UPSC Prelims 2004 Q68: Geography – Atmosphere & Climatology
Assertion (A): Bangalore receives much higher average annual rainfall than Mangalore.
Reason (R): Bangalore has the benefit of receiving rainfall both from south - west and north - east
monsoons.
- (a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
- (b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
- (c) A is true but R is false
- (d) A is false but R is true
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true
Explanation
Rainfall at Bangalore and Mangalore
| Part | Verdict |
|---|---|
| A. Bangalore gets much more rain than Mangalore | False: Mangalore, on the windward Western Ghats coast, gets about 3,000 mm, Bangalore about 900 mm |
| R. Bangalore receives rain from both monsoons | True — south-west and north-east monsoon rains |
A is false because Mangalore receives far more rain; R is true as Bangalore gets rain from both the south-west and the retreating north-east monsoons.
Answer: (d) A is false but R is true.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. A is false, so R cannot explain it.
- (b) Incorrect. A is false, since Mangalore has more rain.
- (c) Incorrect. R is true, so this code is wrong.
- (d) CORRECT. A is false because Mangalore gets much more rain, while R is a true statement.
Key point
Windward Western Ghats coast: very high rainfall; rain shadow plateau: low.
Remember
Mangalore receives much more rain than Bangalore.
Common mistakes
- Ignoring the windward effect of the Western Ghats.
- Assuming two monsoons always mean more rain.
- Mixing the rain shadow with the coastal belt.
Exam tip
Mangalore is on the windward coast, Bangalore is in the rain shadow.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI Geography — Climate of India
- India Meteorological Department — Climatological Tables of Observatories in India (1951–1980)