Explanation: Panthalassa. Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras. Panama is a narrow land bridge, or isthmus, connecting North and South America.

Explanation: North. India shares its Land border with seven countries- Afghanistan and Pakistan to the north-west, China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north, Myanmar to the far East and Bangladesh to the east. Sri Lanka (from south-east) and Maldives (from south-west) are two countries with water borders.

Explanation: Manipur. Nepal (1751 km – Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim).

Explanation: Bangladesh. Sunderban forest is a part of the world’s largest delta and home to the largest mangrove forests. It is the only mangrove habitat in the world for Panthera tigris species.

Explanation: One. The Indian subcontinent is a geographical region that includes India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

Explanation: Kabul. Other countries and their capital: Bangladesh (Dhaka), Bhutan (Thimphu), China (Beijing), Myanmar (Naypyidaw), Nepal (Kathmandu), Pakistan (Islamabad), and Sri Lanka – Colombo (Legislative capital) & Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (Judicial capital).

Explanation: Taka. Capital of Bangladesh – Dhaka, Independence declared – 26 March 1971. Countries (Currency) – Afghanistan (Afghani), Bhutan (Ngultrum), Maldives (Rufiyaa), Myanmar (Kyat), Nepal (Nepalese rupee), Pakistan (Pakistani rupee), China (Chinese Yuan).

Explanation: 3. The Indian Military has divided the LAC (Line of Actual Control) into 3 sectors – Western sector across Ladakh and the Chinese-held Aksai Chin, The central sector across Himachal Pradesh and Uttrakhand states, and the eastern sector across Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh states.

Explanation: Daojali Hading. It is the first stratified neolithic site discovered in Northeast India in the state of Assam.

Explanation: Durand Line. The Radcliffe line separates India and Pakistan (It also separates India and Bangladesh). The McMahon line (Henry McMahon) separates Arunachal Pradesh of India and Tibet of China.

Explanation: Indus. This Treaty allocates the Western Rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) to Pakistan and the Eastern Rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) to India.

Explanation: Karakoram Pass. The Khyber Pass is a mountain pass in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan, on the border with Afghanistan. Pangsau Pass lies on the crest of the Patkai Hills on the India–Myanmar border. Zojila Pass is the strategic link connecting Ladakh to Srinagar and the rest of India.

Explanation: 1505. Sri Lanka got independence on February 4, 1948 and became a Republic on 22 May 1972.

Explanation: Buddhism. On 4 January 1948, Myanmar became an independent republic.

Explanation: Gangkhar Puensum (7,570 meters). Other Mountains of Bhutan : Kula Kangri (7538 m), Jomolhari. Bhutan : Capital – Thimphu, Currency – Ngultrum.

Explanation: Shandur. The polo tournament is played between the teams of Gilgit District and Chitral District, under freestyle rules. The Shandur Polo Festival is held annually in July.

Explanation: A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3. Chambal river : Origin – Singar Chouri peak in the northern slopes of the Vindhya mountains (Indore, Madhya Pradesh). Tributaries – Banas, Kali Sindh, Parbati.Godavari (Dakshin Ganga) : Largest Peninsular River in India. Tributaries – Pravara, Purna, Manjra, Penganga, Wardha, Wainganga, Pranhita, Indravati, Maner and the Sabri. Brahmaputra : Origin – Kailash ranges of Himalayas. It enters India’s Arunachal Pradesh and flows through Assam and Bangladesh before it joins the Bay of Bengal.

Explanation: Gandak. It comprises two streams, namely Kaligandak and Trishulganga. It rises in the Nepal Himalayas between the Dhaulagiri and Mount Everest.

Explanation: Godavari River (Dakshin Ganga) – Second longest river in India after the Ganges River. Origin – Trimbakeshwar near Nashik in Maharashtra. It has Largest Peninsular River system and falls into the Bay of Bengal.

Explanation: Ganga. The tributaries and their location where they meet Ganga: Gomti river – Near Saidpur, Kaithi. Ghagra – Chhapra, Bihar. Gandak – Sonpur, Patna. Kosi – Katihar, Bihar.

Explanation: Indus (Sindhu): It originates from a glacier near Bokhar Chu. Its other tributaries – Shyok, Gilgit, Zaskar, Hunza. The Panjnad is the name of five rivers of Punjab, namely Satluj, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum. It falls into the Arabian Sea, east of Karachi.

Explanation: Bangladesh. Farakka water -sharing treaty – It was signed by then PM H. D. Deve Gowda (India) and PM Sheikh Hasina Wajed (Bangladesh). India’s treaty with its Neighbours: Nepal Treaty – Mahakali treaty (1996), and Pakistan – Indus Waters Treaty (1960).

Explanation: Yamuna is the second-largest tributary river of the Ganges by discharge and the longest tributary in India, originating from the Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarakhand). Other tributaries (Yamuna) – Chambal, Betwa, Ken, Giri, Sind, Uttangan, Sengar and Rind. Tributaries of other rivers : Mahanadi – Seonath, Jonk, Hasdeo, Mand, Ong and Tel. Kaveri – Harangi, Hemavati, Lakshmana Tirtha, Amaravathi. Tapi – Vaki, Gomai, Arunavati.

