NDA Examination Geography (General Ability Test) Syllabus

Geography (General Ability Test) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Geography (General Ability Test) in NDA Examination, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   The Earth and Physical Geography

   4 topics

   • The Earth as a Planet
     • Shape, size and movements
     • Latitudes, longitudes and time zones
   • Interior of the Earth and Rocks
     • Earth's layers
     • Types of rocks and minerals
   • Landforms
     • Mountains, plateaus and plains
   • Earthquakes and Volcanoes
     • Causes and effects
2. 2

   Atmosphere, Oceans and Climate

   4 topics

   • Composition and Structure of the Atmosphere
   • Weather and Climate
     • Temperature and atmospheric pressure
     • Winds, humidity and precipitation
   • Oceans
     • Ocean currents, tides and salinity
   • Condensation and Precipitation
     • Types of clouds and rainfall
3. 3

   Geography of India

   5 topics

   • Physical Features of India
     • Himalayas, plains, plateaus and coasts
   • Rivers and Drainage Systems
     • Himalayan and peninsular rivers
   • Climate, Soils and Natural Vegetation
     • Monsoon system
     • Forest types
   • Agriculture and Industries
     • Major crops and cropping patterns
     • Mineral and power resources
   • Transport and Communication
     • Roadways, railways, waterways and airways
4. 4

   Economic and Human Geography

   4 topics

   • Regional Geography of the World
   • Population and Settlements
     • Distribution and migration
   • Major Natural Regions of the World
   • Map Reading and Map Symbols

Geography (General Ability Test) flashcards for NDA Examination

20 of 52 cards from the Geography (General Ability Test) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the approximate shape of the Earth, and what term describes it?

   The Earth is an oblate spheroid (geoid) — slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to its rotation. Its equatorial diameter (~12,756 km) exceeds its polar diameter (~12,714 km).

2. What causes day and night, and what causes the seasons on Earth?

   Day and night are caused by the Earth's rotation on its axis (once every ~24 hours). Seasons are caused by the Earth's revolution around the Sun combined with the tilt of its axis at 23.5 degrees.

3. On which dates do the equinoxes and solstices occur in the Northern Hemisphere?

   Vernal equinox: ~21 March; Summer solstice: ~21 June; Autumnal equinox: ~23 September; Winter solstice: ~22 December. On equinoxes day and night are equal worldwide.

4. What are the three concentric internal layers of the Earth, and what is each composed of?

   Crust (outermost, silica-rich SIAL/SIMA), Mantle (silicate rocks rich in iron and magnesium), and Core (mostly nickel and iron — NIFE). The core has a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.

5. What are the three major types of rocks based on their mode of formation?

   Igneous (formed from cooled molten magma/lava, e.g., granite, basalt), Sedimentary (formed by deposition and compaction of sediments, e.g., sandstone, limestone), and Metamorphic (formed by heat and pressure altering existing rocks, e.g., marble from limestone, slate from shale).

6. How is metamorphic rock formed, and give two examples with their parent rocks.

   Metamorphic rock forms when existing igneous or sedimentary rocks are transformed by intense heat and pressure. Examples: marble (from limestone), slate (from shale), gneiss (from granite), quartzite (from sandstone).

7. What is the difference between intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks?

   Intrusive (plutonic) rocks form when magma cools slowly beneath the surface, producing large crystals (e.g., granite). Extrusive (volcanic) rocks form when lava cools quickly on the surface, producing fine or no crystals (e.g., basalt).

8. What is the difference between a mountain, a plateau, and a plain as landforms?

   A mountain is a natural elevation rising abruptly with steep slopes and a peak (e.g., Himalayas). A plateau is a flat-topped, elevated tableland (e.g., Deccan Plateau). A plain is a large area of flat, low-lying land (e.g., Indo-Gangetic Plain).

9. What are the four major types of mountains based on their mode of formation?

   Fold mountains (e.g., Himalayas, Alps), Block/fault mountains (e.g., Vosges, Sierra Nevada), Volcanic mountains (e.g., Mt. Fuji, Kilimanjaro), and Residual/relict mountains (eroded remnants, e.g., Aravallis).

10. What is the difference between the focus and the epicentre of an earthquake?

    The focus (hypocentre) is the point inside the Earth where the earthquake originates. The epicentre is the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus, where shaking is usually strongest.

11. What scales are used to measure earthquakes, and what does each measure?

    The Richter scale measures the magnitude (energy released) of an earthquake on a logarithmic scale. The Mercalli scale measures the intensity (observed effects and damage).

12. What is the difference between active, dormant, and extinct volcanoes?

    Active volcanoes erupt frequently or may erupt soon (e.g., Barren Island, Stromboli). Dormant volcanoes are currently inactive but may erupt again (e.g., Mt. Fuji). Extinct (dead) volcanoes are unlikely to ever erupt again (e.g., Mt. Kilimanjaro).

13. What is the 'Ring of Fire' and why is it significant?

    The Ring of Fire (or Circum-Pacific Belt) is a horseshoe-shaped zone around the Pacific Ocean with the world's most intense volcanic and seismic activity, accounting for about 75 percent of active volcanoes and most major earthquakes due to plate boundaries.

14. List the layers of the atmosphere in order from the Earth's surface upward.

    Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere (Ionosphere), and Exosphere. Weather phenomena occur in the troposphere; the ozone layer lies in the stratosphere.

15. What are the major gases in the Earth's atmosphere by volume?

    Nitrogen (~78%), Oxygen (~21%), Argon (~0.93%), and Carbon dioxide (~0.03-0.04%), plus trace gases and variable water vapour.

16. In which atmospheric layer is the ozone layer found, and what is its importance?

    The ozone layer is found in the stratosphere. It absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, protecting life on Earth.

17. What is the difference between weather and climate?

    Weather is the short-term, day-to-day state of the atmosphere at a place (temperature, rainfall, humidity, etc.). Climate is the average weather conditions of a region measured over a long period (usually 30+ years).

18. What are the three main types of rainfall based on their cause?

    Convectional rainfall (caused by heating and rising air, common in equatorial regions), Orographic/relief rainfall (caused by air rising over mountains), and Cyclonic/frontal rainfall (caused by meeting of warm and cold air masses).

19. What are isobars and isotherms on a weather map?

    Isobars are lines joining places with equal atmospheric pressure. Isotherms are lines joining places with equal temperature.

20. What is the difference between a cyclone and an anticyclone?

    A cyclone is a low-pressure system with winds spiralling inward (anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere, clockwise in the Southern), often bringing storms. An anticyclone is a high-pressure system with winds spiralling outward, generally bringing clear, calm weather.

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