Oceanography and coasts — UPSC Prelims PYQs
16 questions in this bank come from Oceanography and coasts, spanning UPSC Prelims papers from 2011 to 2026. Every question here carries all four options, the correct answer and a full explanation.
It has appeared in 10 of the last 16 papers, most heavily in 2024 with 2 questions. That is a steady presence rather than a guaranteed one.
The themes examined most often within it are ocean currents and their dynamics (6), Geography of Indian Islands (3), Properties of water and solubility (3), Advancements in ancient ship-building technology (1) and Drone technology applications in agriculture (1). Those counts are of questions in which the theme is examined, not merely mentioned.
Questions here are spread across Geography (11), Science & Technology (4) and History (1). Between them they draw on 15 distinct themes, so this is a broader area than a single revision note can cover. That is 1.1% of the 1433 questions in the bank — useful for deciding how much revision time it deserves.
It has been asked less often lately — roughly 0.6 questions a year across the last five papers, against 1.2 before that.
It was not examined in 6 of those papers. Each question below links to its full explanation and to related questions on the same theme from other years, so a weak area can be worked through in one pass rather than hunted for paper by paper.
UPSC Prelims 20261 question
UPSC Prelims 20242 questions
- Geography
With reference to "Coriolis force", which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It increases with increase in wind velocity. 2. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator. Select the answer using the code given below:
- Geography
Consider the following statements: 1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form. 2. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
UPSC Prelims 20212 questions
- Geography
Consider the following statements 1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds. 2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- Science & Technology
Water can dissolve more substances than any other liquid because
UPSC Prelims 20202 questions
- Geography
With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 metres in the south-western Indian Ocean during January–March. 2. OMT collected during January–March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean. Select the correct using the code given below:
- Science & Technology
Consider the following activities: 1. Spraying pesticides on a crop field 2. Inspecting the craters of active volcanoes 3. Collecting breath samples from spouting whales for DNA analysis. At the present level of technology, which of the above activities can be successfully carried out by using drones?
UPSC Prelims 20172 questions
- Geography
Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar?
- Geography
With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. 2. An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino’s impact on the monsoon. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
UPSC Prelims 20152 questions
- Geography
Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following? 1. Gravitational force of the Sun 2. Gravitational force of the Moon 3. Centrifugal force of the Earth Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- Geography
What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter current?
UPSC Prelims 20141 question
UPSC Prelims 20131 question
UPSC Prelims 20122 questions
- Science & Technology
Consider the following statements: If there were no phenomenon of capillarity 1. It would be difficult to use a kerosene lamp. 2. One would not be able to use a straw to consume a soft drink. 3. The blotting paper would fail to function. 4. The big trees that we see around would not have grown on the Earth. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- Geography
Consider the following factors 1. Rotation of the Earth 2. Air pressure and wind 3. Density of ocean water 4. Revolution of the Earth Which of the above factors influence the ocean currents?
