Agro climatic zones of India: (Planning commission 1989)

1	Western Himalayan Region	Ladakh, Kashmir, Punjab, Jammu etc.brown soils & silty loam, steep slopes.
2	Eastern Himalayan Region	Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Darjeeling. Manipur etc. High rainfall and high forest covers heavy soil erosion, Floods.
3	Lower Gangatic plants Regions	West Bengal Soils mostly alluvial & are prone to floods.
4	Middle Gangatic plans Region	Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, High rainfall 39% irrigation, cropping intensity 142%
5	Upper Gangatic Plains Region	North region of U.P. (32 dists) irrigated by canal & tube wells good ground water
6	Trans Gangatic plains Region	Punjab Haryana Union territory of Delhi, Highest sown area irrigated high
7	Eastern Plateaus & Hills Region	Chota Nagpur, Garhjat hills, M.P, W. Banghelkhand plateau, Orissa, soils Shallow to medium sloppy, undulating Irrigation tank & tube wells.
8	Central Plateau & hills Region	M. Pradesh
9	Western Plateau & hills Region	Sahyadry, M.S. M.P. Rainfall 904 mm Sown area 65% forest 11% irrigation 12.4%

10	Southern Plateau & Hills Region	T. Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Typically semi and zone, Dry land Farming 81% Cropping Intensity 11%
11	East coast plains & hills Region	Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh Orissa, Soils, alluvial, coastal sand, Irrigation
12	West coast plains & Hills Region	Sourashtra, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, T. Nadu, Variety of cropping Pattern, rainfall & soil types.
13	Gujarat plains & Hills Region	Gujarat (19 dists) Low rainfall arid zone. Irrigation 32% well and tube wells.
14	Western Dry Region	Rajasthan (9 dists) Hot. Sandy desert rainfall erratic, high evaporation. Scanty vegetation, femine draughts.
15	The Island Region	Eastern Andaman, Nikobar, Western Laksh dweep. Typical equatorial, rainfall 3000 mm (9 months) forest zone undulating.

8. UPSC Previous Years’ Mains Questions on Climate

1. List the significant local storms of the hot-weather season in the country and bring out their socio-economic impact. (UPSC 2010/12 Marks)

2. Bring out the significance of the various activities of the Indian Meteorological Department. (UPSC 2009/15 Marks)

3. Write about Nor’westers in 20 words. (UPSC 2008/15 Marks)

4. The winter rains in North India are largely related to Jet Streams and Western Disturbances. Bring out the relationship. (UPSC 2008/15 Marks)

5. Write note on winter rains in India. (UPSC 2006/2 Marks)

6. Discuss the distribution of winds and rainfall over India in the summer monsoon season. (UPSC 2002/10 Marks)

7. Explain the causes of the Indian Monsoon. (UPSC 2001/10 Marks)

8. Write short note on Mango Showers. (UPSC 2000/2 Marks)

9. Mention the agro-climatic regions of India starting the basis of classification. (UPSC 2000/10 Marks)

10. Discuss the origin of Monsoon in India. (UPSC 1997/15 Marks)

11. What is ‘intensity of rainfall’? Discuss its importance to Indian farmers. (UPSC 1995/15

Marks)

12. Which part of India receives more rainfall from the north-east monsoon than from the south-west monsoon? Explain why it is so? (UPSC 1994/15 Marks)

13. What is the basis of Monsoon forecasts now prepared by the Indian Meteorological Department, which have been reasonably correct for the last three successive years? (UPSC 1991/20 Marks)

14. How far is it justifiable to state that the financial budget of this country is a gamble, against the Indian monsoon? To what extent have developmental measures solved the problem? (UPSC 1986/20 Marks)

15. Why is India undertaking expeditions to Antarctica? Describe the influence of Antarctica and Antarctic Ocean on the climate of India and on the nutrient and energy supply to Indian Ocean.

16. “Monsoon is known to be an energy released by the sea.” Explain. How does this energy benefit the entire economic system of our country? In what ways could this country prepare itself to fight the vagaries of the monsoons? (UPSC 1982/30 Marks)

17. Unlike most other parts of the country, why is the Tamil Nadu coast wettest in November-December and not in July-August? (UPSC 1980/3 Marks)