Q: Consider the following water bodies: I. Lake Tanganyika II. Lake Tonlé Sap III. Patos Lagoon Through how many of them does the equator pass?
(a)Only one
(b)Only two
(c)All the three
(d)None
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Astronomy & Earth–Sun System — UPSC Prelims Previous Year Questions
29 questions from UPSC CSE Prelims GS Paper 1 on Astronomy & Earth–Sun System (Geography). Spanning from 1997 to 2025. Practice with show/hide answers and detailed explanations.
29
Questions
18
Years
15
Easy
14
Moderate
Year-wise Distribution
What UPSC Asks About Astronomy & Earth–Sun System
Based on 29 questions across 18 years, UPSC has consistently tested aspirants' understanding of Astronomy & Earth–Sun System within the broader Geography syllabus. The questions range from factual recall to application-based analysis.
Recent trends show UPSC moving towards statement-based questions that combine multiple aspects of Astronomy & Earth–Sun System. Aspirants should focus on understanding concepts rather than memorizing isolated facts.
Related Geography Sub-topics
All Astronomy & Earth–Sun System Questions
Q: Consider the following statements: Statement I: Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth's rotation and axis. Statement II: Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth's outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy. Statement III: As the Earth's polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
(a)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct and both of them explain Statement I
(b)Both Statement II and Statement III are correct but only one of them explains Statement I
(c)Only one of the Statements II and III is correct and that explains Statement I
(d)Neither Statement II nor Statement III is correct
Q: निम्नलिखित देशों पर विचार कीजिए : I. यूनाइटेड किंगडम II. डेनमार्क III. न्यूज़ीलैंड IV. ऑस्ट्रेलिया V. ब्राज़ील उपरोक्त में से कितने देशों में चार से अधिक काल-क्षेत्र (Time Zones) हैं?
(a)सभी पाँच
(b)केवल चार
(c)केवल तीन
(d)केवल दो
Q: Consider the following statements: I. Anadyr in Siberia and Nome in Alaska are a few kilometres from each other, but when people are waking up and getting set for breakfast in these cities, it would be different days. II. When it is Monday in Anadyr, it is Tuesday in Nome. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)I only
(b)II only
(c)Both I and II
(d)Neither I nor II
Q: On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours? 1. Equator 2. Tropic of Cancer 3. Tropic of Capricorn 4. Arctic Circle Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)3 and 4
(d)2 and 4
Q: In the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the :
(a)First half of the month of June
(b)Second half of the month of June
(c)First half of the month of July
(d)Second half of the month of July
Q: जून की 21वीं तारीख को सूर्य (a) उत्तरी ध्रुवीय वृत्त पर क्षितिज के नीचे नहीं डूबता है (b) दक्षिणी ध्रुवीय वृत्त पर क्षितिज के नीचे नहीं डूबता है (c) मध्याह्न में भूमध्यरेखा पर ऊर्ध्वाधर रूप से सर्वाधिक चमकता है (d) मकर-रेखा पर ऊर्ध्वाधर रूप से सर्वाधिक चमकता है
(a)उत्तरी ध्रुवीय वृत्त पर क्षितिज के नीचे नहीं डूबता है
(b)दक्षिणी ध्रुवीय वृत्त पर क्षितिज के नीचे नहीं डूबता है
(c)मध्याह्न में भूमध्यरेखा पर ऊर्ध्वाधर रूप से सर्वाधिक चमकता है
(d)मकर-रेखा पर ऊर्ध्वाधर रूप से सर्वाधिक चमकता है
Q: निम्नलिखित कथनों पर विचार कीजिए: 1. पृथ्वी का चुम्बकीय क्षेत्र हर कुछ सौ हज़ार सालों में उलटता हुआ है। 2. पृथ्वी जब 4000 मिलियन वर्षों से भी अधिक पहले बनी, तो ऑक्सीजन 54% थी और कार्बन डाइऑक्साइड नहीं थी। 3. जब जीवित जीव पैदा हुए, उन्होंने पृथ्वी के आदिम वायुमण्डल को बदल दिया। उपरोक्त कथनों में से कौन-सा/से सही है/हैं?
(a)केवल 1
(b)केवल 2 और 3
(c)केवल 1 और 3
(d)1, 2 और 3
Q: Variations in the length of daytime and night-time from season to season are due to
(a)the earth's rotation on its axis
(b)the earth's revolution round the sun in an elliptical manner
(c)latitudinal position of the place
(d)revolution of the earth on a tilted axis
Q: A person stood alone in a desert on a dark night and wanted to reach his village which was situated 5 km east of the point where he was standing. He had no instruments to find the direction but he located the pole star. The most convenient way now to reach his village is to walk in the
(a)direction facing the pole star
(b)direction opposite to the pole star
(c)direction keeping the pole star to his left
(d)direction keeping the pole star to his right
Q: Consider the following countries : 1. Australia 2. Namibia 3. Brazil 4. Chile Through which of the above does the Tropic of Capricorn pass ?
