Indian and AP Geography Essentials for AP Police GS
Free study material · concepts, shortcuts & solved questions
Why Geography Matters for the AP Police GS Paper
Geography questions in AP SI and Constable exams reward candidates who can place physical features on a mental map and connect them to practical facts — river systems and the states they irrigate, mountain ranges and the passes that cut through them, climate zones and the monsoon mechanics that govern Indian agriculture, and soil types tied to specific crops. A significant share of these questions is Andhra Pradesh-specific: examiners expect familiarity with the state's own physiography, its river systems, its coastal and interior regions, and its mineral and forest wealth, since local geography carries direct administrative and law-and-order relevance for a police officer posted anywhere from the Eastern Ghats hill tracts to the Krishna-Godavari delta. This chapter condenses India's physical geography into its testable essentials before turning to a genuine, detailed recap of Andhra Pradesh's own geography.
India: Location and Physical Divisions
India lies in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres, between latitudes 8°4' N and 37°6' N and longitudes 68°7' E and 97°25' E, with the Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N) passing through eight states — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. India is the seventh-largest country in the world by area and shares land borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, and maritime boundaries with Sri Lanka and the Maldives, among others. India's physical landscape divides into five major units: the Himalayan Mountains, the Northern Plains, the Peninsular Plateau, the Coastal Plains, and the Islands.
The Himalayas
The Himalayas form the youngest and highest mountain system in the world, a product of the collision between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates that began roughly 50 million years ago and continues today (India moves northward a few centimetres each year, making the Himalayas still rising and seismically highly active). The range runs roughly 2,400 km from the Indus gorge in the west to the Brahmaputra gorge in the east, and divides longitudinally into three parallel ranges: the Greater Himalayas (Himadri, the northernmost and highest, average height over 6,000 m, containing Mount Everest, Kanchenjunga, and other giant peaks, permanently snow-covered), the Lesser Himalayas (Himachal, average height 3,700–4,500 m, containing hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, and Darjeeling), and the Outer/Shiwalik Himalayas (the southernmost and youngest, 900–1,100 m, made of unconsolidated sediments, with longitudinal valleys called Duns between the Shiwaliks and the Lesser Himalayas — Dehradun is the best-known example). Regionally the Himalayas are also grouped as Punjab Himalayas, Kumaon Himalayas, Nepal Himalayas, and Assam Himalayas.
The Northern Plains
Formed by the alluvial deposits of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems over millions of years, the Northern Plains are among the most fertile and densely populated regions on Earth, stretching roughly 3,200 km from Punjab to Assam. They are divided into the Bhabar (a narrow belt of porous, pebbly deposits at the foothills where streams often disappear underground), the Terai (a marshy, forested belt south of the Bhabar where the underground streams resurface), the Bhangar (older alluvium, forming terraces above flood level, containing calcareous deposits called kankar), and the Khadar (newer, more fertile alluvium found in floodplains, renewed annually by flooding).
The Peninsular Plateau
India's oldest and most geologically stable landmass, composed largely of ancient crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks, the Peninsular Plateau is triangular in shape and divided by the Narmada river's rift valley into the Central Highlands (north of the Narmada, including the Malwa Plateau and Bundelkhand) and the Deccan Plateau (south of the Narmada/Satpura, sloping generally from west to east — evident from the fact that most peninsular rivers, like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, flow eastward into the Bay of Bengal). The Deccan Plateau is flanked by the Western Ghats (Sahyadri) on the west and the Eastern Ghats on the east; the Western Ghats are continuous and considerably higher (average 900–1,600 m, with peaks like Anamudi, the highest peak in Peninsular India at 2,695 m) than the discontinuous, eroded Eastern Ghats (average 600 m), and the two ranges converge at the Nilgiri Hills near the Western Ghats-Eastern Ghats junction in Tamil Nadu.
