NABARD ARD Notes Series · Chapter 3 of 16
NABARD Agro-Meteorology Notes (ARD Syllabus): Weather Parameters, Weather Instruments, Monsoon and Crop-Weather Advisory with PYQs
These NABARD Grade A agro-meteorology notes, written for the NABARD 2026 and 2027 cycles, cover the ARD syllabus line “Meteorology: weather parameters, crop-weather advisory”, plus everything NABARD has asked around it: layers of the atmosphere, weather instruments, humidity and dew point, monsoon and El Niño, and the agromet advisory services that turn forecasts into farm decisions. NABARD has asked a meteorology question in four of the last five cycles; each one sits under its topic below, with the 2026 monsoon data and 15 practice MCQs.
Written by Faiz Sir, NABARD Grade A mentor at Clarity 4 Sure (C4S). PYQs verified against the C4S NABARD PYQ repository; monsoon data from the India Meteorological Department. Updated 4 November 2026.
NABARD Grade A agro-meteorology syllabus for 2026 and 2027
In the official NABARD Grade A ARD syllabus, meteorology sits in the agronomy block right after seed: “Meteorology: weather parameters, crop-weather advisory”. NABARD’s questions on it reach into the atmosphere, instruments, humidity, monsoon systems and weather-linked schemes.
| Syllabus keyword | Related topics NABARD asks | PYQs | Jump to |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meteorology (basics) | Weather vs climate, layers of the atmosphere | 2023 (exosphere) | Atmosphere |
| Weather parameters | Temperature, rainfall, humidity, pressure, wind, sunshine, evapotranspiration; instruments and units | 2021 (hygrometer), 2024 (dew point) | Weather parameters |
| Monsoon and weather systems | Southwest and northeast monsoon, LPA, El Niño, La Niña, IOD, western disturbances | 2025 (El Niño) | Monsoon |
| Weather hazards | Drought, heat wave, cold wave, frost, floods | 2022–2023 (drought: MGNREGA days), 2025 (PMFBY add-on) | Hazards |
| Crop-weather advisory | Agromet Advisory Services, GKMS, forecasts, Meghdoot and Kisan Suvidha apps | 2024 (Kisan Suvidha) | Crop-weather advisory |
Prefer video? Watch the C4S lectures Chapter 8: Agricultural Meteorology and Chapter 9: Crop-Weather Advisory, both embedded in the videos section.
NABARD agro-meteorology PYQ analysis 2021–2025: what to expect in NABARD 2026
Agro-meteorology gives a steady one question per cycle in Phase 1 ARD, always a crisp static fact, plus linked questions in ESI and Phase 2 on weather apps, climate bodies and drought relief.
| Year · paper | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 · Phase 1 ARD | What does the El Niño effect refer to? | Weakening or reversal of Pacific trade winds, warming of the central and eastern Pacific |
| 2024 · Phase 1 ARD | Temperature at which a parcel of air becomes saturated | Dew point |
| 2023 · Phase 1 ARD | Outermost layer of the atmosphere, where satellites orbit | Exosphere |
| 2021 · Phase 1 ARD | Instrument that measures humidity | Hygrometer |
| Linked questions | ||
| 2025 · Phase 1 ARD | The two bodies that set up the IPCC in 1988 | UNEP and WMO |
| 2025 · Phase 1 ARD | PMFBY add-on cover for dry spells and drought pays when expected yield is likely to be | Less than 50% of normal |
| 2024 · Phase 2 ARD | App giving farmers weather forecasts, prices and agro-advisories | Kisan Suvidha |
| 2022, 2023 · ESI | Extra MGNREGA days in drought or calamity areas | 50 days beyond 100 |
Pattern: one definition-level question a year (instrument, layer, term or phenomenon). With the 2026 El Niño and the 13% monsoon deficit, expect monsoon, drought and advisory questions in the next paper. See the earlier agronomy, meteorology and seed science PYQ analysis.
