Geography question from JKAS Prelims, 2021 by JKPSC
How many centimetres has been added to the revised height of Mount Everest after its re-measurement?
Last updated May 15, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option A —
86 сentimetres
The revised height of Mount Everest was officially announced in December 2020 following a joint re-measurement by Nepal and China. The new elevation was established at 8848.86 metres, adding 86 centimetres to the previously accepted height of 8848 metres (which had been the standard since 1954).
Key Context for the Re-measurement
The 2015 Earthquake: One of the primary reasons for the new survey was the massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal in 2015. Geologists suspected the tectonic activity might have altered the mountain's height.
Technological Integration: The survey used a combination of traditional surveying methods (leveling) and modern technology, including GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) and gravimeters to determine the precise "snow height" of the peak.
Geological Significance
The Himalayas are "young fold mountains" formed by the ongoing collision between the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates. Because these plates continue to push against each other, the mountain range is geologically active and continues to rise at a rate of approximately 5 millimetres to 1 centimetre per year, though events like earthquakes can cause sudden shifts or subsidence.
Fast Facts for Revision:
Old Height: 8848 metres (established by the Survey of India in 1954).
New Height: 8848.86 metres.
First Measurement: The first person to calculate the height was Radhanath Sikdar in 1852 using trigonometric calculations.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
