Top 50+ General Knowledge Points - Indian Geography

Top 50+ General Knowledge Points - Indian Geography

Miscellaneous

Astrophysics and Space Science

• Pulsars are rapidly rotating neutron stars that blast out pulses of radiation at regular intervals ranging from seconds to milliseconds.

Plate Tectonics and Geological Concepts

• Seafloor spreading creates new crust. Subduction destroys old crust.

• The geological theory that states that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant, slow motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle is plate tectonics.

Shipwreck Explorations in Goa

• Shipwrecks have been explored off Sunchi Reef, St George's Reef, and Amee Shoals in Goa waters.

• Sunchi Reef and St George's Reef were wooden-hulled sailing ships, whereas Amee Shoals was a steel-hulled steam engine shipwreck.

River Systems in India

• The Subernarekha river rises near Nagri village in Ranchi District of Jharkhand at an elevation of 600 m. It flows for a length of 395 km before outflowing into the Bay of Bengal.

• The river Gandak is also known as the Gandaki and Narayani in Nepal.

• The Triveni canal is a significant irrigation canal constructed on the Ganges River in Champaran District, Bihar.

• The Kosi basin is an integral part of the lower Ganga plain. The average elevation in the basin is between 30 m and 40 m.

Mineral Resources and Gold Reserves

• As per the National Mineral Inventory, the total resources of primary gold ore in the country as on 1.4.2015 are estimated at 501.83 million tonnes with 654.74 tonnes of gold metal.

• Out of this, Bihar is endowed with 222.885 million tonnes (44%) of ore containing 37.6 tonnes of metal.

• These resources are categorized under UNFC code-333 and UNFC code-334.

• The entire resource of gold ore in Bihar is located in the Sono area of the Jamui district.

Geographical Landmarks and Climate Patterns

• The intersection of the Tropic of Cancer and Indian Standard Time in Chhattisgarh is Suratpur. IST is calculated on the basis of 82.5°E longitude.

• El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

Historical and Cultural Geography

• Baba Budan, a 17th-century Sufi saint, introduced coffee to India by bringing seven raw beans from Mocha, Yemen, in 1673.

Geomorphology and Landforms

• At the base of the Bhabar escarpment, there is a narrow belt of 8-10 km parallel to the Shiwalik foothills.

• Zeugen is a landform formed by wind erosion.

• Swash erosion is the last stage of land erosion.

Educational and Research Institutions

• Central Institute of Buddhist Studies is located in Leh town (Choglamsar), Ladakh, and is a deemed university. The 

• National Research Centre on Camels is located in Jodhpur.

Agricultural and Economic Geography

• Rains caused by western disturbances impact wheat-producing states like Haryana and Punjab.

• The major Rabi crop in India is wheat, followed by barley, mustard, sesame, and peas.

• Sugarcane is cultivated under dryland farming.

Transport Infrastructure in India

• The East-West corridor of the Golden Quadrilateral connects Silchar and Porbandar.

• A scheme for making sugar from beetroot was started in Sriganganagar Sugar Mills Limited, Rajasthan, in 1968 (now closed).

• Under the Hooghly River lies India's first underwater metro rail tunnel.

• Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Tunnel is India's longest road tunnel.

Education Policy

• National Education Policy, 2020 recommends vocational education from Grade 6 onwards.

Geographical Indications and Agriculture

• Kaji Nemu, a lemon variety, was declared the state fruit of Assam on February 12, 2024.

• GI-tagged Assam lemon is seedless, has 9-12 segments, and is known for its unique aroma and antioxidant properties.

Geographical Coordinates and Earthquake Terminology

• In India, the Tropic of Cancer passes through 2 coastal and 6 landlocked states.

• Hypocentre is another term for the focus of an earthquake.

Natural Resources and Global Geography

• Marquette range in the USA is famous for iron ore.

• Van Allen radiation belts are magnetically trapped charged particles around Earth.

• The river between the USA and Mexico is the Grande.

