Prelims · Geography · 10 questions

Population, settlement & transport

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UPSC syllabus: “Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.” See the full syllabus →

Prelims 2017 · Q49

Medium

If you travel by road from Kohima to Kottayam, what is the minimum number of States within India through which you can travel, including the origin and the destination?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) 7

The shortest chain of neighbouring States from Kohima (Nagaland) to Kottayam (Kerala) has seven States: Nagaland, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Each State in this chain shares a border with the next.

✓ (b) Nagaland borders Assam on the west, and Assam has a boundary with West Bengal. West Bengal has Odisha to its south, Andhra Pradesh lies south of Odisha, Tamil Nadu is on Andhra Pradesh's southern border, and Kerala is on Tamil Nadu's west. That is 7 States.
✗ (a) Six is not possible. Odisha does not touch Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or Kerala, so a route must pass through Andhra Pradesh and then one of Tamil Nadu or Karnataka before reaching Kerala.
✗ (c) Eight would come from a longer route, for example adding Jharkhand or going through both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The question asks for the minimum.

Remember · Kohima to Kottayam by road, shortest State chain: Nagaland, Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu (or Karnataka), Kerala = 7.

Sources

Nagaland, Know India (Government of India portal, Internet Archive copy) ↗ “It is bounded by Myanmar on the East, Arunachal Pradesh on the North, Assam on the West, and Manipur on the South.”
Boundaries of Assam, Directorate of Border Protection and Development, Government of Assam ↗ “Assam-Manipur - 204.1 Km Assam-Mizoram - 164.6 Km Assam-Tripura - 46.3 Km Assam-Meghalaya - 884.9 Km Assam-West Bengal - 127.0 Km”
West Bengal, Know India (Government of India portal, Internet Archive copy) ↗ “On the west are the States of Bihar and Jharkhand, while on the South lies Odisha and the Bay of Bengal washes its southern frontiers.”
Andhra Pradesh, Know India (Government of India portal, 2016 Internet Archive copy) ↗ “Andhra Pradesh is bound on the north by Odisha and Chhattisgarh, on the west by Maharashtra and Karnataka, on the south by Tamil Nadu”
Tamil Nadu, Know India (Government of India portal, Internet Archive copy) ↗ “Tamil Nadu is bounded on north by Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka on west by Kerala, on east by the Bay of Bengal and on South by the Indian Ocean.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

Prelims 2017 · Q60

Medium

With reference to the role of UN-Habitat in the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future, which of the statements is/are correct?

1.UN-Habitat has been mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities to provide adequate shelter for all.
2.Its partners are either governments or local urban authorities only.
3.UN-Habitat contributes to the overall objective of the United Nations system to reduce poverty and to promote access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Answer & explanation

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

UN-Habitat, the UN Human Settlements Programme, is mandated by the General Assembly to promote sustainable towns and cities and works to reduce poverty and improve access to water and sanitation, so statements 1 and 3 hold. Statement 2 fails because its partners are not only governments and city authorities.

✓ 1. UN-Habitat is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities; the aim it has long stated is adequate shelter for all.
✗ 2. UN-Habitat works with a wide range of partners: political actors, civil society, professional organisations, the private sector, universities and foundations, apart from national and local governments.
✓ 3. UN-Habitat promotes urbanisation as a force for reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty, and its work on urban planning and waste management supports access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene.

Remember · UN-Habitat (Nairobi) is the UN's human settlements programme. It has a General Assembly mandate for sustainable cities and works with governments, civil society and business alike.

Sources

UN-Habitat: About Us ↗ · reference work “The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. … UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.”
UN-Habitat: Partnerships at UN-Habitat ↗ · reference work “UN-Habitat strives to establish and strengthen strategic relationships with a diverse range of partners at national, regional and international level, including political actors, civil society, professional organizations, and the private sector”
UN-Habitat: Partners (Overview) ↗ · reference work “For over forty years, UN-Habitat has served as the global leader in promoting socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements and adequate shelter for all.”

Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2017, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). Permalink ·

The same topic in Mains

Women, population, poverty & urbanisationGS 1 syllabus
Resources & industrial locationGS 1 syllabus

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