NCERT Questions & Answers
Q1. Choose the correct answer:
(i) Which one of the following places receives the highest rainfall in the world?
(a) Silchar
(b) Mawsynram
(c) Cherrapunji
(d) Guwahati
Answer: (b) Mawsynram
(ii) The wind blowing in the northern plains in summers is known as:
(a) Kaal Baisakhi
(b) Loo
(c) Trade Winds
(d) None of the above
Answer: (b) Loo
(iii) Monsoon arrives in India approximately in:
(a) Early May
(b) Early July
(c) Early June
(d) Early August
Answer: (c) Early June
(iv) Which one of the following characterises the cold weather season in India?
(a) Warm days and warm nights
(b) Warm days and cold nights
(c) Cool days and cold nights
(d) Cold days and warm nights
Answer: (c) Cool days and cold nights
Q2. Answer briefly:
(i) Controls affecting climate of India → Latitude, altitude, pressure & winds, distance from sea, ocean currents, relief.
(ii) Why monsoon type of climate? → Seasonal reversal of winds; India’s unique location, Himalayas blocking cold winds, ITCZ shifts.
(iii) Highest diurnal range of temperature? → Thar Desert (hot days, cold nights) because of arid conditions.
(iv) Which winds bring rainfall along Malabar coast? → South-West Monsoon winds.
(v) Define monsoon. What is “break” in monsoon? → Monsoon = seasonal reversal of winds. Break = wet/dry spells during rainy season.
(vi) Why monsoon as unifying bond? → Despite diversity, agriculture, festivals, life, economy revolve around rains across India.
Q3. Why rainfall decreases east to west in Northern India?
→ Monsoon winds from Bay of Bengal shed most moisture in east; progressively less as they move westward.
Q4. Give reasons:
(i) Seasonal reversal of winds → Differential heating of land and sea, ITCZ shift.
(ii) Rainfall concentrated in few months → Southwest monsoon dominates June–Sept.
(iii) Tamil Nadu coast gets winter rain → Retreating monsoon + NE monsoon winds.
(iv) Eastern coast deltas struck by cyclones → Low-pressure systems from Bay of Bengal.
(v) Rajasthan, Gujarat, leeward Ghats drought-prone → Located in rain shadow / far from monsoon path.
Q5. Regional variations in climate of India:
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Jaisalmer: hot desert, <10 cm rain.
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Shillong: heavy rain (400+ cm).
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Thiruvananthapuram: equable, coastal.
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Drass/Leh: extreme cold.
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Gujarat, MP: hot summers.
Q6. Cold weather season conditions:
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Nov–Feb. Temp falls, clear skies, cool days, cold nights.
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NE trade winds prevail.
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Western disturbances cause winter rain in north, snowfall in Himalayas.
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“Mahawat” rain important for rabi crops.
Q7. Characteristics & effects of monsoon rainfall:
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Seasonal reversal, June–Sept.
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Irregular, with breaks.
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Uneven spatial distribution.
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Excess = floods, deficit = droughts.
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Vital for agriculture, economy, festivals.
Long Answer Questions
Q1. Explain the factors affecting India’s climate.
Answer: Latitude (Tropic of Cancer divides), Altitude (Himalayas vs coast), Pressure & Winds (monsoon system), Distance from sea (continentality), Ocean currents (warming/cooling), Relief (rain shadow, windward rainfall).
Q2. Describe the four seasons of India.
Answer:
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Winter (Nov–Feb) – Cold, NE monsoon, western disturbances.
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Summer (Mar–May) – High temp, loo, dust storms, mango showers.
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Advancing Monsoon (Jun–Sept) – SW monsoon, heavy rain, floods.
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Retreating Monsoon (Oct–Nov) – Monsoon withdrawal, cyclones in east coast, October heat.
Q3. “Monsoon is a unifying bond.” Explain.
Answer: Despite diverse climates, agriculture, food habits, festivals, crops, river systems, economy—all revolve around monsoons. They bind India by setting agricultural calendar.
Q4. Discuss regional variations in temperature & rainfall in India with examples.
