Class 7 Social Science Chapter 3 NCERT Book - Climates of India

 Page 1


45
India and the World: Land and the People 
3 – Climates of India
Climates of India
CHAPTER
3
The Big 
Questions
1. What makes India’s climate so 
diverse?
2. What are the monsoons?  
How are they formed?
3. What is the effect of climate on 
economy, culture and society?
4. How can understanding the 
climate help us to prepare  
for natural disasters?
5. What is climate change? What are 
its consequences? 
ka¯le vars?hatu parjanyaha pr?it?hivi¯ sasyas´ha¯lini¯ 
des´hoyam ks?hobharahitah bra¯hman?a¯santu nirbhaya¯h 
May the rains be timely, may the Earth be lush with vegetation
May this country be free from turmoil, may good people be fearless!
– Subha¯s´hita
Fig. 3.1
Chapter 3.indd   45 Chapter 3.indd   45 08-04-2025   12:45:28 08-04-2025   12:45:28
Page 2


45
India and the World: Land and the People 
3 – Climates of India
Climates of India
CHAPTER
3
The Big 
Questions
1. What makes India’s climate so 
diverse?
2. What are the monsoons?  
How are they formed?
3. What is the effect of climate on 
economy, culture and society?
4. How can understanding the 
climate help us to prepare  
for natural disasters?
5. What is climate change? What are 
its consequences? 
ka¯le vars?hatu parjanyaha pr?it?hivi¯ sasyas´ha¯lini¯ 
des´hoyam ks?hobharahitah bra¯hman?a¯santu nirbhaya¯h 
May the rains be timely, may the Earth be lush with vegetation
May this country be free from turmoil, may good people be fearless!
– Subha¯s´hita
Fig. 3.1
Chapter 3.indd   45 Chapter 3.indd   45 08-04-2025   12:45:28 08-04-2025   12:45:28
46
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 7 Part 1
Weather , Seasons and the Climate
‘Climate’ is a word people use in everyday conversations. But, 
quite often, what they really mean is ‘weather’, and not ‘climate’. 
What’s the difference? ‘Weather’ is what we experience every 
hour or day: it might be raining, or there could be bright 
sunshine, a lot of wind, etc. The weather keeps changing. Climate, 
on the other hand, is the pattern of weather an area or a region 
experiences over a long period of time?—?several decades at 
least. This pattern varies from region to region.
Before we come to the various types of climates, let us briefly stop 
to introduce seasons. Seasons occur as the Earth revolves around 
the Sun. Each season lasts for a few months and recurs every 
year. As we know, there are several seasons in the year?—?spring, 
summer, monsoon, autumn and winter?—?that occur in a cycle. 
Are seasons related to the weather or to the climate? The answer 
is: to both. 
The weather changes with the season, that is, it can be dry and 
hot in the summer months, or humid and rainy during the 
monsoon. Further, the pattern of seasons in a region is closely 
connected with the climate. There are four main seasons across 
most regions of the world?—?spring, summer, autumn and winter. 
However, India receives rainfall during a specific period of the 
year?—?the ‘rainy season’ or monsoon?—?along with the other 
four. 
Traditionally, in many parts of India, the year is divided into six 
seasons or r?itus?—?vasanta (spring), gri¯s?hma (summer), vars?ha¯ 
(rainy season), s´ harad (autumn), hemanta (pre-winter), s´ his´hir 
(winter). Specific rituals and festivals are associated with these 
six r?itus, such as Vasanta Pañchami¯ or S´harad Pu¯rn?ima.
Fig. 3.2
Chapter 3.indd   46 Chapter 3.indd   46 08-04-2025   12:45:33 08-04-2025   12:45:33
Page 3


45
India and the World: Land and the People 
3 – Climates of India
Climates of India
CHAPTER
3
The Big 
Questions
1. What makes India’s climate so 
diverse?
2. What are the monsoons?  
How are they formed?
3. What is the effect of climate on 
economy, culture and society?
4. How can understanding the 
climate help us to prepare  
for natural disasters?
5. What is climate change? What are 
its consequences? 
ka¯le vars?hatu parjanyaha pr?it?hivi¯ sasyas´ha¯lini¯ 
des´hoyam ks?hobharahitah bra¯hman?a¯santu nirbhaya¯h 
May the rains be timely, may the Earth be lush with vegetation
May this country be free from turmoil, may good people be fearless!
