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Home » UPSC Prelims Quiz » UPSC Prelims Quiz: September 22, 2025

UPSC Prelims Quiz: September 22, 2025

Q1. With reference to the Fishing Cat, consider the following statements:

1. It is mainly found in mangrove forests.

2. It is not an adept swimmer.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)

1 only

(b)

2 only

(c)

Both 1 and 2

(d)

Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: In India, fishing cats are primarily found in the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, though they also occur along river valleys and in parts of the Western Ghats.

Statement 2 – Incorrect: The species is an excellent swimmer, capable of diving and catching fish in water. Its name reflects this unique adaptation.

Answer: (a) 1 only
Q2. Consider the following statements regarding tropical forests:

1. The world’s largest expanse of tropical forest is found in the Amazon Basin.

2. Brazil holds the largest share of tropical forests globally.

3. The Democratic Republic of Congo possesses the third-largest expanse of tropical forests in the world.

4. Indonesia accounted for the largest share of tropical forest loss in recent years.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

1, 2 and 3 only

(c)

1, 2 and 4 only

(d)

1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: The Amazon Basin contains the largest expanse of tropical forest in the world.

Statement 2 – Correct: Brazil holds the largest share of tropical forests globally.

Statement 3 – Incorrect: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has the second-largest tropical forest area, not the third. Indonesia holds the third-largest extent.

Statement 4 – Incorrect: Brazil, not Indonesia, accounted for the largest share of tropical forest loss in recent years, primarily due to Amazon deforestation.

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Q3. With reference to the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), consider the following statements:

1. It is a global initiative led by the Government of Brazil and was first proposed at COP28 in 2023.

2. It aims to mobilize about US$125 billion through a blended finance structure from both public and private sources.

3. The Facility intends to provide tropical forest countries with payments linked to the extent of standing forests conserved.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

2 and 3 only

(c)

1 and 3 only

(d)

1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: The TFFF is indeed a Brazil-led initiative, first presented at COP28 (UAE, 2023).

Statement 2 – Correct: It seeks to raise US$125 billion using a blended finance structure combining public and private sources.

Statement 3 – Correct: The model provides fixed payments per hectare of standing forest to tropical forest countries, incentivizing long-term forest conservation.

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Q4. Consider the following statements regarding Barren Island:

1. It is a volcanic island located in the Andaman Sea.

2. It is the only active volcano in the Indian subcontinent.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)

1 only

(b)

2 only

(c)

Both 1 and 2

(d)

Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: Barren Island is indeed a volcanic island in the Andaman Sea, located about 138 km northeast of Port Blair, within the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Statement 2 – Correct: It is the only active volcano in the Indian subcontinent and the only active one along the volcanic arc stretching from Sumatra to Myanmar.

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Q5. Consider the following statements regarding Paradip Port:

1. It has an artificial lagoon-type harbour protected by two breakwaters.

2. Crude for Paradip refinery is received through offshore Single Point Moorings (SPMs).

3. It is located near the mouth of the Mahanadi river.

4. In 2024–25, it crossed 200 MMT cargo to retain the top rank among Indian ports.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)

1 and 2 only

(b)

1, 3 and 4 only

(c)

1, 2 and 3 only

(d)

2 and 4 only

Explanation

S1 – Correct: Paradip has an artificial lagoon harbour with two rubble-mound breakwaters.

S2 – Correct: IOCL refinery crude is unloaded via three offshore SPMs (~25 km away).

S3 – Correct: The port is near the Mahanadi mouth, strategically placed between Kolkata and Visakhapatnam.

S4 – Incorrect: Paradip handled 150.41 MMT in 2024–25, not 200 MMT, though it retained the No. 1 rank among major ports.

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3 only
Q6. Consider the following statements about Morocco:

1. Mount Kilimanjaro is its highest point.

2. It is the only African country with coasts on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

3. The Sebou is its largest river.

4. The camel is its national animal.

How many of the above statements are correct?

(a)

One only

(b)

Two only

(c)

Three only

(d)

All four

Explanation

Statement 1 – Incorrect: Mount Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania and is the highest peak in Africa. The highest point in Morocco is Jebel Toubkal in the Atlas Mountains.

Statement 2 – Correct: Morocco is the only African country with coasts on both the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Statement 3 – Incorrect: The Sebou is not the largest river. The Draa River, at 1,100 kilometers long, is Morocco’s longest river.

