Test yourself

India: Physical Environment

Class 11 · Geography

Ch 5 · Natural Vegetation

Real UPSC Prelims questions from 2016–2026, linked to this book. Try each one first, then open the answer. 2026 answers follow UPSC's provisional answer key.

Prelims 2021 · Q60

"Leaf litter decomposes faster than in any other biome and as a result the soil surface is often almost bare. Apart from trees, the vegetation is largely composed of plant forms that reach up into the canopy vicariously, by climbing the trees or growing as epiphytes, rooted on the upper branches of trees." This is the most likely description of

(a)coniferous forest
(b)dry deciduous forest
(c)mangrove forest
(d)tropical rain forest

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 11 (World Climate and Climate Change); Class 11 India: Physical Environment, Ch 5 (Natural Vegetation).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, ch 11: tropical rain forests have a dense canopy. Class 11 India: Physical Environment, ch 5: climbers are typical of evergreen forests. A description built on canopy, climbers and plants growing on tree branches fits only the rain forest. Answer (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2021), question 60 ↗

Prelims 2022 · Q25

Consider the following pairs:

Peak : Mountains

1.Namcha Barwa — Garhwal Himalaya
2.Nanda Devi — Kumaon Himalaya
3.Nokrek — Sikkim Himalaya

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a)1 and 2
(b)2 only
(c)1 and 3
(d)3 only

Show answer

UPSC's answer: (b)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 India: Physical Environment, Ch 3 (Drainage System); Class 11 India: Physical Environment, Ch 5 (Natural Vegetation).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 11 India: Physical Environment, ch 3, places Namcha Barwa where the Brahmaputra bends round the eastern Himalaya, far from Garhwal, so pair 1 is wrong. Ch 5 lists the Nokrek biosphere reserve in Meghalaya, not Sikkim, so pair 3 is wrong. That leaves (b).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2022), question 25 ↗

Prelims 2026 · Q23

Which of the following best explain(s) the rationale for protecting mangrove ecosystems in the context of climate resilience?

1.Mangroves reduce tidal energy and store freshwater, making them ideal sites for paddy cultivation in saline estuarine belts.
2.Their salt-sensitive roots filter seawater, making mangroves key to converting coastal land into freshwater aquaculture zones.
3.By withstanding tidal surges and offering biomass resources, mangroves function both as natural bio-shields and livelihood bases for rural communities.

Select the answer using the code given below:

(a)1 only
(b)1 and 2
(c)2 and 3
(d)3 only

Show answer

UPSC's provisional answer: (d)

NCERT answers it: Class 11 India: Physical Environment, Ch 5 (Natural Vegetation); Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, Ch 6 (Landforms and their Evolution); Class 9 Exploration, Ch 12 (Patterns in Life: Diversity and Classification).

How to solve it with NCERT: Class 11 India: Physical Environment, ch 5: mangroves grow in salt marshes, tidal creeks and estuaries, so they are neither salt-sensitive nor freshwater stores (1, 2 false). Class 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography, ch 6: mangroves absorb storm and tsunami waves (3). Answer (d).

Hindi version: UPSC's official question paper (2026), question 23 ↗

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