Meteorology and agricultural meteorology: meaning and scope
Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere and its phenomena. Agricultural meteorology (agrometeorology) applies it to farming: how weather and climate affect crops, livestock, pests and farm operations, and how to use forecasts to reduce risk.
| Basis | Weather | Climate |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | State of the atmosphere at a place and time | Average weather of a region over a long period |
| Time scale | Hours to days | Usually 30 years or more |
| Changes | Changes quickly | Changes slowly |
| Farm use | Day-to-day operations: sowing, spraying, irrigation, harvest | Choice of crops, varieties and cropping systems for a region |
Scope of agro-meteorology: crop planning by climate; sowing and harvest timing; irrigation scheduling from evapotranspiration; pest and disease forecasting; protection from frost, heat and drought; crop-weather models and yield forecasting; weather-based crop insurance. The climate side links directly to agro-climatic zones in Chapter 1 and to Ecology & Climate Change (Chapter 14).
Layers of the atmosphere: troposphere to exosphere
The atmosphere is about 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.93% argon and roughly 0.04% carbon dioxide, plus water vapour that varies. It is divided into five layers by how temperature changes with height.
The outermost layer of the atmosphere, from which molecules escape into space and where satellites orbit, is the:
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
- Stratosphere
- Exosphere
- Troposphere
Show answer
Weather parameters and weather instruments
The syllabus keyword weather parameters means the measurable elements of weather. NABARD asks them as parameter → instrument → unit, so learn the table as a set.
| Parameter | Instrument | Unit | Why it matters for crops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air temperature | Thermometer; maximum–minimum thermometer, kept in a Stevenson screen | °C | Germination, growth stages, heat and cold stress |
| Rainfall | Rain gauge (ordinary Symon’s, or self-recording) | mm | Sowing, irrigation need, drought and flood |
| Humidity PYQ 2021 | Hygrometer; psychrometer (wet and dry bulb) | % relative humidity | Pest and disease outbreaks, transpiration |
| Air pressure | Barometer (mercury or aneroid); barograph records it | hPa (millibar) | Tracks weather systems and monsoon lows |
| Wind speed | Anemometer (cup type) | km/h, knots | Lodging, spray drift, evaporation |
| Wind direction | Wind vane | Degrees or compass points | Shelter belts, spray timing |
| Sunshine duration | Campbell–Stokes sunshine recorder | Hours | Photosynthesis, grain filling |
| Solar radiation | Pyranometer | W/m² | Crop growth and yield models |
| Evaporation | USWB Class A pan evaporimeter | mm/day | Irrigation scheduling |
| Evapotranspiration | Lysimeter | mm/day | Crop water requirement |
| Soil temperature | Soil thermometer | °C | Germination, root growth |
Which instrument measures humidity (water vapour) in the air?
Show answer
Evapotranspiration and crop water
Evapotranspiration (ET) is evaporation from soil plus transpiration from plants. Reference ET (ET₀) is estimated from weather data, and crop water need is ETc = Kc × ET₀, where Kc is the crop coefficient. NABARD 2024 asked the link: biomass produced per unit of water used in ET is crop water-use efficiency. More in Water Resources & Irrigation (Chapter 6).
Humidity, dew point and vapour pressure
- Absolute humidity: mass of water vapour in a unit volume of air (g/m³).
- Relative humidity (RH): the water vapour present as a percentage of what the air could hold at that temperature. RH rises as air cools, even with no added moisture.
- Dew point: the temperature to which air must cool to become saturated (RH 100%); below it, dew, fog or frost forms.
- Vapour pressure deficit (VPD): how far the air is from saturation; high VPD drives faster transpiration and water stress.
The temperature at which a parcel of air becomes saturated is called:
Show answer
Temperature and crops: cardinal temperatures and growing degree days
- Cardinal temperatures: each crop has a minimum, optimum and maximum temperature for growth. Wheat needs a cool spell for good grain filling; rice and maize prefer warmth.
- Growing degree days (GDD), or heat units: GDD = ((Tmax + Tmin) ÷ 2) − Tbase, summed over days. Crops reach each stage after a set number of GDD, which is how advisories predict flowering and maturity.
