Geology IFS Paper 1 UPSC 2023 with Solutions

Geology Optional Paper 1 UPSC 2023 - Question Paper with Solutions 

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SECTION-A

1. Answer the following within 150 words each:

Geology 1a Discuss the evidences of continental drift. (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 1b Enumerate the tectonic settings along which majority of earthquakes occur. Where are deep and shallow focus earthquakes located? (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 1c Describe giving reason the difference between terrestrial and outer planets. (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 1d Describe the working of Global Positioning System. (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 1e Explain how the sense of shear in deformation zones can be determined from pressure shadows. (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 2a Describe the remnant landforms that indicate occurrence of past glacial activity over a region. How are the records of moraines useful in interpreting past changes in climate? (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 2b Describe mid-oceanic ridge. Illustrate your answer with suitable diagram. (IFS 2023/10 Marks)

Geology 2c Describe dip isogon method of fold classification with suitable illustrations. (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 3a Discuss the three major plastic deformation mechanisms affecting rocks and minerals. (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 3b Describe the application of remote sensing in Geology. (IFS 2023/10 Marks)

Geology 3c Describe weathering and its types. How does it influence climate and relief? (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 4a Describe different types of volcanoes. How does composition of lava regulate the shape of landform built by them and the eruptive style of volcano? (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 4b Discuss the utility of thematic maps in GIS. (IFS 2023/10 Marks)

Geology 4c During fieldwork in the Southern Granulite Terrain, rectangular, lenticular and barrel-shaped boudins were encountered Sketch these boudins and describe the conditions that lead to their formation. (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

SECTION-B

5. Answer the following within 150 words each:

Geology 5a Differentiate between Pelecypoda and Brachiopoda. (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 5b Define facial suture line and its types with neat diagrams. (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 5c Discuss the lithology of the Blaini Formation and add notes on the age and depositional palaeoenvironment of the Formation. (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 5d In an aquifer with hydraulic conductivity of 10 m/day and effective porosity of 0-10, determine the velocity of groundwater flow between two locations with elevation difference of 12 m, separated by 12000 m. (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 5e Discuss the properties of laterite which make it useful as a building stone. (IFS 2023/8 Marks)

Geology 6a Describe chronostratigraphic and time units. (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 6b Differentiate between Schlumberger and Wenner electrical resistivity methods for groundwater exploration. Illustrate the answer with suitable diagrams of electrode positioning. (IFS 2023/10 Marks)

Geology 6c Why do we study palaeontology in Geology? (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 7a Discuss in brief the evolutionary trends in Equidae. (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 7b Describe the lithostratigraphic succession of the Sausar Group and add notes on its structural setup and economic importance. (IFS 2023/10 Marks)

Geology 7c Describe the Hill-Piper diagram for representation of groundwater chemistry data and illustrate the answer with diagrams, labelled with different hydrogeochemical facies. (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 8a Discuss the factors that ensure safety, stability and cost-effectiveness of dam projects. (IFS 2023/15 Marks)

Geology 8b Differentiate between regular and irregular echinoids. (IFS 2023/10 Marks)

Geology 8c Discuss the palaeozoic sequence of Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh and its fossil contents. (IFS 2023/15 Marks)