Coastal Plains and Islands
The Western Coastal Plain (between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea) is narrow and includes the Konkan coast (Maharashtra-Goa), the Karnataka coast, and the Malabar coast (Kerala, known for lagoons called kayals). The Eastern Coastal Plain (between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal) is wider and includes the Northern Circars (Odisha to northern Andhra) and the Coromandel Coast (southern Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu), and is where the major peninsular rivers — Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri — form extensive deltas, making it one of the most fertile agricultural tracts in India. India's island territories comprise the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Bay of Bengal, of volcanic/tectonic origin, including India's only active volcano on Barren Island) and the Lakshadweep Islands (Arabian Sea, coral origin, India's smallest Union Territory).
River Systems of India
Indian rivers are broadly classed as Himalayan rivers (perennial, snow-fed as well as rain-fed, forming deep gorges and extensive plains) and Peninsular rivers (largely rain-fed/seasonal, flowing over harder, older rock in shallower valleys).
| River | Origin | Outflow | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ganga | Gangotri Glacier (Gomukh), Uttarakhand | Bay of Bengal (as Padma/Meghna in Bangladesh) | Longest river in India; joined by Yamuna at Prayagraj (Allahabad), by Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi |
| Yamuna | Yamunotri Glacier, Uttarakhand | Confluence with Ganga at Prayagraj | Longest tributary of the Ganga; flows past Delhi, Agra |
| Brahmaputra | Angsi Glacier, Tibet (known there as Tsangpo) | Bay of Bengal (joins Ganga system) | Flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam; known for river islands (Majuli, world's largest river island) and severe flooding |
| Indus | Near Mansarovar Lake, Tibet | Arabian Sea (via Pakistan) | Gives India its name; Indus Waters Treaty (1960) governs sharing with Pakistan |
| Narmada | Amarkantak Plateau, Madhya Pradesh | Arabian Sea (Gulf of Khambhat) | Flows west through a rift valley; forms the traditional boundary between North and South India |
| Tapi (Tapti) | Satpura Range, Madhya Pradesh | Arabian Sea (Gulf of Khambhat) | Flows west through a rift valley parallel to the Narmada |
| Mahanadi | Chhattisgarh | Bay of Bengal | Major river of Odisha; Hirakud Dam is one of the world's longest earthen dams |
| Godavari | Trimbakeshwar, Nashik, Maharashtra | Bay of Bengal | Longest peninsular river, called "Dakshina Ganga"; flows through Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh; forms a large delta near Rajahmundry |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra | Bay of Bengal | Second-longest peninsular river; flows through Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh; delta near Vijayawada |
| Kaveri (Cauvery) | Talakaveri, Karnataka (Western Ghats) | Bay of Bengal | Flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu; subject of a long-standing water-sharing dispute; Sivasamudram Falls |
| Penna (Pennar) | Nandi Hills, Karnataka | Bay of Bengal | Flows through Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra (Nellore district) |
Climate and the Indian Monsoon
India has a tropical monsoon climate driven primarily by the seasonal reversal of winds caused by the differential heating of land and sea. The Southwest Monsoon (June to September), the principal rain-bearing season contributing roughly 75–80% of India's annual rainfall, arrives in two branches — the Arabian Sea branch (hitting the Western Ghats first, causing heavy orographic rainfall on the windward side and a rain-shadow effect on the leeward Deccan plateau) and the Bay of Bengal branch (moving up through the northeast, striking the Eastern Himalayas and curving west into the Gangetic plains) — conventionally reaching Kerala around 1 June each year and covering the whole country by mid-July. The Northeast Monsoon (October to December, also called the retreating monsoon) brings rainfall mainly to Tamil Nadu, southern Andhra Pradesh (Rayalaseema), and parts of Kerala and Karnataka, since these regions lie beyond the reach of the Southwest Monsoon's rain-bearing capacity on the eastern (leeward) side. India's climate is classified (Koppen system, broadly) into tropical (south, coastal), subtropical (Gangetic plains), and montane/alpine (Himalayan) types, with four broad seasons recognised by the India Meteorological Department: winter (December–February), summer/pre-monsoon (March–May), the southwest monsoon/rainy season (June–September), and the post-monsoon/retreating monsoon season (October–November).