- Lapse rate: air temperature in the troposphere falls by about 6.5 °C per km of height, which explains hill crops and frost pockets.
- Stress: terminal heat at grain filling cuts wheat yields; frost and cold waves damage potato, mustard, vegetables and young fruit.
Monsoon, El Niño, La Niña and the Indian Ocean Dipole
The two monsoons
The southwest monsoon (June–September) brings about three-quarters of India’s annual rainfall and drives the kharif season. The northeast monsoon (October–December) mainly waters Tamil Nadu, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. IMD measures the season against the Long Period Average (LPA): 868.6 mm (87 cm), the 1971–2020 average for June to September.
| Category | Rainfall as % of LPA |
|---|---|
| Deficient | Below 90% |
| Below normal | 90–95% |
| Normal | 96–104% |
| Above normal | 105–110% |
| Excess | Above 110% |
El Niño, La Niña and IOD
- El Niño: the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Pacific trade winds weaken or reverse and the central and eastern Pacific warms. It is usually linked to a weaker Indian monsoon.
- La Niña: the cool phase; stronger trade winds and a cooler eastern Pacific, usually linked to better monsoon rain.
- Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD): the temperature difference between the western and eastern Indian Ocean. A positive IOD can offset part of an El Niño’s effect on the monsoon.
- Western disturbances: Mediterranean-origin systems that bring winter rain and snow to north-west India, important for rabi wheat and mustard.
What does the El Niño effect refer to?
Show answer
Southwest monsoon 2026: a deficient season
The 2026 monsoon reached Kerala on 4 June, three days late, and ended at 87% of LPA (759.4 mm), a deficient season and the worst since 2015, under a strong El Niño.
The monsoon core zone, which covers most rain-fed farmland, did better at 94% of LPA, while east and north-east India saw a large shortfall. IMD expected October rainfall below 85% of LPA as El Niño peaks. For the El Niño outlook, see Super El Niño 2026-27.
Weather hazards for agriculture: drought, heat wave, cold wave and frost
| Hazard | What it means | Farm response |
|---|---|---|
| Meteorological drought | Rainfall well below normal; IMD calls a deficiency of 26–50% moderate and above 50% severe | Contingency crop plans, short-duration varieties |
| Agricultural drought | Soil moisture too low for crops during the season | Mulching, life-saving irrigation, intercropping |
| Hydrological drought | Low reservoirs, rivers and groundwater | Water budgeting, micro-irrigation |
| Heat wave | On the plains, maximum temperature of at least 40 °C with a large departure from normal, or 45 °C and above | Light irrigation, timely sowing to avoid terminal heat |
| Cold wave and frost | Sharp fall in minimum temperature; frost when it drops to about 0 °C | Light irrigation, smoke, covering nurseries |
| Floods, hail, cyclones | Excess rain, hailstorms, coastal storms | Drainage, early harvest on warning, insurance |
Weather risk links to schemes NABARD tests: PMFBY’s add-on cover pays when expected yield is likely to fall below 50% of normal (2025 PYQ); MGNREGA gives 50 extra days of work in drought-notified areas (2022 and 2023 PYQs). The dryland response is in Chapter 1, problems of dryland agriculture.
Crop-weather advisory: Agromet Advisory Services and GKMS
A crop-weather advisory (agromet advisory) translates a weather forecast into specific farm actions: when to sow, irrigate, spray, fertilise or harvest, and how to protect crops and animals from forecast hazards. It is the second keyword of this syllabus line.
How a crop-weather advisory is made
- Weather observation
- Forecast (IMD)
- Agromet experts read it for local crops
- District and block bulletin
- Farmer acts
Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS)
- Who runs it: IMD, with ICAR and state agricultural universities, through a network of Agromet Field Units (AMFUs).
- What it issues: agromet advisory bulletins at district and block level, based on medium-range forecasts, normally twice a week.
- What a bulletin covers: past and forecast weather, then crop-wise advice on sowing, irrigation, nutrient and pest management, harvest and livestock care.
