Physical & Regional Geography

Pair 1 is correct: Asmaka (or Assaka) was the southernmost Mahajanapada, located in the Deccan region on the banks of the Godavari river. Pair 2 is incorrect: Kamboja was located in the extreme north-west (modern-day Afghanistan and Kashmir). The Vipas (Beas) river flows through Punjab, which is geographically distinct and east of the Kamboja region. Pair 3 is incorrect: Avanti was in western Madhya Pradesh (Malwa region). The main rivers flowing through it were the Kshipra and Vetravati, not the Mahanadi (which flows through Odisha and Chhattisgarh). Pair 4 is correct: Kosala was a Mahajanapada in present-day eastern Uttar Pradesh. Its capital, Ayodhya, is situated on the banks of the Sarayu river.

Anadyr (Russia) and Nome (Alaska, USA) lie close to each other geographically but are separated by the International Date Line, leading to a significant difference in calendar dates despite similar times of day. ✅ Statement I: Correct Due to the International Date Line, Anadyr and Nome can have the same time of day but different dates. ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
When it’s Monday in Anadyr, it is still Sunday in Nome, not Tuesday—Anadyr is ahead of Nome by almost 21 hours.

Based on the distribution of official time zones including overseas territories, we can determine: ✅ United Kingdom – More than four (Total 9 Time Zones)
✅ Denmark – More than four (At least 5 Time Zones)
✅ New Zealand – More than four (Total 5 Time Zones)
✅ Australia – More than four (Total 8-9 Time Zones)
❌ Brazil – Exactly four Therefore, four out of the five countries have more than four time zones.

This question checks knowledge of countries known for major natural resources that play key roles in global markets. ✅ I. Botswana : Diamond – Correct
* Botswana is a top global producer of diamonds, vital to its economy. ✅ II. Chile : Lithium – Correct
* Chile has vast lithium reserves in the Atacama Desert and is a leading global supplier. ✅ III. Indonesia : Nickel – Correct
* Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, crucial for batteries and steel.

The question tests knowledge of European geography, particularly the correct country associations of famous regions. ❌ I. Mallorca : Italy
* Mallorca is part of Spain, not Italy. ❌ II. Normandy : Spain
* Normandy is a region in France, not Spain. ❌ III. Sardinia : France
* Sardinia belongs to Italy, not France.

This question tests knowledge of historical and administrative facts about northeastern Indian states. ✅ Pair I: Arunachal Pradesh – Correct
* Itanagar, the capital, is named after Ita Fort.
* The state has two National Parks: Namdapha and Mouling. ✅ Pair II: Nagaland – Correct
* Nagaland attained statehood via a constitutional amendment and came into being on 1 December 1963 through the State of Nagaland Act, 1962. ✅ Pair III: Tripura – Correct
* Tripura was a Part 'C' state, became a Union Territory in 1956, and was granted statehood in 1972.

✅ Statement I: Correct
Ancient rock belts on Brazil’s coast match those on Western Africa, showing geological continuity. ✅ Statement II: Correct
Gold deposits in Ghana correlate with those on the Brazil plateau, indicating a shared origin. ✅ Statement III: Correct
Gondwana sediments in India match those in Antarctica, Australia, South Africa, South America, and Madagascar, with similar fossils and environments. Correct Answer: All three statements are correct.

✅ Statement I: Correct
*Andes pass through Bolivia, forming the Altiplano plateau.* ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
*Andes do not pass through Brazil, which lies on the Brazilian Plateau.* ✅ Statement III: Correct
*Andes pass through Colombia, where they split into three mountain chains.* ✅ Statement IV: Correct
*Andes run north-south through Ecuador, shaping its geography.* ❌ Statement V: Incorrect
Paraguay lies in the interior lowlands; Andes do not pass through it. ✅ Statement VI: Correct
*The Venezuelan Andes extend into western Venezuela (Cordillera de Mérida).* Correct Answer: (C) Only four
✅ Andes pass through: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela
❌ Not through: Brazil, Paraguay

✅ Statement I: Correct
Chalk is permeable (water passes easily); clay is impermeable (water passes poorly). ✅ Statement II: Correct
Chalk is porous, with many small holes that hold water, making it permeable. ❌ Statement III: Incorrect
Clay is porous but with very tiny pores that restrict water flow; it is impermeable but not non-porous. Correct Answer: Only Statements I and II are correct; Statement II explains Statement I.

❌ Statement I: Incorrect
*Lake Tanganyika lies south of the Equator, in Tanzania, DRC, Burundi, and Zambia.* ❌ Statement II: Incorrect
*Lake Tonlé Sap is in Cambodia, well north of the Equator.* ❌ Statement III: Incorrect
*Patos Lagoon is in southern Brazil, far south of the Equator.* Correct Answer: (D) None
The Equator does not pass through any of the three water bodies listed.