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Place Palk Strait
Asked 2 times across 2 UPSC exams over 4 years (2015–2019), peaking in 2019.
Key insights
- Most tested in CAPF — 1 of 2 PYQs
- Most asked in 2019
- Recurs across 2 years (2015–2019)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2015 → CAPF 2019
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (1 of 2) predate 2016, and it still returns.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CAPF2019
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the positions in the Bay of Bengal from North to South?
- A Gulf of Mannar – Palk Strait – Palk Bay
- B Palk Strait – Gulf of Mannar – Palk Bay
- C Palk Strait – Palk Bay – Gulf of Mannar ✓
- D Palk Bay – Palk Strait – Gulf of Mannar
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Geography › Maps & Location
CDS2015
If a ship has to go from Chennai to Kochi, it has to go around Sri Lanka rather than crossing through the Palk Strait. Why?
- A The Palk Strait has disputed islands and the Sri Lankan Navy does not allow the ships to cross through
- B It is too shallow for ships to cross ✓
- C Shipping is prohibited through the Strait due to its religious significance connected with the epic Ramayana
- D The around Sri Lanka route is actually shorter than crossing through the Palk Strait
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Geography › Oceanography
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