NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science (Exploring Society) Chapter 3: Climates of India

These Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 3 solutions cover Climates of India from Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1), the new NCF-2023 textbook for the 2026–27 session. The chapter belongs to the theme India and the World: Land and the People and explains the difference between weather, seasons and climate, the main types of climate found across India, the five factors that determine climate, the working of the monsoons, how climate shapes our culture and economy, climate-related disasters, and the meaning and consequences of climate change. Below you get step-by-step answers to all Questions and activities, clear notes on key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason and FAQs.

Class: 7 Subject: Social Science Book: Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part 1) Chapter: 3 Theme: India and the World: Land and the People Session: 2026–27
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Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society Chapter 3 – Overview

Chapter 3, Climates of India, first clears up the common confusion between weather (what we experience hour to hour or day to day) and climate (the long-term pattern of weather over several decades). It then surveys the many types of climate found in India — alpine, temperate, subtropical, arid, tropical wet, semi-arid and tropical — and explains the five factors that create them: latitude, altitude, proximity to the sea, winds and topography. The chapter describes the monsoons (the seasonal winds and rains that are central to Indian life), explaining the summer (southwest) and winter (northeast) monsoons. It shows how climate shapes our festivals, culture and economy (the danger of ‘monsoon failure’), and examines climate-related disasters — cyclones, floods, landslides and forest fires. Finally it introduces climate change, the greenhouse effect, global warming and the need for mitigation, resilience and sustainable living.

Key Concepts & Terms

Weather: what we experience from hour to hour or day to day — rain, sunshine, wind, heat or cold. The weather keeps changing.

Climate: the pattern of weather an area or region experiences over a long period of time — at least several decades. It varies from region to region.

Seasons (ṛitus): recurring periods (spring, summer, monsoon, autumn, winter) that occur as the Earth revolves around the Sun. Traditionally India recognises six ṛitus — vasanta, grīṣhma, varṣhā, śharad, hemanta and śhiśhir.

Types of climate in India: alpine (Himalayas — cold snowy winters, cool summers), temperate (lower Himalayas, hill stations), subtropical (northern plains — very hot summers, cold winters), arid (Thar Desert — very hot days, cool nights, little rain), tropical wet (western coastal strip — heavy monsoon rain), semi-arid (Deccan Plateau), and tropical (eastern India and the southern peninsula).

Factors determining climate: (a) latitude — places near the Equator are warmer, those near the poles colder; (b) altitude — temperature falls as height increases; (c) proximity to the sea — the sea moderates temperature; (d) winds — carry warm/cool air and moisture; (e) topography — mountains and the shape of the land influence climate.

Microclimate: a climate localised in a small area that differs from the surrounding region, e.g. enclosed valleys, forests, and ‘urban heat islands’.

Monsoon: from the Arabic mausim (‘season’); seasonal winds (and the rains they bring) over the Indian Ocean and surrounding regions. The summer/southwest monsoon brings heavy rain from June to mid-July; the winter/northeast monsoon brings dry winds and some rain to east and south India.

Climate-related disasters: cyclones (intense low-pressure storms with an ‘eye’), floods (water overflowing onto dry land), landslides (sudden collapse of rock and soil), and forest fires (uncontrolled fires across vegetation).

Climate change: significant, long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation and weather events. Since the 19th century it has been largely driven by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels, which release greenhouse gases and intensify the greenhouse effect, causing global warming.

Other key terms: Topography (the totality of an area’s physical surface features), Resilience (the capacity to withstand or recover from difficulties), Mitigation (steps to slow global warming and reduce the causes of climate change), Sustainable (something that can be maintained over a long period of time).

“Questions and activities” — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Questions and activities section. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style. Map, poster and diary activities are answered in words, since this page carries no images.

