UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION

PRELIMS SPECIAL

1995 - 2018

PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS

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Climate in India

CHAPTER LISTING

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Unit Chapter

World Geography

Physical Geography

Geomorphology

Climatology

Oceanography

Biogeography

Social Geography

Economic Geography

Indian Geography

Physical Geography

Basics of India

Physical features

River systems

Climate

Agriculture

Vegetation and Fauna

Social Geography

Economic Geography

L4-L7

L1 – L3

L8

L9

L10

L11

L12-L13

L14-L16L17

CHAPTER LISTING

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Q 171-

Chapter Topics

Climate in India

Monsoons

Seasons

Cyclones & Anti-Cyclones

Q. The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of [2014]

(a) Equatorial climate

(b) Mediterranean climate

(c) Monsoon climate

(d) All of the above climates

QUESTION 171

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Monsoons

QUESTION 171

• The term monsoon has been derived from the Arabic word ‘mausim’ or meaning ‘season’.• Monsoons are seasonal winds which reverse their direction with the change of season.• Monsoons are peculiar to Indian Subcontinent, South East Asia, parts of Central Western Africa etc. They are more

pronounced in the Indian Subcontinent compared to any other region.• India receives south-west monsoon winds in summer and north-east monsoon winds in winter.• South-west monsoons bring intense rainfall to most of the regions in India and north-east monsoons bring rainfall

to mainly south-eastern coast of India (Southern Andhra Pradesh coast and Tamil Nadu coast).

Q. The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of [2014]

(a) Equatorial climate

(b) Mediterranean climate

(c) Monsoon climate

(d) All of the above climates

Answer: c

QUESTION 171

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Q. Consider the following statements : [2012 - I]

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?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

QUESTION 172

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Monsoons

QUESTION 172

• The southwest monsoon arrives in two branches: the Bay ofBengal branch and the Arabian Sea branch.

• The monsoon typically breaks over Indian territory by around 25May, when it lashes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay ofBengal.

• It strikes the Indian mainland around 1 June near the MalabarCoast of Kerala. By 9 June, it reaches Mumbai; it appears overDelhi by 29 June.

• The Bay of Bengal branch, which initially tracks the CoromandalCoast, swerves to the northwest towards the Indo-Gangetic Plain.The Arabian Sea branch moves northeast towards the Himalayas.

• On average, South India receives more rainfall than North India.However, Northeast India receives the most precipitation.

• Monsoon clouds begin retreating from North India by the end ofAugust. As India further cools during September, the southwestmonsoon weakens. By the end of November, it has left thecountry.

Q. Consider the following statements : [2012 - I]

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?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: c

QUESTION 172

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Q. High temperature and low pressure over the Indian subcontinent during the summer season

draws air from the Indian Ocean leading to the in-blowing of the: [1996]

(a) South-east monsoon

(b) South-west monsoon

(c) Trade winds

(d) Westerlies

QUESTION 173

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Factors responsible for South West Monsoon

QUESTION 173

• Intense heating of Tibetan plateau during summer months.• Subtropical Jet Stream (STJ).• Tropical Easterly Jet (African Easterly Jet).• Inter Tropical Convergence Zone.• Westward migration and subsequent weakening of high pressure cell in the Southern Indian Ocean.• Migration of ITCZ to the south of India.

Q. High temperature and low pressure over the Indian subcontinent during the summer season

draws air from the Indian Ocean leading to the in-blowing of the: [1996]

(a) South-east monsoon

(b) South-west monsoon

(c) Trade winds

(d) Westerlies

Answer: b

QUESTION 173

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Q. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of Indian cities in the decreasing order, of

their normal annual rainfall? [2005]

(a) Kochi–Kolkata–Delhi–Patna

(b) Kolkata–Kochi–Patna–Delhi

(c) Kochi–Kolkata–Patna–Delhi

(d) Kolkata–Kochi–Delhi–Patna

QUESTION 174

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QUESTION 174

Q. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of Indian cities in the decreasing order, of

their normal annual rainfall? [2005]

