UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Missed call

Q1. The Long Period Average (LPA) that the India Meteorological Department uses as the benchmark against which the 2026 southwest monsoon seasonal rainfall is expressed is derived from the all-India rainfall of which base period?

  • A. 1971–2020
  • B. 1961–2010
  • C. 1951–2000
  • D. 1981–2010

Q2. The India Meteorological Department, which issues the Long Range Forecast for the southwest monsoon, functions under which Union ministry?

  • 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

Q3. With reference to the India Meteorological Department's 2026 first-stage Long Range Forecast compared with its 2025 forecast, consider the following statements: 1. The 2026 forecast placed seasonal rainfall in the 'below normal' category, whereas the 2025 forecast had placed it in the 'above normal' category. 2. The 2026 forecast marks India's first below-normal pre-season monsoon forecast in three years. 3. Unlike the 2025 forecast, the 2026 first-stage forecast carried a model error margin of ±5%. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The 2026 forecast placed seasonal rainfall in the 'below normal' category, whereas the 2025 forecast had placed it in the 'above normal' category.
  2. The 2026 forecast marks India's first below-normal pre-season monsoon forecast in three years.
  3. Unlike the 2025 forecast, the 2026 first-stage forecast carried a model error margin of ±5%.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q4. In IMD's five-category classification of seasonal southwest monsoon rainfall, the 'below normal' category corresponds to which range of the Long Period Average (LPA)?

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

Q5. The 2026 monsoon onset over Kerala on June 4 was described as 'delayed' relative to the normal onset date. Which date does IMD fix as the normal date of monsoon onset over Kerala?

  • A. June 1
  • B. May 22
  • C. May 26
  • D. June 8

Q6. The 2026 Long Range Forecast declaring below-normal rainfall and the official declaration of monsoon onset over Kerala are issued by which body?

  • A. India Meteorological Department
  • B. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology
  • C. National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting
  • D. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services

Q7. During the period 1901–2015, the Indian summer monsoon recorded 22 droughts. How many of these droughts were associated with El Niño?

  • A. 9
  • B. 22
  • C. 15
  • D. 6

Q8. Which one of the following is regarded as the single most dominant large-scale driver of interannual variability in Indian summer monsoon rainfall?

  • A. El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
  • B. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
  • C. Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO)
  • D. North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO)

Q9. Under the National Monsoon Mission, which coupled model was adopted as the basic (core) modelling system for developing India's dynamical monsoon prediction capability?

  • A. NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS)
  • B. ECMWF Integrated Forecasting System (IFS)
  • C. UK Met Office Unified Model
  • D. Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model

Q10. Systematic monitoring of the southwest monsoon's advance and withdrawal, including demarcation of the Northern Limit of Monsoon, has been carried out in India since 1875 by which organisation?

  • A. India Meteorological Department
  • B. Indian Space Research Organisation
  • C. Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services
  • D. National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting

Q11. With reference to the effects of the below-normal 2026 monsoon on India's economy, consider the following statements: 1. By end-June 2026, the area sown under kharif crops was about 22% higher than a year earlier. 2. Food inflation, already around 4.2% in April 2026, faced upward pressure. 3. Hydropower generation faced risk from lower reservoir inflows. 4. The Reserve Bank of India flagged the deficient monsoon as a risk to inflation and growth. Which of the statements given above is/are NOT correct?

  1. By end-June 2026, the area sown under kharif crops was about 22% higher than a year earlier.
  2. Food inflation, already around 4.2% in April 2026, faced upward pressure.
  3. Hydropower generation faced risk from lower reservoir inflows.
  4. The Reserve Bank of India flagged the deficient monsoon as a risk to inflation and growth.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q12. With reference to the 2026 Strait of Hormuz disruption and its bearing on India's fertiliser supply, consider the following statements: 1. About 70% of India's urea imports come from Gulf countries such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE. 2. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of the world's oil and LNG trade. 3. Following the disruption, urea prices rose by exactly 10% and never exceeded pre-conflict levels. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. About 70% of India's urea imports come from Gulf countries such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE.
  2. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of the world's oil and LNG trade.
  3. Following the disruption, urea prices rose by exactly 10% and never exceeded pre-conflict levels.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3