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Topic Insolation
Asked 16 times across 6 UPSC exams over 46 years (1979–2025), peaking in 2022.
Key insights
- Most tested in CSE — 5 of 16 PYQs
- Most asked in 2022
- Recurs across 10 years (1979–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CSE 1979 → CDS 2014 → CAPF 2018 → GEO 2022 → CBI 2023 → NDA 2025
How the concept evolved
179
187
193
104
214
218
322
223
124
225
Rising — more than half its appearances (10 of 16) 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.
CAPF2025
The seasonal variations in the amount of solar energy that any place on the Earth receives are influenced by
- A the speed of rotation of the Earth
- B pollution
- C cloudiness
- D the inclination of the Earth about its axis
Answer key not yet available (pending official release)
Geography › Climatology
NDA2025
Which one of the following latitudes will experience a minimum angle of the Sun's rays when it is Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere?
- A Arctic Circle
- B Equator
- C Tropic of Cancer
- D Tropic of Capricorn ✓
✓ Correct answer: (D)
Geography › Climatology
CDS2024
Which of the following statements regarding insolation is/are correct?
- Insolation is predominantly short-wave radiation, with wavelengths in the range of 0·39 micrometre to 0·76 micrometre
- Insolation is evenly distributed across the Earth because of the Earth's curved surface
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A 1 only ✓
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Geography › Climatology
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