36 practice questions on Indian Climate from the Geography section of the UPSC Prelims syllabus.
36 come with a written explanation and 4 are actual previous year questions.
Try the sample set below - the answer stays hidden until you ask for it.
9 Easy19 Medium8 Hard4 from past papers
Sample questions
Q1
Previous year questionmedium
The lower Gangetic plain is characterised by humid climate with high temperature throughout the year. Which one among the following pairs of crops is most suitable for this region?
APaddy and cotton
BWheat and Jute
CPaddy and Jute
DWheat and cotton
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - Paddy and Jute
Correct answer (c) Paddy and Jute. The lower Gangetic plain of West Bengal has high temperatures, heavy rainfall and humid, water-retentive alluvial soils, which suit paddy and jute, both moisture-loving crops. Cotton needs drier, black-soil conditions and wheat prefers cooler, drier winters, so any pairing with cotton or wheat, namely (a), (b) and (d), is unsuitable for this hot wet region.
Q2
Previous year questionmedium
Among the following States, which one has the most suitable climatic conditions for the cultivation of a large variety of orchids with minimum cost of production, and can develop an export oriented industry in this field?
AAndhra Pradesh
BArunachal Pradesh
CMadhya Pradesh
DUttar Pradesh
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - Arunachal Pradesh
Correct answer (b) Arunachal Pradesh. Its cool, humid, frost-free montane climate with abundant rainfall and natural forest shade supports the largest diversity of orchids in India and allows low-cost, export-oriented cultivation. Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have hotter, drier plateau and plains climates unsuited to most orchids, and Uttar Pradesh's plains are likewise too hot and dry, so (a), (c) and (d) are incorrect.
Q3
Previous year questionmedium
Consider the following statements:
1. The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India.
2. The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from east to west.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C - Both 1 and 2
The southwest monsoon arrives first in the south and withdraws last from there, so its duration shortens northward (statement 1 correct), and in the northern plains rainfall falls from the wetter east, fed by the Bay of Bengal branch, toward the drier west around Punjab and Rajasthan (statement 2 correct). Both statements are correct, so the answer is Both 1 and 2.
Q4
Previous year questionmedium
Consider the following statements :
1. The winds which blow between 30 degrees N and 60 degrees S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - 2 only
Statement 1 is incorrect as worded: the westerlies blow from the subtropical highs towards the subpolar lows between roughly 30 and 60 degrees latitude in each hemisphere separately, that is 30-60 N and 30-60 S. A single belt stretching from 30 N to 60 S would also cover the trade-wind and equatorial zones, which is wrong. Statement 2 is correct: the western disturbances that bring winter rain to north-western India originate over the Mediterranean region and are steered eastwards embedded in the subtropical westerlies, and this rain is vital for the rabi wheat crop. Hence 2 only.
Q5
medium
With reference to the climate of India, the phenomenon locally known as 'Loo' is best described as:
ACold-season cyclonic rainfall over northwest India
BHot, dry and oppressive winds blowing over the northern plains during summer afternoons
CPre-monsoon thunderstorms of West Bengal and Assam
DWinter fog over the Indo-Gangetic plain
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B - Hot, dry and oppressive winds blowing over the northern plains during summer afternoons
The 'Loo' is a strong, hot and dry wind that blows over the northern plains of India during the day in May and June, often raising temperatures dangerously. The cold-season cyclonic rainfall is from western disturbances; the pre-monsoon thunderstorms of West Bengal/Assam are the Kalbaisakhi/Norwesters; winter fog is a separate phenomenon.
Q6
easy
The 'October Heat' or 'Kartik' weather experienced over much of north India is mainly attributed to:
AHigh temperature combined with high humidity as the monsoon retreats
BThe onset of western disturbances bringing winter rain
CIntense cold-wave conditions from Siberian air masses
DPre-monsoon convective thunderstorms over the plateau
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - High temperature combined with high humidity as the monsoon retreats
As the southwest monsoon retreats in October, temperatures remain high while the air retains considerable moisture, producing oppressive, sultry weather popularly called 'October heat'. It precedes the onset of winter and is unrelated to western disturbances, cold waves or pre-monsoon storms.
Q7
medium
"Mango showers" and "Kalbaisakhi" are pre-monsoon weather phenomena in India. Which of the following statements about them is correct?
AKalbaisakhi are violent thunderstorms over Bengal and Assam, while mango showers are pre-monsoon rains over Karnataka helping ripen mangoes
BBoth occur during the retreating monsoon over the Coromandel coast
CMango showers are confined to the northern plains during the western disturbances
DKalbaisakhi are coastal showers of Kerala that mark the monsoon burst
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - Kalbaisakhi are violent thunderstorms over Bengal and Assam, while mango showers are pre-monsoon rains over Karnataka helping ripen mangoes
Kalbaisakhi (the calamity of the month of Baisakh, also called Norwesters) are localized severe thunderstorms during April-May over West Bengal, Assam and adjacent areas. Mango showers are pre-monsoon convectional showers over Karnataka and parts of the south that help in ripening mangoes and coffee. These are durable, syllabus-core pre-monsoon features.
Q8
medium
The relatively equable (moderate) climate of coastal cities such as Mumbai compared with inland cities at similar latitudes is mainly due to:
AThe high specific heat of water and the moderating influence of land and sea breezes
BHigher altitude of coastal cities above mean sea level
CThe greater distance of coastal cities from the equator
DPermanent cloud cover over coastal areas throughout the year
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A - The high specific heat of water and the moderating influence of land and sea breezes
Water has a high specific heat and warms and cools slowly, so a large water body keeps adjacent coasts warm in winter and cool in summer; aided by daily land and sea breezes, this gives coastal places a small annual and diurnal temperature range (equable climate). Inland places lack this maritime moderation and have extreme continental climates. Coastal cities are not necessarily higher in altitude, are not farther from the equator, and do not have permanent year-round cloud cover; these are not the cause.
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