Soils of India
| Soil Type | Region | Characteristics / Crops |
|---|---|---|
| Alluvial | Northern Plains, river deltas (including Godavari-Krishna delta) | Most fertile, rich in potash; ideal for rice, wheat, sugarcane |
| Black (Regur) | Deccan Trap area — Maharashtra, MP, Gujarat, parts of Telangana | Volcanic origin, retains moisture well; ideal for cotton, hence "black cotton soil" |
| Red and Yellow | Peninsular plateau margins, including much of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana | Formed on crystalline rocks, low in nitrogen and humus; suited to millets, groundnut, pulses with irrigation and fertiliser support |
| Laterite | High rainfall plateau areas — Western Ghats, parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh | Leached of soluble minerals due to heavy rain; poor for cultivation without fertilisers, but useful as a building material |
| Arid/Desert | Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat and Haryana | Sandy, low humus, saline in patches; suited to drought-resistant crops with irrigation |
| Mountain/Forest | Himalayan region | Variable by altitude, generally acidic and thin in higher reaches |
| Saline/Alkaline | Coastal and arid tracts, parts of coastal AP | High salt content, needs reclamation for productive agriculture |
Andhra Pradesh Geography: A Detailed Recap
Location and Regions
Andhra Pradesh lies on the southeastern coast of India, bordered by Telangana to the northwest, Chhattisgarh and Odisha to the north, the Bay of Bengal to the east and southeast, Tamil Nadu to the south, and Karnataka to the west. Following the bifurcation of the composite state under the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 (Telangana formed as a separate state on 2 June 2014), present-day Andhra Pradesh comprises two broad traditional regions: coastal Andhra (the districts along the Bay of Bengal, from Srikakulam in the north down through the Godavari and Krishna deltas to Nellore, historically called the Circars) and Rayalaseema (the interior, semi-arid plateau districts in the southwest — Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur, Chittoor and their reorganised successors). The state has one of the longest coastlines among Indian states, stretching roughly 974 km along the Bay of Bengal.
Physiography
Andhra Pradesh's terrain divides broadly into three physical units: the Eastern Ghats running through the state as a broken, discontinuous hill system (unlike the continuous Western Ghats), the coastal plains formed by the deltas of the Godavari and Krishna rivers (among the most fertile deltaic tracts in India, often called the "rice bowl" of the state), and the Rayalaseema plateau, part of the larger Deccan Plateau, characterised by drier, semi-arid conditions and older crystalline rock formations. The Eastern Ghats in AP contain notable peaks including Arma Konda (near Ananthagiri in the Visakhapatnam-Alluri Sitharama Raju district area, one of the highest points in the Eastern Ghats) and Gali Konda; the Ghats are cut through by significant gaps where the Godavari and Krishna rivers pass through gorges (the Papi Kondalu or Papikonda hills form a scenic gorge on the Godavari). The Nallamala Hills, a segment of the Eastern Ghats running through Kurnool, Nandyal, Prakasam, and other districts, harbour the Nagarjunsagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve, one of India's largest tiger reserves.
Rivers of Andhra Pradesh
| River | Significance in AP |
|---|---|
| Godavari | Enters AP from Telangana, flows through the Papikonda gorge, forms a wide fertile delta near Rajahmundry (two major distributaries, Gautami and Vasishta Godavari); Dowleswaram Barrage (built by Sir Arthur Cotton) irrigates the delta; the river supports major inland fisheries and, further downstream, the Kakinada port region |
| Krishna | Enters AP from Telangana/Karnataka border areas, flows past Vijayawada, forms a delta feeding some of the state's most productive paddy lands; Prakasam Barrage at Vijayawada is a key irrigation structure; Nagarjunasagar Dam (on the Telangana-AP border area) is one of the largest masonry dams in the world |
| Penna (Pennar) | Flows through Rayalaseema and coastal Nellore district before entering the Bay of Bengal; supports the Somasila and other reservoirs |
| Tungabhadra | A tributary of the Krishna, flows through Rayalaseema districts, important for irrigation via the Tungabhadra Dam (shared with Karnataka) |
| Vamsadhara | Flows through Srikakulam district in the far north of the state before reaching the Bay of Bengal |
| Nagavali | Flows through Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts |
Climate and Rainfall Pattern
Andhra Pradesh's coastal belt has a tropical wet-and-dry climate moderated by the sea, with the Southwest Monsoon (June-September) providing the bulk of rainfall, and it is directly in the path of cyclones forming in the Bay of Bengal, especially during the pre-monsoon (April-May) and post-monsoon/Northeast Monsoon (October-December) periods — coastal districts from Srikakulam to Nellore are periodically affected, making cyclone-preparedness a recurring administrative and law-and-order theme relevant to police deployment. Rayalaseema, sheltered by the Eastern Ghats from the Southwest Monsoon's Bay of Bengal branch and lying in the rain shadow, is one of the more drought-prone regions of India, historically reliant on tank irrigation and, more recently, canal systems fed by the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers.
