RAS question
Zoji La pass connects which two regions?
Correct answer: (A) Kashmir Valley and Ladakh.
Zoji La pass connects the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh.
Explanation
Zoji La is the pass that links the Kashmir Valley with Ladakh. It lies on the Great Himalayan range in the Jammu and Kashmir/Ladakh sector and connects Srinagar in the Kashmir Valley with Kargil and Leh in Ladakh. The Press Information Bureau calls Zojila one of the world's most critical and challenging high-altitude passes and states that it connects the Kashmir Valley to Ladakh. Its importance comes from that corridor role: winter closure affects troop movement, essential supplies and daily life in Ladakh, while BRO's Project Beacon in Kashmir and Project Vijayak in Ladakh work to restore connectivity on this strategic pass.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Sikkim and Tibet are associated with Nathu La, not Zoji La, so this option shifts the pass to the eastern Himalaya.
- (C) Jammu and Srinagar are linked through the Banihal Pass or tunnel route, whereas Zoji La lies on the Kashmir Valley-Ladakh connection.
- (D) Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti are connected by Rohtang Pass, not by Zoji La.
Concept
This tests the Indian geography concept of Himalayan passes and the regions they connect. RAS repeats such questions because passes are physical features with direct strategic, transport and defence relevance.