Geography of India & the World – Indian Climate and Weather Systems
Assam Public Service Commission (APSC)
Combined Competitive Examination (CCE)
Preliminary Examination – General Studies Paper I (Objective, 200 Marks)
Topic: Geography of India & the World
Sub Topic: Indian Climate and Weather Systems
Indian Climate and Weather Systems – Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with Answers & Explanations
Q1. The climate of India is best described as:
A. Equatorial
B. Tropical monsoon
C. Mediterranean
D. Temperate
Answer: B
Explanation: India experiences a tropical monsoon climate, marked by seasonal reversal of winds and concentrated rainfall.
Q2. The primary factor controlling the Indian climate is:
A. Latitude
B. Altitude
C. Monsoon winds
D. Ocean currents
Answer: C
Explanation: The monsoon system largely determines India’s rainfall and seasonal weather.
Q3. The southwest monsoon reaches Kerala approximately by:
A. 1st May
B. 15th May
C. 1st June
D. 15th June
Answer: C
Q4. The seasonal reversal of winds in India is caused mainly due to:
A. Earth’s rotation
B. Differential heating of land and sea
C. Ocean currents
D. Altitude differences
Answer: B
Explanation: Land heats and cools faster than sea, causing pressure differences and wind reversal.
Q5. Which branch of the southwest monsoon strikes the Western Ghats first?
A. Bay of Bengal branch
B. Arabian Sea branch
C. North-East monsoon
D. Westerlies
Answer: B
Q6. The Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon gives heavy rainfall to:
A. Rajasthan
B. Tamil Nadu
C. Assam and Meghalaya
D. Gujarat
Answer: C
Q7. Mawsynram receives very high rainfall mainly due to:
A. Cyclonic storms
B. Orographic rainfall
C. Convectional rainfall
D. Frontal rainfall
Answer: B
Explanation: Moist monsoon winds rise against hills causing orographic rainfall.
Q8. Which region lies in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats?
A. Konkan Coast
B. Malabar Coast
C. Deccan Plateau
D. Coromandel Coast
Answer: C
Q9. The retreating monsoon is also known as:
A. South-west monsoon
B. North-east monsoon
C. Summer monsoon
D. Westerlies
Answer: B
Q10. The northeast monsoon is especially important for rainfall in:
A. Punjab
B. Kerala
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Assam
Answer: C
Q11. The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) refers to:
A. High pressure belt
B. Zone of cyclones
C. Low pressure belt near the equator
D. Polar front
Answer: C
Q12. Which jet stream is closely associated with the onset of Indian monsoon?
A. Polar jet stream
B. Subtropical westerly jet
C. Tropical easterly jet
D. Equatorial jet
Answer: C
Q13. The western disturbances bring rainfall mainly to:
A. Eastern India
B. Southern India
C. Northwestern India
D. Coastal regions
Answer: C
Explanation: Western disturbances cause winter rainfall in northwestern India.
Q14. Which season in India is marked by frequent cyclones?
A. Cold weather season
B. Hot weather season
C. Retreating monsoon season
D. South-west monsoon season
Answer: C
Q15. Loo is a:
A. Cold wind
B. Moist wind
C. Hot and dry wind
D. Cyclonic wind
Answer: C
Explanation: Loo blows during summer over northern India causing heat waves.
Q16. Which pressure belt shifts northward during Indian summer?
A. Polar high
B. Subtropical high
C. Equatorial low
D. Temperate low
Answer: C
Q17. El Niño affects Indian monsoon by:
A. Increasing rainfall
B. Causing drought conditions
C. Bringing cyclones
D. Lowering temperature
Answer: B
Q18. La Niña generally leads to:
A. Weak monsoon
B. Delayed monsoon
C. Normal or excess rainfall
D. No rainfall
Answer: C
Q19. Which type of rainfall is most common in India?
A. Frontal
B. Cyclonic
C. Convectional
D. Orographic
Answer: D
Q20. Which region experiences the least rainfall in India?
A. Western Ghats
B. Thar Desert
C. Northeastern Hills
D. Coastal Plains
Answer: B
Q21. The cold weather season in India occurs during:
A. March–May
B. June–September
C. October–November
D. December–February
Answer: D
Q22. Which wind system causes winter rainfall in Tamil Nadu?
A. South-west monsoon
B. North-east monsoon
C. Westerlies
D. Trade winds
Answer: B
Q23. The break in monsoon refers to:
A. Complete failure of monsoon
B. Sudden increase in rainfall
C. Temporary reduction in rainfall
D. Change in wind direction
Answer: C
Q24. Which climatic element influences the distribution of rainfall most in India?
A. Temperature
B. Pressure
C. Wind direction
D. Humidity
Answer: C
Q25. The Arabian Sea branch of monsoon gives less rainfall to Rajasthan because:
A. High altitude
B. Distance from sea
C. Parallel orientation of Aravallis
D. Cold ocean currents
Answer: C
Q26. Which area receives rainfall from both branches of monsoon?
A. Punjab
B. Assam
C. Tamil Nadu
D. Gujarat
Answer: B
Q27. Heat waves in India are common during:
A. Winter season
B. Retreating monsoon
C. Summer season
D. Monsoon season
Answer: C
Q28. The main cause of cyclones in the Bay of Bengal is:
A. Cold ocean currents
B. High sea surface temperature
C. Mountain barriers
D. Jet streams
Answer: B
Q29. Which factor moderates India’s climate?
A. Himalayas only
B. Indian Ocean only
C. Latitude only
D. Himalayas and Indian Ocean
Answer: D
Q30. Indian climate plays a crucial role in:
A. Political boundaries
B. Agricultural practices
C. Administrative divisions
D. Census operations
Answer: B
Explanation: Agriculture in India is highly dependent on monsoon rainfall.
✅ APSC Prelims Value
✔ Strong focus on monsoon mechanism & weather systems
✔ Concept-based explanations for elimination technique
✔ Ideal for static + dynamic geography questions
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APSC Indian climate MCQs
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Indian monsoon and weather systems MCQs
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APSC GS Paper I climate geography questions
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Indian monsoon rainfall MCQs for APSC
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Indian weather systems prelims MCQs