Pragnya IAS · Map 53 · Climate & environment
India: temperature (January) map study
Read the winter isotherm map: a cold northwest, a warm peninsula, and the role of continentality.
STUDY NOTE 1
The north–south gradient
January means range from below 15°C in the northwest plains to above 25°C in the far south; the Himalaya blocks cold Central Asian air from penetrating deeper.
STUDY NOTE 2
Continentality shows
Inland Punjab and Rajasthan swing colder in winter (and hotter in summer) than coastal Mumbai or Chennai at similar latitudes — the sea moderates.
STUDY NOTE 3
Western disturbances
Winter rain in the northwest comes from Mediterranean-origin western disturbances — vital for rabi wheat and a favourite Prelims link.
Map reading task
Draw the 15°C and 20°C January isotherms and explain why Delhi is colder than Mumbai in winter.
Map key · Reference locations
What does this india: temperature (january) lesson explain?
January means range from below 15°C in the northwest plains to above 25°C in the far south; the Himalaya blocks cold Central Asian air from penetrating deeper.
UPSC map practice & Geography Optional connection
For UPSC Prelims, pair the location with its state, neighbouring relief and relevant geographic process. For GS I and Geography Optional Indian geography revision, use a simple labelled sketch to explain the relationship rather than replacing the answer with place names. These are Pragnya-authored exercises, not official UPSC previous-year questions.
References & map credits
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