1. Match the climatic factors with their effects:

ANSWER
Column A (Climatic factor)Column B (Effect)
(1) Latitude(b) Creates different climates in the north and south
(2) Altitude(c) Keeps higher places cooler
(3) Proximity to the ocean(d) Moderates the temperature
(4) Monsoon winds(a) Brings wet air to India during summer
So the matches are: 1–(b), 2–(c), 3–(d), 4–(a). Latitude makes the warm south differ from the cooler north; altitude cools hill stations; nearness to the sea evens out temperatures; and the summer monsoon winds carry moist air over the land, causing rainfall.

2. Answer the following questions:

a) What is the difference between weather and climate?

ANSWER Weather is what we experience from hour to hour or day to day — it might be raining, sunny, windy, hot or cold — and it keeps changing constantly. Climate, on the other hand, is the pattern of weather that an area or region experiences over a long period of time — at least several decades. So weather is short-term and changeable, while climate is the long-term, average pattern that varies from region to region.

b) Why do places near the ocean have milder temperatures than places far away from it?

ANSWER Places near the ocean have milder temperatures because the sea acts as a moderator of temperature. The sea absorbs and loses heat slowly, whereas land heats up and cools down quickly. As a result, sea air keeps coastal summers from getting too hot and coastal winters from getting too cold. Places far inland do not get this moderating effect, so they experience more extreme temperatures — hotter summers and colder winters. For example, coastal Mumbai has cooler summers (around 32°C) and milder winters (around 18°C), giving a range of about 14°C, while inland Nagpur reaches about 44°C in summer and 10°C in winter, a much larger range of about 34°C.

c) What role do monsoon winds play in affecting India’s climate?

ANSWER Monsoon winds are central to India’s climate because they bring the country its main rainy season. In summer, the Asian landmass heats up and forms a powerful low-pressure system; winds are drawn from the cooler, high-pressure ocean towards the land, carrying moisture that condenses and falls as the heavy rains of the summer (southwest) monsoon. In winter, the pattern reverses: the land cools faster and develops high pressure, so winds blow from the land to the ocean. These dry winds bring cold weather to south India, but part of them, passing over the Bay of Bengal, pick up moisture and bring rain to parts of east and south India — the winter (northeast) monsoon. The monsoons fill the rivers, soak the soil and allow crops to grow, so life across India depends on them.

d) Why is Chennai warm or hot throughout the year, while Leh is cold?

ANSWER The difference is mainly due to latitude and altitude. Chennai lies at a low latitude, close to the Equator, where the Sun’s rays fall nearly perpendicular and their energy is concentrated on a small area; it is also at a low altitude near the sea. So Chennai stays warm or hot almost throughout the year. Leh, in the far north, lies at a higher latitude where the Sun’s rays are oblique and their heat is spread over a larger area, and it sits at a very high altitude in the mountains, where the thin, less dense air is much cooler. Both these factors make Leh cold for most of the year.

3. Look at a map of India given at the end of this book. Identify the climate for these cities — Leh, Chennai, Delhi, Panaji and Jaipur.

Is the place near the sea, in the mountains, or in the desert? How do these factors affect the climate there?

ANSWER Using the location of each city and the factors of climate explained in the chapter:
CityLocationClimate & reason
LehIn the high mountains (Himalayan region)Alpine/cold climate — high altitude and high latitude make it very cold with snowy winters.
ChennaiNear the sea (eastern coast)Tropical climate — low latitude and nearness to the sea keep it warm/hot and humid through the year.
DelhiIn the northern plains, far inlandSubtropical climate — being inland gives very hot summers and cold winters (a large temperature range).
PanajiNear the sea (western coast)Tropical wet climate — the sea moderates temperature and it receives heavy monsoon rainfall.
JaipurNear/at the edge of the Thar DesertArid/semi-arid climate — very hot days, cooler nights and little rainfall.
In short, a place near the sea has a mild, moderate climate; a place in the mountains is cold because of altitude; and a place in the desert is hot and dry because of arid conditions and few moisture-bearing winds. This question is based on the physical map at the end of the textbook; the climates above follow directly from the location and factors described in the chapter.

