S1: Drought is a continuous and lengthy period during which no significant rainfall is recorded during the rainy season. S6: In India, droughts are more frequent in the areas where the average annual rainfall is less than 60 cm and the variability of rainfall is over 20 per cent. P: This definition however, does not apply to Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, where even one week recording less than 0·25 mm of rainfall may be considered as a drought period. Q: In general, the areas recording less than 60 cm of rainfall annually and in which the variability of rainfall is more than 20 per cent are the drought prone areas in India. R: In India, the Meteorological Department has defined drought as a period of at least 22 consecutive days on none of which is there more than 0·25 mm of rainfall. S: Areas where the variability of rainfall varies between 20 to 60 per cent are the chronic drought prone areas.
A.Q R P S
B.S P Q R
C.P Q S R
D.R P Q S✓ Correct
Explanation
After S1's general definition of drought, R follows with India's Meteorological Department definition (22 consecutive days with less than 0.25 mm rainfall). P then notes the exception for Mawsynram and Cherrapunji where even one week of low rainfall counts as drought. Q then provides the general criteria for drought-prone areas (less than 60 cm annual rainfall, variability over 20%). Finally, S adds the variability range for chronic drought areas (20-60%), leading naturally to S6 about Indian drought-prone areas. Hence the correct order is R P Q S, option (d).
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