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Topic Time Zones
Asked 5 times across 2 UPSC exams over 37 years (1988–2025), peaking in 2024.
Key insights
- Most tested in CAPF — 3 of 5 PYQs
- Most asked in 2024
- Recurs across 4 years (1988–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1988 → CAPF 2024
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (3 of 5) 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.
CAPF2025
Which of the following statements is/are correct?
- The time at 180° longitude is exactly 12 hours from the 0° longitude, irrespective of whether one travels westward or eastward from the Prime Meridian
- A person moving eastward on Tuesday will count the day as Wednesday once the International Date Line is crossed. Select the answer
using the code given below.
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Geography › Maps & Location
CAPF2024
Consider the following statements regarding the rotation of the Earth
- Since the Earth rotates by 15° each hour, time zones normally differ by one hour
- At the International Date Line, the calendar day changes – advancing a day for eastward travel, dropping back a day for westward travel
- Daylight saving time advances the clock by one hour
- The Moon rotates and revolves about the Earth in the same direction that the Earth revolves around the Sun
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A 1 only
- B 3 and 4 only
- C 1, 3 and 4 ✓
- D 2, 3 and 4
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Geography › Geomorphology
CAPF2024
If it is 31st December, 2023 in New Zealand, at the same time what will be the date in the Hawaiian Islands and Alaska?
- A Both have 01 January, 2024
- B Both have 30 December, 2023 ✓
- C 31 December, 2023 in Alaska and 01 January, 2024 Hawaiian Islands
- D 31 December, 2023 in Hawaiian Islands and 01 January, 2024 in Alaska
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Geography › Geomorphology
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