4. Draw the monsoon cycle in summers and winters on a map of India.

Label where the winds blow in summer and winter; Show the direction of winds during the monsoon

ANSWER This is a map-drawing activity. On an outline map of India, show two situations: Summer (southwest monsoon): draw arrows starting over the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal, pointing from the sea towards the land — from the south-west moving north and north-east across India. Label these ‘Summer / Southwest monsoon — moist winds bringing rain (June to mid-July)’. Winter (northeast monsoon): draw arrows pointing from the land towards the sea — from the north-east of India towards the south and the ocean. Show one branch passing over the Bay of Bengal and bringing some rain to the eastern and southern coast. Label these ‘Winter / Northeast monsoon — mainly dry winds’. Drawing-based activity — the description above tells you exactly what to label and which direction the arrows should point.

5. Make a colourful poster showing festivals in India linked to farming and weather (e.g., Baisakhi, Onam). Add pictures or drawings of these festivals.

ANSWER This is a poster-making activity. On a chart, draw or paste pictures of festivals connected with the seasons, harvests and rain, and write a one-line note under each explaining the link. You could include: Baisakhi (Punjab — spring harvest of wheat), Onam (Kerala — harvest festival), Pongal and Makar Sankranti (harvest/winter), Bihu (Assam — farming seasons), Lohri (end of winter), Chhath Puja, Gudi Padwa (spring/new year), and the Awe Winter Festival, Hemis and Losoong festivals. Arrange them colourfully and group them by season to show how Indian festivals follow the climate and the farming calendar. Creative poster activity — the festival examples above are drawn from the chapter.

6. Imagine you are a farmer in India. Write a short diary entry about how you would prepare for the rainy season.

ANSWER Model diary entry: 15 May — The summer heat is at its peak and everyone in the village is waiting for the monsoon. I have started preparing my field for the rains. Today I cleared the small drainage channels so that rainwater does not collect and flood the crops. I repaired the bunds (raised edges) around my paddy field to hold water, and cleaned out our old pond and tank to store rainwater. I bought good-quality paddy seeds and kept the seedbeds ready. The old people say that when the Golden Shower tree blossoms, the monsoon will arrive within fifty days — and it has flowered, so I must hurry. I have also checked the roof of our cattle shed and kept the bullocks and plough ready, because once the first showers come, I will sow the seeds at once. If the rains are timely and good, this season will bring a fine harvest.

7. Identify a natural disaster (e.g., cyclone, flood, landslide, or forest fire) and write a short essay that includes the causes and impacts. Suggest actions that individuals, communities and the government can take to reduce the impact.

ANSWER Model essay — Floods: A flood occurs when water overflows onto land that is normally dry. Causes: heavy rainfall during the monsoon creates huge run-off that the land cannot absorb; rivers and lakes overflow or their banks are breached; in the Himalayas, glacial lakes can burst (a ‘glacial burst’, as in Uttarakhand in 2013); and in cities, overburdened drains, poorly planned construction on waterways and concrete surfaces that do not absorb water cause urban flooding. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Assam are especially vulnerable. Impacts: floods take human and animal lives, destroy homes, crops, roads and bridges, spread disease, displace families and badly hurt the local economy. Actions to reduce the impact: Individuals can avoid building on floodplains, store emergency supplies, follow IMD warnings and not throw waste into drains. Communities can keep drains and waterways clean, harvest rainwater, plant trees to absorb water and prepare evacuation plans. The government can build proper drainage and embankments, give early warnings through the IMD, restore wetlands, regulate construction near rivers, and deploy the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for rescue and relief.

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. What is a microclimate? Give one example.

ANSWERA microclimate is a climate localised in a small area that differs from the climate of the surrounding region, with its own pattern of temperature, humidity and precipitation. An example is an ‘urban heat island’ — a city with many buildings and little vegetation that traps heat and stays warmer than the area around it. Enclosed valleys and forests can also have their own microclimates.

Q2. Why does temperature decrease as altitude increases?

ANSWERTemperature falls with altitude for two reasons: first, atmospheric pressure and air density decrease as we go higher, and less dense air is cooler; second, the Sun heats the Earth’s surface, so the farther above the surface we go, the less heat the air receives. This is why high peaks of the Himalayas stay below freezing and remain covered in snow.

