The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through which one of the following States?
- (a)Manipur
- (b)West Bengal
- (c)Gujarat
- (d)Jharkhand
Correct — A, Manipur. The Tropic of Cancer, at 23 degrees 30 minutes North, passes through eight Indian states — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. Manipur lies in the north-east but north of the line, so the tropic does not cross it. West Bengal, Gujarat and Jharkhand are all on the list, which leaves Manipur as the state it misses.
- (b)West Bengal — The Tropic of Cancer passes through West Bengal, so it is not the exception.
- (c)Gujarat — Gujarat is one of the eight states the tropic crosses, so it does not fit a 'does not pass' answer.
- (d)Jharkhand — The tropic runs across Jharkhand, so it is not the state that is missed.
The Tropic of Cancer at 23 degrees 30 minutes North crosses India through eight states, roughly dividing the country into tropical and sub-tropical zones. The eight are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. States lying north of this line, such as Manipur, are not crossed by it.
Three options are on the eight-state list, so the odd one out is the state the tropic misses. Manipur, sitting north of the line in the north-east, is that state.
- The Tropic of Cancer lies at 23 degrees 30 minutes North.
- It passes through eight Indian states — Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
- It does not pass through Manipur, which lies north of the line.
- The tropic marks the northern limit of the Sun's overhead position, reached at the June solstice.
Manipur is not on the Tropic of Cancer — option (a).
- Assuming every north-eastern state lies on the tropic — Manipur is north of it, while Tripura and Mizoram are crossed.
- Forgetting one of the eight states on the line.
Asked as which state the Tropic of Cancer does, or does not, pass through.
Among the following cities, which one is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer?
- (a) Delhi
- (b) Kolkata
- (c) Jodhpur
- (d) Nagpur
Answer(b) Kolkata
Same line — the Tropic of Cancer. That UPSC item asks which city sits nearest to it; this one asks which state it does not cross.
Consider the following lines of Longitude and Latitude: 1. Prime Meridian; 2. Tropic of Cancer; 3. Equator. Which of the above lines is/are a Great Circle?
- (a) 1, 2 and 3
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 3 only
Answer(d) 3 only
Same set of reference lines including the Tropic of Cancer. That NDA item asks which are great circles; this one asks which states the Tropic of Cancer crosses.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states?
- (a)six
- (b)seven
- (c)eight
- (d)nine
Answer(c) eight.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which of the following north-eastern states is crossed by the Tropic of Cancer?
- (a)Manipur
- (b)Nagaland
- (c)Mizoram
- (d)Sikkim
Answer(c) Mizoram.