UPSC Prelims 2022 Q30: Geography – Indian Physical Geography
Consider the following pairs:
Wetland/Lake - Location
1. Hokera Wetland - Punjab
2. Renuka Wetland - Himachal Pradesh
3. Rudrasagar Lake - Tripura
4. Sasthamkotta Lake - Tamil Nadu
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
- (a) Only one pair
- (b) Only two pairs
- (c) Only three pairs
- (d) All four pairs
Answer: (b) Only two pairs
Explanation
Wetlands and lakes — location check (all are Ramsar sites)
| Pair | Correct? | Actual location |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Hokera Wetland – Punjab | No | Jammu and Kashmir (near Srinagar) |
| 2. Renuka Wetland – Himachal Pradesh | Yes | Sirmaur district, HP |
| 3. Rudrasagar Lake – Tripura | Yes | Sepahijala district, Tripura; Neermahal palace stands in it |
| 4. Sasthamkotta Lake – Tamil Nadu | No | Kollam district, Kerala — Kerala's largest freshwater lake |
Ramsar wetlands of Punjab (for contrast): Harike, Kanjli, Ropar, Keshopur-Miani, Beas Conservation Reserve, Nangal.
Answer: (b) Only two pairs.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Two pairs, Renuka and Rudrasagar, are correct.
- (b) CORRECT. Only Renuka (HP) and Rudrasagar (Tripura) are correct; Hokera is in J&K and Sasthamkotta in Kerala.
- (c) Incorrect. Both Hokera and Sasthamkotta are wrongly placed.
- (d) Incorrect. Two of the four pairs are wrong.
Key point
Hokera = J&K; Renuka = HP; Rudrasagar = Tripura (Neermahal); Sasthamkotta = Kerala (largest freshwater lake).
Remember
Hokera is in J&K, and Sasthamkotta is in Kerala.
Common mistakes
- Placing Sasthamkotta in Tamil Nadu; it is in Kollam, Kerala.
- Placing Hokera in Punjab because Punjab has several Ramsar sites.
- Forgetting that Rudrasagar is home to the Neermahal water palace.
Exam tip
Learn Ramsar sites state by state. UPSC often swaps neighbouring states.
Sources
- Ramsar Convention — Sites Information Service (India)
- Ministry of Environment — List of Ramsar sites in India