IAS Prelims Geography Q.12–2025 | World Regions & Countries
Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk
📍 The Question
Consider the following pairs:
| Region | Country |
|---|---|
| I. Mallorca | Italy |
| II. Normandy | Spain |
| III. Sardinia | France |
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
Correct Answer: (d) None
🎯 Theme of the Question
World Geography | Europe | Regions, Islands & Political Boundaries
This is a pure map-based elimination question. UPSC expects aspirants to have clear mental maps of Europe, especially frequently mentioned regions in news and history.
🧠 Classroom Explanation
Let us verify each pair calmly, one by one.
🔹 I. Mallorca — Italy ❌
- Mallorca (Majorca) is:
- The largest island of the Balearic Islands
- Located in the western Mediterranean Sea
- An autonomous community of Spain
- It is not part of Italy
✔️ Pair I is incorrectly matched
🔹 II. Normandy — Spain ❌
- Normandy is a region of northern France
- Borders the English Channel
- World-famous for:
- D-Day landings (June 6, 1944)
- Ongoing global commemorations (80th anniversary in 2024)
- No historical or political link with Spain
✔️ Pair II is incorrectly matched
🔹 III. Sardinia — France ❌
- Sardinia is:
- An island and autonomous region of Italy
- Second-largest island in the Mediterranean (after Sicily)
- It lies:
- West of mainland Italy
- South of the French island Corsica (which often causes confusion)
- But Sardinia itself is Italian, not French
✔️ Pair III is incorrectly matched
📊 Final Assessment
| Pair | Status |
|---|---|
| Mallorca – Italy | ❌ |
| Normandy – Spain | ❌ |
| Sardinia – France | ❌ |
👉 None of the pairs are correctly matched
❌ UPSC Elimination Logic
- All three pairs contain deliberate country misplacements
- UPSC tests:
- Island vs mainland confusion
- Neighbouring-country traps
- News-linked regions (Normandy)
Answer: (d) None
🧩 Memory Hook
“Mallorca dances with Spain, Normandy remembers France, Sardinia sings in Italian.”
🧠 Prelims Strategy Insight
- Europe questions often rely on:
- Islands vs regions
- Political ownership, not proximity
- Always double-check:
- Mediterranean islands
- Bordering regions mentioned in history/current affairs
🧭 IAS Monk Whisper
Maps don’t lie — but memory often does. Train the eye before trusting the instinct