Climate

1. Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies fr

Which one of the following National Parks has a climate that varies from tropical to subtropical, temperate and arctic?

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Khangchendzonga National Park
Nandadevi National Park
Neora Valley National Park
Namdapha National Park
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2015
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Khangchendzonga National Park (KNP) is located in Sikkim and is home to Mount Kanchenjunga, the world’s third-highest peak. Due to the vast altitude range within the park (from approximately 1,800 m to over 8,586 m), it encompasses a wide variety of climate zones, including tropical (in lower valleys), subtropical, temperate, alpine, and areas reaching near-arctic conditions at the highest elevations. This wide variation allows it to host a diverse range of ecosystems and biodiversity.
– The question asks for a National Park with a climate ranging from tropical to arctic.
– This requires a park with significant altitudinal variation, extending from low elevations to very high mountains.
– Khangchendzonga National Park is located around the world’s third-highest peak and spans a vast altitude range.
Khangchendzonga National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognized for its unique natural and cultural significance, representing a sacred landscape. While other Himalayan parks like Nanda Devi and Namdapha also have significant altitudinal ranges and diverse climates, Khangchendzonga’s specific range makes it the most fitting answer for a transition from tropical/subtropical to arctic conditions.

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2. According to Koppen’s climatic classifications of India, Great Norther

According to Koppen’s climatic classifications of India, Great Northern Plains are represented by

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Cwg Climate
Aw Climate
Amw Climate
As Climate
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2020
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The correct answer is (A) Cwg Climate.
According to Koppen’s climatic classification as applied to India, the Great Northern Plains are primarily represented by the Cwg climate type.
– C: Temperate (mild winter)
– w: Dry winter (rainfall mainly in summer)
– g: Gangetic Plain (specific indicator used by some climatologists for this region, indicating the hottest month is June or July and the temperature in December exceeds that in January)
This climate is characterized by a hot dry summer, a wet monsoon season, and a mild dry winter.
– Aw: Tropical Savanna climate (found in parts of the Deccan Plateau and other regions).
– Amw: Tropical Monsoon climate (found on the west coast south of Goa and parts of the North-East).
– As: Tropical Savanna with dry summer (found in a small area on the east coast south of the Kaveri delta).
The Northern Plains, with their distinct seasonal rainfall pattern dominated by the summer monsoon and dry winters, fit the Cwg classification better than the others listed.

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3. Which one among the following is the most plausible explanation for th

Which one among the following is the most plausible explanation for the location of the Thar Desert in Western India ?

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Prevalence of sand dunes
The evaporation of moisture by heat
The absence of mountains to the North of Rajasthan to cause orographic rainfall in it
The moisture carried by the South-West Monsoon is driven away by the dry upper air current
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2014
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The most plausible explanation for the location of the Thar Desert in Western India is the influence of dry upper air currents that prevent rainfall despite the presence of moisture-laden monsoon winds.
The South-West Monsoon winds carry significant moisture from the Arabian Sea. However, over Western Rajasthan, there is a subsidence of dry air associated with the subtropical high-pressure belt. This descending dry air is stable and inhibits the formation of convective clouds necessary for rainfall. Furthermore, the Aravalli Range runs parallel to the direction of the monsoon winds, failing to act as an effective barrier to cause significant orographic rainfall on the windward side in this region, unlike the Western Ghats or the Himalayas. The combined effect of atmospheric circulation (descending dry air) and the topography contributes to the aridity. Option D directly addresses the primary meteorological cause.
Other factors like the sandy soil’s low water retention capacity and high temperatures leading to evaporation contribute to the desert environment, but the *location* is primarily determined by the large-scale atmospheric circulation pattern and topographical features relative to rain-bearing winds.

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4. Which one among the following is the most important reason behind the

Which one among the following is the most important reason behind the prevalence of extreme type of climate in different parts of India ?