Explanation: Mettur dam: Built on Kaveri river and located at Mettur, Salem District (Tamil Nadu). Gandhi Sagar dam – Built on Chambal River and located in the Mandsaur district (Madhya Pradesh). Tilaiya dam – Constructed by Damodar Valley Corporation across Barakar River, in Koderma district (Jharkhand). Rihand dam (Uttar Pradesh) – Constructed on the Rihand River and also known as Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar.

Explanation: Brahmani river (second largest river in Odisha): It is formed by the confluence of the Shankh and Koel rivers, both join at Veda Vyasa near Rourkela (Odisha). Baitarani: It originates from Gonasika hills and drains into the Bay of Bengal. Nagavali (also known as Langulya): It rises in the Eastern Ghats. Sarada: Originated from Kalapani in the Himalayas and flows along Nepal’s western border with India and joins Ghaghra River (tributary of the Ganges).

Explanation: Ports in India: West Coast – Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru (Maharashtra), New Mangalore (Karnataka). East Coast – V. O. Chidambaranar formerly Tuticorin, Ennore, Chennai Port (Tamil Nadu), Paradip (Orissa), Kolkata, Haldia (West Bengal), Port Blair, Haddo (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

Explanation: Mahanadi Valley. Eastern Ghat marks the eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau. Average elevation is 600 – 610 meters. It is discontinuous and irregular and dissected by rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal. Mahendragiri (1,501 metres) is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats. Shevroy hills and the Javadi hills are located to the southeast of the Eastern Ghats.

Explanation: Aquifers : A body of porous rock or sediment saturated with groundwater that helps in store and retain groundwater levels in the soil. Types of Aquifers (two types) – ‘Confined aquifers’ have a layer of impenetrable rock or clay above them. ‘Unconfined aquifers’ lie below a permeable layer of soil.

Explanation: Centripetal. Radial drainage pattern: When the rivers originate from a hill and flow in all directions. Example – Narmada. Trellis Drainage Pattern: This pattern develops in folded topography where hard and soft rocks exist parallel to each other. Example – The rivers in the upper part of the Himalayan region Indus, Ganga. Dendritic Drainage Pattern : Most common form and resembles the branching pattern of tree roots. Example – The rivers of the northern plains, Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra.

Explanation: 1-b, 2-a, 3-c. Ports in India with states : Cochin Port – Kerala, New Mangalore Port – Karnataka, Mormugao Port – Goa, Jawaharlal Nehru Port – Maharashtra, Kandla Port – Gujarat, Port Blair Port – Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Paradip Port – Orissa, Kamarajar Port – Tamil Nadu.

Explanation: Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. Dihang River – The Brahmaputra rises in Tibet, where it is known as Tsangpo and crosses over into India in Arunachal Pradesh under the name of Dihang. Lohit River – It originates in eastern Tibet, in the Zayal Chu range and surges through Arunachal Pradesh for 200 km, before emptying into the Brahmaputra river in the plains of Assam.

Explanation: Brahmaputra – The river originates from the Kailash ranges of Himalayas in Tibet which is a very cold and dry area, thus, the river carries very small amounts of water but once it enters India, the river is fed by heavy rains and due to frequent floods and poor drainage system in North east the river has very low storage capacity of usable water. River Ganga has the highest storage capacity of usable water followed by Godavari and Krishna river

Explanation: The Brahmaputra river. It is known by the name of ‘Dihang’ in Arunachal Pradesh and ‘Jamuna’ in Bangladesh. The combined water stream of Ganga and Brahmaputra is known as the Meghna. Brahmaputra traverses a distance of 2,900 km through four countries – Tibet (China), Bhutan, India and Bangladesh before entering the Bay of Bengal. Tributaries : Subansiri, Ronganadi, Dikrong, Buroi, Borgong, Jia Bharali, Dhansiri (North) Puthimari, Manas, Sonkosh.

Explanation: Chilika – It is the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia and the second-largest coastal lagoon in the world. Superior Lake – world’s largest freshwater lake located on the Canada-US border. Titicaca – Largest freshwater lake in South America. Malawi – African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the East African Rift System, located between Malawi, Tanzania and Mozambique.

Explanation: Himachal Pradesh. Bhakra Dam is a concrete gravity dam across the Sutlej River in Bilaspur. Other dams in Himachal Pradesh: Chamera Dam (Ravi), Kol Dam and Nathpa Jhakri (Satluj), Pandoh Dam, Largi Dam and Pong Dam (Beas).

Explanation: ) Konkan coast. The western coast, sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, is a narrow plain. It consists of three sections. The northern part of the coast is called the Konkan (Mumbai – Goa), the central stretch is called the Kannad Plain, while the southern stretch is referred to as the Malabar coast. The plains along the Bay of Bengal are wide and level. In the northern part, it is referred to as the Northern Circar, while the southern part is known as the Coromandel Coast.

