Geography MCQ Questions with answers

Explanation: A cosmic year (also called a galactic year) is the time it takes for the Sun to complete one full orbit around the center of the Milky Way galaxy.

This period is estimated to be about 225–250 million Earth years.


Other Options Explained:

(A) Parsec → A unit of distance in astronomy, equal to 3.26 light-years.

(B) Astronomical year → The time Earth takes to complete one orbit around the Sun (365.25 days).

(D) Light year → The distance light travels in one year (9.46 trillion km), not a measure of time.


Thus, the correct answer is (C) Cosmic year.

Explanation: The blue color of the sky is due to Rayleigh scattering, where sunlight interacts with air molecules and scatters shorter (blue) wavelengths more than longer (red) wavelengths.

If there were no Sun, there would be no sunlight to scatter.

In the absence of light, the sky would appear black, just like space.


Other Options Explained:

(A) Orange & (B) Red → These colors appear during sunrise and sunset due to scattering but require sunlight.

(C) White → White light appears when all wavelengths are scattered equally, which happens only in certain conditions (e.g., fog or clouds).


Thus, the correct answer is (D) Black.

Explanation: The rings of Saturn were discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 when he first observed Saturn using his telescope.

However, due to the limitations of his telescope, Galileo initially thought the rings were two large moons or handles on either side of Saturn.

Later, in 1655, Christiaan Huygens correctly identified them as rings using a more powerful telescope.


Other Options Explained:

(A) Copernicus → Developed the heliocentric model but did not observe Saturn's rings.

(B) Newton → Formulated the laws of motion and gravity but did not discover Saturn's rings.

(D) None of the above → Incorrect, as Galileo was the first to observe them.


Thus, the correct answer is (C) Galileo.

Explanation: The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy, meaning it has a central bar-shaped structure with spiral arms extending outward.

It consists of a disk, a central bulge, and a halo of stars and dark matter.


Other Options Explained:

(A) Circular → Incorrect, as galaxies are not perfectly circular.

(B) Elliptical → Some galaxies are elliptical, but the Milky Way is spiral-shaped.

(D) None of the above → Incorrect, since the Milky Way is confirmed to be a spiral galaxy.


Thus, the correct answer is (C) Spiral.

Explanation: On 21st June, the Summer Solstice occurs in the Northern Hemisphere.

During this time, the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun, causing it to receive continuous daylight for 24 hours.

This phenomenon is called Midnight Sun, where the Sun does not set at all.


Other Options Explained:

(A) 0 h → Incorrect, as the North Pole experiences continuous daylight on this day.

(B) 12 h → Incorrect, as daylight lasts much longer than 12 hours.

(C) 18 h → Incorrect, because the daylight lasts full 24 hours at the North Pole.


Thus, the correct answer is (D) 24 h.

Explanation: The Equator is the longest circle that can be drawn on the Earth's surface.

It is a great circle, meaning it divides the Earth into two equal halves (Northern and Southern Hemispheres).

The Equator has a circumference of approximately 40,075 km.


Other Options Explained:

(B) Tropic of Cancer → Incorrect, as it is a smaller circle located at 23.5° North latitude.

(C) Arctic Circle → Incorrect, as it is even smaller, located at 66.5° North latitude.

(D) Tropic of Capricorn → Incorrect, as it is also a smaller circle at 23.5° South latitude.


Thus, the correct answer is (A) Equator.

Explanation: The Indian Standard Meridian (82.5° E longitude) is the reference longitude for Indian Standard Time (IST).

It passes through the states of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Madhya Pradesh (MP), Chhattisgarh, Odisha (Orissa), and Andhra Pradesh (AP).


Other Options Explained:

(A) AP and Karnataka → Incorrect, as Karnataka is not on the Indian Standard Meridian.

(B) AP and Tamil Nadu → Incorrect, as Tamil Nadu is not on the meridian.

(C) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu → Incorrect, as neither state is on the Indian Standard Meridian.


Thus, the correct answer is (D) Orissa and AP.

Explanation: The Andaman Islands are part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India, located in the Bay of Bengal. The closest foreign country to the Andaman Islands is Myanmar, as the islands are situated near the Coco Islands, which belong to Myanmar.

Other Options Explained:

(A) Sri Lanka → Incorrect, as Sri Lanka is closer to the southern part of India (Tamil Nadu) and not to the Andaman Islands.

(C) Indonesia → Incorrect, although Indonesia is relatively close to the Nicobar Islands, Myanmar is closer to the Andaman Islands.

(D) Pakistan → Incorrect, as Pakistan is far from the Andaman Islands, being located in the northwest of India.


Thus, the correct answer is (B) Myanmar.

Explanation: India shares its northern border with China, and the following Indian states have a common border with China:

1. Ladakh (previously part of Jammu & Kashmir, now a Union Territory)


2. Himachal Pradesh


3. Uttarakhand


4. Sikkim


5. Arunachal Pradesh



Since Jammu and Kashmir (before bifurcation) shared a border with China, and the other three states (Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh) also share borders with China, all the given options are correct.

Thus, the correct answer is (D) All.

Explanation: India shares a 1,643 km long border with Myanmar, and the following Indian states have a common border with Myanmar:

1. Arunachal Pradesh


2. Nagaland


3. Manipur


4. Mizoram



Since all these states are listed in option (A), it is the correct answer.