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GS Paper IUPSC Prelims 1999
Indian Geography
Question No. 314Interactive Test Mode
00:00
+2-0.66

Q314. “India has the largest population of the Asian X. Today, there are just about 20,000 to 25,000 X in their natural habitat spreading across the evergreen forests, dry thorn forest, swamps and grasslands. Their prime habitats are the moist deciduous forests. The X population in India ranges from north-west India where they are found in the forest divisions of Dehradun, Bijnor and Nainital districts of UP to the Western Ghats in the states of Karnataka and Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In Central India, their population is distributed over Southern Bihar and Orissa. In the East, they are seen in North Bengal, Assam and a few other states. “ The animal “X” referred to in this quotation is :

“India has the largest population of the Asian X. Today, there are just about 20,000 to 25,000 X in their natural habitat spreading across the evergreen forests, dry thorn forest, swamps and grasslands. Their prime habitats are the moist deciduous forests. The X population in India ranges from north-west India where they are found in the forest divisions of Dehradun, Bijnor and Nainital districts of UP to the Western Ghats in the states of Karnataka and Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In Central India, their population is distributed over Southern Bihar and Orissa. In the East, they are seen in North Bengal, Assam and a few other states. “ The animal “X” referred to in this quotation is :

Select the correct option below (or cross out options to eliminate)
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Official Answer Key & Detailed Solution

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Official UPSC Answer KeyUPSC Prelims 1999 • Geography

Correct Answer: Option (B) — Elephant

Concept & Option Breakdown

Standard Reference Verified

The passage describes the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus):

  • India holds the largest population of Asian elephants (over 60% of the world total).
  • Their distribution encompasses the Himalayan foothills (Dehradun, Bijnor, Nainital), the Western Ghats (Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu), Central/Eastern India (Jharkhand/Bihar, Odisha), and the Northeast (Assam, North Bengal).
  • Tigers and Rhinos have much smaller total numbers and different specific range profiles, while Asiatic lions are restricted solely to the Gir landscape in Gujarat.
Elimination Heuristic & Exam Approach

Lions are found only in Gir (Gujarat). Rhinos are limited mainly to Assam/North Bengal. Only the Asian elephant matches the wide pan-India range from Uttarakhand to Kerala and Odisha.

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Question Specifications & Syllabus Mapping

Examination & YearUPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 1999 (Q314)
Paper & Marking SchemeGS Paper I • 2 Marks (-0.66 Negative for incorrect response)
Syllabus Subject & TopicGeography → Indian Geography
Official Answer KeyOption (B) — Elephant

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Frequently Asked Questions — UPSC Prelims 1999 Q314

What is the official answer for UPSC Prelims 1999 GS Paper I Question 314 (Geography)?

The official UPSC answer key for this 1999 Geography (Indian Geography) question is Option (B): "Elephant". Correct attempts carry 2 Marks with -0.66 Negative penalty for wrong answers.

Which UPSC Prelims syllabus topic does this 1999 question belong to?

This question belongs to GS Paper I under the subject "Geography" and micro-topic "Indian Geography". You can explore all repeated questions from Indian Geography in Acme AI's 3D Prelims PYQ Realm or practice 50 full-length and sectional tests in the APT Prelims Test Series.

How can I solve this Indian Geography UPSC Prelims question using option elimination?

Lions are found only in Gir (Gujarat). Rhinos are limited mainly to Assam/North Bengal. Only the Asian elephant matches the wide panIndia range from Uttarakhand to Kerala and Odisha.

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