MCQ
Climate and the Indian monsoon system MCQ - Practice Questions with Answers
Solve 23 Climate and the Indian monsoon system questions for RAS/RPSC preparation.
Practice questions
Q1Which statement correctly captures how the southwest monsoon onset over Kerala should be understood for CET-level geography?
The Kerala onset is treated as a meteorological event, not as a loose calendar guess. Around 1 June is the normal timing and marks the operational start of India's main rainy season. However, IMD checks rainfall over selected Kerala and nearby stations, the wind field and outgoing longwave radiation over the southeast Arabian Sea. The mid-July idea belongs to the later spread over most of India, while cyclone warnings are a separate weather-service role.
Q2Which of the following is incorrect about western disturbances in India's climate?
Western disturbances are described as extra-tropical weather systems embedded in the westerlies, moving from the Mediterranean-West Asian region towards north-west India and the western Himalaya. Their effects include winter rainfall in parts of the north-western plains and snowfall in the western Himalaya. Even small rainfall amounts matter for rabi crops such as wheat, mustard and gram. Calling them tropical cyclones of the southwest monsoon over the Bay of Bengal reverses both their season and their circulation type, so that statement is the incorrect one.
Q3Consider the following statements about the southwest monsoon branches. Statement 1: The Arabian Sea branch gives heavy rainfall on the windward side of the Western Ghats. Statement 2: After crossing the Western Ghats, the same air gives higher rainfall to the Deccan interior because it gains moisture there. Which of the statements is/are correct?
The Western Ghats as the standard example of orographic rainfall and the rain-shadow effect are used. Moist air from the Arabian Sea branch is forced to rise along Kerala, coastal Karnataka, Goa and Konkan, giving heavy rain on the windward side. After crossing the Ghats, the air has already lost moisture, so parts of the Deccan plateau receive less rainfall. Therefore only the first statement is correct.
Q4Which one of the following is not matched correctly?
The item asks for the incorrectly matched local name and region. Mango Showers are pre-monsoon showers associated with south India and are linked with mango ripening. Cherry Blossom showers are associated with coffee-growing areas of Karnataka. Nor'westers, or Kalbaisakhi, are violent pre-monsoon thunderstorms of West Bengal and nearby eastern India. Bardoli Chheerha is not a standard local name for Kerala’s pre-monsoon rain in this pairing; Kerala is more commonly linked with mango showers or pre-monsoon convective showers. Hence the Bardoli Chheerha-Kerala pair is retained as the published incorrect match.
Q5Consider the following statements regarding IMD criteria for declaring the Southwest Monsoon onset over Kerala: 1. At least 60 per cent of the 14 designated rain stations must record 2.5 mm or more rainfall on two consecutive days. 2. The criteria require evaluation of wind speed/direction and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) signatures. 3. The Southwest Monsoon brings approximately 75 per cent of India's annual rainfall. Which of the statements given above are correct?
All three statements are correct. IMD onset criteria: (1) 60 per cent of designated rain stations must record 2.5 mm or more on two consecutive days; (2) Wind and OLR signatures must align with monsoon dynamics; (3) The Southwest Monsoon brings about 75 per cent of India's annual rainfall and is crucial for agriculture, drinking water and hydropower.
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6Match List I with List II: List I: 1. Arabian Sea branch 2. Bay of Bengal branch 3. Aravalli trend 4. Khasi and Jaintia Hills List II: a. Gives heavy windward rainfall to the Western Ghats b. Bends westward along the Ganga plain after heavy rain in the north-east c. Does not intercept the monsoon like the Western Ghats d. Forces moist Bay winds upward around the Mawsynram-Cherrapunji belt Choose the correct code.
7Match the Indian climate season with the feature most directly associated with it. List I: 1. Cold weather season 2. Hot weather season 3. Southwest monsoon season 4. Retreating monsoon season List II: a. Main rainfall for most of India b. Western disturbances in north-west India c. Northeast winds giving rain to the Tamil Nadu coast d. Loo in parts of north-west India and the Ganga plain
8Assertion (A): The Indian monsoon cannot be explained merely as a giant sea breeze. Reason (R): The Tibetan Plateau acts as a high-elevation heat source and upper-air circulation shifts help organise the summer monsoon flow. Choose the correct answer.
9Consider the following statements regarding the Southwest Monsoon onset over Kerala in May 2026: 1. The normal date for Southwest Monsoon onset over Kerala is 15 May. 2. The IMD declared the onset over Kerala on 26 May 2026, nearly a week ahead of the normal date. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
10Assertion (A): The Tamil Nadu coast receives important rainfall during the retreating or northeast monsoon period. Reason (R): During this period, northeast winds cross the Bay of Bengal, collect moisture and give rainfall to the Coromandel coast. Choose the correct answer.
11Which statement correctly describes the normal onset of the southwest monsoon over India?
12Assertion (A): The Tamil Nadu coast receives important rainfall during October-November. Reason (R): Northeast winds cross the Bay of Bengal, collect moisture and strike the Coromandel coast.
13Statement 1: When the monsoon trough shifts toward the Himalayan foothills, the northern plains may experience break monsoon conditions. Statement 2: Low-pressure systems from the Bay of Bengal often move west or north-west along the trough and can carry rain into central and northern India. Which of the following is correct?
14Read the assertion and reason. Assertion (A): Western disturbances are important for north-west India's rabi season. Reason (R): They bring winter rain to north-west India and snowfall to the western Himalaya through the westerly circulation. Choose the correct answer.
15Consider the following statements about the two branches of the southwest monsoon. Statement 1: The Arabian Sea branch gives heavy rainfall on the windward side of the Western Ghats, while parts of the Deccan interior receive less rain after the air crosses the Ghats. Statement 2: The Bay of Bengal branch moves towards north-east India and then turns westward along the Ganga plain under the influence of the Himalaya and seasonal pressure pattern. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?