India’s Climate and Monsoon Quiz: Clerkship GS
A little practice. A step forward.
10 questions on India’s climate and monsoon, in the style of the Clerkship 2024 GS paper. 30 seconds a question. 📖 Read the detailed topic
The word 'monsoon' comes from the Arabic 'mausim'. What does it mean?
Arabic 'mausim' means season. The wind reverses its direction with the seasons, which is why it is called the monsoon wind. 'Wind' or 'rain' alone is not the meaning: the name points to the seasonal reversal.
- Monsoon winds reverse direction with the seasons
- India has a tropical monsoon climate
- mausim = season
Where does the south-west monsoon normally first reach the Indian mainland?
The south-west monsoon comes over the Arabian Sea and first reaches the Kerala coast, normally around 1 June. It then spreads north and east. Mumbai and Kolkata get it later.
- Normal onset: Kerala, about 1 June
- Two branches: Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
- Rainy season: June–September
- Gateway of the monsoon = Kerala
Which place in India gets the highest average annual rainfall?
Mawsynram, in the Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, has the highest rainfall. Moist air from the Bay of Bengal is forced up the hill slopes, condenses and pours down. Jaisalmer and Bikaner lie in the Thar desert region and Leh is in Ladakh: all three are dry.
- Mawsynram: Khasi Hills, Meghalaya
- Type of rain: orographic (relief) rain
- The Thar desert gets very little rain
- Meghalaya = abode of clouds
Along with West Bengal, the Tropic of Cancer passes through which state?
The Tropic of Cancer crosses eight states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. Odisha, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are not on the list: all lie south of the line.
- The line is at 23.5° N
- It runs through the middle of India
- 8 states in all
- ওড়িশা ঝাড়খণ্ডের ঠিক দক্ষিণে, তাই রেখার উপর নয়: রেখা ঝাড়খণ্ড থেকে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ হয়ে ত্রিপুরা ও মিজোরামে গেছে
- Jharkhand and West Bengal sit side by side on the line
Why is rainfall low east of the Western Ghats, in the interior Deccan Plateau?
Moist air from the Arabian Sea is forced up the western (windward) slope of the Western Ghats and drops heavy rain. By the time it reaches the eastern slope it is dry, so rain is low. This is called a rain-shadow area. The other three are not reasons.
- Heavy rain on the windward slope, little on the leeward
- The Deccan interior is a rain-shadow area
- The west coast (Mumbai, Konkan, Malabar) gets heavy rain
- Mountain shelter = rain shadow
What brings heavy rain to Tamil Nadu's Coromandel coast in October–November?
In October–November the monsoon withdraws from the land. On its way back it picks up moisture from the Bay of Bengal and rains on the Tamil Nadu and Andhra coasts; this is also called the north-east monsoon rain. In June–September this coast is in the rain shadow.
- Retreating monsoon: October–November
- Tamil Nadu gets most of its rain in this season
- জুন–সেপ্টেম্বরে এই উপকূল তুলনায় কম বৃষ্টি পায়, কারণ দক্ষিণ-পশ্চিম বায়ু পশ্চিমঘাট পেরিয়ে শুষ্ক হয়ে আসে
- On the way back it draws water from the Bay
Where do the western disturbances that bring light winter rain to north-west India originate?
Western disturbances form in the Mediterranean region and travel west to east, bringing rain and snow to Punjab, Haryana and the western Himalayas in winter. The rain helps rabi crops, especially wheat. The other three seas do not bring this winter rain.
- Western disturbances are a winter feature
- Useful for rabi crops (wheat)
- They come from the west, hence the name
Kalbaishakhi is a feature of which period?
Kalbaishakhi is a sudden thunderstorm with squalls and rain in West Bengal and eastern India in the pre-monsoon summer (March–May). When the land is very hot, moist air rushes in and causes such storms. It is not a winter, monsoon or autumn storm.
- Also called the Norwester
- Most common in the month of Baisakh
- Similar in Kerala-Karnataka: mango showers
- Kal (black cloud) + Baisakh = early-summer storm
What is the 'loo'?
The loo is a very hot, dry local wind that blows in the afternoon over the northern and north-western plains in summer, especially May to early June. It raises the day temperature sharply. The other three describe opposite kinds of wind.
- A local summer wind
- Strong in north and north-west India
- Hot and dry
- Getting 'loo' = heatstroke
According to IMD's division of the year, June–September belong to which season?
IMD divides the year into four: winter (Dec–Feb), pre-monsoon (Mar–May), south-west monsoon (Jun–Sep) and retreating monsoon (Oct–Nov). Most of the country's rain falls in June–September.
- Four seasons: winter, pre-monsoon, monsoon, retreating
- Monsoon months: June–September
- Jun-Jul-Aug-Sep = a 4-month monsoon
| Season | Months | Main feature |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | Dec–Feb | Dry and cool; light rain in the north-west from western disturbances |
| Pre-monsoon (summer) | Mar–May | Very hot; loo in the north, Kalbaishakhi in Bengal |
| South-west monsoon (rainy) | Jun–Sep | Most of India's rain; arrives in Kerala about 1 June |
| Retreating monsoon | Oct–Nov | Skies clear; rain on the Tamil Nadu coast |
India's four seasons (IMD)
📊 Topic Analysis
10 questions on India’s climate and monsoon, in the style of the Clerkship 2024 GS paper. 30 seconds a question.
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