(a) Kochi–Kolkata–Delhi–Patna

(b) Kolkata–Kochi–Patna–Delhi

(c) Kochi–Kolkata–Patna–Delhi

(d) Kolkata–Kochi–Delhi–Patna

Answer: c

QUESTION 174

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Q. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer: [1997]

List-I (Climatic conditions) List-II (Reasons)

A. Madras is warmer than Calcutta 1. North-east monsoon

B. Snowfall in Himalayas 2. Altitude

C. Rainfall decreases from West Bengal to Punjab 3. Western depressions

D. Sutlej-Ganga plain gets some rain in winter 4. Distance from the sea

5. Latitude

Codes:

(a) A – 1; B – 2; C – 4; D – 5

(b) A – 4; B – 5; C – 1; D – 3

(c) A – 5; B – 2; C – 4; D – 3

(d) A – 5; B – 1; C – 3; D – 4

Answer: c

QUESTION 175

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Q. Assertion (A) : Bangalore receives much higher average annual rainfall than that of Mangalore.

Reason (R) : Bangalore has the benefit of receiving rainfall both from south-west and north-east

monsoons.

Choose the appropriate code from below: [2004]

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A

(c) A is true but R is false

(d) A is false but R is true

QUESTION 176

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QUESTION 176

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QUESTION 176

Retreating Monsoon

• Much of India experiences infrequent and relativelyfeeble precipitation during the retreating monsoon.

• When the retreating monsoon blows from the northeastacross the Bay of Bengal, it picks up a significant amountof moisture, which is subsequently released after movingback onto the peninsula.

• Thus, from October to December the coast of Tamil Nadustate receives at least half of its roughly 1,000 mm ofannual precipitation.

• That rainy extension of the generally dry retreatingmonsoon is called the northeast, or winter, monsoon.

Q. Assertion (A) : Bangalore receives much higher average annual rainfall than that of Mangalore.

Reason (R) : Bangalore has the benefit of receiving rainfall both from south-west and north-east

monsoons.

Choose the appropriate code from below: [2004]

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A

(c) A is true but R is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer: d

QUESTION 176

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Q. Consider the following statements: [2009]

1. In the world, the tropical deserts occur along the western margins of continents within the trade

wind belt.

2. In India, the east Himalayan region gets high rainfall from north-east winds.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: a

QUESTION 177

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Q. The January isotherm taken as a basis for dividing India into tropical and subtropical zones

is : [1997]

(a) 21°C

(b) 18°C

(c) 12°C

(d) 15°C

QUESTION 178

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QUESTION 178

• Stamp used 18°C isotherm of mean monthlytemperature for January to divide the country intotwo broad climatic regions, viz., temperate orcontinental zone in the north and tropical zone inthe south.

• This line runs roughly across the root of thepeninsula, more or less along or parallel to theTropic of Cancer.

• The two major climatic regions are further dividedinto eleven regions depending upon the amount ofrainfall and temperature.

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Indira Gandhi CanalStamp’s Climatic Regions

Q. The January isotherm taken as a basis for dividing India into tropical and subtropical zones

is : [1997]

(a) 21°C

(b) 18°C

(c) 12°C

(d) 15°C

Answer: b

QUESTION 178

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Q. Assertion (A) : Anticyclonic conditions are formed in winter season when atmospheric pressure is

high and air temperatures are low.

Reason (R) : Winter rainfall in northern India causes development of anticyclonic conditions with low

temperatures.

Choose the appropriate code from below: [2001]

(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A

(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A

(c) A is true but R is false

(d) A is false but R is true

Answer: c

QUESTION 179

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Q. Consider the following which can be found in the ambient atmosphere : [2010]

1. Soot

2. Sulphur hexafluoride

3. Water vapour

Which of the above contribute to the warming up of the atmosphere?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 3 only

(c) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

QUESTION 180 (Do It Yourself)

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