- How it reaches farmers: the Meghdoot app (IMD and ICAR), the Mausam app, SMS through the Kisan portal, KVKs, radio, TV and WhatsApp groups.
Read more in the C4S explainer Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva (GKMS).
Which app gives farmers weather forecasts, market prices, agro-advisories and plant protection information?
- Kisan Nirdesh
- Kisan Uddhar
- Kisan Suvidha
- Kisan Sahayta
- Kisan Salaah
Show answer
Forecast ranges IMD issues
| Forecast | Range | Farm use |
|---|---|---|
| Nowcast | Next few hours | Thunderstorm, hail, lightning warnings |
| Short range | 1–3 days | Spraying, irrigation, harvest timing |
| Medium range | 3–10 days | The basis of agromet advisory bulletins |
| Extended range | 10–30 days | Sowing windows, contingency planning |
| Long range | Month or season | Seasonal monsoon forecast, crop planning |
Meteorology institutions and weather-linked schemes
| Institution or scheme | Key point |
|---|---|
| India Meteorological Department (IMD) | Set up in 1875; under the Ministry of Earth Sciences; India’s national weather service. See IMD notes |
| IITM Pune and NCMRWF | Monsoon research and medium-range forecast models; with IMD, they implement Mission Mausam |
| World Meteorological Organization (WMO) | UN agency for weather and climate, Geneva; with UNEP it set up the IPCC in 1988 (2025 PYQ) |
| ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad | Leads agro-meteorology research for dryland agriculture |
| Restructured Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme (RWBCIS) | Pays on weather indices (rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind) instead of yield; see RWBCIS notes |
| Weather derivatives | NCDEX and IMD signed an MoU in 2025 to develop weather-linked hedging products; see India to launch first weather derivatives |
Agro-meteorology current affairs for NABARD Grade A 2026
Mission Mausam
- Approved by the Cabinet on 11 September 2024 with ₹2,000 crore for two years (2024–26); a second phase is planned for 2026–31.
- Launched by the Prime Minister on 14 January 2025, IMD’s 150th anniversary.
- Implemented by IMD, IITM Pune and NCMRWF under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, to make India “weather-ready and climate-smart” with more radars, better models and AI-based forecasts. See Mission Mausam notes.
Bharat Forecast System and village-level forecasts
The Bharat Forecast System became operational on 26 May 2025 at a 6 km grid, finer than the earlier 12 km model, and Mausamgram gives village-level forecasts. See IMD initiatives for weather forecasting and AI-powered monsoon forecasts for kharif farming.
Monsoon 2026 and El Niño
The 2026 southwest monsoon ended at 87% of LPA, the worst since 2015, as El Niño strengthened through the season (see the monsoon chart). Track the October–December northeast monsoon and the rabi sowing outlook before the exam.
Dynamic data rule: monsoon figures, forecasts and scheme phases change every year. NABARD PYQs tell you which indicators matter (LPA, El Niño, advisories), not that last year’s value will be asked. For reading these releases, see How to Study PIB for NABARD Grade A.
15 agro-meteorology practice MCQs for NABARD 2026
Attempt all 15 before opening the answers. Questions marked PYQ style follow NABARD’s format.
In which layer of the atmosphere does almost all weather occur?
- Stratosphere
- Troposphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
- Exosphere
Answer
The ozone layer lies mainly in the:
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Ionosphere
- Exosphere
Answer
Match the instrument: anemometer, pyranometer, lysimeter.
- Wind speed, solar radiation, evapotranspiration
- Wind direction, sunshine, evaporation
- Pressure, radiation, rainfall
- Wind speed, humidity, soil moisture
- Humidity, solar radiation, evapotranspiration
Answer
Sunshine duration is recorded by the:
- Pyranometer
- Campbell–Stokes recorder
- Barograph
- Psychrometer
- Wind vane
Answer
Thermometers at a weather station are housed in a:
- Lysimeter
- Stevenson screen
- Class A pan
- Rain gauge
- Dew gauge
Answer
If air is cooled without adding moisture, its relative humidity:
- Falls
- Rises
- Stays the same
- Becomes zero
- Cannot be measured
Answer
The Long Period Average for India’s southwest monsoon (1971–2020) is about:
- 750 mm
- 868.6 mm
- 1,000 mm
- 1,150 mm
- 650 mm
Answer
Monsoon rainfall of 87% of LPA, as in 2026, falls in which IMD category?