Q3. From which word does ‘monsoon’ come, and what does it mean?

ANSWERThe word ‘monsoon’ comes from the Arabic word mausim, meaning ‘season’. It refers to the seasonal winds that blow over a large area of the Indian Ocean and surrounding regions, and commonly to the seasonal rains these winds bring to India.

Q4. What is the ‘eye of the cyclone’?

ANSWERAs a cyclone forms, moisture-laden winds form clouds and rotate inwards towards the centre of the low-pressure system (the depression). The centre itself is calm and cloudless — this calm central region is called the ‘eye of the cyclone’.

Q5. What is meant by ‘monsoon failure’ and how does it affect people?

ANSWER‘Monsoon failure’ means poor rainfall during the monsoon season. It causes agriculture to suffer, forces people (often women) to walk long distances for water, pushes farm labourers to migrate to cities, and makes food costlier, fuelling inflation. Industries that depend on water and steady weather are also affected.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe the main types of climate found in India.

ANSWERIndia’s climate is as diverse as its land. In the north, the Himalayan mountains have an alpine climate with cold, snowy winters and cool summers. Lower in the Himalayas and in many hilly areas the climate is temperate, with moderately cold winters and mild summers — this is where the hill stations lie. The northern plains have a subtropical climate with very hot summers and cold winters, ideal for growing wheat. In the west, the Thar Desert has an arid climate with extremely hot days, cool nights and very little rain. The western coastal strip has a tropical wet climate with heavy monsoon rainfall, good for rice and spices. The central Deccan Plateau has a semi-arid climate with hot summers, mild winters and moderate rain. Eastern India and the southern peninsula have a tropical climate with mild winters and distinct wet and dry periods controlled by the monsoon winds.

Q2. Explain how the summer and winter monsoons are formed.

ANSWERThe monsoons depend on the simple fact that land heats up and cools down faster than the ocean. As summer begins, the Asian landmass heats up rapidly and forms a strong low-pressure system over it. Since air always flows from high to low pressure, winds are drawn from the cooler, high-pressure ocean towards the hot land. These ocean winds carry moisture, which condenses over the warm land and falls as the heavy rains of the summer (southwest) monsoon; in India these rains advance from the southern tip in early June and cover the whole subcontinent by mid-July, with the Western Ghats acting as a barrier that gives their western slopes much more rain. In winter, the land cools faster than the ocean, so the land has high pressure and the ocean lower pressure. The winds reverse and blow from land to sea — the dry winter (northeast) monsoon — though a part passing over the Bay of Bengal brings some rain to east and south India.

Q3. What is climate change? Explain its causes and how it can be tackled.

ANSWERClimate change refers to significant, long-term changes in the climate — shifts in temperature, precipitation and weather events — on a planetary or regional scale. In past millennia natural processes drove these changes, but since the 19th century climate change has been driven largely by human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, harmful industrial practices and wasteful consumption. Burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of greenhouse gases that trap extra heat through the greenhouse effect, causing rapid global warming and disrupting long-settled climate patterns; in early 2025, for instance, India’s average temperature was 1 to 3°C above normal, giving a shorter, milder winter. To tackle it, governments and people are promoting mitigation measures: cutting greenhouse-gas emissions, planting trees, boosting renewable energy, improving energy efficiency and adopting sustainable lifestyles, while building resilience and adaptation in communities. The challenge is to balance this with the desire for economic growth.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Climate is best described as:

(a) the weather of a single day    (b) the pattern of weather over several decades    (c) the season at present    (d) the daily temperature

2. The Himalayan mountains in the north of India have which type of climate?

(a) Arid    (b) Tropical wet    (c) Alpine    (d) Semi-arid

3. Which factor explains why hill stations are cooler than the plains below?

(a) Latitude    (b) Altitude    (c) Proximity to the sea    (d) Winds

4. The word ‘monsoon’ comes from the Arabic word mausim, which means:

(a) rain    (b) wind    (c) season    (d) ocean

5. The summer monsoon in India is also called the:

(a) northeast monsoon    (b) southwest monsoon    (c) western disturbance    (d) trade wind

