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GeographyEasyAsked in: CDS · CDS-I 2021, GK

Which one of the following longitudes is the standard meridian of India ?

  1. A.83°30' E
  2. B.82°30' E
  3. C.82°30' W
  4. D.83°30' W

Correct answer

B. 82°30' E

Explanation

The correct answer is B, 82°30' E. India's standard meridian is 82°30' East, and Indian Standard Time is set by the local time along this line.

India stretches from about 68°7' E to 97°25' E, a spread of nearly 30 degrees of longitude, which makes a time difference of about two hours between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh. To use one time for the whole country, a central meridian was chosen. The line 82°30' E passes near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, close to Prayagraj. Since the earth turns one degree every four minutes, 82.5 degrees gives a time 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, so IST is UTC+5:30.

A is wrong because 83°30' E is one degree east of the standard meridian and is not used for IST. C is wrong because a West longitude lies in the Western Hemisphere, over the Americas, far from India. D is wrong for the same reason: 83°30' W runs through North America, not through India.

Exam tip: 82°30' E, near Mirzapur, gives IST = GMT + 5 hours 30 minutes; one degree of longitude equals four minutes of time.

Practice Questions

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Q2.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. Himalayan rivers have their origin in the snow-covered areas, hence are dry in winter season. 2. Rivers of the Peninsular Plateau have reached maturity. 3. Himalayan rivers depict all the three stages of normal cycle of erosion. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.2 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 2 and 3 only

Himalayan rivers are perennial, so statement 1 is wrong, while statements 2 and 3 are correct. Himalayan rivers such as the Ganga, Indus and Brahmaputra rise from glaciers and snowfields and also get monsoon rain, so they flow all year round, including in winter.

Q3.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following statements related to latitude are true? 1. Rainfall, temperature and vegetation vary with latitude. 2. The difference between the longest day and the shortest day increases with latitude. 3. Indira Point is located approximately at 6°45' N latitude. Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1, 2 and 3

All three statements about latitude are true. Latitude decides how directly the Sun's rays strike a place, so temperature, rainfall and the type of vegetation change from the equator towards the poles, from hot, wet rainforests to cold tundra.

Q4.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2017, GKMedium

Which of the following lakes is/are situated in Ladakh? 1. Tso Kar 2. Pangong Tso 3. Tsomgo 4. Tso Moriri Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 and 3
  3. C.1, 2 and 4
  4. D.2 and 4 only
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1, 2 and 4

Tso Kar, Pangong Tso and Tso Moriri are high-altitude lakes of Ladakh, while Tsomgo lies in Sikkim. Pangong Tso, at about 4,350 metres, is a long, narrow lake that stretches from Ladakh into Tibet, and most of its length lies on the Chinese side.