Prelims GS I · 235 questions · 2011–2026
Geography: every Prelims question, by topic
UPSC syllabus: “Indian and World Geography-Physical, Social, Economic Geography of India and the World.” Below, the topics inside it — most asked first — and how often each came up year by year.
Geography in Prelims 2024: 21 questions
All years →- Q1 · Climate & atmosphereConsider the following statements: The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation. Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbe…
- Q2 · Climate & atmosphereConsider the following statements: Thickness of the troposphere at the equator is much greater as compared to poles. At the equator, heat is transported to great heights by strong convectional current…
- Q3 · Earth, landforms & geomorphologyConsider the following: Pyroclastic debris Ash and dust Nitrogen compounds Sulphur compounds…
- Q4 · Climate & atmosphereWhich of the following is/are correct inference/inferences from isothermal maps in the month of January? The isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent. The pres…
- Q5 · Agriculture & cropsWhich of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world?…
- Q6 · India: relief, rivers & drainageWith reference to the Himalayan rivers joining the Ganga downstream of Prayagraj from West to East, which one of the following sequences is correct?…
- Q7 · Earth, landforms & geomorphologyConsider the following statements: Rainfall is one of the reasons for weathering of rocks. Rain water contains carbon dioxide in solution. Rain water contains atmospheric oxygen.…
- Q8 · World: places, rivers & mappingConsider the following countries: Finland Germany Norway Russia…
- Q9 · India: relief, rivers & drainageConsider the following information: Dhuandhar — Malwa — Narmada Hundru — Chota Nagpur — Subarnarekha Gersoppa — Western Ghats — Netravati…
- Q10 · Earth, landforms & geomorphologyConsider the following information: Central Asia — Vosges — Fold mountain Europe — Alps — Block mountain North America — Appalachians — Fold mountain South America — Andes — Fold mountain…
- Q12 · Climate & atmosphereWith reference to "water vapour", which of the following statements is/are correct? It is a gas, the amount of which decreases with altitude. Its percentage is maximum at the poles.…
- Q13 · Climate & atmosphereConsider the following description: Annual and daily range of temperatures is low. Precipitation occurs throughout the year. Precipitation varies between 50 cm – 250 cm.…
- Q14 · Climate & atmosphereWith reference to "Coriolis force", which of the following statements is/are correct? It increases with increase in wind velocity. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator.…
- Q15 · Earth, landforms & geomorphologyOn June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours? Equator Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn Arctic Circle…
- Q19 · Agriculture & cropsConsider the following plants: Groundnut Horse-gram Soybean…
- Q27 · Minerals, energy & industryConsider the following: Battery storage Biomass generators Fuel cells Rooftop solar photovoltaic units…
- Q38 · Minerals, energy & industryRecently, the term "pumped-storage hydropower" is actually and appropriately discussed in the context of which one of the following?…
- Q67 · Population, settlement & transportConsider the following countries: Italy Japan Nigeria South Korea South Africa…
- Q79 · World: places, rivers & mappingThe longest border between any two countries in the world is between:…
- Q88 · World: places, rivers & mappingConsider the following statements: Sumed pipeline is a strategic route for Persian Gulf oil and natural gas shipments to Europe. Sumed pipeline connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.…
- Q89 · OceansConsider the following statements: The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.…
Geography in UPSC Prelims at a glance
UPSC has asked 235 questions on Geography in GS Paper I from 2011 to 2026 — about 15 a year, the most in 2023 (23). The most-asked topic is Agriculture & crops (44 questions).
| Year | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questions | 14 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 11 |
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault, each question under its main subject · updated 8 Nov 2026.
- Agriculture & crops44 questions · asked in 15 of 16 years
- India: relief, rivers & drainage38 questions · asked in 15 of 16 years
- Minerals, energy & industry38 questions · asked in 14 of 16 years
- World: places, rivers & mapping37 questions · asked in 14 of 16 years
- Climate & atmosphere30 questions · asked in 13 of 16 years
- Earth, landforms & geomorphology15 questions · asked in 8 of 16 years
- Oceans13 questions · asked in 10 of 16 years
- India: climate, soils & vegetation13 questions · asked in 9 of 16 years
- Population, settlement & transport7 questions · asked in 6 of 16 years
Latest questions
- 2026 · Q11 · India: relief, rivers & drainageConsider the following assertion: In the Pleistocene period either the Yamuna once flowed into the Indus, or the Sutlej flowed into the Yamuna and one major tributary of …
- 2026 · Q25 · India: relief, rivers & drainageIdentify the river of the Indian sub-continent on the basis of the following information:…
- 2026 · Q26 · India: relief, rivers & drainageWhich of the following with reference to Indian States is/are not correct?…
- 2026 · Q30 · World: places, rivers & mappingShips from which of the following countries have to cross the Strait of Hormuz to reach out to the Indian Ocean?…
- 2026 · Q31 · World: places, rivers & mappingTungurahua Volcano, which was declared a Global Geopark by UNESCO in 2025, is situated in which one among the following countries?…
The same ground in Mains
These official Mains syllabus lines cover Geography. Prelims facts become Mains arguments.
Geography PYQs as a PDF — free
All 48 PDFs →Every Geography question from 2011 to 2026, topic-wise, with answers and explanations — 124 pages. Free; sign up once.
Geography PYQs: quick answers
How many Geography questions has UPSC asked in Prelims from 2011 to 2026?
235 questions in GS Paper I — about 15 a year, the most in 2023 (23). Every one is on this page, under its topic, with UPSC's answer and an explanation.
Which Geography topic does UPSC ask most in Prelims?
Agriculture & crops: 44 questions between 2011 and 2026, asked in 15 of 16 years. The topics are listed above, most asked first, each with its year-by-year trend.
Are the answers UPSC's official answer keys?
From 2016, yes: every answer is from UPSC's final answer key (2016–2025); for 2011–2015, where UPSC published no key online, each answer is worked out from official sources and reviewed independently; for 2026 UPSC has so far published a provisional key, and those answers are labelled. Explanations cite official sources — NCERT and government pages first.
Can I download the Geography PYQs as a PDF?
Yes — a print-ready PDF of every Geography question with answers and explanations (124 pages, 2.5 MB), free after a one-time sign-up, from the Vault's downloads page.
Counted from UPSC's own papers in the Vault; answers are UPSC's keys.
