Topic Drought
Asked 5 times across 4 UPSC exams over 6 years (2020–2026), peaking in 2021.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 2 of 5 PYQs
- Most asked in 2021
- Recurs across 5 years (2020–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
NDA 2020 → CDS 2021 → CBI 2023 → ESE 2025
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (5 of 5) 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.
CDS2026
Consider the following statements about the types of drought in India
- A meteorological drought occurs when the mean annual rainfall is less than 75%
- Agricultural drought arises out of extreme moisture stress
- Soil moisture drought is related to meteorological drought
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
- A 1 and 2 only
- B 2 and 3 only
- C 1 and 3 only
- D 1, 2 and 3 ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Geography › Climatology
ESE2025
A situation when there is a prolonged period of inadequate rain fall, marked with erratic distribution of the same over time and space, is called
- A Agricultural drought
- B Ecological drought
- C Hydrological drought
- D Meteorological drought
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Environment & Ecology › Climate Change
CBI2023
Which one of the following is not among the areas classified as 'moderate drought-affected areas' in India?
- A Coimbatore Plateau
- B Northern part of Rajasthan
- C Southern districts of Uttar Pradesh
- D Konkan region of Maharashtra ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Geography › Physical Geography of India
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