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Disasters — GK Questions with Answers

10 Geography Questions20 Geography Questions50 Geography Questions100 Geography Questions Current Affairs 2026 Today's GK Quiz Static GK हिन्दी
12 questions
  1. Correct statements on earthquakes — 1. Intensity is measured on the Mercalli scale 2. Magnitude measures the energy released 3. Magnitude is based on direct measurement of seismic-wave amplitude 4. Each whole number on the Richter scale means a hundredfold rise in energy
    1. 1, 2 and 3
    2. 2, 3 and 4
    3. 1 and 4
    4. 1 and 3
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) 1, 2 and 3

    Each whole number raises energy about 32 times, not 100 times.

  2. Correct on cloudbursts — 1. 150 mm of rain per hour 2. Clouds rise up to 15 km 3. Up to 20 mm of rain falls in a few minutes
    1. 1 and 2
    2. 2 and 3
    3. 3 only
    4. All
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 2 and 3

    The standard is 100 mm per hour.

  3. Where is the National Seismological Database Centre?
    1. Mumbai
    2. Kolkata
    3. New Delhi
    4. Chandigarh
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) New Delhi

    The Central Receiving Station is also in New Delhi.

  4. Which statement on the causes of earthquakes in the northern plains is FALSE? (UPPCS 2000)
    1. The plain lies near a plate convergence zone
    2. The Indian plate is moving in this direction
    3. It is close to an active zone of the Indian plate
    4. The plain has many fault lines
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) The plain has many fault lines

    The alluvial plain itself is not riddled with faults; the shocks come from the Himalayan convergence zone.

  5. During which Five-Year Plan did the government start planned work against drought?
    1. First
    2. Second
    3. Third
    4. Fourth
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Second

    1956-61, with dry-farming projects.

  6. Tropical cyclones — 1. A violent low-pressure system between 30° N and 30° S 2. Usually spread over 500–1000 km 3. Vertical height 20–25 km. Correct statements?
    1. 1 and 3
    2. 2 and 3
    3. 1 and 2
    4. All
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 1 and 2

    The height is 12–14 km.

  7. Causes of floods — 1. Excessive rain 2. Snowmelt 3. High tide
    1. 1 and 2
    2. 2 and 3
    3. 1 and 3
    4. All
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) All

    All three can suddenly spread water over land.

  8. On tsunamis — 1. Undersea earthquakes are not responsible for tsunamis 2. Tsunamis spread toxic waste stored on coasts 3. Sediment brought by tsunamis damages coral reefs. Correct?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 and 3
    3. 3 only
    4. All
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) 2 and 3

    Sea-floor earthquakes are the main cause of tsunamis.

  9. 1. Earthquakes do not cause landslides 2. Assam is the worst hit by landslides 3. Landslides raise the chance of floods in the Ganga–Brahmaputra basins. Correct?
    1. 1 only
    2. 1 and 2
    3. 3 only
    4. All
    Show answer

    Answer: (C) 3 only

    Earthquakes are the main cause; the Assam plains are relatively less prone.

  10. 1. The sliding of snow masses down a slope is an avalanche 2. It occurs mainly in Haridwar, Chandigarh and Jammu 3. An avalanche was the main cause of the Kedarnath disaster. Correct?
    1. 1 only
    2. 2 only
    3. 2 and 3
    4. 3 only
    Show answer

    Answer: (A) 1 only

    At Kedarnath the main causes were heavy rain/cloudbursts and the Chorabari Lake burst.

  11. Who chairs the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)?
    1. Home Minister
    2. Prime Minister
    3. Cabinet Secretary
    4. President
    Show answer

    Answer: (B) Prime Minister

    The Cabinet Secretary chairs the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC).

  12. In the seismic map in force (IS 1893:2016), which is the highest-hazard zone?
    1. Zone I
    2. Zone III
    3. Zone IV
    4. Zone V
    Show answer

    Answer: (D) Zone V

    Zones run II–V; the Zone VI map announced in November 2025 was withdrawn in March 2026.

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