UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — ‘Below normal’ rain likely for first time in 11 years

Q1. In the India Meteorological Department's classification of all-India seasonal rainfall relative to the Long Period Average (LPA), a monsoon described as 'below normal' corresponds to which one of the following?

  • A. Seasonal rainfall between 90% and 96% of LPA
  • B. Seasonal rainfall between 96% and 104% of LPA
  • C. Seasonal rainfall less than 90% of LPA
  • D. Seasonal rainfall between 104% and 110% of LPA

Q2. On the all-India scale, IMD classifies the southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall (as a percentage departure from LPA) into how many distinct categories?

  • A. Exactly 3
  • B. Exactly 4
  • C. Exactly 5
  • D. Exactly 6

Q3. With reference to IMD's April 2026 southwest monsoon forecast and recent monsoon years, consider the following statements: 1. The April 2026 forecast of below-normal rainfall (92% of LPA) was the first below-normal seasonal forecast issued since 2015. 2. In 2015, the actual southwest monsoon rainfall turned out to be 96% of LPA. 3. In 2023, the southwest monsoon delivered rainfall of about 94% of LPA. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The April 2026 forecast of below-normal rainfall (92% of LPA) was the first below-normal seasonal forecast issued since 2015.
  2. In 2015, the actual southwest monsoon rainfall turned out to be 96% of LPA.
  3. In 2023, the southwest monsoon delivered rainfall of about 94% of LPA.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 and 3 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. The India Meteorological Department, which issued the April 2026 below-normal southwest monsoon forecast, functions as an agency under which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • B. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
  • C. Ministry of Science and Technology
  • D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Q5. With reference to the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian monsoon, consider the following pairings: 1. El Niño — warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, generally suppressing the Indian monsoon. 2. La Niña — cooling of the equatorial Pacific, generally enhancing Indian monsoon rainfall. 3. El Niño — most of India's major monsoon droughts have historically coincided with this phase. 4. La Niña — most of India's major monsoon droughts have historically coincided with this phase. Which of the pairings given above are correctly identified?

  1. El Niño — warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, generally suppressing the Indian monsoon.
  2. La Niña — cooling of the equatorial Pacific, generally enhancing Indian monsoon rainfall.
  3. El Niño — most of India's major monsoon droughts have historically coincided with this phase.
  4. La Niña — most of India's major monsoon droughts have historically coincided with this phase.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q6. It is noted that since 1960 an El Niño event has emerged on 16 occasions. On how many of those occasions has the El Niño been associated with a depressed (suppressed) Indian southwest monsoon?

  • A. 6
  • B. 9
  • C. 12
  • D. 16

Q7. IMD's April 2026 below-normal forecast was widely reported as the first such forecast after a gap of how many years (measured from the previous below-normal forecast of 2015)?

  • A. 8 years
  • B. 9 years
  • C. 11 years
  • D. 13 years

Q8. The official all-India seasonal monsoon rainfall figures (such as the 86% of LPA recorded in the 2015 drought year) are computed and declared by which one of the following bodies?

  • A. India Meteorological Department
  • B. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
  • C. National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting
  • D. Central Water Commission

Q9. With reference to the India Meteorological Department's Regional Meteorological Centres, consider the following cities: 1. Mumbai 2. Guwahati 3. Hyderabad 4. Nagpur Which of the above are correctly identified as locations of IMD's Regional Meteorological Centres?

  1. Mumbai
  2. Guwahati
  3. Hyderabad
  4. Nagpur
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q10. Approximately what share of India's net sown area is rainfed, i.e. largely dependent on the southwest monsoon rather than on assured irrigation?

  • A. About 15–20%
  • B. About 30–35%
  • C. About 55–60%
  • D. About 85–90%

Q11. With reference to India's fertilizer supply, consider the following statements: 1. India imports essentially the entire (about 100%) of its Muriate of Potash (MOP) requirement. 2. Saudi Arabia, Russia and Morocco are among the major sources of India's fertilizer/raw-material supplies. 3. India is fully self-sufficient in urea and imports none. 4. Muriate of Potash is a major source of potassium (K) for Indian agriculture. Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. India imports essentially the entire (about 100%) of its Muriate of Potash (MOP) requirement.
  2. Saudi Arabia, Russia and Morocco are among the major sources of India's fertilizer/raw-material supplies.
  3. India is fully self-sufficient in urea and imports none.
  4. Muriate of Potash is a major source of potassium (K) for Indian agriculture.
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1 and 3 only

Q12. As per IMD's normal dates, the southwest monsoon normally sets in over Kerala—marking the official onset over the Indian mainland—around which date?

  • A. 1 May
  • B. 1 June
  • C. 15 June
  • D. 1 July