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Geography & Environment · Physical Geography

Landforms & Geomorphic Processes: 71 previous year questions

UPSC has asked 71 questions on Landforms & Geomorphic Processes between 2009 and 2026: CDS 25 · NDA 20 · CAPF 19 · Geo-Scientist 6 · CSE 1. 70 of them came after 2015, so this is a live topic examiners keep returning to. 1 were set in Civil Services Prelims; the rest come from UPSC's other papers, which draw on the same question bank.

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Tap an option to check yourself. Answers follow the official UPSC key; where the key was dropped or disputed the question is not shown.

CDS2026 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Consider the following statements about Mechanical Weathering: 1. More compact and highly consolidated rocks are least affected by freeze-thaw weathering. 2. Shattering of rocks is more common in hot deserts. 3. Crystalline rocks are often prone to exfoliation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Compact rocks resist freeze-thaw, shattering is common in hot deserts, and crystalline rocks are prone to exfoliation
Geo-Scientist2026Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Consider the following statements : Statement-I: Weathering results in mechanical disintegration and chemical decomposition of rocks. Statement-II: Weathering is controlled by geologic and geomorphic processes but is independent of climatic factors. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Weathering disintegrates and decomposes rocks, but it depends strongly on climate
NDA2026 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Consider the following pairs : Types of Chemical Weathering Characteristics I. Solution Results in leaching of minerals II. Carbonation Helps in breaking down feldspars III. Hydration Causes an increase in the volume of rocks IV. Oxidation Changes the colour of rocks How many pairs given above are correctly matched?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Solution - leaching, Carbonation - breaks down feldspars, Hydration - increases rock volume, Oxidation - changes rock colour: all four correct
CAPF2025Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Consider the following statements with reference to salt weathering: 1. Salts in rocks expand due to thermal action, hydration and crystallization. 2. Salts like calcium, sodium, magnesium and barium have a tendency to expand. 3. Salt weathering is a typical example of chemical weathering. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Salts in rocks expand by thermal action, hydration and crystallisation, as do salts of calcium, sodium, magnesium and barium; salt weathering is physical, not chemical
CDS2025 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Which of the following statements with reference to Salt Weathering is/are correct ? 1. Salt crystallisation is the most effective of all the salt weathering processes. 2. Salt crystal growth is more effective over sedimentary rocks as compared to igneous rocks. Select the answer using the code given below :

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Salt crystallisation is the most effective salt weathering process and works better on sedimentary than igneous rocks
CDS2025 · 2Landforms & Geomorphic Processes

Which of the following statements with reference to Glacial trough is/are correct? 1. Alpine glaciers strip valleys of their soil, regolith and sediment to form glacial troughs. 2. When the sea level is below the floor of a glacial trough, the seawater enters as the ice front recedes, creating a fiord. Select the answer using the code given below:

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Verified fact to follow.
CDS2024 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·3

Which of the following statements regarding river meanders is/are correct? 1. It is a U-shaped bend in a river. 2. An extremely tight meander is called a gooseneck; it is likely to become a cutoff, or oxbow lake, after a flood. 3. Tectonic uplift can cause a river to continue downcutting along its meandering course, producing incised or entrenched meanders. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer D (official UPSC key)A meander is a U-shaped bend, a tight gooseneck can become an oxbow lake, and tectonic uplift produces incised meanders
CDS2024 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·3

Which of the following statements regarding barrier islands is/are correct? 1. These are small chain of sand islands that form offshore, far from the coast. 2. Lagoons or shallower marshes separate the barrier islands from the mainland. 3. Such locations are hazardous for settlements because they are easily swept away by storms and hurricanes. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Barrier islands are separated from the mainland by lagoons or marshes and are hazardous for settlement; they form close to, not far from, the coast
CDS2024 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Identify the type of drainage pattern on the basis of the given characteristics : 1. It represents the most common pattern of streams and their tributaries 2. It occurs in areas of uniform rock type and regular slope 3. A map, or aerial photograph, shows a pattern like the veins on a leaf— smaller streams join the main stream at an acute angle Select the correct answer.

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Dendritic drainage is the most common pattern, on uniform rock and regular slope
CSE2024Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Consider the following statements : Statement-I: Rainfall is one of the reasons for weathering of rocks. Statement-II: Rain water contains carbon dioxide in solution. Statement-Ill: Rain water contains atmospheric oxygen. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements ?

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Rainfall weathers rocks because rain water carries dissolved carbon dioxide and atmospheric oxygen (both explain it)
NDA2024 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·3

Which of the following statements regarding Barchan is/are correct? 1. It is a crescent shaped mound of sand, which is deposited by the wind blowing constantly from one direction in a desert. 2. The windward side has a convex steep slope with maximum height at the centre. 3. Two ends of Barchan are called horns and point opposite to the direction the wind blows. Select the answer using the code given below:

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Answer A (official UPSC key)A barchan is a crescent sand mound built by wind from one direction; its windward slope is gentle and its horns point downwind
CAPF2023Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Consider the following statements about Barchans. 1. These landforms are found in Thar desert in India. 2. The windward side has concave slope with maximum height at the centre. 3. Two ends of the barchan are called horns. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Barchans are found in the Thar desert and their ends are called horns; the windward side is convex, not concave
CDS2022 · 2Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists : List I (Drainage Pattern of River) List II (Feature) A. Insequent 1. Whose direction of flow is controlled by the rock structure B. Consequent 2. No apparent reason why it follows the path it takes C. Subsequent 3. Flow in the same direction as the consequent stream but at a lower level D. Resequent 4. Whose course is determined by the original slope of the land

