World: places, rivers & mapping

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.

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 · Report an error

Answer: (c) 3 and 4 only

Only Lebanon and Syria, of the four West Asian countries listed, have a Mediterranean coastline. Jordan and Iraq have no Mediterranean coast: Jordan's short coast is on the Gulf of Aqaba and Iraq's on the Persian Gulf.

• ✗ 1. Jordan has about 26 km of coast, all on the Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea side), where Aqaba is its only port. It does not touch the Mediterranean.
• ✗ 2. Iraq's small coastline of about 58 km lies at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, far from the Mediterranean.
• ✓ 3. Lebanon is on the eastern Mediterranean shore and is a Contracting Party to the Barcelona Convention, which covers the Mediterranean's coastal states.
• ✓ 4. Syria also has a western coast on the Mediterranean and is likewise a Contracting Party to the Barcelona Convention.

Remember · Eastern Mediterranean coast, north to south: Türkiye, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, then Egypt. Jordan and Iraq are not on it.

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 · Report an error

Answer: (c) India will not depend on Pakistan for access to Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Chabahar, a port on Iran's southern coast, gives India a sea-and-land route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that does not pass through Pakistan. Pakistan does not allow Indian goods to move overland through its territory to Afghanistan and beyond, which is why this route matters.

• ✓ (c) Chabahar is described as a gateway for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asian countries. It is a sea route through Iran, so India need not rely on Pakistan for land transit.
• ✗ (a) Chabahar is on the Gulf of Oman side of Iran and is meant for links with Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Trade with Africa is not its purpose.
• ✗ (b) Iran is not an Arab country, and the project is about transit connectivity, not about ties with Arab oil producers.
• ✗ (d) Chabahar is a port project. It involves no gas pipeline between Iraq and India, and Pakistan is not a party to it.

Remember · Chabahar (Iran) is India's route to Afghanistan and Central Asia that avoids Pakistan, and links to the International North-South Transport Corridor.

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 · Report an error

Answer: (a) Sumatra

Sumatra (Indonesia) is the closest. Indira Point, the southern tip of Great Nicobar and the southernmost point of India, is only about 140 km from Sumatra. Java, Borneo and Sri Lanka lie much farther away.

• ✓ (a) The Andaman and Nicobar Administration puts Indira Point barely 140 km from Sumatra; its geography note gives about 91 geographical (nautical) miles to Achin Head in Sumatra.
• ✗ (d) Sri Lanka lies across the Bay of Bengal to the west, much farther from Great Nicobar than Sumatra is.
• ✗ (c) Java lies south-east of Sumatra, so it is farther from Great Nicobar than Sumatra is.
• ✗ (b) Borneo lies far to the east of Sumatra, so it is also farther from Great Nicobar.

Remember · Great Nicobar (Indira Point, India's southernmost point) lies only about 140 km from Sumatra, Indonesia.

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 · Report an error