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Topic Atmospheric circulation
Asked 8 times across 4 UPSC exams over 20 years (2005–2025), peaking in 2005.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 5 of 8 PYQs
- Most asked in 2005
- Recurs across 8 years (2005–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 2005 → CDS 2015 → CAPF 2019 → GEO 2023
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (6 of 8) are since 2016.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CDS2025
The pattern of planetary winds largely depends upon which of the following factors ?
- Latitudinal variation of atmospheric heating
- The distribution of continents and oceans
- The rotation of earth
Which of the above is/are correct ?
- A 1 only
- B 1 and 2 only
- C 2 and 3 only
- D 1, 2 and 3
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Geography › Climatology
CDS2024
Consider the following statements
- Hadley cells are key to understanding the wind patterns of Earth
- Hadley cells are formed because the Equator is heated more strongly than the Sun than other places, creating thermal circulations. With regard to the statements given above,
which of the following is correct ?
- A Both the statements are correct and statement 2 is the correct explanation of statement 1. ✓
- B Both the statements are correct, but statement 2 is not the correct explanation of statement 1.
- C Statement 1 is correct, but statement 2 is false.
- D Statement 1 is false, but statement 2 is correct.
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Geography › Climatology
GEO2023
Deserts are generally located at
- A Equatorial region
- B Polar region
- C about 30° latitude ✓
- D about 65° latitude
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Geography › Climatology
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