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The long latitudinal extent
The east-west alignment of the Himalayas
The peninsular location of the country
The significant variation in altitude
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2010
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The correct option is B) The east-west alignment of the Himalayas.
The Himalayas, acting as a formidable barrier, prevent the extremely cold winds from Central Asia from entering the Indian subcontinent during winter. This leads to milder winters in North India compared to similar latitudes elsewhere. In summer, they trap the monsoon winds, causing widespread rainfall. However, the *east-west* alignment across the north means that the vast Indo-Gangetic Plain to the south is largely open to influences from the interior of the continent, leading to a significant variation between summer and winter temperatures (continentality), which is a key characteristic of an “extreme type of climate” in parts of India. The absence of a high mountain range running north-south across the northern plains allows these continental air masses to penetrate.
Factors like the long latitudinal extent cause variation in temperature received from the sun, but don’t necessarily cause *extremes* across the country in the same way as continentality. The peninsular location has a moderating influence on climate due to the proximity of the sea, preventing extremes. Variation in altitude causes local climatic variations (e.g., cooler in mountains, hotter in plains) rather than being the primary reason for extreme climate across different regions.

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5. According to Koppen’s climatic classifications, the Great Northern Pla

According to Koppen’s climatic classifications, the Great Northern Plains of India have which one of the following climates ?

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Aw climate
Cwg climate
Amw climate
Dfc climate
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2023
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According to Koppen’s climatic classification, the Great Northern Plains of India have a Cwg climate.
Koppen’s classification system uses temperature and precipitation to define climate zones. Cwg represents a humid subtropical climate. ‘C’ denotes warm temperate climates, ‘w’ indicates dry winters, and ‘g’ specifically refers to the Gangetic Plain, signifying a climate characterized by hot, dry summers before the monsoon arrives, followed by a rainy season, and then cool, dry winters. This accurately describes the climate of the vast Northern Plains of India.
Other climate types found in India according to Koppen’s classification include Aw (Tropical Savanna, found in parts of peninsular India), Amw (Tropical Monsoon, found along the west coast), BShw (Semi-arid Steppe, found in parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana), BWhw (Hot Desert, found in Western Rajasthan), As (Tropical Wet, dry summer, found in the Coromandel coast), Dfc (Cold, wet winter, short cool summer, found in very high altitudes).

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6. Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

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List I
(Type of climate)		List II
(State)
A. Monsoon with Short Dry Season (Amw)1. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
B. Cold Humid Winter with Short Summer (Dfc)3. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Monsoon with Dry Winter (Cwg)4. Kerala and Karnataka Coast
D. Monsoon with Dry Summer (As)2. Tamil Nadu Coast

Code :

ABCD
(a)4312
(b)4132
(c)2134
(d)2314
Code (a)
Code (b)
Code (c)
Code (d)
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2017
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The correct matching is A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2. This corresponds to Code (a).
Based on the Köppen-Geiger climate classification (or simplified versions adapted for India):
– Amw (Monsoon with Short Dry Season): Found along the west coast south of Goa, including coastal Karnataka and Kerala. It is characterized by a distinct dry season but gets heavy monsoon rainfall. Matches Kerala and Karnataka Coast (4).
– Dfc (Cold Humid Winter with Short Summer): Found in very high altitudes in the Himalayan region where winters are very cold and summers are short and mild. Parts of Arunachal Pradesh at high elevation fit this description. Matches Arunachal Pradesh (3).
– Cwg (Monsoon with Dry Winter): Typical of the vast North Indian plains (Ganga valley), receiving monsoon rainfall during summer and experiencing a dry winter. Matches Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (1).
– As (Monsoon with Dry Summer): Found in areas that receive rainfall mainly from the retreating monsoon during the winter season, having a dry summer (during the main south-west monsoon). The Tamil Nadu coast is a prime example due to its location in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats during the summer monsoon and receiving rainfall from the North-East monsoon. Matches Tamil Nadu Coast (2).
Matching the types:
A. Amw -> 4. Kerala and Karnataka Coast
B. Dfc -> 3. Arunachal Pradesh
C. Cwg -> 1. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
D. As -> 2. Tamil Nadu Coast
This gives the code 4, 3, 1, 2, which is option (a).

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7. Four persons are travelling to different States of India. To whom will

Four persons are travelling to different States of India. To whom will you advise to protect oneself from blizzards ?