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Insequent - no apparent reason for its path, Consequent - follows original slope, Subsequent - controlled by rock structure, Resequent - same direction as consequent at a lower level
NDA2022 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·2

While travelling to a hilly region, you notice a massive boulder, which was loosened by heavy rains and moved downhill. This has resulted due to which of the following processes? 1. Mass wasting 2. Erosion 3. Weathering Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer D (official UPSC key)A boulder loosened by rain and moved downhill involves mass wasting, erosion and weathering
NDA2022 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·2

Which of the following statements in respect of landslides are correct? 1. These occur only on gentle slopes during rain. 2. They generally occur in clay-rich soil. 3. Earthquakes trigger landslides. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

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Answer C (official UPSC key)Landslides generally occur in clay-rich soil and are triggered by earthquakes; they are not limited to gentle slopes
Geo-Scientist2021Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

A „Spit‟ can be defined as a:

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Answer A (official UPSC key)A spit is a beach of sand or shingle linked at one end to the land
CAPF2019Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·3

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists : List I (Landform) List II (Agent) A. Loess 1. Wind deposited B. Tombolo 2. Glacier deposited C. Point bars 3. River deposited D. Moraines 4. Sea deposited Code A B C D

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Loess - wind, Tombolo - sea, Point bars - river, Moraines - glacier deposited
CDS2019 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·3

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists : List-I (Type of Lake) List-II (Example) A. Tectonic 1. Lonar Lake B. Crater 2. Gangabal Lake C. Glacial 3. Purbasthali Lake D. Fluvial 4. Bhimtal Lake

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Tectonic - Bhimtal, Crater - Lonar, Glacial - Gangabal, Fluvial - Purbasthali
CAPF2018Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·3

Match List-I with List-11 and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists : List-I (Limestone Region) List-Il (Country) A. Pennines 1. France B. Yucatan Peninsula 2. Jamaica C. Cockpit Country 3. Britain D. Causses 4. Mexico

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Pennines - Britain, Yucatan Peninsula - Mexico, Cockpit Country - Jamaica, Causses - France
CDS2018 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·2

Consider the following statements Statement I: By far the most common topographic form in a Karst terrain is the sinkhole. Statement II: Topographically, a sinkhole is a depression that varies in depth from less than a meter to few hundred meters. Code:

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Answer B (official UPSC key)The sinkhole is the most common karst landform and varies in depth from under a meter to a few hundred meters (II does not explain I)
CDS2018 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·3

Consider the following statements Statement I: Incised meanders are formed in the mature stage of a river. Statement II: Incised meanders are characterized by rejuvenation and upliftment of land. Code:

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Incised meanders are linked to rejuvenation and uplift of land (key: both true, II explains I)
CDS2018 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·2

Consider the following statements Statement I: Portions of glacial troughs may exhibit remarkably flat floors. Statement II: The flat floor in a glacial trough is produced by uniform glacial erosion. Code:

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Answer B (official UPSC key)Portions of glacial troughs can have remarkably flat floors (key: both statements true, II does not explain I)
CDS2017 · 1Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Which one of the following statements with regard to volcanoes is not correct?

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Answer D (official UPSC key)The stream system on a dissected volcano cone is a radial drainage pattern
CDS2017 · 2Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·3

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List-I (Lake) List-II (Type of Lake) A. Bhimtal 1. Lagoon B. Ashtamudi 2. Landslide C. Gohna 3. Tectonic D. Lonar 4. Crater Code: A B C D

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Bhimtal - tectonic, Ashtamudi - lagoon, Gohna - landslide, Lonar - crater lake
CAPF2015Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·2

Various landforms observed on the surface of the earth are due to the: 1. differences in the type and structure of the crustal material 2. differences in the land forming processes 3. differential rates of the processes at different places on the Earth‘s surface Select the correct answer using the code given below:

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Answer D (official UPSC key)Landforms differ due to crustal material and structure, land-forming processes and their differential rates
CAPF2015Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·3

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists : List-I (Landform feature) List-II (Location) A. Alluvial fans 1. Mountainous Areas B. ‗V‘-shaped valleys 2. Coasts C. Deltas 3. Lower Reaches of the river D. Ox-bow lakes 4. 4. Mountain Foothills

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Alluvial fans - mountain foothills, V-shaped valleys - mountainous areas, Deltas - coasts, Ox-bow lakes - lower reaches of the river
CDS2015 · 2Landforms & Geomorphic ProcessesOn card GEO 5·1

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists: List-I (Weathering type) List-II (Landform/ Process) A. Chemical weathering 1. Till B. Mechanical weathering 2. Oxidation C. Glacial deposits 3. Plant roots D. Deposition by groundwater 4. Stalactite Code A B C D

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Answer A (official UPSC key)Chemical weathering - oxidation, Mechanical weathering - plant roots, Glacial deposits - till, Deposition by groundwater - stalactite

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