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Q20 (IAS/2019) Geography › World Physical Geography › Earth rotation and time Official Key

On 21st June, the Sun

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The correct answer is option A because on 21st June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and the rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer[1]. At the Arctic Circle, the Sun never 'sets' at mid-summer (21 June) and there is a complete 24-hour period of continuous daylight[2]. This phenomenon occurs because of the axial tilt of the Earth, the Sun does not set at high latitudes in local summer[3].

Option B is incorrect because on 21st June it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere, so the Antarctic Circle experiences polar night, not midnight sun. Option C is incorrect because the Sun is vertically overhead at the equator on two days each year, usually 21 March and 23 September[4] (the equinoxes), not on 21st June. Option D is incorrect because on 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct rays of the sun[5], not on 21st June when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer.

Sources
  1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
  2. [2] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > The Earth's Revolution > p. 7
  3. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Midnight Sun > p. 253
  4. [4] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > THE ALTITUDE OF THE MIDDAY SUN > p. 7
  5. [5] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Winter Solstice > p. 253
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
50%
got it right
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. On 21st June, the Sun [A] does not set below the horizon at the Arctic Circle [B] does not set below the horizon at Antarctic Circle […
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 7.5/10 · 2.5/10

This is a textbook 'Sitter' question found in the first 10 pages of any standard Geography resource (NCERT Class 6 or GC Leong). It tests the fundamental definition of the Summer Solstice. If you get this wrong, you are statistically out of the race because 95% of serious aspirants will mark this correctly in under 30 seconds.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
On 21st June, does the Sun remain above the horizon (midnight sun) at the Arctic Circle?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Midnight Sun > p. 253
Presence: 5/5
“• Because of the axial tilt of the Earth, the Sun does not set at high latitudes in local summer. The number of days per year with potential midnight sun increases as one goes closer to the poles. The Sun remains continuously visible for one day during the summer solstice (21st June in the Northern Hemisphere and 22nd December in the Southern Hemisphere) at the polar circle, for several weeks only 100 km closer to the pole, and for six months at the poles. The Sun sets and rises very close to the horizon at the higher latitudes”
Why this source?
  • Explains that due to Earth's axial tilt the Sun does not set at high latitudes in local summer.
  • Specifically states the Sun remains continuously visible for one day during the summer solstice at the polar circle (21st June).
Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > The Earth's Revolution > p. 7
Presence: 5/5
“The Sun never 'rises' and there is darkness for the whole day in mid-winter on 22 December. Beyond the Arctic Circle, the number of days with complete darkness increases, until we reach the North Pole (90° N) when half the year will have darkness. [In the summer (June), conditions are exactly reversed. Daylight increases as we go polewards. At the Arctic Circle, the Sun never 'sets' at mid-summer (21 June) and there is a complete 24-hour period of continuous daylight. In the southern hemisphere, the same process takes place, except that the conditions are reversed. When it is summer in the northern hemisphere, the southern hemisphere will experience winter.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly asserts that at the Arctic Circle the Sun never sets at mid-summer (21 June) giving a complete 24-hour period of daylight.
  • Presents the mid-summer/mid-winter symmetry that underpins polar day/night at polar circles.
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
Presence: 5/5
“• On 21st June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and the rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. As a result, these areas receive more heat. Since a large portion of the northern hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. The longest day and the shortest night across the northern hemisphere occur on the 21st of June. This position of the earth is called the summer solstice. During summer solstice the whole Arctic region falls within the 'zone of illumination' all day long.• At this time in the southern hemisphere, all these conditions are reversed.”
Why this source?
  • States that on 21st June the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun and the whole Arctic region falls within the zone of illumination all day.
  • Links the summer solstice geometry to the longest day and continuous daylight in Arctic latitudes.
Statement 2
On 21st June, does the Sun remain above the horizon (midnight sun) at the Antarctic Circle?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Midnight Sun > p. 253
Presence: 5/5
“• Because of the axial tilt of the Earth, the Sun does not set at high latitudes in local summer. The number of days per year with potential midnight sun increases as one goes closer to the poles. The Sun remains continuously visible for one day during the summer solstice (21st June in the Northern Hemisphere and 22nd December in the Southern Hemisphere) at the polar circle, for several weeks only 100 km closer to the pole, and for six months at the poles. The Sun sets and rises very close to the horizon at the higher latitudes”
Why this source?
  • Specifies that continuous visibility at a polar circle occurs on the summer solstice and links the Northern solstice to 21 June and the Southern solstice to 22 December
  • By distinguishing the solstice dates, it implies the Antarctic Circle's 24‑hour sun occurs on 22 Dec, not 21 Jun
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
Presence: 4/5
“• On 21st June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and the rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. As a result, these areas receive more heat. Since a large portion of the northern hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. The longest day and the shortest night across the northern hemisphere occur on the 21st of June. This position of the earth is called the summer solstice. During summer solstice the whole Arctic region falls within the 'zone of illumination' all day long.• At this time in the southern hemisphere, all these conditions are reversed.”
Why this source?
  • Explains that on 21 June the northern hemisphere tilts toward the Sun and the entire Arctic falls within the zone of illumination
  • States that conditions are reversed in the southern hemisphere, implying Antarctic Circle is not in continuous daylight on 21 June
Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > The Earth's Revolution > p. 7
Presence: 4/5
“The Sun never 'rises' and there is darkness for the whole day in mid-winter on 22 December. Beyond the Arctic Circle, the number of days with complete darkness increases, until we reach the North Pole (90° N) when half the year will have darkness. [In the summer (June), conditions are exactly reversed. Daylight increases as we go polewards. At the Arctic Circle, the Sun never 'sets' at mid-summer (21 June) and there is a complete 24-hour period of continuous daylight. In the southern hemisphere, the same process takes place, except that the conditions are reversed. When it is summer in the northern hemisphere, the southern hemisphere will experience winter.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly says the Sun never sets at the Arctic Circle on 21 June (mid‑summer) and that the southern hemisphere experiences the reverse
  • Reversal implies the Antarctic Circle does not experience midnight sun on 21 June
Statement 3
On 21st June, is the Sun directly overhead (at zenith) at local noon on the Equator?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"The sun is directly overhead at "high-noon" on the equator twice per year, at the two equinoxes. Spring (or Vernal) Equinox is usually March 20, and Fall (or Autumnal) equinox is usually September 22."
Why this source?
  • States when the Sun is directly overhead at the equator: only twice per year, at the two equinoxes.
  • Lists the equinox dates (March 20 and September 22), which do not include June 21, implying June 21 is not a date when the Sun is overhead at the equator.
Web source
Presence: 5/5
"Solstice occurs when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer, usually June 21."
Why this source?
  • Identifies June 21 (about) as the solstice when the Sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer.
  • If on June 21 the Sun is over the Tropic of Cancer, it is not directly overhead at the equator on that date.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"At the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on these two equinoxes."
Why this source?
  • Confirms that at the equator the Sun is directly overhead at noon on the two equinoxes.
  • Reinforces that the overhead dates for the equator are the equinoxes, not the June solstice.

Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
Strength: 5/5
“• On 21st June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and the rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. As a result, these areas receive more heat. Since a large portion of the northern hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. The longest day and the shortest night across the northern hemisphere occur on the 21st of June. This position of the earth is called the summer solstice. During summer solstice the whole Arctic region falls within the 'zone of illumination' all day long.• At this time in the southern hemisphere, all these conditions are reversed.”
Why relevant

States that on 21st June the sun's rays fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer (northern hemisphere tilted towards the sun).

How to extend

A student can combine this with the basic fact that the Equator is distinct from the Tropic of Cancer to infer that the Equator would not receive the sun's direct vertical rays on that date.

Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > THE ALTITUDE OF THE MIDDAY SUN > p. 7
Strength: 5/5
“In the course of a year, the Earth's revolution round The Sun with its axis inclined at 66! to the plane of the ecliptic changes the apparent altitude of the midday Sun. The Sun is vertically overhead at the equator on two days each year. These are usually 21 March and 23 September though the date changes because a year is not exactly 365 days. These two days are termed equinoxes meaning 'equal nights' because on these two days all parts of the world have equal length of days and nights. The Tropics thus mark the limits of the overhead Sun, for beyond these, the Sun's never overhead at any time of the year.”
Why relevant

Gives the general rule that the Sun is vertically overhead at the Equator on the equinoxes (around 21 March and 23 September).

How to extend

Using this rule, a student can contrast equinox dates with 21 June to judge whether zenith passage at the Equator occurs on the solstice.

Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Equinox > p. 254
Strength: 4/5
“• On 21st March and September 23rd, direct rays of the sun fall on the equator. At this position, neither of the poles is tilted towards the sun; so, the whole earth experiences equal days and equal nights. This is called an equinox.• On 23rd September, it is the autumn season (season after summer and before the beginning of winter) in the northern hemisphere and spring season (season after winter and before the beginning of summer) in the southern hemisphere. The opposite is the case on 21st March when it is spring in the northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern hemisphere.”
Why relevant

Explicitly notes that direct rays fall on the Equator on 21 March and 23 September (the equinoxes).

How to extend

A student can use this pattern to exclude other dates (such as 21 June) for the Equator's zenith sun.

Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > To find the angle of elevation of the midday Sun of a given place at a given part of the year > p. 8
Strength: 4/5
“You may be asked to calculate the elevation of the midday Sun at a place, say Milan (Latitude 46" N), on 21 June. This is simple when done with the aid of a diagram. The following is a worked example, and you should work on a few similar examples yourself. First draw a circle as shown in Fig. 1.13 to represent the Earth and on it mark N and S, the North and South Poles, O, the centre of the Earth, and E and Q, the equator. On the circumference mark the point M to represent the location of Milan at latitude Produce the line OM to A to represent a line from M to the zenith of the universe.”
Why relevant

Describes how to calculate the midday Sun's elevation for a given place and date (worked example for 21 June).

How to extend

A student could apply this method to the Equator for 21 June to determine whether the elevation equals 90° (zenith) or not.

Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 12: Earth, Moon, and the Sun > FASCINATING FACTS > p. 179
Strength: 2/5
“At the North Pole, the Sun rises in the East direction on the equinox day — 21 March, and remains continuously in the sky for six months. The Sun sets on 22 September. The South Pole experiences the opposite behaviour. The polar regions thus experience continuous sunshine for six months followed by a six-month period of darkness. On the equator, there is always 12 hours of sunlight and 12 hours of darkness. There is little diff erence in the intensity of the sunrays falling on the equator in diff erent months. Thus, for the southern states of India that lie close to the equator, the eff ect of seasons is not very prominent.”
Why relevant

Notes that at the Equator there is little difference in intensity of sunrays in different months and that day/night lengths are ~12 hours year-round.

How to extend

A student might combine this with other rules (e.g., where direct rays fall on solstice) to reason about whether 'always similar' implies zenith on 21 June (it does not by itself).

Statement 4
On 21st June, is the Sun directly overhead (at zenith) at local noon on the Tropic of Capricorn?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
Presence: 5/5
“• On 21st June, the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and the rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. As a result, these areas receive more heat. Since a large portion of the northern hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. The longest day and the shortest night across the northern hemisphere occur on the 21st of June. This position of the earth is called the summer solstice. During summer solstice the whole Arctic region falls within the 'zone of illumination' all day long.• At this time in the southern hemisphere, all these conditions are reversed.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly links 21st June (summer solstice) with the Sun's rays falling directly on the Tropic of Cancer.
  • Shows northern hemisphere tilt toward the Sun on 21st June, implying the zenith position is at the Tropic of Cancer rather than the Tropic of Capricorn.
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Winter Solstice > p. 253
Presence: 5/5
“• On 22nd December, the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct rays of the sun. The longest night and the shortest day all across the northern hemisphere occur on this date. It is summer in the southern hemisphere with longer days and shorter nights. This position of the earth is called the winter solstice. The reverse happens in the northern hemisphere. (For the southern hemisphere 22nd December is the summer solstice)”
Why this source?
  • Specifies that the Tropic of Capricorn receives direct rays on 22nd December (winter solstice), not on 21st June.
  • Provides the complementary date demonstrating that the Tropic of Capricorn is a December zenith location, contradicting a June zenith there.
Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > THE ALTITUDE OF THE MIDDAY SUN > p. 7
Presence: 4/5
“In the course of a year, the Earth's revolution round The Sun with its axis inclined at 66! to the plane of the ecliptic changes the apparent altitude of the midday Sun. The Sun is vertically overhead at the equator on two days each year. These are usually 21 March and 23 September though the date changes because a year is not exactly 365 days. These two days are termed equinoxes meaning 'equal nights' because on these two days all parts of the world have equal length of days and nights. The Tropics thus mark the limits of the overhead Sun, for beyond these, the Sun's never overhead at any time of the year.”
Why this source?
  • States that the Tropics mark the limits of the overhead Sun, so the zenith position shifts between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn over the year.
  • Notes equinox dates when the Sun is overhead at the Equator, framing the annual motion that places the Sun at the Tropic of Cancer in June and at the Tropic of Capricorn in December.
Pattern takeaway: UPSC Physical Geography questions are rarely obscure; they test the *implications* of basic mechanisms. The question didn't ask 'When is the Summer Solstice?'; it asked for the *phenomenon* (Sun does not set) that defines the Arctic Circle.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from GC Leong Chapter 2 (The Earth's Revolution) or NCERT Class 6 (Motions of the Earth).
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Earth's Axial Tilt (23.5°) and Revolution. The specific geometry of the 'Circle of Illumination' relative to the poles on Solstice dates.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Solar Calendar': June 21 (Cancer Zenith, Arctic Day), Dec 22 (Capricorn Zenith, Antarctic Day), March 21/Sept 23 (Equator Zenith). Also, link Perihelion (Jan 3) and Aphelion (July 4) to these dates—note that Earth is actually farthest from the Sun during the Northern Summer.
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not just memorize 'June 21 = Summer'. Visualize the tilt. If you cannot draw the Earth showing the North Pole tilted *towards* the Sun and the Circle of Illumination cutting *behind* the Arctic Circle, you have not understood the mechanism, only memorized the fact.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Axial tilt and the summer solstice
💡 The insight

Axial tilt causes the northern hemisphere to face the Sun on 21 June, producing the longest day and continuous daylight at high northern latitudes.