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The person travelling to Arunachal Pradesh
The person travelling to Assam
The person travelling to Tripura
The person travelling to Odisha
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2021
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A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds and significant snowfall, reducing visibility significantly. Blizzards occur in regions experiencing cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, typically at high altitudes or latitudes during winter. Among the given options, Arunachal Pradesh, particularly its higher elevations, is located in the Himalayas where cold conditions and heavy snowfall occur in winter, making it possible to encounter blizzards.
Assam, Tripura, and Odisha are located in lower altitude areas or regions with tropical/subtropical climates that do not experience the combination of severe cold, heavy snowfall, and high winds necessary for blizzards.
Blizzards are dangerous weather phenomena that can cause whiteout conditions, drifting snow, and dangerously low temperatures (wind chill). People traveling in mountainous regions or northern parts of India during winter should be prepared for potential snowstorms, including blizzards, especially in states like Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and the higher parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

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8. The Isotherm Line, which divides India North-South in almost two equal

The Isotherm Line, which divides India North-South in almost two equal parts in the month of January, is

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10 °C
25 °C
15 °C
20 °C
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2020
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The Isotherm Line, which divides India North-South in almost two equal parts in the month of January, is approximately the 20 °C isotherm.
In January, North India experiences cold weather due to the influence of the Himalayas and continental winds, with average temperatures often below 15°C. South India, being closer to the Equator and influenced by maritime conditions, remains warm, with temperatures generally above 20°C or 25°C. The 20°C isotherm typically runs across central India, separating the cooler northern plains from the warmer southern peninsula, effectively dividing the country into roughly two halves based on temperature distribution in January.
Isotherms are lines on a map connecting points that have the same temperature. The temperature distribution in India during winter (January) is characterized by a decrease from south to north. The 25°C isotherm generally lies further south, while the 15°C and 10°C isotherms are located further north, primarily in the plains and foothills respectively.

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9. Which one of the following is not correct regarding South India ?

Which one of the following is not correct regarding South India ?

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Diurnal range of temperature is less
Annual range of temperature is less
Temperature is high throughout the year
Extreme climatic conditions are found
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2019
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Statement D is not correct regarding South India’s climate.
South India, being a peninsula largely surrounded by the sea and located closer to the equator, experiences a climate moderated by maritime influence, unlike the extreme continental climate found in many parts of North India.
A) Diurnal range of temperature is the difference between the maximum and minimum temperature in a day. This range is generally less in coastal areas and peninsular regions like South India due to the moderating effect of the sea. This statement is correct.
B) Annual range of temperature is the difference between the temperatures of the hottest and coldest months. This range is also generally less in South India compared to North India due to the maritime influence and tropical location. This statement is correct.
C) Due to its location in tropical and subtropical zones and proximity to the equator, temperatures in South India are generally high throughout the year, with less pronounced seasonal variations in temperature compared to North India. This statement is correct.
D) Extreme climatic conditions, such as very high heat waves, severe cold waves, or drastic seasonal temperature fluctuations experienced in parts of North India (continental climate), are generally not found in South India due to the moderating effect of the surrounding seas. Thus, the statement “Extreme climatic conditions are found” in South India is not correct.

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10. Which one of the following places does not fall on leeward slope?

Which one of the following places does not fall on leeward slope?

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Pune
Bengaluru
Leh
Mangaluru
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2018
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The correct answer is D) Mangaluru.
A leeward slope is the side of a mountain or range that is sheltered from the prevailing wind, typically resulting in lower rainfall due to the rain shadow effect. Pune and Bengaluru are located on the Deccan Plateau, east of the Western Ghats, and lie in the rain shadow region relative to the moisture-laden South-West monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea. Leh is in the Himalayas, located in a rain shadow, making it a cold desert. Mangaluru, however, is a coastal city on the west coast of Karnataka, situated on the windward side of the Western Ghats during the South-West monsoon season, receiving very heavy rainfall. Therefore, it does not fall on a leeward slope in this context.
The windward side of a mountain range receives significantly more precipitation as the moist air is forced upwards, cools, and condenses. The leeward side receives much less precipitation as the air descends, warms, and becomes drier. This phenomenon is known as the orographic effect or rain shadow effect.

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