Explanation: Narmada (1312 km): Origin – Amarkantak (Madhya pradesh). It traverses Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat and meets the Gulf of Cambay. West Flowing Rivers: Tapi, Sabarmati, Mahi, Luni, Saravati, Periyar. Kaveri (Origin – Brahmagiri Range, Karnataka), Godavari (Origin – Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra) and Krishna (Origin – Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra) are east Flowing Rivers.

Explanation: Western Ghats (Also known as sahyadri hills). Western coast receives more rainfall in summer because Western Ghats Obstructs the South west monsoon. It resulted in Heavy Rainfall along the Windward side of Western Ghats (West coast) and less rainfall on the Eastern side of Western Ghats.

Explanation: Kandla (Also known as deendayal port). It is Located on the Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat). It was constructed in the 1950’s as the chief seaport serving western India, after the partition of India from Pakistan left the Karachi port in Pakistan.

Explanation: Ponnani. West flowing rivers (Kerala) : Periyar River, Pamba, Chaliyar, Chalakudy, Kadalundy, Achankoil, Kallada, Muvattupuzha, Valapattanam etc.

Explanation: Kaveri river basin falls in 3 States (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala) and a Union Territory (Puducherry). It originates in the foothills of Western Ghats at Talakaveri. Tributaries – Shimsha, Hemavati, Bhavani, Lokapavani.

Explanation: Sharavati – It originates at a place called Ambutheertha in the Thirthahalli taluk (Karnataka). Tungabhadra River is formed by the confluence of the Tunga River and the Bhadra River, The two rivers originate in Mudigere Taluk of Chikmagalur District (Karnataka). Cauvery River rises at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Kodagu district (Karnataka).

Explanation: Tapi River – It flows through the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat. The river originates in the Satpura Mountains in Madhya Pradesh and flows westwards before emptying into the Arabian Sea.

Explanation: Shimsha River (a tributary of the river Kaveri). Shimsha has a waterfall at Shimshapura in Malavalli Taluk (Mandya district, Karnataka). Devarayanadurga is a small hill station located in the Indian state of Karnataka. Girna River – It originates near Kem Peak in western ghats of Maharashtra and is a tributary of Tapti river. Ghataprabha River – Right bank tributary of the Krishna River. Waghur River – Its source is near Ajanta through the Khandesh region.

Explanation: Milam Glacier. Indian Rivers originate from Glaciers: Ganges – Gangotri Glacier (Uttarakhand). Indus – Bokhar Chu Glacier (Himalayas). Brahmaputra – Angsi Glacier (Tibet). Yamuna – Yamunotri Glacier (Uttarakhand). Chenab – Bara-lacha la Glacier (Himachal Pradesh). Ghaghara – Mapchachungo Glacier (Himalayas of Nepal). Mandakini River – Chorabari Glacier (Uttarakhand). Lidder River – Kolahoi Glacier (Himalayas). Pushpawati – Tipra Glacier. Ram Ganga – Namik glacier. Kafni River – Kafni Glacier.

Explanation: Vembanad lake : Length – 83.72 km. Located – Kerala. It is connected to the Arabian Sea. The lake is known for its backwaters (a network of canals and waterways). Kanjia Lake – Odisha. Ansupa Lake – Odisha. Wular Lake – Jammu and Kashmir. It is the largest freshwater lake in India. Smallest lake – Pookode Lake.

Explanation: Tapi. Rift valley : It is a lowland region that forms where Earth’s tectonic plates move apart. Famous rift valleys – Great Rift Valley (East Africa), East Rift Valley or Hualien – Taitung (Taiwan), Baikal Rift Valley (Southern Siberia). Sabarmati River : Originates from the Dhebar Lake in Aravalli range at Udaipur, Rajasthan.

Explanation: Beas. Ancient name – Bipasha. Tributaries of the Beas river : Parbati, Banganga, Tirthan, Suketi, Sainj, Gaj, Chakki and Uhaul.

Explanation: Subansiri. Tributaries: Ronganadi, Dikrong, Buroi, Borgong, Jiabharali, Dhansiri (North), Puthimari, Manas, Beki, Sonkosh are the main tributaries on the North while the Noadehing, Buridehing, Desang, Dikhow, Bhogdoi, Dhansiri (South), Kopilli, Kulsi, Krishnai, Dhdhnoi, Jinjiran are the main tributaries on the South.

Explanation: Cataract. Types of Waterfalls: Horsetail – Descending water maintains some contact with bedrock. Plunge – Water descends vertically, losing contact with the bedrock surface. Block – Water descends from a relatively wide stream or river. Multi-step – A series of waterfalls one after another of roughly the same size each with its own sunken plunge pool. Segmented – Distinctly separate flows of water form as it descends. Cascade – Water descends a series of rock steps. Punchbowl – Water descends in a constricted form and then spreads out in a wider pool.