Statement 4 – Incorrect: The camel is not the national animal. The national animal of Morocco is the Barbary lion, though it is now extinct in the wild.

Answer: (a) One only
Q7. Consider the following pairs:

1. Dibang River — flows through Upper Dibang Valley in Arunachal Pradesh

2. Namdapha National Park — located on the bank of the Siang River

3. Kameng River — forms a natural border between Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar

4. Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary — situated on the west bank of Siyom River

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

(a)

Only one

(b)

Only two

(c)

Only three

(d)

All four

Explanation

Pair 1 – Correct: The Dibang River originates near Keya Pass in the Upper Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh and flows through the Upper Dibang Valley and Lower Dibang Valley districts.

Pair 2 – Incorrect: Namdapha National Park is located between the Dapha Bum range of the Mishmi Hills and the Patkai range. The Noa Dihing River flows through the park.

Pair 3 – Incorrect: The Kameng River originates on the India–Tibet border and flows through West Kameng District (Arunachal Pradesh) and Sonitpur District (Assam). It does not form an international border.

Pair 4 – Incorrect: Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary is located around the valley of the Dri River, not the Siyom River.

Answer: (a) Only one
Q8. Consider the following statements:

1. The Baltic Sea is geologically younger than the Atlantic Ocean.

2. Chilika Lake is the world’s largest brackish water body by area.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)

1 only

(b)

2 only

(c)

Both 1 and 2

(d)

Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (a) 1 only

Explanation

Statement 1 – Correct: The Atlantic Ocean basin is ~150–180 million years old, while the Baltic Sea formed only 10,000–15,000 years ago after the last Ice Age. Hence, the Baltic Sea is geologically much younger.

Statement 2 – Incorrect: Chilika is Asia’s largest brackish lagoon but not the largest in the world. The Baltic Sea (~377,000 sq. km) is the largest inland brackish water body globally.

Thus, the correct answer is 1 only.

Answer: (a) 1 only
Q9. Match List I (Brackish Water Lakes in India) with List II (Notable Features) and select the correct code:
List I (Lakes)List II (Features)
A. Chilika Lake1. Longest lake in India, known for backwaters and bird sanctuary
B. Pulicat Lake2. Largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, Ramsar Site
C. Vembanad Lake3. Second largest brackish water lake in India, famous for flamingo habitat
D. Ashtamudi Lake4. Second largest lake in Kerala, rich in biodiversity

Codes:

(a)

A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4

(b)

A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1

(c)

A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2

(d)

A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

Explanation

Chilika Lake → Largest brackish lagoon in Asia, Ramsar Site (2).

Pulicat Lake → Second largest brackish water lake in India, habitat for migratory flamingos (3).

Vembanad Lake → Longest and largest lake in Kerala, houseboats/backwaters (1).

Ashtamudi Lake → Second largest lake in Kerala, high biodiversity (4).

Answer: (a) A-2, B-3, C-1, D-4
Q10. Match List I (Gulfs of the Baltic Sea) with List II (Associated Locations) and select the correct answer using the codes given below:
List I (Gulfs)List II (Associated Features/Locations)
A. Gulf of Bothnia1. Connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea
B. Gulf of Finland2. Lies between Sweden and Finland
C. Gulf of Gdańsk3. Lies between Estonia and Finland, extending towards Russia
D. Kiel Canal4. Situated along Poland’s northern coast

Codes:

(a)

A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1

(b)

A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4

(c)

A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3

(d)

A-1, B-4, C-3, D-2

Explanation

A. Gulf of Bothnia — 2: Lies between Sweden and Finland. The Gulf of Bothnia is the northernmost arm of the Baltic Sea, separating Finland and Sweden.

B. Gulf of Finland — 3: Lies between Estonia and Finland, extending towards Russia. The Gulf of Finland is bordered by Finland to the north, Estonia to the south, and Russia at its eastern end.

C. Gulf of Gdańsk — 4: Situated along Poland’s northern coast. The Gulf of Gdańsk is located in the southeastern part of the Baltic Sea, along Poland’s northern coast.

D. Kiel Canal — 1: Connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. The Kiel Canal is an artificial waterway in Germany that provides a shortcut for ships, linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea.

Answer: (a) A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1