UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — El Nino: 111 districts in 12 States of ‘primary concern’

Q1. In the 2026 El Niño preparedness exercise, the term 'district of primary concern' (Category 1) is defined on the basis of which one of the following criteria?

  • A. A district where irrigation coverage is below 25%, making it almost entirely rain-fed
  • B. A district where the entire net sown area lies within the monsoon core zone
  • C. A district that recorded more than 50% rainfall deficit in the previous Kharif season
  • D. A district where groundwater extraction has been officially classified as 'over-exploited'

Q2. With reference to the three-tier classification of the 315 vulnerable districts in the 2026 El Niño contingency assessment, consider the following statements: 1. Category 1 (primary concern) districts have irrigation coverage below 25%. 2. Category 2 (medium priority) districts have irrigation coverage between 25% and 50%. 3. Category 3 (low priority) districts are fewer in number than Category 1 districts. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Category 1 (primary concern) districts have irrigation coverage below 25%.
  2. Category 2 (medium priority) districts have irrigation coverage between 25% and 50%.
  3. Category 3 (low priority) districts are fewer in number than Category 1 districts.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 1 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. Among the three priority categories into which the 315 vulnerable districts were grouped in 2026, which category contains the largest number of districts?

  • A. Category 3 (low priority, better irrigation)
  • B. Category 1 (primary concern, irrigation below 25%)
  • C. Category 2 (medium priority, irrigation 25–50%)
  • D. All three categories contain an equal number of districts

Q4. The identification of the 315 vulnerable districts (including the 111 of primary concern) for the 2026 El Niño-threatened Kharif season was carried out primarily under which one of the following?

  • A. Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, jointly with the ICAR
  • B. India Meteorological Department, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences
  • C. NITI Aayog, through its Agriculture and Water Resources vertical
  • D. National Disaster Management Authority, under the Ministry of Home Affairs

Q5. In the 2026 El Niño assessment, how many districts were classified as being of 'primary concern' on account of irrigation coverage below 25%?

  • A. 111
  • B. 76
  • C. 128
  • D. 315
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