UPSC Prelims 2001 Q21: Geography – World Political Geography & Borders
The given map shows four towns of the Central Asian region marked as 1, 2, 3 and 4. Identify
these from the following list
and
select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Towns:
A. Bishkek
B. Ashkhabad
C. Tashkent
D. Dushanbe
Codes:
- (a) A - 3, B - 1, C - 2, D - 4
- (b) A - 3, B - 1, C - 4, D - 2
- (c) A - 1, B - 3, C - 2, D - 4
- (d) A - 1, B - 3, C - 4, D - 2
Answer: (a) A - 3, B - 1, C - 2, D - 4
Explanation
Identifying four Central Asian towns on the map
| Town | Position on the map (west to east) |
|---|---|
| B. Ashkhabad (Ashgabat) | 1 — capital of Turkmenistan, the westernmost, near Iran |
| C. Tashkent | 2 — capital of Uzbekistan |
| A. Bishkek | 3 — capital of Kyrgyzstan, the north-easternmost |
| D. Dushanbe | 4 — capital of Tajikistan, south of Tashkent |
The map in the paper is not reproduced here. The original option (a) reads A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4, which fits the map positions from west to east: Ashkhabad in the far west, then Tashkent, with Bishkek to the north-east and Dushanbe to the south. The bank's copy of option (a) had a typing error and has been corrected.
Answer: (a) A - 3, B - 1, C - 2, D - 4.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Bishkek 3, Ashkhabad 1, Tashkent 2, Dushanbe 4.
- (b) Incorrect. This swaps Tashkent and Dushanbe.
- (c) Incorrect. This puts Bishkek in the far west, where Ashkhabad lies.
- (d) Incorrect. This puts Bishkek in the west and swaps Tashkent and Dushanbe.
Key point
Central Asian capitals: Ashgabat (Turkmenistan), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan), Astana (Kazakhstan).
Remember
West to east: Ashkhabad, Tashkent, Dushanbe (south), Bishkek (north-east).
Common mistakes
- Placing Bishkek in the west because Kyrgyzstan is less familiar.
- Swapping Dushanbe and Tashkent, which lie close together.
- Forgetting that Ashkhabad lies near the Iran border.
Exam tip
Fix the extreme towns first: Ashkhabad far west, Bishkek far north-east.
Sources
- Oxford School Atlas — Central Asia (political map)
- Ministry of External Affairs — Central Asia division country briefs