Pragnya IAS · Map 21 · Climate & environment
Retreating monsoon of India map study
Understand the October–December reversal and why the southeast coast gets its rain late in the year.
STUDY NOTE 1
The reversal
As pressure patterns shift in autumn, winds reverse to blow from land to sea — the northeast monsoon. Withdrawal begins from the northwest in September–October.
STUDY NOTE 2
Tamil Nadu’s season
The retreating monsoon picks up moisture over the Bay of Bengal and rains on the Tamil Nadu and south Andhra coasts — their main rainy season.
STUDY NOTE 3
Cyclone window
October–November is the peak season for Bay of Bengal cyclones, which can bring destructive rain to the east coast during withdrawal.
Map reading task
Mark the regions that receive most rain during the retreating monsoon and compare them with the southwest-monsoon core zone.
Map key · Reference locations
What does this retreating monsoon of india lesson explain?
As pressure patterns shift in autumn, winds reverse to blow from land to sea — the northeast monsoon. Withdrawal begins from the northwest in September–October.
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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