Natural Hazards & Disaster Management – NDA Geography PYQ

Question 1 [NDA 2009-I]
Which one of the following sets of states does NOT receive most of its rainfall from the SW monsoon during June to September?
(a) Arunachal Pradesh
(b) Assam and Karnataka
(c) Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan
(d) Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir

Answer: (d) Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir
Tamil Nadu lies in the rain shadow of the Western Ghats and receives most of its rainfall from the Northeast Monsoon (October-December). J&K receives most of its precipitation from Western Disturbances in winter. Neither gets the bulk of its rain from the June-September Southwest Monsoon.

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Question 2 [NDA 2011-II]
Statement I: The semi-arid tracts of India from eastern Rajasthan to south-central Tamil Nadu are agriculturally less productive.
Statement II: These semi-arid tracts are the homeland of a large number of central Indian Scheduled Tribes.

(a) Both true; II explains I
(b) Both true; II does not explain I
(c) I true; II false
(d) I false; II true

Answer: (b) Both true; II does not explain I
Both statements are independently true. The semi-arid tracts are indeed less productive due to poor rainfall. And large tribal populations do live in central India. But the tribal population does not explain why agriculture is less productive — the real reason is poor rainfall and dry conditions. The two facts are unrelated to each other.

Question 3 [NDA 2014-I]
Which of the following is/are the most likely cause/causes of sheet floods in western Rajasthan?

1. Scanty rainfall
2. Sudden high intensity rain
3. Loose sandy soil with scanty vegetation

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
All three factors contribute to sheet floods in western Rajasthan. The overall rainfall is scarce (1), but when it does rain it comes suddenly and intensely (2). The sandy soil with very little vegetation cannot absorb this sudden heavy water — so it flows in a thin fast sheet over the surface (3).

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Question 4 [NDA 2017-I]
Which of the following are correct with regard to Indian monsoonal rainfall?

1. Largely governed by topographical features
2. Regional and seasonal variation in distribution
3. Heavy downpour resulting in considerable runoff
4. Beginning and end of rain is regular and on time

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4 only
(d) 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3
Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct. The monsoon is governed by topography (Western Ghats, Himalayas), shows regional and seasonal variation, and causes heavy downpours with significant runoff. Statement 4 is wrong — the onset and withdrawal of the monsoon are well known for being irregular and unpredictable, causing problems for farmers.

Question 5 [NDA 2020-I]
For an area to be excluded from the drought-prone category, what percentage of its gross cropped area should be under irrigation?
(a) 10 per cent or more
(b) 20 per cent or more
(c) 25 per cent or more
(d) 30 per cent or more

Answer: (d) 30 per cent or more
An area is considered drought-prone if less than 30% of its gross cropped area is under irrigation. If 30% or more of the cropped area is irrigated, the area has enough water security to be excluded from the drought-prone category — because irrigation provides a buffer against rainfall failure.

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Question 6 [NDA 2022-I]
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, which of the following is/are features of cloudburst?

1. Heavy precipitation in short period of time in a limited geographical area.
2. It occurs generally during monsoon period and triggers flash floods and landslides.

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Both statements correctly describe a cloudburst. A cloudburst means very heavy rainfall (over 100 mm per hour) concentrated in a small area over a short time. This almost always happens during the monsoon season. Such intense, localised rainfall causes flash floods (water rushes down slopes and valleys) and can trigger landslides (by saturating unstable slopes).