– Subha¯s´hita
Fig. 3.1
Chapter 3.indd   45 Chapter 3.indd   45 08-04-2025   12:45:28 08-04-2025   12:45:28
46
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 7 Part 1
Weather , Seasons and the Climate
‘Climate’ is a word people use in everyday conversations. But, 
quite often, what they really mean is ‘weather’, and not ‘climate’. 
What’s the difference? ‘Weather’ is what we experience every 
hour or day: it might be raining, or there could be bright 
sunshine, a lot of wind, etc. The weather keeps changing. Climate, 
on the other hand, is the pattern of weather an area or a region 
experiences over a long period of time?—?several decades at 
least. This pattern varies from region to region.
Before we come to the various types of climates, let us briefly stop 
to introduce seasons. Seasons occur as the Earth revolves around 
the Sun. Each season lasts for a few months and recurs every 
year. As we know, there are several seasons in the year?—?spring, 
summer, monsoon, autumn and winter?—?that occur in a cycle. 
Are seasons related to the weather or to the climate? The answer 
is: to both. 
The weather changes with the season, that is, it can be dry and 
hot in the summer months, or humid and rainy during the 
monsoon. Further, the pattern of seasons in a region is closely 
connected with the climate. There are four main seasons across 
most regions of the world?—?spring, summer, autumn and winter. 
However, India receives rainfall during a specific period of the 
year?—?the ‘rainy season’ or monsoon?—?along with the other 
four. 
Traditionally, in many parts of India, the year is divided into six 
seasons or r?itus?—?vasanta (spring), gri¯s?hma (summer), vars?ha¯ 
(rainy season), s´ harad (autumn), hemanta (pre-winter), s´ his´hir 
(winter). Specific rituals and festivals are associated with these 
six r?itus, such as Vasanta Pañchami¯ or S´harad Pu¯rn?ima.
Fig. 3.2
Chapter 3.indd   46 Chapter 3.indd   46 08-04-2025   12:45:33 08-04-2025   12:45:33
47
India and the World: Land and the People 
3 – Climates of India
If we observe the world around us, we will notice that human, 
plant and animal life are in rhythm with the r?itus or seasons. 
The crops we grow, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and so 
on, change with the season. Depending on the region, some trees 
and shrubs bloom with the onset of vasanta or spring, in some 
places they shed their leaves or change their colour as s´ harad or 
autumn approaches and some animals develop thick fur in the 
cold winter months. 
LET’S EXPLORE
 Æ Which are your favourite seasons? Write a short essay 
explaining your reasons.
 Æ Discuss in groups of three or four and find out whether 
there are specific events connected to the seasons in your 
region. Collect information about them — songs, feasts 
with specific types of food, practices in different seasons, 
etc. Document these and share your discoveries with your 
class. 
 Æ Do you know which trees in your area change colours 
before the onset of winter? Are there trees that shed their 
leaves around this time? Why do you think this happens? 
Find out and document the local names of these trees. 
Usually, the climate remains stable over long periods of time. 
However , scientists have been recording changes in the climates 
of the world in the recent decades. Studies show that many of 
these changes have been caused by human actions. 
Let us recapitulate: 
 ? Weather is what we experience from day to day — windy, 
rainy, hot, dry, etc.
 ? Seasons recur every year and the weather of a place is 
different in every season.
 ? Climate is the long-term pattern in a particular region. There 
are many types of climates in the world. We will now survey 
the main types found in India.
Chapter 3.indd   47 Chapter 3.indd   47 08-04-2025   12:45:33 08-04-2025   12:45:33
Page 4


45
India and the World: Land and the People 
3 – Climates of India
Climates of India
CHAPTER
3
The Big 
Questions
1. What makes India’s climate so 
diverse?
2. What are the monsoons?  
How are they formed?
3. What is the effect of climate on 
economy, culture and society?
4. How can understanding the 
climate help us to prepare  
for natural disasters?
5. What is climate change? What are 
its consequences? 
ka¯le vars?hatu parjanyaha pr?it?hivi¯ sasyas´ha¯lini¯ 
des´hoyam ks?hobharahitah bra¯hman?a¯santu nirbhaya¯h 
May the rains be timely, may the Earth be lush with vegetation
May this country be free from turmoil, may good people be fearless!
