2010 General Studies, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies

Question 109: Geography

If there were no Himalayan ranges, what would have been the most likely geographical impact on India ?

  1. 1.Much of the country would experience the cold waves from Siberia.
  2. 2.Indo-gangetic plain would be devoid of such extensive alluvial soils.
  3. 3.The pattern of monsoon would be different from what it is at present.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

a1 only
b1 and 3 only
c2 and 3 only
d1, 2 and 3

AnswerThe answer is (d).

Without the Himalayas, cold dry winds from Siberia would sweep into the subcontinent, so statement 1 holds. The rivers that deposit the Indo-Gangetic alluvium rise in the Himalayas; without the mountains there would be no such extensive alluvial plain, so statement 2 holds. The Himalayas also block and divert the monsoon winds, causing heavy rain on the southern slopes, so the monsoon pattern would be very different and statement 3 holds. All three follow.

  • 1. The Himalayas block cold air from Siberia.
  • 2. Himalayan rivers built the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain.
  • 3. The mountains shape the path and rainfall of the monsoon.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 1 out.

    What you needed to know: The Himalayas block cold air from Siberia.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) and (b) go: each of them leaves 2 out.

    What you needed to know: Himalayan rivers built the Indo-Gangetic alluvial plain.

Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statement 3.

This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.

Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.

Why each option is right or wrong
  • (a) Leaves out statements 2 and 3, which also follow.
  • (b) Leaves out statement 2: the alluvial plain depends on Himalayan rivers.
  • (c) Leaves out statement 1: the Himalayas block Siberian cold waves.
  • (d) Right: all three effects follow.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.