• Ocean water salinity is calculated as grams of salt in 1000 grams of seawater.

• There is a 7-day interval between spring tides and neap tides.

• Lake Papahine in West Africa has become a desert.

• The atmosphere is mainly heated by long-wave terrestrial radiation.

• Snow, sleet, and hail are forms of precipitation.

• Mount Newman (Western Australia) is famous for iron ore.

• New York City and Tokyo became the world's first megacities in the 1950s.

• As of 19 January 2018, there are 33 megacities globally.

• Ports of Call are where ships anchor for refuelling.

Indian Geographical Features and Landmarks

• Marusthali (Indian Desert) was under the sea during the Mesozoic era.

• Gandikota Canyon was created by the Pennar River.

• Loktak Lake is the only floating island lake in India.

• Mango showers are pre-monsoon showers in Kerala and Karnataka.

• Kashmir valley lies between the Zaskar and Pir Panjal ranges.

• Arma Konda is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats.

• Siachen, the largest glacier of India, is in the Karakoram range. 

• The Sankosh River divides West Bengal and Assam.

• Devprayag is the confluence of Bhagirathi and Alakananda.

• The largest wind farm in India is in Tamil Nadu.

• Topographical maps in India are published by the Survey of India.

Dams and River Projects

• Kurnool-Kadapa Canal is taken off from the Tungabhadra River.

• Mukutmanipur Dam is across the Kangsabati River.

• Godavari is called Dakshina Ganga and is the largest river of South India.

• Didwana, Kuchaman, Sargol, and Khatu are saline lakes in India.

Geology and Soil Science

• Black cotton soil is formed by the weathering of basaltic volcanic rock.

• Aravali is the oldest mountain range in India.

• Khetri is famous for copper.

Tribal and Demographic Information

• Jarwa Tribe is found on the Nicobar Islands.

• Nagaland had negative population growth in the 2011 Census.

• Maluti is known as the village of temples.

• Mount Kailash is situated in Tibet.

• Gond is the second-largest tribe in India.

• Mizoram (84.53%) has the highest forest density in India.

• In India, atolls are found near Lakshadweep.

Space Research and Connectivity Projects

• Sriharikota, the location of Satish Dhawan Space Centre, is near Pulicat Lake.

• Nubra valley, between the Karakoram and Ladakh ranges, is known for Bactrian camels and monasteries.

• Atal Tunnel (length 9.02 km) is between Manali and Leh, in the Eastern Pir Panjal.

• Maitri Setu (1.9 km) connects Kailashahar (Tripura) to Chittagong (Bangladesh) over the Feni River.

• Majuli River Island is located on the Brahmaputra.

• Lake Great Bitter is part of the Suez Canal.

Mining and Energy

• Neyveli, Singareni, Korba, and Singrauli are major coal mines in India.

• Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country by area.

• Pegu Yoma is known for mineral oil in Myanmar.

• Chabahar Port is in Iran.

Biosphere and Environment

• The biosphere is the life-supporting zone of Earth.

• The Satluj River flows through the Shipki La Pass.

Economic History

• Bombay was called 'Urbs Prima in Indis' after the opening of the Suez Canal (1869).

• Pattiseema Project is associated with the Krishna-Godavari river integration.

Final Thoughts

In a rapidly evolving world, a strong grasp of Indian Geography and General Knowledge is more than just academic—it's a tool for awareness and empowerment. Whether you're preparing for competitive exams, participating in quizzes, or simply expanding your knowledge, these 50+ curated points offer a comprehensive snapshot of India’s vast geographical and cultural landscape.

From the majestic rivers and mountain ranges to key government policies and scientific landmarks, understanding these elements gives you a holistic view of the nation.

Facts about gold reserves in Bihar, space research in Sriharikota, or the Suez Canal’s influence on Bombay help you connect history, economy, and geography in meaningful ways. Remember, in exams or real-world discussions, having concise and accurate facts at your fingertips can make a huge difference.