MCQs with answers for the Civil Services Examination on the topic “Monsoon and Its Impact on Indian Agriculture”

1. Which of the following statements best describes the monsoon in India?

• A) Seasonal reversal of wind direction
• B) Continuous rainfall throughout the year
• C) Uniform temperature across regions
• D) Persistent drought conditions
  Answer: A) Seasonal reversal of wind direction

2. Which branch of the Indian monsoon brings rainfall to the Western Ghats?

• A) North-East Monsoon
• B) South-West Monsoon
• C) Retreating Monsoon
• D) Winter Monsoon
  Answer: B) South-West Monsoon

3. The onset of the South-West Monsoon in India typically occurs in:

• A) April
• B) May
• C) June
• D) July
  Answer: C) June

4. Which state in India is the first to receive monsoon rainfall?

• A) Tamil Nadu
• B) Kerala
• C) Maharashtra
• D) Gujarat
  Answer: B) Kerala

5. Which of the following crops is considered a Kharif crop in India?

• A) Wheat
• B) Barley
• C) Rice
• D) Mustard
  Answer: C) Rice

6. The retreating monsoon season in India is characterized by:

• A) Heavy rainfall in the Northern Plains
• B) Dry and cold winds
• C) Rainfall in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
• D) Hot and humid conditions
  Answer: C) Rainfall in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh

7. Which phenomenon is primarily responsible for the variability of the Indian monsoon?

• A) El Niño and La Niña
• B) Volcanic eruptions
• C) Tectonic plate movements
• D) Earth’s rotation
  Answer: A) El Niño and La Niña

8. What is the typical duration of the South-West Monsoon in India?

• A) March to May
• B) June to September
• C) October to December
• D) January to February
  Answer: B) June to September

9. Which of the following regions receives the highest rainfall during the monsoon in India?

• A) Rajasthan
• B) Gujarat
• C) Cherrapunji in Meghalaya
• D) Ladakh
  Answer: C) Cherrapunji in Meghalaya

10. Which crop is most affected by delayed monsoon in India?

• A) Tea
• B) Coffee
• C) Rice
• D) Rubber
  Answer: C) Rice

11. Which factor is considered crucial for the distribution and timing of monsoon rains in India?

• A) Soil type
• B) Latitude
• C) Sea surface temperature
• D) Local winds
  Answer: C) Sea surface temperature

12. Which of the following regions remains mostly dry even during the South-West Monsoon?

• A) Western Ghats
• B) Eastern Coastal Plains
• C) Central India
• D) Western Rajasthan
  Answer: D) Western Rajasthan

13. The agricultural practice in India that relies heavily on monsoon rains is:

• A) Drip irrigation
• B) Sprinkler irrigation
• C) Rainfed farming
• D) Hydroponics
  Answer: C) Rainfed farming

14. A deficit in monsoon rainfall is most likely to affect which sector of the Indian economy?

• A) Industrial sector
• B) Agricultural sector
• C) Service sector
• D) Information technology
  Answer: B) Agricultural sector

15. What is the main reason for the occurrence of droughts in India?

• A) Excessive deforestation
• B) Lack of river networks
• C) Variability in monsoon rainfall
• D) Overpopulation
  Answer: C) Variability in monsoon rainfall

16. Which of the following states primarily benefits from the North-East Monsoon?

• A) Maharashtra
• B) Kerala
• C) Tamil Nadu
• D) West Bengal
  Answer: C) Tamil Nadu

17. The term “Monsoon Trough” refers to:

• A) A high-pressure area over India
• B) A low-pressure area extending from the North-West to the Bay of Bengal
• C) A region of heavy snowfall
• D) An area of tectonic activity
  Answer: B) A low-pressure area extending from the North-West to the Bay of Bengal

18. The deficiency in monsoon rainfall is categorized as a drought if the shortfall is:

• A) 5-10%
• B) 11-25%
• C) 26-50%
• D) More than 50%
  Answer: B) 11-25%

19. Which of the following crops is not a Rabi crop?

• A) Wheat
• B) Barley
• C) Mustard
• D) Rice
  Answer: D) Rice

20. The Indian Monsoon is often described as a “pulse” for which of the following?

• A) Industrial production
• B) Urbanization trends
• C) Agricultural output
• D) Renewable energy generation
  Answer: C) Agricultural output

21. Which of the following regions in India is most vulnerable to floods during the monsoon season?

• A) Thar Desert
• B) Western Ghats
• C) Indo-Gangetic Plains
• D) Deccan Plateau
  Answer: C) Indo-Gangetic Plains

22. In India, the winter monsoon is also referred to as:

• A) North-East Monsoon
• B) South-West Monsoon
• C) Retreating Monsoon
• D) Equatorial Monsoon
  Answer: A) North-East Monsoon

23. Which of the following is not an impact of delayed monsoon on agriculture in India?

• A) Delayed sowing of crops
• B) Reduced water availability in reservoirs
• C) Increase in crop yields
• D) Decrease in soil moisture
  Answer: C) Increase in crop yields

24. The “break” in the monsoon refers to:

• A) A period of heavy rainfall
• B) A period of no rainfall during the monsoon season
• C) A shift in the direction of winds
• D) The end of the monsoon season
  Answer: B) A period of no rainfall during the monsoon season

25. Which of the following is a positive impact of the monsoon on Indian agriculture?

• A) Soil erosion
• B) Waterlogging of fields
• C) Recharge of groundwater levels
• D) Crop failure
  Answer: C) Recharge of groundwater levels

26. In which year did India experience a severe monsoon failure leading to widespread drought?

• A) 2002
• B) 2005
• C) 2007
• D) 2010
  Answer: A) 2002

27. Which of the following rivers is primarily fed by the monsoon rains in India?

• A) Brahmaputra
• B) Yamuna
• C) Godavari
• D) All of the above
  Answer: D) All of the above

28. Which of the following measures can help mitigate the adverse impact of a weak monsoon on agriculture?

• A) Increasing subsidies for chemical fertilizers
• B) Expansion of rainwater harvesting techniques
• C) Reducing the cultivation of drought-resistant crops
• D) Decreasing the coverage of irrigation
  Answer: B) Expansion of rainwater harvesting techniques

29. Which of the following regions receives the least rainfall from the South-West Monsoon?

• A) North-East India
• B) Central India
• C) Western Rajasthan
• D) Western Ghats
  Answer: C) Western Rajasthan

30. The variability in the amount and distribution of monsoon rainfall is known as:

• A) Monsoon dynamics
• B) Monsoon reliability
• C) Monsoon deviation
• D) Monsoon vagaries
  Answer: D) Monsoon vagaries

These questions encompass various aspects of the Indian monsoon, including its onset, distribution, impacts on agriculture, challenges, and regional differences, making them relevant for the Civil Services Examination.