SSC CGL Preparation – Day 15

Geography: Climate Zones of India

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🧭 Introduction

India experiences a diverse climate due to its vast geographical expanse and varied topography. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) classifies Indian climate into five major types based on Köppen’s classification, which is the most widely used system.

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🌦️ 1. Types of Climate Zones in India (Köppen Classification)

Climate Zone	Köppen Symbol	Region Covered	Key Features
Tropical Wet	Am/Af	Western Ghats, NE India, Andaman & Nicobar Islands	High rainfall, hot & humid year-round
Tropical Dry	Aw (Savannah)	Central & South India (e.g., Maharashtra, MP, Telangana)	Distinct dry & wet seasons
Arid (Desert)	BWh	Rajasthan (Thar Desert), Gujarat	Scanty rainfall, extreme temperatures
Semi-arid	BSh	Parts of Punjab, Haryana, Karnataka	Moderate rainfall, dry climate
Mountain/Highland	H	Himalayan region (J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand)	Cold winters, snowfall

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🌤️ 2. Seasons in India (As per IMD)

Season	Months	Characteristics
Winter	January – February	Cold, dry; snowfall in Himalayas
Pre-monsoon (Summer)	March – May	Hot, dry winds (loo), heatwaves
South-West Monsoon	June – September	Heavy rainfall, agricultural importance
Post-monsoon (Retreat)	October – December	Decrease in rain, pleasant climate

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☔ 3. Monsoon in India

• Southwest Monsoon:
  • Onset: Early June (Kerala coast)
  • Covers entire country by mid-July
  • Caused by Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and differential heating
  • Arabian Sea & Bay of Bengal branches
• Northeast Monsoon:
  • Occurs in: October–December
  • Affects mainly Tamil Nadu, SE Andhra Pradesh
  • Winds blow from land to sea

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🏜️ 4. Regional Climatic Variations

Region	Climate Type	Special Features
Himalayan Region	Alpine/Mountain	Cold, snowy winters
North India (Indo-Gangetic Plain)	Subtropical Continental	Extreme temperatures, fog in winter
Western India (Rajasthan)	Arid/Desert	High summer temp, low rainfall
Coastal India	Tropical Monsoon	Humid, high rainfall
North-East India	Tropical Rainforest	Mawsynram: world’s highest rainfall

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🌡️ 5. Important Facts to Remember for SSC CGL

• Mawsynram (Meghalaya): Highest rainfall in the world
• Thar Desert (Rajasthan): Driest part of India
• Cherrapunji (Meghalaya): Second highest rainfall
• Jaisalmer: Hottest area in India (Summer)
• Dras (Ladakh): Coldest inhabited place in India

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📌 Key Climate Influencing Factors in India

1. Latitude: Tropical to temperate climate
2. Altitude: Himalayas block cold winds
3. Monsoon winds: Key driver of rainfall
4. Distance from the sea: Coastal vs interior climate
5. Relief features: Mountains affect rainfall via orographic effect

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🧠 Tips for SSC CGL:

• Focus on monsoon mechanisms
• Memorize Köppen classifications
• Know regional climate extremes
• Understand seasonal month-wise patterns