(a)1 only
(b)2, 3 and 4
(c)1, 2 and 3
(d)1, 2, 3 and 4
Q: Which one of the following planets has largest number of natural satellites or moons?
(a)Jupiter
(b)Mars
(c)Saturn
(d)Venus
Q: Consider the following statements: 1. The albedo of an object determines its visual brightness when viewed with reflected light. 2. The albedo of Mercury is much greater than the albedo of the Earth. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2
Q: Which one of the following straits is nearest to the International Date Line?
(a)Malacca Strait
(b)Bering Strait
(c)Strait of Florida
(d)Strait of Gibraltar
Q: What is the average distance (approximate) between the Sun and the Earth?
(a)70 × 10^5 km
(b)70 × 10^6 km
(c)70 × 10^7 km
(d)70 × 10^8 km
Q: Which one of the following cities does NOT have the same clock time as that of the other cities at any given instant?
(a)London (UK)
(b)Lisbon (Portugal)
(c)Accra (Ghana)
(d)Addis Ababa (Ethiopia)
Q: Consider the following statements : 1. The axis of the earth’s magnetic field is inclined at 23 ½° to the geographic axis of the earth. 2. The earth’s magnetic pole in the northern hemisphere is located on a peninsula in northern Canada. 3. Earth’s magnetic equator passes through Thumba in South India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a)1, 2 and 3
(b)2 and 3
(c)2 only
(d)3 only
Q: Assertion (A): The same face of the Moon is always presented to the Earth. Reason (R): The Moon rotates about its own axis in 23½ days which is about the same time that it takes to orbit the Earth.
(a)Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b)Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c)A is true but R is false
(d)A is false but R is true
Q: Among the following cities, which one is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer?
(a)Delhi
(b)Kolkata
(c)Jodhpur
(d)Nagpur
Q: Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to our solar system?
(a)The Earth is the densest of all the planets in our solar system
(b)The predominant element in the composition of Earth is silicon
(c)The Sun contains 75 % of the mass of the solar system
(d)The diameter of the Sun is 190 times that of the Earth
Q: Who amongst the following was the first to state that the Earth was spherical?
(a)Aristotle
(b)Copernicus
(c)Ptolemy
(d)Strabo
Q: If the stars are seen to rise perpendicular to the horizon by an observer, he is located on the
(a)Equator
(b)Tropic of Cancer
(c)South Pole
(d)North Pole
Q: Along which one of the following meridians did India experience the first light of the sunrise of the new millennium?
(a)2° 30′ W
(b)82° 30′ E
(c)92° 30′ W
(d)92° 30′ E
Q: If it is 10.00 a.m. I.S.T., then what would be the local time at Shillong on 92°E longitude?
(a)9.38 a.m.
(b)10.38 a.m.
(c)10.22 a.m.
(d)9.22 a.m.
Q: A ship sailing from the eastern extremity of the Aleutian Islands to Dutch Harbour crosses the 180° meridian at 23.30 hrs on January 1, 1999. What time and date will be recorded by the captain of the ship in his diary after one hour journey from the point of crossing of the meridian?
(a)January 1, 0030 hrs
(b)January 2, 0030 hrs
(c)January 3, 0030 hrs
(d)January 4, 0030 hrs
Q: Which one of the following scholars suggests the earth’s origin from gases and dust particles?
(a)James Jeans
(b)H. Alfven
(c)F. Hoyle
(d)O. Schmidt
Q: When there is noon at the G.M.T. meridian, people at another place of the Earth are taking their 6 o’clock morning tea. The longitude of the place is
(a)17° 30′ E
(b)7° 30′ W
(c)172° 30′ E
(d)90° W
Q: The group of small pieces of rock revolving round the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter are called
(a)meteors
(b)comets
(c)meteorites
(d)asteroids
Q: If the earth's direction of rotation is reversed, what would be the IST when it is noon at the International Date Line?
(a)06.30 hrs
(b)05.30 hrs
(c)18.30 hrs
(d)17.30 hrs
Frequently Asked Questions
How many UPSC Prelims questions have been asked from Astronomy & Earth–Sun System?▼
UPSC has asked 29 questions on Astronomy & Earth–Sun System in GS Paper 1 Prelims between 1997 and 2025. This sub-topic falls under Geography.
In which years has UPSC asked about Astronomy & Earth–Sun System?▼
Questions on Astronomy & Earth–Sun System have appeared in UPSC Prelims in the following years: 2025, 2024, 2022, 2019, 2018, 2013, 2012, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2005, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997. The topic has appeared in 18 out of 31 years.
What is the difficulty level of Astronomy & Earth–Sun System questions in UPSC Prelims?▼
Among 29 questions on Astronomy & Earth–Sun System: 15 are easy, 14 are moderate, and 0 are difficult. Most questions test conceptual understanding of the topic.