Mon. Sep 29th, 2025

Indian Monsoon

  1. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) operational forecast (OPR) showed reliable performance in predicting heavy rainfall events in 2024. For the prediction of heavy rainfall (?64.5 mm) on Day-1, what was the approximate value of the Percent Correct (PC) score achieved by the OPR?

    Options:
    1. 75%
    2. 80%
    3. 85%
    4. 90%

    Option: D

  2. In the context of the Monsoon Mission, Dr. B. N. Goswami, a former Director of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, conceived and led a significant national project focused on improving regional monsoon research and forecasting. During which period did he lead India’s ‘Monsoon Mission’ Project?

    Options:

    Option: B

  3. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) influences cyclogenesis in the Indian Ocean. What outcome is typically associated with a Negative IOD phase concerning the formation of tropical cyclones?

    Options:
    1. More cyclones in the Arabian Sea
    2. Suppression of cyclogenesis in the Bay of Bengal
    3. Stronger than usual cyclogenesis in the Bay of Bengal
    4. Increased rainfall over Central India

    Option: C

  4. During the heavy rainfall and flooding event over Gujarat (August 23-30, 2024), unprecedented rainfall occurred, leading to severe flooding in multiple districts. What meteorological phenomena were identified as the main rainfall producing systems over Gujarat during the SWM season?

    Options:
    1. Jet Streams and ITCZ
    2. Mid-Tropospheric Circulation, off-shore trough, monsoon trough, and low pressure systems
    3. Western Disturbances alone
    4. ENSO and IOD

    Option: B

  5. The prediction of Monsoon Onset over Kerala (MOK) uses statistical models developed by IMD. The model utilizes the Principal Component Regression (PCR) method and provides a forecast with a specific margin of error. What is the typical Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of this model for predicting the MOK date?

    Options:
    1. About 1 day
    2. About 4 days
    3. About 7 days
    4. About 10 days

    Option: B

  6. Forecasting monsoon rainfall variability is crucial for the agricultural sector. Which type of crops, typically grown during the winter season (Rabi season), benefit from the winter rain brought by Western Disturbances in North India?

    Options:
    1. Sugarcane and Jute
    2. Rice (Paddy) and Pulses
    3. Wheat and Barley
    4. Groundnut and Guar

    Option: C

  7. Monsoon is often defined as a “seasonal reversal of wind direction.” The classical theory by Sir Edmund Halley in the 17th century likened the mechanism to large-scale land and sea breezes. What is considered a primary drawback of this classical thermal theory?

    Options:
    1. It requires the presence of the Tibetan Plateau.
    2. It fails to describe complexities like sudden bursts and delays in the monsoon.
    3. It only applies to the North-East monsoon.
    4. It ignores the Coriolis effect.

    Option: B

  8. The seasonal total rainfall of 108% of LPA in 2024 was above average. Which homogeneous region, known for high rainfall, recorded a value below its Long Period Average (LPA)?

    Options:
    1. Central India
    2. Northwest India
    3. South Peninsula
    4. East & Northeast India

    Option: D

  9. During the 2024 monsoon season, heavy rainfall in Kerala caused waterlogging and landslides. The highest rainfall recorded in 24 hours in the state was 338.0 mm in Vadakkancherry. Which district of Kerala recorded this maximum rainfall event?

    Options:
    1. Palakkad
    2. Kannur
    3. Thrissur
    4. Kasaragod

    Option: C

  10. Monitoring drought is vital for India’s rain-fed agriculture. During the initial period of Monsoon 2024 (June to September), many districts in two large states experienced dry/arid conditions, highlighting regional distress despite overall good national rainfall. Which two states had many districts reporting dry/arid conditions?

    Options:
    1. Maharashtra and Gujarat
    2. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
    3. Kerala and Karnataka
    4. Rajasthan and Punjab

    Option: B

  11. The influence of climate change on the monsoon shows a notable impact on extreme events. Dr. Rajeevan Madhavan Nair noted that the frequency of extreme rainfall events exceeding 150 mm in a day is increasing. By how many such events per decade is this frequency rising?

    Options:
    1. One event every decade
    2. About two events every decade
    3. Three events every decade
    4. Four events every decade

    Option: B

  12. Forecasting Monsoon Low Pressure Systems (LPSs) is essential, as these systems contribute significantly to rainfall. What fraction of monsoon rainfall in North, East, and Central India is estimated to be provided by these LPSs?

    Options:

    Option: C

  13. Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is key to the monsoon mechanism. During the northern summer, the ITCZ shifts polewards towards the Tropic of Cancer. In India, how far north can the ITCZ extend due to the intense heating of the land mass?

    Options:
    1. Up to the Equator only

    Option: C

  14. The total seasonal accumulated rainfall for the country as a whole during the Southwest Monsoon 2024 was recorded at 934.8 mm. This figure represents 108% of the Long Period Average (LPA). What is the numerical value of the LPA (1971-2020) used as a baseline for the country’s total seasonal rainfall?

    Options:
    1. 750.0 mm
    2. 868.6 mm
    3. 994.5 mm
    4. 1043.4 mm

    Option: B

  15. The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) effect was discovered in 1999 and is characterized by a seesaw ocean-atmosphere system similar to ENSO. A positive IOD is known to often counteract the negative effects of ENSO, leading to increased monsoon rains. Which three years are cited as examples where a positive IOD negated the ENSO effect, resulting in increased rainfall?

    Options:
    1. 1950, 1965, 1972
    2. 1983, 1994, 1997
    3. 2002, 2004, 2009
    4. 2014, 2016, 2019

    Option: B

  16. Climate change studies indicate that the weakening of monsoon circulation is primarily linked to the rapid warming of a large body of water. What specific oceanic feature is linked to this weakening of the moisture-bearing winds and the rainfall decline over central India?

    Options:
    1. North Atlantic Ocean warming
    2. Equatorial Pacific Ocean cooling
    3. Indian Ocean warming
    4. Bay of Bengal cooling

    Option: C

  17. During the 2024 monsoon season, Maharashtra received above-normal rainfall (1252.1 mm), which was 26% more than its normal value (994.5 mm). Which specific district in Maharashtra experienced deficient rainfall according to the seasonal rainfall percentage departure map?

    Options:
    1. Pune
    2. Kolhapur
    3. Hingoli
    4. Nagpur

    Option: C

  18. Forecasting tools often integrate physics-based modeling with machine learning for improved accuracy and efficiency. What is the specific name of the Google Research model mentioned in the source that combines traditional physics-based modeling with machine learning to improve monsoon simulation accuracy?

    Options:
    1. ECMWF-AIFS
    2. NeuralGCM
    3. Monsoon Mission CFS
    4. Deep Learning AI

    Option: B

  19. The Indian monsoon significantly impacts agricultural practices. What is the essential farming practice recommended for drought-prone areas to reduce dependency on monsoon rainfall?

    Options:
    1. Growing only water-intensive crops like paddy
    2. Constructing modern irrigation canals
    3. Growing stress tolerant crops like bajra and guar
    4. Focusing entirely on Rabi crops

    Option: C

  20. Monsoon is scientifically defined by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). According to the IMD, the monsoon refers to the seasonal reversal of the direction of winds along the shores of which specific ocean, particularly in the Arabian Sea?

    Options:
    1. Atlantic Ocean
    2. Indian Ocean
    3. Pacific Ocean
    4. Arctic Ocean

    Option: B