Mineral and Forest Resources
Andhra Pradesh is significant for mica, barytes (a major share of India's barytes output comes from Kadapa district), limestone (supporting a large cement industry, especially around Kurnool and Guntur districts), and uranium deposits (Tummalapalle in Kadapa district hosts one of India's largest uranium reserves). Forest cover is concentrated in the Eastern Ghats tracts and the Godavari Agency (tribal belt spanning parts of the Alluri Sitharama Raju, East and West Godavari districts), which also holds significant tribal population concentrations under Fifth Schedule protections. The Coringa and Krishna wildlife sanctuaries protect mangrove ecosystems near the Godavari and Krishna river mouths respectively.
Ports and Urban Geography
Andhra Pradesh's long coastline supports several major ports: Visakhapatnam (the largest, a natural harbour and a key naval base as headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command), Kakinada, Machilipatnam, and the newer Krishnapatnam port near Nellore. Amaravati, situated in the Krishna-Guntur region, has been developed as the state's planned capital area following bifurcation, though the state's administrative arrangements have continued to evolve. Visakhapatnam remains the largest city and a major industrial and port hub; Vijayawada is a key commercial centre on the Krishna river.
Indian Agriculture: Cropping Seasons and Major Crops
India follows three major cropping seasons, a distinction routinely tested. The Kharif season (sown with the onset of the Southwest Monsoon, roughly June-July, harvested September-October) grows rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, groundnut, and jowar/bajra — crops that need warmth and abundant moisture. The Rabi season (sown after the monsoon retreats, October-December, harvested March-April) grows wheat, barley, mustard, and gram, relying on the residual soil moisture and, in North India, on winter rainfall from Western Disturbances. The Zaid season (a short summer season between Rabi harvest and Kharif sowing, March-June) grows watermelon, cucumber, and fodder crops, largely under irrigation. Andhra Pradesh, given its warm climate, effectively grows two paddy crops a year in canal-irrigated delta tracts, often distinguished locally as the main Kharif crop and a second Rabi/summer paddy crop wherever water supply permits.
| Crop | Season | Leading Producing States (broad pattern) |
|---|---|---|
| Rice | Mainly Kharif (also Rabi in some deltaic tracts) | West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana |
| Wheat | Rabi | Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana |
| Cotton | Kharif | Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh |
| Sugarcane | Kharif (long-duration) | Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka |
| Groundnut | Kharif | Gujarat, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh (Rayalaseema, especially Anantapur) |
| Tea | Perennial plantation crop | Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling), Tamil Nadu, Kerala |
Mineral Resources and Their Distribution
India's mineral wealth is concentrated heavily in the peninsular plateau region, especially the Chota Nagpur Plateau belt (Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal) for coal and iron ore. Coal, India's most abundant fossil fuel, is mostly Gondwana-age (roughly 200 million years old) and concentrated in the Damodar valley (Jharkhand, West Bengal). Iron ore comes chiefly from Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Karnataka (Bellary-Hospet). Bauxite (aluminium ore) is found in Odisha, and also in the Eastern Ghats tracts of Andhra Pradesh (Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram region, notably the Jerrila and Galikonda deposits). Manganese, used in steel-making, is significant in Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Mica, historically important for AP's Nellore district (once among the world's leading mica producers), and barytes from Kadapa, round out the state's mineral profile alongside limestone deposits that feed a substantial cement industry.
