UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — What has the IMD announced ahead of this year’s monsoon?

Q1. India's first Artificial Intelligence–enabled block-level monsoon onset forecast system, launched in 2026, was unveiled by which one of the following organisations?

  • A. India Meteorological Department (IMD)
  • B. National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF)
  • C. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
  • D. National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)

Q2. With reference to IMD's new block-level monsoon onset forecast system compared with its earlier forecasts, consider the following statements: 1. The new system provides onset forecasts for 3,196 blocks across 15 States and one Union Territory. 2. It issues probabilistic forecasts of monsoon progression up to four weeks in advance, updated every Wednesday. 3. Its block-level coverage extends to all of India's roughly 7,200 blocks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The new system provides onset forecasts for 3,196 blocks across 15 States and one Union Territory.
  2. It issues probabilistic forecasts of monsoon progression up to four weeks in advance, updated every Wednesday.
  3. Its block-level coverage extends to all of India's roughly 7,200 blocks.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. The 2026 IMD monsoon onset forecast system is notable as India's first onset forecast issued at which administrative level, moving below the smallest unit used in the earlier system?

  • A. Block
  • B. District
  • C. Tehsil
  • D. Gram panchayat

Q4. Comparing IMD's earlier monsoon onset forecasts with the new block-level system, consider the following statements: 1. Earlier onset forecasts were issued only at the State/district scale, which could mask intra-district patchiness of rainfall. 2. The new system still computes its block-level forecast itinerary starting from the date of monsoon onset over Kerala. 3. The new system entirely abandons numerical weather prediction models in favour of a purely AI-based approach. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. Earlier onset forecasts were issued only at the State/district scale, which could mask intra-district patchiness of rainfall.
  2. The new system still computes its block-level forecast itinerary starting from the date of monsoon onset over Kerala.
  3. The new system entirely abandons numerical weather prediction models in favour of a purely AI-based approach.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2 and 3 only
  • C. 1 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q5. The model-blending framework at the core of IMD's block-level monsoon onset forecast system was developed by which one of the following institutions?

  • A. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune
  • B. National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF)
  • C. Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
  • D. Space Applications Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad

Q6. Consider the following normal (climatological) southwest monsoon onset/coverage timings as used by IMD: 1. Kerala — around 1 June 2. Mumbai — around 1 July 3. Delhi — around end June 4. Entire country covered — around 15 July Which of the pairings given above is/are NOT correctly matched?

  1. Kerala — around 1 June
  2. Mumbai — around 1 July
  3. Delhi — around end June
  4. Entire country covered — around 15 July
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 only
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 3 and 4

Q7. With reference to IMD's declaration of southwest monsoon onset and its normal progression, consider the following statements: 1. Onset over Kerala is declared when at least 60% of the 14 designated stations record ≥2.5 mm rainfall on two consecutive days. 2. The monsoon normally covers the entire country by around 15 July. 3. The normal onset date over Kerala is around 1 May. 4. Mumbai's normal onset is around 11 June. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. Onset over Kerala is declared when at least 60% of the 14 designated stations record ≥2.5 mm rainfall on two consecutive days.
  2. The monsoon normally covers the entire country by around 15 July.
  3. The normal onset date over Kerala is around 1 May.
  4. Mumbai's normal onset is around 11 June.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 3

Q8. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) functions as an attached/subordinate agency primarily under which one of the following Union Ministries?

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

Q9. With reference to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), consider the following statements: 1. It was established in the year 1875. 2. It functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. 3. It is headquartered in New Delhi. 4. It is India's nodal agency for ocean-state forecasting and tsunami early warnings. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. It was established in the year 1875.
  2. It functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  3. It is headquartered in New Delhi.
  4. It is India's nodal agency for ocean-state forecasting and tsunami early warnings.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1, 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q10. What is the primary/main stated objective of IMD's block-level monsoon onset forecast system?

  • A. To help farmers in rainfed regions decide the correct timing of sowing
  • B. To predict the landfall point of tropical cyclones on the coast
  • C. To issue tsunami early warnings for coastal districts
  • D. To monitor urban air-quality indices at the block level

Q11. With reference to the 'block' as an administrative unit in India, consider the following statements: 1. A community development (CD) block is a sub-division of a district for planning and rural development. 2. It is administered by a Block Development Officer (BDO). 3. The Panchayat Samiti operates at the block level as the intermediate tier of Panchayati Raj. 4. The block is the basic unit of revenue administration, ranking immediately above the district. Which of the statements given above are correctly identified?

  1. A community development (CD) block is a sub-division of a district for planning and rural development.
  2. It is administered by a Block Development Officer (BDO).
  3. The Panchayat Samiti operates at the block level as the intermediate tier of Panchayati Raj.
  4. The block is the basic unit of revenue administration, ranking immediately above the district.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4