Geography – True/False – GK Questions

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of Earth, comprising the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. It is broken into tectonic plates that move over the softer asthenosphere. Lithospheric movements cause earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building.

The Satpura Range runs parallel to the Vindhya Range to its south, separated by the Narmada River valley. Both are ancient block mountains in central India. The Satpuras extend through Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean (via Caribbean Sea) to the Pacific Ocean, cutting through the Isthmus of Panama. Opened in 1914, it saves ships from navigating around South America. It was expanded in 2016 to accommodate larger vessels.

India is the largest producer of bananas in the world, contributing about 30% of global production. Major banana-growing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh. India grows diverse varieties including Cavendish, Robusta, and Nendran.

The Arabian Sea is located to the west of India, forming part of the northern Indian Ocean. It is bounded by India, Pakistan, Iran, Oman, Yemen, and Somalia. Major Indian ports on the Arabian Sea include Mumbai, Kochi, and Mangalore.

The Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho) is the boundary between Earth's crust and mantle, discovered by Andrija Mohorovičić in 1909. It is marked by a sudden increase in seismic wave velocity. Depth varies from 5-10 km under oceans to 30-50 km under continents.

The Palakkad Gap (or Palghat Gap) is a low mountain pass in the Western Ghats connecting Kerala and Tamil Nadu. It is about 30 km wide and allows Southwest Monsoon winds to pass into Tamil Nadu. It is a vital transportation corridor.

The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Spain (Europe) from Morocco (Africa). The strait is about 13 km wide at its narrowest point and is a critical shipping route.

India is the largest producer, consumer, and exporter of spices in the world. Major spices include chili, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and black pepper. The Spices Board of India promotes quality and exports. India produces about 75 of the 109 ISO-listed spices.

As of 2026, India has 28 states and 8 union territories. The last reorganization was in 2019 when Jammu & Kashmir was bifurcated into two union territories: J&K and Ladakh. Delhi and Puducherry have legislative assemblies among UTs.

The Earth's core is primarily composed of iron (about 85%) and nickel (about 10%), with lighter elements like sulfur and oxygen. The outer core is liquid, generating Earth's magnetic field through convection. The inner core is solid due to extreme pressure.

The Cardamom Hills are part of the southern Western Ghats, located in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. They are named after the cardamom spice grown there. The hills are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five oceans, covering about 14 million sq km. It is located around the North Pole and is largely covered by sea ice. It is surrounded by Eurasia and North America.

India is the second-largest producer of wheat in the world after China, producing about 110 million tonnes annually. Major wheat-producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana. Wheat is a staple Rabi crop in North India.

The Himalayas are young fold mountains formed about 50 million years ago by the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate. They are still rising at about 5 mm per year. In contrast, the Aravallis are among the world's oldest fold mountains.

Laterite soil is rich in iron and aluminum oxides, giving it a reddish color. It forms in hot, wet tropical areas with heavy rainfall that leaches silica. Found in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. It is suitable for plantation crops like tea, coffee, and cashew.

The troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere (up to 8-15 km), contains about 75-80% of the atmosphere's mass and almost all water vapor. All weather phenomena occur in this layer. Temperature decreases with altitude at about 6.5°C per km.

The Equator passes through 13 countries: Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, São Tomé & Príncipe, Gabon, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Somalia, Maldives, Indonesia, and Kiribati. It divides Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

The retreating monsoon (October-November) occurs when the Southwest Monsoon withdraws from India. This season brings rainfall to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. It is also known as the Northeast Monsoon in these regions.

The Prime Meridian (0° longitude) passes through the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It serves as the reference line for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and divides the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.