Agro-Climatic Zones and Rainfall Distribution
India is divided into 15 broad agro-climatic zones by the Planning Commission framework, reflecting variations in rainfall, soil, and cropping pattern from the western dry zone (Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat, receiving under 60 cm annual rainfall) through the sub-humid Gangetic plains (100–200 cm) to the per-humid northeastern hill zone (over 250 cm, among the wettest places on Earth — Mawsynram and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya hold global rainfall records). Andhra Pradesh spans parts of two zones — the coastal AP zone with moderate, monsoon-dependent rainfall (roughly 100–120 cm annually along the coast) and drainage supplemented heavily by canal irrigation from the Godavari and Krishna systems, and the drier southern/Rayalaseema zone (often under 60–70 cm annually), one of the more rainfall-deficient tracts in Peninsular India, historically dependent on a dense network of irrigation tanks (cheruvus) built over centuries, supplemented in modern times by canal projects drawing on the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers.
Andhra Pradesh Districts: A Working List
Following administrative reorganisation carried out after 2014's bifurcation, Andhra Pradesh's district map was further redrawn in 2022, expanding the state from 13 to 26 districts by splitting most of the earlier units. For exam purposes it is more useful to know the broad regional grouping than to memorise every new district boundary, since these have been subject to revision. The coastal Andhra region runs from Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam in the north, through the combined Godavari districts (East and West Godavari, and their reorganised subdivisions), Krishna and Guntur (the delta heartland), down to Prakasam and Nellore (Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore) in the south. The Rayalaseema region comprises Kurnool, Nandyal, Anantapur, Sri Sathya Sai, Kadapa (YSR Kadapa), Annamayya, Chittoor, and Tirupati districts and their reorganised counterparts — all sharing the drier, plateau character described above. Candidates should verify the latest official district count and boundaries from current government sources, since this is one of the few facts in state geography that has changed multiple times in a short period.
Population and Demography Basics (India)
India is the world's most populous country (having overtaken China around 2023, per UN estimates), with a population exceeding 1.4 billion. The 2011 Census (India's most recent full decadal census at the time of writing, with the next census delayed) recorded a population of roughly 1.21 billion, a decadal growth rate of about 17.7% (2001–2011), and a sex ratio of 943 females per 1,000 males (improved from 933 in 2001). Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state; Kerala has traditionally led states in literacy rate. Andhra Pradesh's 2011 Census population (before bifurcation) was about 4.94 crore for the composite state; post-bifurcation, residual Andhra Pradesh's population is roughly 4.9 crore, with a density well above the national average in the fertile coastal delta districts and comparatively lower density across the drier Rayalaseema plateau. Understanding these broad population distribution patterns helps explain policing and administrative workload differences between coastal and interior districts, a practically relevant frame for GS questions that link geography to governance.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Tropic of Cancer passes through 8 Indian states, none of them Andhra Pradesh (AP lies south of it).
- Himalayas divide into Himadri (Greater), Himachal (Lesser), and Shiwalik (Outer) ranges; still rising due to plate collision.
- Northern Plains alluvium types: Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar (older), Khadar (newer).
- Western Ghats are continuous and higher; Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and lower; they meet near the Nilgiris.
- Godavari is the longest peninsular river ("Dakshina Ganga"); Krishna is the second-longest.
- Southwest Monsoon (June–Sept) gives ~75–80% of India's rainfall; Northeast Monsoon (Oct–Dec) is vital for Tamil Nadu and Rayalaseema.
- Andhra Pradesh formed by the 2014 Reorganisation Act bifurcation; two traditional regions — coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema.
- Eastern Ghats cross AP as broken hill ranges, including the Nallamala Hills (Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve) and Papikonda hills (Godavari gorge).
- Godavari and Krishna deltas are AP's main rice-growing tracts; Dowleswaram Barrage (Godavari) and Prakasam Barrage (Krishna) are key irrigation works.
