Indian Monsoon
Geography
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
The lifeline of Indian agriculture, directly impacting food security, water resources, hydroelectric power generation, and overall economic stability.
The Indian Monsoon is a seasonal wind system that brings heavy rainfall to the Indian subcontinent, crucial for the country's agriculture, economy, and water security, driven by the differential heating of land and sea.
Facts & tables
- Types
- Southwest Monsoon (June-September, primary rainy season) and Northeast Monsoon (October-December, affects southern India).
- Mechanism
- Driven by differential heating of land and sea, leading to pressure gradients and wind reversal; influenced by the shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ).
- Variability Factors
- Influenced by global phenomena like ENSO (El Niño/La Niña) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Physical & Regional Geography |
| Conceptual area | Agricultural Policies & Supply Chains |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Conceptual understanding
- Two main types: Southwest (summer) and Northeast (winter).
- Crucial for Indian agriculture and economy.
- Mechanism involves differential heating and ITCZ.
- Affected by El Niño, La Niña, and IOD.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2025 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
| 2024 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2024 | Conceptual understanding, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2023 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2022 | Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis |
| 2020 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding |
Timeline
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Physical & Regional Geography
Conceptual area
-
Agricultural Policies & Supply Chains
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2020
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2022
Factual recall, Multi-statement analysis
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Prelims 2023
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2024
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
-
Prelims 2024
Conceptual understanding, Multi-statement analysis
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2025
Multi-statement analysis, Conceptual understanding
-
Is India getting hotter?
The Indian Monsoon is a vital seasonal wind system, primarily the Southwest Monsoon, bringing most of India's rainfall, driven by land-sea heating differences, and significantly influenced by global climate patterns like ENSO.
See also
Past papers
2017–2025 · 8 questions
In the news
Is India getting hotter?
The Indian Monsoon is a vital seasonal wind system, primarily the Southwest Monsoon, bringing most of India's rainfall, driven by land-sea heating differences, and significantly influenced by global climate patterns like ENSO.
Try these PYQs
With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. IOD phenomenon is characterized by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
2. An IOD phenomenon can influence El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between the tropical Western Indian Ocean and the tropical Eastern Indian Ocean, not the Eastern Pacific Ocean. During a positive IOD, the western Indian Ocean is warmer than the eastern Indian Ocean, and vice versa for a negative IOD. Statement 2 is Correct: The IOD phenomenon can indeed influence El Nio's impact on the Indian monsoon. El Nio itself is a climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean, but it can interact with the IOD. Depending on the phases of both phenomena (positive/negative IOD and El Nino/La Nina), the overall impact on the Indian monsoon rainfall can be amplified or weakened. Hence, option B is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter.
Statement-II: The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Statement-I is incorrect: The temperature contrast between land and ocean is actually greater in winter, not in summer. In winter, land loses heat quickly and becomes much colder, while the ocean retains heat and stays relatively warm → large contrast.
In summer, both land and ocean warm up, but the difference is less pronounced compared to winter → smaller contrast. Statement-II is correct: Water has a higher specific heat capacity than land. It heats up and cools down more slowly, which explains why oceans have a moderating influence on temperature.
Consider the following description:
1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low.
2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year.
3. Precipitation varies between 50 cm - 250 cm.
What is this type of climate?
The climate described by these characteristics is most likely a Marine West Coast Climate (Cfb) according to the Köppen climate classification system. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low: Marine west coast climates are known for their mild temperatures year-round. The influence of the nearby ocean moderates both summer highs and winter lows, resulting in a smaller range of temperatures compared to continental climates at similar latitudes. Precipitation occurs throughout the year: These regions experience frequent precipitation due to prevailing westerly winds carrying moist air from the ocean. The cyclones associated with these winds bring rain or snowfall throughout the year. Precipitation varies between 50 cm and 250 cm: The amount of precipitation in marine west coast climates can vary depending on factors like latitude, topography, and proximity to the ocean. The range of 50 cm to 250 cm falls within the typical range observed in these regions.
Consider the following pairs:
Country – Resource-rich in
I. Botswana : Diamond
II. Chile : Lithium
III. Indonesia : Nickel
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?
