2025 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 22: Geography

Consider the following countries :

  1. IBolivia
  2. IIBrazil
  3. IIIColombia
  4. IVEcuador
  5. VParaguay
  6. VIVenezuela

Andes mountains pass through how many of the above countries?

aOnly two
bOnly three
cOnly four
dOnly five

AnswerThe answer is (c).

The Andes run along the western edge of South America through seven countries: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. From the list given, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela are crossed by the range, which makes four. Brazil and Paraguay lie east of the mountains, on the Amazon basin, the Brazilian plateau and the Chaco plains. Remember: the seven Andean countries; Brazil and Paraguay are not among them.

  • I. The Andes cross Bolivia.
  • II. Brazil lies east of the Andes.
  • III. The Andes cross Colombia.
  • IV. The Andes cross Ecuador.
  • V. Paraguay lies east of the Andes.
  • VI. The Andes reach northern Venezuela.

How you could have got this

No shortcut here: in a “how many” question, ruling out options doesn’t help. Every statement has to be judged.

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) Wrong: four listed countries have the Andes.
  • (b) Wrong: Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador are all crossed, so three undercounts.
  • (c) Right: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela have the Andes.
  • (d) Wrong: Brazil and Paraguay have no Andes, so five overcounts.

Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2025, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.