2025 GS Paper I, all questions

UPSC Prelims 2025 · GS Paper I

Question 77: Geography

Consider the following statements :

  1. IAnadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometers from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days.
  2. IIWhen it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

aI only
bII only
cBoth I and II
dNeither I nor II

AnswerThe answer is (a).

Anadyr in Russia's far east and Nome in Alaska lie on opposite sides of the International Date Line, near the Bering Strait. Anadyr is about 21 hours ahead of Nome, so when people sit down to breakfast in each place it is a different calendar day: Anadyr is a day ahead. Statement I is correct. Statement II reverses the direction: when it is Monday in Anadyr, it is still Sunday in Nome, and when it is Tuesday in Anadyr it is Monday in Nome. Statement II is wrong.

  • I. The date line separates them, so breakfast falls on different days.
  • II. Anadyr is ahead of Nome, so Monday in Anadyr is still Sunday in Nome.

How you could have got this

  1. If you were sure statement I is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves I out.

    What you needed to know: The date line separates them, so breakfast falls on different days.

  2. Then, if you were sure statement II is not correct, (c) goes: it includes II.

    What you needed to know: Anadyr is ahead of Nome, so Monday in Anadyr is still Sunday in Nome.

Only (a) is left. This one needs every statement.

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) Right: they lie across the date line, so mornings fall on different days; the day order in II is reversed.
  • (b) Wrong: II reverses the direction, since Anadyr is ahead of Nome.
  • (c) Wrong: Statement II is incorrect.
  • (d) Wrong: Statement I is correct.

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.