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Topic Temperature inversion
Asked 7 times across 4 UPSC exams over 5 years (2021–2026), peaking in 2022.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 4 of 7 PYQs
- Most asked in 2022
- Recurs across 5 years (2021–2026)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
GEO 2021 → CDS 2022 → CBI 2023 → NDA 2026
How the concept evolved
Rising — more than half its appearances (7 of 7) 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 causes of ground surface inversion of temperature
- Ground surface inversion is also termed as radiation inversion
- The existence of negative lapse rate results in surface inversion
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- A 1 only
- B 2 only
- C Both 1 and 2 ✓
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Geography › Climatology
NDA2026
Consider the following statements about temperature inversion
- This happens when normal lapse rate gets inverted
- Winter nights with cloudy skies are conducive for temperature inversion
- Polar areas experience inversion throughout the year
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A I and II only
- B II and III only
- C I and III only ✓
- D I, II and III
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Geography › Climatology
CDS2025
Which of the following statements with reference to Surface inversion of temperature is/are correct ?
- It causes instability in the lower layers of the atmosphere
- This inversion commonly lasts for a few hours until the Sun comes up. Select the answer
using the code given below :
- A 1 only
- B 2 only ✓
- C Both 1 and 2
- D Neither 1 nor 2
✓ Correct answer: (B)
Geography › Climatology
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