- Normal
- Below normal
- Deficient
- Above normal
- Excess
Answer
La Niña is associated with:
- Warming of the eastern Pacific
- Stronger trade winds and a cooler eastern Pacific
- Weaker Indian monsoon in most years
- A negative Indian Ocean Dipole only
- Western disturbances
Answer
Winter rain that benefits rabi wheat in north-west India mainly comes from:
- Southwest monsoon
- Northeast monsoon
- Western disturbances
- Tropical cyclones
- Sea breeze
Answer
Growing degree days are calculated as:
- Tmax − Tmin
- ((Tmax + Tmin) ÷ 2) − Tbase
- Tmax + Tbase
- Rainfall ÷ temperature
- Tmin − Tbase
Answer
Agromet advisory bulletins under GKMS are mainly based on which forecast?
- Nowcast
- Medium-range (3–10 days)
- Seasonal only
- Decadal climate projections
- None of these
Answer
Which statements about Mission Mausam are correct? 1. Approved by the Cabinet in September 2024. 2. Outlay of ₹2,000 crore over two years. 3. Implemented by NABARD.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3
- 1 and 3
- All three
Answer
Crop water requirement (ETc) is estimated as:
- ET₀ ÷ Kc
- Kc × ET₀
- Rainfall − ET₀
- Kc + ET₀
- ET₀ − Kc
Answer
A rainfall deficiency of more than 50% of normal is classed by IMD as:
- Normal
- Mild drought
- Moderate drought
- Severe drought
- Excess
Answer
How to prepare agro-meteorology for NABARD Grade A 2026 and 2027
- Learn the instrument table as parameter → instrument → unit; this is where most past questions came from.
- Learn one fact per atmosphere layer and the humidity terms (RH, dew point, VPD).
- Understand the monsoon: LPA, IMD categories, El Niño, La Niña, IOD and western disturbances.
- Learn the advisory system: GKMS, forecast ranges and the Meghdoot, Mausam and Kisan Suvidha apps.
- Add current affairs: monsoon 2026 numbers, El Niño, Mission Mausam and the Bharat Forecast System.
- Solve the PYQs and 15 MCQs above, then revise the instrument table once more.
Free C4S videos for agro-meteorology
- Free ARD Full Syllabus playlist (all chapters with MCQs)
- DAILY ARD playlist (Phase 2 discussions and PYQ series)
- C4S PIB playlist for monsoon and weather current affairs
C4S NABARD Mentorship cum Complete Course: the programme behind the toppers
Free chapter notes explain one topic at a time. The C4S NABARD Grade A Mentorship cum Complete Course takes you through the whole syllabus with expert mentor guidance, concept classes, pinpointed master notes and chapter-wise tests, PYQ analysis, PIB and current affairs, and Phase 1 and Phase 2 preparation. In NABARD Grade A 2025, C4S students took 8 of the top 10 ranks and 32 final selections.
Toppers’ Talk
Join the NABARD Grade A Mentorship cum Complete Course
Expert mentor guidance, concept classes, master notes and chapter-wise tests for ARD, ESI and the whole NABARD syllabus.
NABARD Grade A 2026 Complete Course & Mentorship
For the upcoming 2026 cycle, Phase 1 and Phase 2.
Join NABARD 2026NABARD Grade A 2027 Complete Course & Mentorship
Foundation to Phase 2 for 2027 aspirants, with a free trial.
Join NABARD 2027NABARD English Descriptive
Essay, précis and letter for Phase 2 Paper I, every answer evaluated.