– Subha¯s´hita
Fig. 3.1
Chapter 3.indd   45 Chapter 3.indd   45 08-04-2025   12:45:28 08-04-2025   12:45:28
46
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 7 Part 1
Weather , Seasons and the Climate
‘Climate’ is a word people use in everyday conversations. But, 
quite often, what they really mean is ‘weather’, and not ‘climate’. 
What’s the difference? ‘Weather’ is what we experience every 
hour or day: it might be raining, or there could be bright 
sunshine, a lot of wind, etc. The weather keeps changing. Climate, 
on the other hand, is the pattern of weather an area or a region 
experiences over a long period of time?—?several decades at 
least. This pattern varies from region to region.
Before we come to the various types of climates, let us briefly stop 
to introduce seasons. Seasons occur as the Earth revolves around 
the Sun. Each season lasts for a few months and recurs every 
year. As we know, there are several seasons in the year?—?spring, 
summer, monsoon, autumn and winter?—?that occur in a cycle. 
Are seasons related to the weather or to the climate? The answer 
is: to both. 
The weather changes with the season, that is, it can be dry and 
hot in the summer months, or humid and rainy during the 
monsoon. Further, the pattern of seasons in a region is closely 
connected with the climate. There are four main seasons across 
most regions of the world?—?spring, summer, autumn and winter. 
However, India receives rainfall during a specific period of the 
year?—?the ‘rainy season’ or monsoon?—?along with the other 
four. 
Traditionally, in many parts of India, the year is divided into six 
seasons or r?itus?—?vasanta (spring), gri¯s?hma (summer), vars?ha¯ 
(rainy season), s´ harad (autumn), hemanta (pre-winter), s´ his´hir 
(winter). Specific rituals and festivals are associated with these 
six r?itus, such as Vasanta Pañchami¯ or S´harad Pu¯rn?ima.
Fig. 3.2
Chapter 3.indd   46 Chapter 3.indd   46 08-04-2025   12:45:33 08-04-2025   12:45:33
47
India and the World: Land and the People 
3 – Climates of India
If we observe the world around us, we will notice that human, 
plant and animal life are in rhythm with the r?itus or seasons. 
The crops we grow, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and so 
on, change with the season. Depending on the region, some trees 
and shrubs bloom with the onset of vasanta or spring, in some 
places they shed their leaves or change their colour as s´ harad or 
autumn approaches and some animals develop thick fur in the 
cold winter months. 
LET’S EXPLORE
 Æ Which are your favourite seasons? Write a short essay 
explaining your reasons.
 Æ Discuss in groups of three or four and find out whether 
there are specific events connected to the seasons in your 
region. Collect information about them — songs, feasts 
with specific types of food, practices in different seasons, 
etc. Document these and share your discoveries with your 
class. 
 Æ Do you know which trees in your area change colours 
before the onset of winter? Are there trees that shed their 
leaves around this time? Why do you think this happens? 
Find out and document the local names of these trees. 
Usually, the climate remains stable over long periods of time. 
However , scientists have been recording changes in the climates 
of the world in the recent decades. Studies show that many of 
these changes have been caused by human actions. 
Let us recapitulate: 
 ? Weather is what we experience from day to day — windy, 
rainy, hot, dry, etc.
 ? Seasons recur every year and the weather of a place is 
different in every season.
 ? Climate is the long-term pattern in a particular region. There 
are many types of climates in the world. We will now survey 
the main types found in India.
Chapter 3.indd   47 Chapter 3.indd   47 08-04-2025   12:45:33 08-04-2025   12:45:33
48
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 7 Part 1
Types of Climates in India
We have often seen how India is a land of diversity. This is 
equally true of its climate:
 ? In the north, the Himalayan mountains have an alpine 
climate with cold, snowy winters and cool summers (the 
word ‘alpine’ comes from the Alps, a mountain range of 
Europe). That’s probably where you will see the thickest 
clothing in India!
 ? Lower in the Himalayas, and in many hilly areas of India, 
the climate is often said to be temperate, as the winters are 
moderately cold and the summers not too hot. That is where 
we find many ‘hill stations’, much frequented by people 
seeking relief from the heat in the plains below. 
 ? In the northern plains, the climate is 
subtropical, with very hot summers 
and cold winters. This is where most 
of India’s wheat is grown.
 ? In the west, the Thar Desert has an 
arid climate featuring extremely 
hot days, cool nights, and very little 
rainfall. People there have had to 
develop unique ways to collect and 
save water.
 ? The western coastal strip receives heavy rainfall during 
monsoon months, creating a tropical wet climate, which is 
favourable to the growing of rice and spices.
 ? The central Deccan Plateau has a semi-arid climate with hot 
summers, mild winters and moderate rainfall during the 
rainy season.
 ? Eastern India and the southern peninsula experience a 
tropical climate with a mild winter and distinct wet and dry 
periods controlled by monsoon winds (more on them soon).
Note: You will understand later the meaning of the terms 
‘tropical’ and ‘subtropical’, which are related to two special 
parallels of latitude called the ‘tropics’.
Fig. 3.3
Chapter 3.indd   48 Chapter 3.indd   48 08-04-2025   12:45:34 08-04-2025   12:45:34
Page 5


45
India and the World: Land and the People 
3 – Climates of India
Climates of India
CHAPTER
3
The Big 
Questions
1. What makes India’s climate so 
diverse?
2. What are the monsoons?  
How are they formed?
3. What is the effect of climate on 
economy, culture and society?
4. How can understanding the 
climate help us to prepare  
for natural disasters?
5. What is climate change? What are 
its consequences? 
ka¯le vars?hatu parjanyaha pr?it?hivi¯ sasyas´ha¯lini¯ 
des´hoyam ks?hobharahitah bra¯hman?a¯santu nirbhaya¯h 
May the rains be timely, may the Earth be lush with vegetation
May this country be free from turmoil, may good people be fearless!
– Subha¯s´hita
Fig. 3.1
Chapter 3.indd   45 Chapter 3.indd   45 08-04-2025   12:45:28 08-04-2025   12:45:28
46
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 7 Part 1
Weather , Seasons and the Climate
‘Climate’ is a word people use in everyday conversations. But, 
quite often, what they really mean is ‘weather’, and not ‘climate’. 
What’s the difference? ‘Weather’ is what we experience every 
hour or day: it might be raining, or there could be bright 
sunshine, a lot of wind, etc. The weather keeps changing. Climate, 
on the other hand, is the pattern of weather an area or a region 
experiences over a long period of time?—?several decades at 
least. This pattern varies from region to region.
Before we come to the various types of climates, let us briefly stop 
to introduce seasons. Seasons occur as the Earth revolves around 
the Sun. Each season lasts for a few months and recurs every 
year. As we know, there are several seasons in the year?—?spring, 
summer, monsoon, autumn and winter?—?that occur in a cycle. 
Are seasons related to the weather or to the climate? The answer 
is: to both. 
The weather changes with the season, that is, it can be dry and 
hot in the summer months, or humid and rainy during the 
monsoon. Further, the pattern of seasons in a region is closely 
connected with the climate. There are four main seasons across 
most regions of the world?—?spring, summer, autumn and winter. 
However, India receives rainfall during a specific period of the 
year?—?the ‘rainy season’ or monsoon?—?along with the other 
four. 
Traditionally, in many parts of India, the year is divided into six 
seasons or r?itus?—?vasanta (spring), gri¯s?hma (summer), vars?ha¯ 
(rainy season), s´ harad (autumn), hemanta (pre-winter), s´ his´hir 
(winter). Specific rituals and festivals are associated with these 
six r?itus, such as Vasanta Pañchami¯ or S´harad Pu¯rn?ima.
Fig. 3.2
Chapter 3.indd   46 Chapter 3.indd   46 08-04-2025   12:45:33 08-04-2025   12:45:33
47
India and the World: Land and the People 
3 – Climates of India
If we observe the world around us, we will notice that human, 
plant and animal life are in rhythm with the r?itus or seasons. 
The crops we grow, the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and so 
on, change with the season. Depending on the region, some trees 
and shrubs bloom with the onset of vasanta or spring, in some 
places they shed their leaves or change their colour as s´ harad or 
autumn approaches and some animals develop thick fur in the 
cold winter months. 
LET’S EXPLORE
 Æ Which are your favourite seasons? Write a short essay 
explaining your reasons.
 Æ Discuss in groups of three or four and find out whether 
there are specific events connected to the seasons in your 
region. Collect information about them — songs, feasts 
with specific types of food, practices in different seasons, 
etc. Document these and share your discoveries with your 
class. 
 Æ Do you know which trees in your area change colours 
before the onset of winter? Are there trees that shed their 
leaves around this time? Why do you think this happens? 
Find out and document the local names of these trees. 
Usually, the climate remains stable over long periods of time. 
However , scientists have been recording changes in the climates 
of the world in the recent decades. Studies show that many of 
these changes have been caused by human actions. 
Let us recapitulate: 
 ? Weather is what we experience from day to day — windy, 
rainy, hot, dry, etc.
 ? Seasons recur every year and the weather of a place is 
different in every season.
 ? Climate is the long-term pattern in a particular region. There 
are many types of climates in the world. We will now survey 
the main types found in India.
Chapter 3.indd   47 Chapter 3.indd   47 08-04-2025   12:45:33 08-04-2025   12:45:33
48
Exploring Society: India and Beyond | Grade 7 Part 1
Types of Climates in India
We have often seen how India is a land of diversity. This is 
equally true of its climate:
 ? In the north, the Himalayan mountains have an alpine 
climate with cold, snowy winters and cool summers (the 
word ‘alpine’ comes from the Alps, a mountain range of 
Europe). That’s probably where you will see the thickest 
clothing in India!
 ? Lower in the Himalayas, and in many hilly areas of India, 
the climate is often said to be temperate, as the winters are 
moderately cold and the summers not too hot. That is where 
we find many ‘hill stations’, much frequented by people 
seeking relief from the heat in the plains below. 
 ? In the northern plains, the climate is 
subtropical, with very hot summers 
and cold winters. This is where most 
of India’s wheat is grown.
 ? In the west, the Thar Desert has an 
arid climate featuring extremely 
hot days, cool nights, and very little 
rainfall. People there have had to 
develop unique ways to collect and 
save water.
 ? The western coastal strip receives heavy rainfall during 
monsoon months, creating a tropical wet climate, which is 
favourable to the growing of rice and spices.
 ? The central Deccan Plateau has a semi-arid climate with hot 
summers, mild winters and moderate rainfall during the 
rainy season.
 ? Eastern India and the southern peninsula experience a 
tropical climate with a mild winter and distinct wet and dry 
periods controlled by monsoon winds (more on them soon).
Note: You will understand later the meaning of the terms 
‘tropical’ and ‘subtropical’, which are related to two special 
parallels of latitude called the ‘tropics’.
Fig. 3.3
Chapter 3.indd   48 Chapter 3.indd   48 08-04-2025   12:45:34 08-04-2025   12:45:34
49
India and the World: Land and the People 
3 – Climates of India
Factors Determining the Climate
What creates those different climates? There are many factors at 
work. Some are general ones?—?on the scale of the planet?—?while 
others are regional or even local. Let’s examine a few.
a) Latitude
LET’S REMEMBER     
We studied about latitudes in Grade 6. Do you remember that 
latitudes measure the distance from the Equator, increasing 
as we move away from it (either northward or southward)? 
While the climate around the Equator is extremely hot, as 
the latitude increases it becomes temperate and then cold or 
frigid. Why is this so? 
Places near the Equator, 
that is, at low latitudes, 
are warmer, while those 
near the poles (high 
latitudes) are colder. 
This happens due to the 
angle at which the sun’s 
rays hit a particular 
area. At the Equator, 
the rays are nearly 
perpendicular, and so all 
their energy is focused 
on a smaller area of the 
Earth’s surface. In the 
polar regions, the rays are inclined or oblique, and the energy 
is distributed over a larger surface. Moreover, they have to pass 
through more of the Earth’s atmosphere, as the diagram shows, 
which further dissipates their energy. As a result, the polar 
regions receive less heat than the equatorial zone. We can see 
this in India too: Kanniyakumari and the Nicobar Islands being 
close to the Equator are warm or hot almost throughout the year , 
whereas places in the north, such as Srinagar, are much cooler.
Solar radiation
Atmosphere
At the equator exposure to the sun’s rays is 
concentrated, but near the poles it is dispersed 
over a wide area
Fig. 3.4
Chapter 3.indd   49 Chapter 3.indd   49 08-04-2025   12:45:35 08-04-2025   12:45:35