UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Rural demand to face pressure as El Niño impacts rains

Q1. With reference to ENSO terminology, which of the following statements is/are correctly identified?

1. The Southern Oscillation refers to the see-saw of atmospheric pressure between the eastern and western tropical Pacific.
2. The Walker circulation is the east–west atmospheric circulation cell over the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
3. El Niño and the Southern Oscillation together constitute the coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon known as ENSO.
4. El Niño refers to an abnormal cooling of the eastern equatorial Pacific surface waters.

• A. 1 and 2 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3
• C. 2, 3 and 4
• D. 1, 3 and 4

Q2. As per IMD's updated Long Range Forecast for the June–September 2026 southwest monsoon, normal to above-normal rainfall was projected for all of the following regions EXCEPT one. Which of the above is/are NOT correctly identified?

1. Some parts of Northwest India
2. Some parts of Northeast India
3. Many parts of the south Peninsula
4. The Monsoon Core Zone comprising rain-fed agricultural areas

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 3 only
• D. 4 only

Q3. In IMD's long range monsoon forecasting terminology, seasonal rainfall is classified as 'below normal' when it falls within which one of the following ranges of the Long Period Average (LPA)?

• A. Less than 90% of the LPA
• B. 90–95% of the LPA
• C. 96–104% of the LPA
• D. 105–110% of the LPA

Q4. As per the Consumer Price Index release for May 2026 (base 2024=100), how many of the following four indicators recorded a year-on-year inflation rate above 4.0%: All-India CPI (combined), rural CPI, urban CPI, and All-India CFPI?

• A. One
• B. Two
• C. Three
• D. All four

Q5. Among the following price indicators, which one recorded the HIGHEST year-on-year inflation rate in May 2026?

• A. All-India CPI (combined)
• B. Rural Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)
• C. Urban Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI)
• D. All-India Housing inflation

Q6. With reference to the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS), which of the following is/are correctly identified?

1. It is conducted by the National Sample Survey Office under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
2. The PLFS Annual Report 2025 covers the calendar-year reference period January to December 2025.
3. Agriculture continued to account for the largest single share of total employment in the PLFS 2025.
4. PLFS was launched to replace the decadal Population Census of India.

• A. 1 and 3 only
• B. 1, 2 and 3
• C. 2 and 4 only
• D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q7. The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which issues India's official southwest monsoon and El Niño-related seasonal rainfall forecasts, functions under which one of the following Union Ministries?

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

Q8. Under India's Flexible Inflation Targeting framework, the Reserve Bank of India is deemed to have 'failed' to maintain price stability under which one of the following conditions?

• A. Average inflation exceeds the 4% target in any single quarter
• B. Headline CPI inflation remains outside the 2%–6% tolerance band for three consecutive quarters
• C. Inflation exceeds 6% in any two consecutive months
• D. Inflation stays below the 4% target for two consecutive financial years

Q9. With reference to El Niño, La Niña and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and their influence on the Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?

1. A positive Indian Ocean Dipole is generally favourable for the Indian summer monsoon.
2. La Niña is generally associated with above-normal Indian summer monsoon rainfall.
3. El Niño involves warming of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean.
4. The Indian Ocean Dipole refers to the sea-surface temperature gradient across the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 3 only
• D. 4 only

Q10. With reference to the transmission of a deficient monsoon to rural demand in India, which of the following statements is/are NOT correct?

1. A deficient monsoon tends to lower kharif farm incomes, dampening rural demand for FMCG and entry-level two-wheelers.
2. Agriculture and allied Gross Value Added (GVA) growth was projected to slip to about 0–1% in FY27 amid the weak monsoon.
3. The rural wage-employment guarantee, formerly MGNREGA, has been recast as the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G.
4. Because rural areas contribute a smaller share of India's workforce than urban areas, rural demand is largely insulated from monsoon shocks.

• A. 1 only
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 3 only
• D. 4 only