CAPF AC 2020 Q40: Current Affairs – Disasters & Humanitarian Issues
Which one of the following countries has suggested the name 'Amphan' to the cyclone that devastated parts of West Bengal and Bangladesh in May 2020?
- (a) Bangladesh
- (b) Thailand
- (c) Maldives
- (d) India
Answer: (b) Thailand
Explanation
Cyclone Amphan (May 2020)
How to think: cyclone names in the North Indian Ocean come from a list given by member countries.
Amphan is a Thai word, and it was the last name on the old 2004 list.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Named by | Thailand |
| Meaning | Sky |
| Strength | Super cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal |
| Landfall | 20 May 2020, West Bengal coast near the Sundarbans |
| Hit hardest | West Bengal, Odisha and Bangladesh |
How cyclones are named:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Region | North Indian Ocean (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea) |
| Naming centre | India Meteorological Department, New Delhi |
| Countries on the panel | 13 |
| Next cyclone after Amphan | Nisarga, named by Bangladesh (first name of the 2020 list) |
Answer: (b) Thailand.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Bangladesh named Nisarga, the cyclone that followed Amphan.
- (b) CORRECT. Thailand suggested the name Amphan, which means sky.
- (c) Incorrect. Maldives did not suggest this name.
- (d) Incorrect. India was hit by the cyclone but did not name it.
Key point
Amphan: named by Thailand (means sky), super cyclone, landfall in West Bengal on 20 May 2020. Next: Nisarga (Bangladesh). Names are issued by IMD for 13 countries.
Remember
Amphan = Thailand; Nisarga = Bangladesh.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the country that is hit gives the name.
- Mixing up Amphan (Thailand) with Nisarga (Bangladesh), both of 2020.
- Thinking the World Meteorological Organization picks each name itself; member countries give the lists.
Exam tip
Educated guess: the hit countries, India and Bangladesh, are the trap options. The name comes from another member.
Sources
- India Meteorological Department — Super Cyclonic Storm Amphan over the Bay of Bengal (May 2020), report
- India Meteorological Department — Naming of tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean