Topic Tides
Asked 18 times across 7 UPSC exams over 27 years (1999–2026), peaking in 2023.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 5 of 18 PYQs
- Most asked in 2023
- Recurs across 12 years (1999–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1999 → CDS 2015 → CAPF 2016 → NDA 2021 → ESE 2022 → CBI 2023 → CISF 2025
How the concept evolved
199
200
215
116
117
218
121
122
323
124
225
126
Rising — more than half its appearances (13 of 18) are since 2016.
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.
CDS2026
Match List-I with List-II and select the answer using the codes given below the Lists
| List I (Type of Tide) | List II (Characteristic) |
|---|
| A. Spring Tides | 1. Low tides caused when the Sun, Earth and Moon are in the position of quadrature |
| B. Neap Tides | 2. Occur when the Moon is the farthest from the Earth |
| C. Apogean Tides | 3. Tides recurring at an interval of six months |
| D. Equinoctial Spring Tides | 4. Very high tides caused when the Sun, Moon and Earth are almost in the same line |
Codes:
- A 3 1 2 4
- B 3 2 1 4
- C 4 2 1 3
- D 4 1 2 3 ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Geography › Oceanography
CAPF2025
Consider the following statements with reference to neap tides
- Normally, there is a seven-day interval between two neap tides
- At this time, the Sun and the Moon are at right angles to each other
- The Moon's attraction is diminished by the counteracting force of the Sun's gravitational pull
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C 1 and 2
- D 2 and 3
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Geography › Oceanography
CISF2025
Which of the following statements is/are correct ?
- The time between the low tide and high tide, when the tide is rising, is called the flow or flood
- Tides are helpful in desilting the sediments. Select the answer
using the code given below :
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2 ✓
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Geography › Oceanography
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