UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 88: Geography
Consider the following statements :
- 1.The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India.
- 2.The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from east to west.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (c).
The monsoon season is longest in the south (Kerala gets it from early June) and shortens northwards, as the rains arrive later and withdraw earlier. In the northern plains, rainfall falls from east to west as moisture-bearing winds lose it on the way: Kolkata and Patna get far more than Delhi and Bikaner. Both statements are correct.
- 1. The monsoon season is longer in the south and shorter in the north.
- 2. Annual rainfall in the northern plains falls from east to west.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is correct, (b) and (d) go: each of them leaves 1 out.
What you needed to know: The monsoon season is longer in the south and shorter in the north.
- Then, if you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Annual rainfall in the northern plains falls from east to west.
Only (c) is left. This one needs every statement.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incomplete: rainfall in the northern plains also decreases from east to west.
- (b) Incomplete: the monsoon's duration also decreases from south to north.
- (c) Correct: both the duration and the plains' rainfall decline as stated.
- (d) Wrong: both statements are correct.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.