GS Paper I · Physical Geography
Earthquakes & Volcanoes Current Affairs for UPSC (GS Paper I)
From the syllabus: Salient features of world's physical geography; important geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, tsunami, volcanic activity, cyclone; changes in critical geographical features including water-bodies and ice-caps
Why it matters: Tectonic activity matters in civil service exams because evaluators assess your knowledge of crustal movements, seismic risk zones, and volcanic landform creation processes.
In the news
September 2026
06 Sep 2026
Anak Krakatau Eruption Disrupts Regional Aviation in IndonesiaIndonesia's Anak Krakatau volcano erupted, spewing thick ash columns and prompting the cancellation of several commercial flights around Jakarta. Located in the Sunda Strait along the Pacific Ring of Fire, Anak Krakatau is a...
August 2026
25 Aug 2026
Scientists Use Thunderquake Vibrations to Map Urban SubsurfaceResearchers have demonstrated the use of 'thunderquakes', seismic vibrations generated when acoustic shockwaves from lightning strikes hit the ground, to conduct urban subsurface seismology. By recording these ambient energy waves using...
16 Aug 2026
CDRI Facilitates Nepal-Bhutan Cross-Border Disaster PreparednessNepal has partnered with Bhutan to conduct comprehensive earthquake response drills, testing emergency protocols at major hospitals and referral centers in Bhutan. Supported by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI),...
16 Aug 2026
Tectonic Vulnerabilities Highlighted by Indonesian EarthquakeA major earthquake followed by over 340 aftershocks struck Indonesia's Flores Island, killing at least 51 people and causing widespread damage. The disaster has forced thousands of residents to evacuate and has underscored the high...
July 2026
13 Jul 2026
Geologists raise alarm over Brahmaputra mega-dam on active fault lineChinese geologists have publicly questioned the safety of the 167.8 billion dollar mega-dam being built on the Brahmaputra River (known as Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet). The concerns stem from the dam's location over an active seismic fault...
Practise Earthquakes & Volcanoes
4 of our latest questions on this topic.
Question 1 of 4
The active volcanic island Anak Krakatau is geographically situated in which of the following straits?
Previous years' questions
Past exam questions sorted by topic are coming here. Until then, the full papers are in our previous papers library.