India - States and Union Territories PYQs – Geography, SSC & Railway

Correct Answer:
Correct Answer: Option 1 – Madhya Pradesh
Explanation:
News reports from April 2026 confirm that Dhar, a historic city inMadhya Pradesh, was selected under the Centre's 'Safe Cities' project to boost women's safety infrastructure.
Important Facts:
• Dhar is known for the historic Mandu fort and monuments and is a district headquarters in Madhya Pradesh.
• The 'Safe Cities' project focuses on CCTV surveillance, street lighting, and women's helplines in urban areas.
• Madhya Pradesh's capital is Bhopal; Dhar district lies in the Malwa region of the state.

Answer: Option 4 — Telangana
Telanganawas formed on 2 June 2014, so 2 June 2026 marks its12thformation year → Option 4.

Topic:Reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 was passed by Parliament in August 2019.
This Act bifurcated the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two separate Union Territories:
1. Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature)
2. Union Territory of Ladakh (without legislature)
Both UTs came into existence on31st October 2019.
Answer: Option 2 → 2019

Correct Answer: Gujarat — Option (a)
The Rann of Kutch is a vast salt marsh located in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India. It is divided into the Great Rann of Kutch (Banni grasslands) and the Little Rann of Kutch. It is famous for its white salt desert and is the habitat of the Indian Wild Ass ( Ghudkhur ). The region is also known for the Rann Utsav festival.
Option (b) Maharashtra — Incorrect: Maharashtra does not contain the Rann of Kutch.
Option (c) Rajasthan — Incorrect: Though Rajasthan borders the region, the Rann of Kutch lies within Gujarat.
Option (d) Uttar Pradesh — Incorrect: Uttar Pradesh is an inland state far from the Rann of Kutch.

The correct answer is option 1.
Both Kappad Beach and Chal Beach are located in Kerala. Kappad Beach (also known as Kappakadavu) in Kozhikode district is historically significant as the place where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama first landed in India in 1498. Chal Beach is also located in Kerala.
Option 2 is incorrect: Gujarat has beaches like Mandvi and Somnath, but not Kappad or Chal.
Option 3 is incorrect: Goa is famous for beaches like Baga, Calangute, and Colva, but Kappad and Chal are in Kerala.
Option 4 is incorrect: Andhra Pradesh has beaches like Rishikonda and Bheemunipatnam, but not Kappad or Chal.

Uttarakhand shares its north-western border with Himachal Pradesh.
Among its districts, Uttarkashi and Dehradun lie along this inter-state border.
Hence, Uttarkashi and Dehradun are the two districts sharing the inter-state border with Himachal Pradesh in the north-west.
Final answer: Option 1

Ima Keithel (literally 'mother's market' in Meitei language) is a famous all-women market located in Imphal, Manipur. It is one of the largest all-women markets in Asia, where thousands of women vendors sell textiles, vegetables, fish, and household goods. It has a history of over 500 years and is a symbol of women's economic empowerment.
Why other options are incorrect:
- Kochi: A major port city in Kerala with its own markets; Ima Keithel is not associated with Kochi.
- Hyderabad: Known for markets like Laad Bazaar and Begum Bazaar; not Ima Keithel.
- New Delhi: India's capital has numerous markets, but Ima Keithel is specific to Imphal.

The correct answer is (a) Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura.
Manipur, Meghalaya, and Tripura all became full-fledged states on January 21, 1972. Therefore, January 21, 2025 marked their 53rd Statehood Day.
(b) Arunachal Pradesh: Became a state on February 20, 1987; Sikkim on May 16, 1975. They do not share January 21 as Statehood Day.
(c) Assam: Statehood since 1950; Mizoram: February 20, 1987; Nagaland: December 1, 1963. None of these share January 21.
(d) Nagaland: December 1, 1963; this combination is incorrect.

Salkhan Fossil Park (also known as Sohagighat Fossil Park) is located in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the largest and oldest fossil parks in the world, containing fossils that are approximately 1,400 million years old. The fossils are of Stromatolites, which are layered structures formed by cyanobacteria.
Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala do not have this fossil park.

Sikkim joined the Indian Union on May 16, 1975, making its 50th Statehood Day in May 2025. Prem Singh Tamang (also known as P.S. Golay) is the Chief Minister of Sikkim. Sikkim was the last state to join India. Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya achieved statehood in different years and have different Chief Ministers.