question 4

The southern continent broken from Pangaea is called

Accepted Answer

About 300 million years ago, a supercontinent called Pangaea existed, surrounded by the Panthalassa ocean. The split of Pangaea formed two large continental masses: the northern continent Laurasia and the southern continent Gondwanaland. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

Question 5

The Arctic region and the Antarctica continent are situated near

Accepted Answer

The Arctic region is located near the North Pole and the Antarctic region near the South Pole. The Sahara Desert is in Africa, and the Amazon Basin is in South America. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

Question 6

Which states of India have a common border with Myanmar?

Accepted Answer

Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram share borders with Myanmar. Myanmar belongs to Southeast Asia with capital Naypyidaw, currency kyat, main mountain range Arakan Yoma, and the Irrawaddy River flowing through it. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

Question 7

Which one of the following is the world’s richest region from a marine biodiversity perspective, comprising 21 islands with estuaries, beaches, forests, seagrasses, coral reefs, salt marshes, and mangroves?

Accepted Answer

The Gulf of Mannar is the richest region in marine biodiversity. It consists of 21 islands with estuaries, beaches, adjacent eco-forests, seagrasses, coral reefs, salt marshes, and mangroves. It lies between India and Sri Lanka, forming part of the Indian Ocean. Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve is in Uttarakhand, and Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve is in West Bengal. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

Question 8

In which type of climatic region do Uttar Pradesh and Bihar fall as per Köppen’s classification scheme?

Accepted Answer

According to Köppen's classification, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are in the Cwg (Temperate Humid) climate zone. Köppen classified climates into A (tropical), B (arid), C (temperate), D (continental/cold), and E (polar). In the Cwg region, rains are mostly in the monsoon season, summers are hot, and occasional winter rain occurs due to western cyclones. Other regions with similar climate include Assam, Northern Bihar, Eastern Rajasthan, Malwa Plateau, Punjab, and Haryana. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

Question 9

India’s territorial limit extends towards the sea up to how many nautical miles/km from the coast?

Accepted Answer

According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982), India's territorial waters extend 12 nautical miles (21.9 km) from the baseline. The Contiguous Zone extends up to 24 nautical miles, and the Exclusive Economic Zone extends up to 200 nautical miles. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

Question 10

Which of the following river valleys is rich in coal reserves in India?

Accepted Answer

More than 97% of India's coal reserves are found in the Damodar, Son, Mahanadi, and Godavari river basins. The most important Gondwana coalfield is in the Damodar Valley. [68TH BPSC PRELIMS EXAM, 2023]

68th Prelims 2023