Answer: Rajasthan 50°C vs Drass –45°C; Thar diurnal variation vs Kerala equable climate; Mawsynram 400 cm vs Jaisalmer <10 cm; Tamil Nadu winter rain vs Punjab winter rain (western disturbances).
Q5. Characteristics & significance of monsoon rainfall.
Answer: Monsoon rainfall is seasonal, irregular, uncertain, unevenly distributed. It sustains Indian agriculture, hydroelectricity, transport, biodiversity, and festivals, but also causes floods and droughts.
MCQs
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Climate refers to weather conditions over:
(a) A short period
(b) A long period (30+ years)
(c) One week
(d) A day
Answer: (b) -
The Tropic of Cancer passes through:
(a) Middle of India
(b) Northernmost tip
(c) Southernmost tip
(d) Only coastal areas
Answer: (a) -
Cold winds from Central Asia don’t reach India because:
(a) Deserts block them
(b) Himalayas block them
(c) Monsoon winds stop them
(d) ITCZ shifts
Answer: (b) -
Seasonal reversal of wind is called:
(a) Westerlies
(b) Trade winds
(c) Monsoon
(d) Cyclone
Answer: (c) -
The “loo” is a:
(a) Winter wind
(b) Cold breeze
(c) Hot, dry wind in summer
(d) Sea breeze
Answer: (c) -
Kaal Baisakhi occurs in:
(a) Punjab
(b) West Bengal
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Tamil Nadu
Answer: (b) -
Mango showers occur in:
(a) Kerala & Karnataka
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Punjab
(d) Gujarat
Answer: (a) -
Retreating monsoon occurs in:
(a) June–Sept
(b) Oct–Nov
(c) Mar–May
(d) Dec–Jan
Answer: (b) -
Tamil Nadu gets rainfall in winter due to:
(a) Western disturbances
(b) Retreating NE monsoon
(c) Cyclones only
(d) Local thunderstorms
Answer: (b) -
Western disturbances bring rain to:
(a) Tamil Nadu coast
(b) Rajasthan
(c) Northern plains in winter
(d) Kerala
Answer: (c) -
Mawsynram is in:
(a) Meghalaya
(b) Mizoram
(c) Tripura
(d) Assam
Answer: (a) -
Monsoon enters India first at:
(a) Kerala
(b) Tamil Nadu
(c) Gujarat
(d) Odisha
Answer: (a) -
October heat refers to:
(a) Very hot May–June winds
(b) Oppressive weather in Oct after rains
(c) Heat waves in March
(d) Cyclone season
Answer: (b) -
Break in monsoon means:
(a) Monsoon ends
(b) Monsoon delayed
(c) Wet and dry spells during rains
(d) No rain for a year
Answer: (c) -
The region with lowest rainfall in India:
(a) Western Rajasthan & Leh
(b) Assam
(c) Kerala
(d) Meghalaya
Answer: (a) -
Highest diurnal temperature range in India:
(a) Kerala
(b) Andaman & Nicobar
(c) Thar Desert
(d) Meghalaya
Answer: (c) -
Rainfall decreases from east to west because:
(a) Himalayas block it
(b) Winds lose moisture westwards
(c) Ocean currents deflect
(d) Cyclones push rain eastwards
Answer: (b) -
Which is NOT a control of climate?
(a) Latitude
(b) Altitude
(c) Distance from moon
(d) Relief
Answer: (c) -
Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall because:
(a) Leeward side effect
(b) Orographic rainfall on windward side
(c) Retreating monsoon
(d) Winter rains
Answer: (b) -
Cyclones in retreating monsoon often hit:
(a) Gujarat coast
(b) Godavari–Krishna–Kaveri deltas
(c) Punjab plains
(d) Himalayas
Answer: (b)
Fill in the Blanks
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Climate refers to average conditions over 30+ years.
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The word monsoon comes from Arabic word ‘mausim’ meaning season.
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Himalayas block cold winds from Central Asia.
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The hot, dry summer winds in north India are called loo.
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Local thunderstorms in Bengal are called Kaal Baisakhi.
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Pre-monsoon showers in south India are called mango showers.
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The wettest place in the world is Mawsynram.
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The retreating monsoon occurs in October–November.
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Winter rains in north India are caused by western disturbances.
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Monsoon is called a unifying bond of India.