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GeographyHardAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2026, GK

Which of the following statements relating to given weather phenomena in India is/are correct? 1. When maximum temperature of a station reaches ≥40°C for plains and ≥30°C for hilly regions, it is considered heat wave 2. When minimum temperature of a station is ≤10°C for plains and ≤0°C for hilly regions, it is considered cold wave Select the answer using the code given below:

  1. A.1 only
  2. B.2 only
  3. C.Both 1 and 2
  4. D.Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer

C. Both 1 and 2

Explanation

The correct answer is C, Both 1 and 2. These are the threshold temperatures the India Meteorological Department (IMD) uses for declaring heat waves and cold waves.

IMD does not consider a heat wave until a station's maximum temperature reaches at least 40°C in the plains and 30°C in hilly regions; beyond this it looks at the departure from normal, and a maximum of 45°C or more is a heat wave regardless of normal. Likewise, a cold wave is considered only when the minimum temperature is 10°C or less in the plains and 0°C or less in hilly regions, along with a fall below normal.

A is wrong because statement 2 is also correct: it gives IMD's cold wave threshold.

B is wrong because statement 1 is also correct: it gives IMD's heat wave threshold.

D is wrong because both statements match IMD's criteria.

Exam tip: heat wave threshold 40°C plains, 30°C hills (37°C coast); cold wave 10°C plains, 0°C hills.

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Q3.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2026, GKMedium

Consider the following statements with reference to earthquakes:

1. Collapse earthquakes are most common.

2. Tsunamis are waves generated by the tremors and not an earthquake in itself.

3. High magnitude earthquakes i.e. 8+ are quite rare whereas 'tiny' types occur almost every minute.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.1 and 3 only
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 2 and 3 only

Statement 1 is false because tectonic earthquakes, not collapse earthquakes, are the most common type. Earthquakes are grouped by cause: tectonic (sliding of rocks along a fault), volcanic, collapse (the roofs of underground mines or caverns falling in), explosion (from nuclear or chemical blasts) and reservoir-induced.

Q4.GeographyAsked in: CDS · CDS-II 2016, GKMedium

With reference to earthquakes, which of the following statements are correct?

1. Earthquakes largely occur along the converging plate boundaries.

2. Point of origin of earthquake in lithosphere is known as focus/hypocentre.

3. Intensity of earthquake decreases with distance from the epicentre.

4. Epicentre of earthquake always remains over continents only.

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

  1. A.1 and 2 only
  2. B.1, 2 and 3
  3. C.2 and 3 only
  4. D.1 and 4
Show answer
Correct answer: B. 1, 2 and 3

The first three statements are true, while statement 4 is false because many earthquakes have their epicentre under the sea.