Basic Quiz – 28 September 2026 | Geography

Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only

Explanation: Sharavathi, Netravati and Periyar are west-flowing rivers associated with the Western Ghats and ultimately drain into the Arabian Sea.

Because the western slope of the Ghats lies relatively close to the coast, many west-flowing rivers have comparatively short courses, steep gradients and significant hydropower potential.

The Krishna also originates in the Western Ghats, but it flows eastward across the Peninsular Plateau and ultimately drains into the Bay of Bengal. Therefore, statement 4 does not satisfy the geographical description in the question.

Answer: (c) Only three

Explanation: Pairs 1, 2 and 3 are correctly matched.

The Northern Western Ghats prominently include the Sahyadri Range in Maharashtra and are associated with the basaltic Deccan Trap landscape.

The Central Western Ghats, also described as the Kanara Ghats, extend largely across Karnataka and contain high-rainfall evergreen forest regions.

The Southern Western Ghats extend through Kerala and Tamil Nadu and include the Nilgiri, Anamalai and Cardamom Hills.

Therefore, Pair 4 is incorrect because the Cardamom Hills belong to the Southern Western Ghats, not the northern section.

Answer: (b)

Explanation: Both statements are correct.

The Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) headed by Madhav Gadgil recommended that the entire Western Ghats be treated as an ESA. Within this larger area, it proposed three categories, ESZ-I, ESZ-II and ESZ-III, based on varying degrees of ecological sensitivity.

However, Statement II describes how the proposed ESA was to be internally classified. It does not explain why the entire Western Ghats was recommended for ESA status. Therefore, both statements are independently correct, but Statement II is not the explanation of Statement I.

The later Kasturirangan Committee (2013) adopted a narrower approach and recommended that roughly 37% of the Western Ghats, about 60,000 sq km, be designated as ESA.

Answer: (c) Only three

Explanation: Statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.

The proposed ESA covers about 56,825.7 sq km across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Among these, Karnataka accounts for the largest proposed ESA area and Gujarat the smallest.

The draft proposes prohibition of commercial mining, quarrying, sand mining, new thermal power plants, highly polluting red-category industries and large-scale construction projects. Hydropower projects are not placed under an absolute prohibition but are proposed to be regulated.

Statement 4 is incorrect. The draft specifically provides that agriculture, plantation activities and the day-to-day livelihood activities of local communities will remain unaffected.

Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation: All four statements are correct.

The Western Ghats were inscribed as a UNESCO natural World Heritage property in 2012. The designation does not mean that the entire geographical extent of the Western Ghats constitutes one continuous World Heritage property.

According to the source, the serial property contains 39 component parts, including protected landscapes such as national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, tiger reserves and reserved forests.

These components are organised into seven sub-clusters: Sahyadri, Kudremukh, Talacauvery, Nilgiri, Anamalai, Periyar and Agasthyamalai. Thus, both Nilgiri and Agasthyamalai are correctly included.