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UPSC CSE Prelims 2012 · GS paper

Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?

A question from UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies, explained with its sources.

Prelims 2012 · archive

Easy

Which one of the following is the characteristic climate of the Tropical Savannah Region?

Answer & explanation

Answer: (d) A definite dry and wet season

The tropical savannah climate is the Koeppen 'Aw' type, called tropical wet and dry. Its defining feature is a distinct wet season and a distinct dry season. The dry season is long and the drought is severe.

  • ✗ (a) Rainfall throughout the year, with no dry season, describes the tropical wet (Af) climate of the equatorial rainforests. It does not describe the savannah.
  • ✗ (b) Savannah rain falls mainly in the hot, high-sun season, which is summer. Winter is the dry season.
  • ✗ (c) The savannah's dry season is not extremely short. Compared with the wetter tropical climates, its wet season is shorter and its dry season longer, with more severe drought.
  • ✓ (d) Savannah climate has a clear wet season and a clear dry season, which is why it is called tropical wet and dry. The savannah is a tropical grassland with scattered trees and seasonal rainfall.

Remember · Savannah = Koeppen Aw (tropical wet and dry): distinct wet and dry seasons, rain mostly in summer, long dry winter, grassland with scattered trees.

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Sources

Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2012, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·

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