This question checks knowledge of countries known for major natural resources that play key roles in global markets. ✅ I. Botswana : Diamond – Correct
* Botswana is a top global producer of diamonds, vital to its economy. ✅ II. Chile : Lithium – Correct
* Chile has vast lithium reserves in the Atacama Desert and is a leading global supplier. ✅ III. Indonesia : Nickel – Correct
* Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of nickel, crucial for batteries and steel.
Consider the following statements:
Statement I:
Scientific studies suggest that a shift is taking place in the Earth’s rotation and axis.
Statement II:
Solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections bombarded the Earth’s outermost atmosphere with tremendous amount of energy.
Statement III:
As the Earth’s polar ice melts, the water tends to move towards the equator.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Earth’s rotation and axis can shift due to changes in how mass is distributed across the planet, such as melting polar ice. ✅Statement I is correct: * Studies show that Earth’s rotation and axis are shifting slightly due to internal mass redistribution. ✅ Statement II is correct: * But it doesn’t explain the shift — solar flares affect only the upper atmosphere, not Earth’s rotation. ✅ Statement III is correct: * It explains the shift — melting polar ice moves water toward the equator, altering Earth’s mass distribution and spin.
Show 3 more PYQs
Which of the following is/are correct inference/inferences from isothermal maps in the month of January?.
1. The isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent.
2. The presence of cold ocean currents, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift make the North Atlantic Ocean colder and the isotherms bend towards the north.
Select the answer using the code given below :
Understanding Isotherms and Their Behavior * Isotherms are lines on a map connecting points with the same temperature. * January is a winter month in the Northern Hemisphere. * Land and Water Heating Differences: Land heats up and cools down faster than water. This leads to significant temperature differences between continents and oceans in winter. Statement 1: Correct * In January, continents are colder than oceans in the Northern Hemisphere. * Isotherms bend northward over oceans, indicating warmer temperatures. * Isotherms bend southward over continents, indicating colder temperatures. Statement 2: Incorrect * The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift are warm ocean currents, not cold. * These currents bring warm water from the tropics towards Europe, making the North Atlantic relatively warmer in winter. * Isotherms bend northward over the North Atlantic due to these warm currents. Conclusion: Only statement 1 is a correct inference from isothermal maps in January.
Consider the following pairs:
Region often mentioned in the news - Country
1. Anatolia – Turkey
2. Amhara – Ethiopia
3. Cabo Delgado –Spain
4. Catalonia – Italy
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Pair 1 is correctly matched. Anatolia is the peninsula of land that today constitutes the Asian portion of Turkey. Because of its location at the point where the continents of Asia and Europe meet, Anatolia was, from the beginnings of civilization, a crossroads for numerous peoples migrating or conquering from either continent. Pair 2 is correctly matched. The Amhara Region is located in the northwestern part of Ethiopia. It is the homeland of Amharapeople. Amhara is the site of the largest inland body of water in Ethiopia, Lake Tana. Amhara region is often mentioned in the news due to historical conflicts among Oromo, Amhara, and Tigrayan groups of Ethiopia. Pair 3 is not correctly matched. Cabo Delgado is the northernmost province of Mozambique. It was in news because Mozambique's Al-Shabab extremist group has been carrying out attacks in the country's most northern province, Cabo Delgado, since 2017. Pair 4 is not correctly matched. Catalonia occupies a triangular area in the northeastern corner of Spain. It is bordered by France and Andorra to the north, the Mediterranean Sea to the east, the autonomous community of Valencia to the south, and the autonomous community of Aragon to the west. Recently, mass protests broke out across Spain's Catalonia region after its former separatist leader Carles Puigdemont was arrested. So, only two pairs (Anatolia Turkey and Amhara Ethiopia) are correctly matched.
With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January-March.
2. OMT collected during January-March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Statement 1 is incorrect. OMT is measured up to the depth of the 26°C isotherm, but the 129-meter depth mentioned in the southwestern Indian Ocean during January-March is incorrect. The depth of the 26°C isotherm can vary depending on the region and season. Statement 2 is correct. OMT collected during January-March helps in predicting the amount of rainfall during the monsoon. It is used to assess whether rainfall will be more or less than the long-term average, as variations in OMT influence monsoon behaviour. Hence, option B is the correct answer.