6. Which place receives the highest average annual rainfall in the world (about 11,000 mm)?

(a) Cherrapunji    (b) Mawsynram    (c) Mumbai    (d) Munnar

7. The calm, cloudless centre of a cyclone is called the:

(a) depression    (b) low-pressure belt    (c) eye of the cyclone    (d) cyclonic circulation

8. Coastal areas such as Mumbai have milder temperatures than inland places like Nagpur because:

(a) they are at a higher altitude    (b) the sea moderates the temperature    (c) they are nearer the Equator    (d) they receive no winds

9. Since the 19th century, climate change has been driven mainly by:

(a) natural processes alone    (b) human activities such as burning fossil fuels    (c) the rotation of the Earth    (d) ocean currents only

10. Which force is specially trained to respond to natural and human-made disasters in India?

(a) IMD    (b) ISA    (c) NDRF    (d) CPCB

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(c), 3-(b), 4-(c), 5-(b), 6-(b), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(b), 10-(c).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: Places near the Equator are warmer than places near the poles.

Reason: Near the Equator the Sun’s rays are nearly perpendicular and their energy is concentrated on a smaller area.

A-R 2. Assertion: Coastal regions have a more extreme temperature range than inland regions.

Reason: The sea acts as a moderator, warming the air in winter and cooling it in summer.

A-R 3. Assertion: The summer monsoon winds blow from the ocean towards the land.

Reason: In summer the land heats up and forms a low-pressure system, drawing winds from the high-pressure ocean.

A-R 4. Assertion: Urban heat islands are warmer than the surrounding region.

Reason: Cities with many concrete buildings and little vegetation trap heat.

A-R 5. Assertion: Weather and climate mean exactly the same thing.

Reason: Climate is the long-term pattern of weather over several decades, while weather is what we experience day to day.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(D), 3-(A), 4-(A), 5-(D).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the clear difference between weather (short-term) and climate (long-term, over decades) — it is a favourite one-mark question. Learn the five factors that determine climate (latitude, altitude, proximity to the sea, winds, topography) and be ready to give an Indian example for each. For monsoon questions, always explain it through pressure: land heats faster than the ocean, so summer winds blow sea→land (rain) and winter winds blow land→sea (dry). Use the textbook’s own examples — Mumbai vs Nagpur, Chennai vs Leh, Ooty vs Coimbatore, Mawsynram, the Western Ghats, Cyclone Fani and the 2013 Uttarakhand glacial burst — to show you have studied the chapter.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Using “weather” and “climate” as if they mean the same thing — climate is the long-term pattern.
  • Saying the summer monsoon blows from land to sea — it is the other way round (sea to land).
  • Confusing the summer/southwest monsoon (heavy rain) with the winter/northeast monsoon (mainly dry).
  • Mixing up the types of climate — alpine (Himalayas), arid (Thar Desert), tropical wet (west coast).
  • Forgetting that altitude, not just latitude, makes places like Leh and hill stations cold.
  • Leaving map, poster and diary activities blank — describe or attempt them; partial credit is given.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 3 of Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society about?

Chapter 3, Climates of India, explains the difference between weather, seasons and climate, the main types of climate in India, the five factors that determine climate (latitude, altitude, proximity to the sea, winds and topography), how the summer and winter monsoons work, how climate shapes culture and the economy, climate-related disasters, and the meaning and consequences of climate change.

What are the five factors that determine the climate of a region?

The five factors are latitude (distance from the Equator), altitude (height above sea level), proximity to the sea, winds, and topography (the physical surface features of the land). Together these factors decide the temperature, rainfall and wind patterns of a region.

What is the exercise heading for Chapter 3 of Exploring Society?

The end-of-chapter exercise in Exploring Society: India and Beyond Chapter 3 is headed Questions and activities and contains 7 numbered questions, all answered step by step on this page.

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