- Rayalaseema is drought-prone due to the Eastern Ghats' rain-shadow effect on the Southwest Monsoon.
- Kadapa district: barytes and major uranium reserves (Tummalapalle); AP coastline ~974 km, one of India's longest.
- Visakhapatnam is AP's largest city, a major port, and headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command.
Practice MCQs
- Which range of Himalayas contains the highest, snow-covered peaks like Everest and Kanchenjunga?
a) Shiwalik b) Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) c) Greater Himalayas (Himadri) d) Purvanchal
Answer: c. The Greater Himalayas (Himadri) are the northernmost and highest range. - The longitudinal valleys between the Shiwaliks and the Lesser Himalayas are called:
a) Duns b) Bhabar c) Terai d) Doabs
Answer: a. Dehradun is the best-known example of a "Dun" valley. - Which river is known as the "Dakshina Ganga"?
a) Krishna b) Kaveri c) Godavari d) Narmada
Answer: c. The Godavari, the longest peninsular river, carries this title. - The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats converge near which hills?
a) Aravalli b) Nilgiri c) Vindhya d) Satpura
Answer: b. They meet near the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu. - Which monsoon branch causes heavy rainfall on the windward side of the Western Ghats?
a) Northeast Monsoon b) Arabian Sea branch of the Southwest Monsoon c) Bay of Bengal branch of the Southwest Monsoon d) Retreating monsoon
Answer: b. The Arabian Sea branch strikes the Western Ghats directly, causing orographic rainfall. - Rayalaseema receives most of its limited rainfall from:
a) Southwest Monsoon (Arabian Sea branch) b) Northeast Monsoon c) Western disturbances d) Local convectional rainfall only
Answer: b. Rayalaseema, in the rain shadow of the Eastern Ghats, depends more on the Northeast Monsoon (Oct–Dec). - Which Andhra Pradesh district is noted for major uranium reserves?
a) Anantapur b) Kadapa c) Chittoor d) Srikakulam
Answer: b. Tummalapalle in Kadapa district holds one of India's largest uranium deposits. - The Dowleswaram Barrage, built by Sir Arthur Cotton, is located on which river?
a) Krishna b) Penna c) Godavari d) Tungabhadra
Answer: c. It irrigates the fertile Godavari delta near Rajahmundry. - Which hill range of the Eastern Ghats in AP hosts the Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve?
a) Papikonda hills b) Nallamala Hills c) Seshachalam Hills d) Horsley Hills
Answer: b. The Nallamala Hills span Kurnool, Nandyal, Prakasam and adjoining districts. - Which is the largest city and a major naval base in Andhra Pradesh?
a) Vijayawada b) Visakhapatnam c) Guntur d) Tirupati
Answer: b. Visakhapatnam hosts the Eastern Naval Command headquarters. - Black cotton soil (Regur) is primarily associated with which rock formation?
a) Alluvial deposits b) Deccan Trap volcanic rocks c) Laterite formations d) Granite gneiss
Answer: b. Regur soil forms from the weathering of Deccan Trap basaltic lava. - The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, creating Telangana as a separate state, took effect on:
a) 1 November 2013 b) 2 June 2014 c) 26 January 2015 d) 2 October 2014
Answer: b. Telangana was formally carved out of Andhra Pradesh on 2 June 2014. - Which peninsular river forms a boundary-like rift valley flowing westward into the Arabian Sea?
a) Godavari b) Krishna c) Narmada d) Kaveri
Answer: c. The Narmada flows west through a rift valley into the Gulf of Khambhat. - India's only active volcano is located on which island?
a) Havelock Island b) Barren Island c) North Sentinel Island d) Minicoy Island
Answer: b. Barren Island in the Andaman group hosts India's only active volcano. - Which soil type covers much of Rayalaseema and is generally low in nitrogen and humus?
a) Alluvial soil b) Black soil c) Red and yellow soil d) Laterite soil
Answer: c. Red and yellow soils, formed on crystalline rocks, dominate much of the Deccan margins including Rayalaseema.