Join English DescriptiveFree ARD practice: Telegram, WhatsApp, YouTube and PYQ PDFs
Agro-meteorology revision checklist for NABARD
- Weather vs climate
- Scope of agro-meteorology
- Composition of the atmosphere
- Five layers, one fact each
- Parameter → instrument → unit table
- Stevenson screen, Class A pan, lysimeter
- RH, dew point, VPD
- Cardinal temperatures and GDD
- Lapse rate
- SW and NE monsoon
- LPA 868.6 mm and IMD categories
- El Niño, La Niña, IOD
- Western disturbances
- Types of drought, heat and cold wave
- Crop-weather advisory and GKMS
- Forecast ranges
- Meghdoot, Mausam, Kisan Suvidha
- IMD, IITM, NCMRWF, WMO
- RWBCIS and PMFBY add-on
- Monsoon 2026 and Mission Mausam
Next in the series: Chapter 4, Precision Farming, SCI & Organic Farming
Precision farming tools, the system of crop intensification (SRI and SCI), organic and natural farming, and the Digital Agriculture Mission (2025 descriptive).
More NABARD Grade A guides from C4S
- NABARD Grade A ARD hub: syllabus, notes, PYQs and free classes
- NABARD agronomy notes (Chapter 1) and seed science notes (Chapter 2)
- NABARD Grade A previous year question papers 2021–2025
- NABARD ESI guide
- How to study PIB for NABARD Grade A
- WMO State of the Climate in Asia 2024
- IBPS AFO to NABARD Grade A 2026
NABARD agro-meteorology: frequently asked questions
What is the agro-meteorology syllabus for NABARD Grade A?
The ARD syllabus lists “Meteorology: weather parameters, crop-weather advisory” in its agronomy block. NABARD’s questions also cover the layers of the atmosphere, weather instruments, humidity and dew point, the monsoon, El Niño and agromet advisory services.
Is agro-meteorology important for NABARD Grade A 2026?
Yes. NABARD asked a meteorology question in four of the last five cycles: hygrometer (2021), exosphere (2023), dew point (2024) and El Niño (2025). With the 2026 El Niño and a deficient monsoon, monsoon and advisory questions are likely.
What are the main weather parameters and their instruments?
Temperature (thermometer), rainfall (rain gauge), humidity (hygrometer or psychrometer), air pressure (barometer), wind speed (anemometer), wind direction (wind vane), sunshine (Campbell–Stokes recorder), solar radiation (pyranometer), evaporation (Class A pan) and evapotranspiration (lysimeter).
What is a crop-weather advisory?
A bulletin that turns a weather forecast into crop-specific farm advice on sowing, irrigation, spraying, fertilising and harvest. In India, IMD issues them with ICAR and agricultural universities under Gramin Krishi Mausam Seva, at district and block level.
What is the difference between El Niño and La Niña?
El Niño is the warm phase of ENSO, with weaker trade winds and a warmer eastern Pacific; it usually weakens the Indian monsoon. La Niña is the cool phase, with stronger trade winds and a cooler eastern Pacific; it usually favours good monsoon rain.
How much rain did the 2026 southwest monsoon bring?
IMD reported 87% of the Long Period Average (759.4 mm against 868.6 mm), a deficient season and the worst since 2015, under a strong El Niño. Only July was normal, at 101% of LPA.
What is Mission Mausam?
A Ministry of Earth Sciences mission approved on 11 September 2024 with ₹2,000 crore for 2024–26 and launched on 14 January 2025, IMD’s 150th anniversary. IMD, IITM Pune and NCMRWF implement it to improve forecasts with radars, better models and AI.
What does dew point mean?
The temperature to which air must cool, at constant moisture, to become saturated. Below it, water vapour condenses as dew, fog or frost. NABARD asked this definition in 2024.
Sources: NABARD questions from the C4S NABARD Grade A PYQ repository (memory-based, 2021–2025); 2026 monsoon data from the India Meteorological Department end-of-season statement; Mission Mausam from the Cabinet decision of 11 September 2024; Bharat Forecast System from the Ministry of Earth Sciences.