GK Express of 17/02/2026

🚆 GK Express 2.0

Discipline • Clarity • Competitive Preparation

TODAY’S FOCUS → WORLD AND INDIAN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

🧠 Thought of the Day

“The study of geography is about more than just memorizing places on a map. It's about understanding the complexity of our world.”

— Barack Obama

📰 Current Affairs

1. India's Rank in CPI: In 2025, India ranked 91st on the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) with a score of 39/100, improving slightly from its 96th rank in 2024.
   Denmark (Score - 89) ranks highest for the 8th consecutive time, while Somalia and South Sudan (9) are at the bottom.
2. Substantive Motion: A Member of Parliament (MP) has invoked a Substantive Motion in the Lok Sabha against the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), seeking disqualification from Parliament and a lifetime ban from contesting elections over alleged conduct against national interest.
3. Inauguration of Seva Teerth: The Prime Minister inaugurated 'Seva Teerth', an integrated administrative complex that houses the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), and Cabinet Secretariat.

📘 Concept of the Day

Subject: Physical Geography

Topic: Types of Rainfall (Precipitation)

Precipitation occurs when moist air cools and the water vapor condenses. Based on the mechanism of cooling, rainfall is classified into three main types:

1. Convectional Rainfall: Common in equatorial regions. Sun heats the ground, warm air rises rapidly, cools, forms cumulus clouds, and causes heavy downpours with thunder and lightning (often in the afternoon).
2. Orographic (Relief) Rainfall: Occurs when moist air is forced to rise over a mountain barrier. The windward side gets heavy rain (e.g., Western Ghats), while the leeward side remains dry, forming a 'rain shadow' area (e.g., Deccan Plateau).
3. Cyclonic (Frontal) Rainfall: Caused by cyclonic activity where warm and cold air masses meet. The lighter warm air rises over the heavier cold air, condenses, and causes rain.

🤔 Think About This

Tap a question to reveal the answer

1. Explain the mechanism of the Indian Monsoon. How do Jet Streams influence it?

Answer:
The Indian Monsoon is a complex phenomenon driven by the differential heating of land and water, shifting of the ITCZ (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone), and pressure differences.

Role of Jet Streams:
1. Sub-Tropical Westerly Jet Stream: In winter, it flows south of the Himalayas, bringing western disturbances. Its sudden northward shift in summer triggers the burst of the monsoon.
2. Tropical Easterly Jet Stream: Found only in summer, it blows over peninsular India. A stronger easterly jet stream generally correlates with a more active, robust monsoon season in India.

2. Differentiate between an Estuary and a Delta. Why are most east-flowing rivers forming deltas while west-flowing rivers form estuaries?

Answer:
Delta: A triangular landform at the river mouth created by deposition of sediment (e.g., Sundarbans).
Estuary: A semi-enclosed coastal body where river water mixes with seawater, without forming a delta (e.g., Narmada estuary).

Why the difference?
1. Gradient and Speed: East-flowing rivers (Godavari, Krishna) traverse a long, gentle slope, carrying huge sediment loads that deposit at the mouth. West-flowing rivers (Narmada, Tapi) flow through steep, narrow rift valleys with high velocity, washing sediment directly into the sea, forming estuaries instead of deltas.

📝 Let’s Write an Exam (PYQs)

Q.1 (UPSC) Which country got the least rank in Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in 2025?

A. Yemen and South Sudan

B. Afghanistan

C. Somalia and South Sudan

D. Somalia ans Yeman

Correct Answer: B
Explanation:Somalia and South Sudan got the least rank in CPI. They tied at the absolute bottom of the index with the lowest score of 9.

Q.2 (UPSC 2014) Consider the following pairs:
Hills - Region
1. Cardamom Hills - Coromandel Coast
2. Kaimur Hills - Konkan Coast
3. Mahadeo Hills - Central India
4. Mikir Hills - North-East India
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?

A. 1 and 2

B. 2 and 3

C. 3 and 4

D. 2 and 4

Correct Answer: C
Explanation:
1. Cardamom Hills: Located in the Western Ghats (Kerala/TN border), near the Malabar coast, not Coromandel. (Incorrect)
2. Kaimur Hills: Eastern portion of the Vindhya Range in Central India, not Konkan. (Incorrect)
3. Mahadeo Hills: Located in Madhya Pradesh, Central India. (Correct)
4. Mikir Hills: Located south of the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, North-East India. (Correct)

✍️ Answer These Questions

1. Which imaginary line divides India into almost two equal halves?

2. What is the name of the narrowest strait that separates India from Sri Lanka?

GK Express @ Juniors Hostel
Curated with discipline by Nikhil Dasari