Consider the following countries : 1. Finland 2. Germany 3. Norway 4. Russia How many of the above countries have a border with the North Sea ?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Why the answer is (b)
• The North Sea is the arm of the Atlantic between Great Britain and mainland Europe, bordered by the UK, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.
• Germany's North Sea coast lies around the Elbe and Weser estuaries and the Frisian islands — it qualifies.
• Norway's long south-western coast faces the North Sea and hosts its offshore oil and gas fields — it qualifies.
• Finland lies on the Baltic Sea (Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland), and Russia's nearest coasts are on the Baltic, Barents and White Seas — neither touches the North Sea.
• Hence two of the four, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) Only one
- Both Germany and Norway border the North Sea, so the count is two.
- (c) Only three
- Neither Finland nor Russia touches the North Sea.
- (d) All four
- Finland and Russia are Baltic/Arctic states, not North Sea states.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2024, held on 16 June 2024. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.