High-yield for questions on seasons, solstices and day-length variations; connects to Earth's orientation, seasonal climate patterns and insolation distribution. Mastery helps answer questions on why seasons occur and spatial daylight contrasts between latitudes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Midnight Sun > p. 253
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
🔗 Anchor: "On 21st June, does the Sun remain above the horizon (midnight sun) at the Arctic..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Zone of illumination and polar day
💡 The insight

The zone of illumination on the summer solstice includes the Arctic Circle, producing polar day (midnight sun) there.

Important for reasoning about which latitudes receive continuous daylight or darkness at key solar positions; useful for map-based and conceptual UPSC geography questions about polar phenomena and daylight duration.

📚 Reading List :
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Midnight Sun > p. 253
🔗 Anchor: "On 21st June, does the Sun remain above the horizon (midnight sun) at the Arctic..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Definition of the Arctic Circle in terms of 24-hour daylight/night
💡 The insight

The Arctic Circle marks the latitude where a full 24-hour period of daylight occurs at mid-summer and full darkness at mid-winter.

Directly relevant to factual and conceptual questions asking what specific latitudinal lines signify (e.g., Arctic/Antarctic circles vs. tropics); helps eliminate distractors in objective questions and supports linked topics like polar climate and biomes.

📚 Reading List :
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > The Earth's Revolution > p. 7
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Midnight Sun > p. 253
🔗 Anchor: "On 21st June, does the Sun remain above the horizon (midnight sun) at the Arctic..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Summer solstice dates and hemispheric reversal
💡 The insight

21 June is the northern summer solstice while 22 December is the southern summer solstice, so day/night patterns swap between hemispheres.

High‑yield for solving questions about which hemisphere or which polar circle experiences continuous daylight or darkness on a given date; links directly to seasonality, insolation patterns and latitude effects. Mastering this helps eliminate answer choices about polar day/night timing and connects to climatology and Earth‑Sun geometry.

📚 Reading List :
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Midnight Sun > p. 253
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
🔗 Anchor: "On 21st June, does the Sun remain above the horizon (midnight sun) at the Antarc..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Polar day (midnight sun) at the polar circles
💡 The insight

Polar circles experience a 24‑hour day on their respective summer solstice rather than simultaneously on the same calendar date worldwide.

Frequently examined concept in physical geography questions on extreme day length, polar climates, and latitude thresholds; useful for reasoning about when polar day/night occur and for comparing Arctic vs Antarctic phenomena.

📚 Reading List :
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Midnight Sun > p. 253
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Midnight Sun > p. 254
🔗 Anchor: "On 21st June, does the Sun remain above the horizon (midnight sun) at the Antarc..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Zone of illumination and latitude dependence of day length
💡 The insight

Tilt of the Earth on solstice dates places the Arctic within continuous illumination on 21 June while the Antarctic is in the opposite condition.

Important for mapping day length variation with latitude and season; enables candidates to predict daylight/darkness outcomes for specific latitudes and dates, and links to questions on solar insolation, climate zones and seasonal contrasts.

📚 Reading List :
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > The Earth's Revolution > p. 7
🔗 Anchor: "On 21st June, does the Sun remain above the horizon (midnight sun) at the Antarc..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S3
👉 Subsolar point oscillates between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn
💡 The insight

The point where the Sun is directly overhead shifts seasonally and reaches the Tropic of Cancer around 21 June.

High-yield for questions on solar declination, seasons and sun-angle calculations; connects to topics on solstices, seasonal insolation patterns and latitudinal climate differences. Mastery helps answer which latitude receives vertical sun rays on specific dates and eliminates wrong latitude options.

📚 Reading List :
  • Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 19: The Motions of The Earth and Their Effects > Summer Solstice > p. 252
  • Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 2: The Earth's Crust > THE ALTITUDE OF THE MIDDAY SUN > p. 7
🔗 Anchor: "On 21st June, is the Sun directly overhead (at zenith) at local noon on the Equa..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Twilight' Trap: While the Sun doesn't set at the Arctic Circle on June 21, the duration of 'Twilight' (time between sunset and complete darkness) increases as you move poleward from the Equator. A future statement might ask: 'The duration of twilight is minimum at the Equator and maximum at the Poles.' (True, due to the steep angle of the sun's path at the Equator).

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

Use the 'Hemisphere Filter'. 21st June is Northern Summer. Immediately eliminate Option B (Antarctic/South) and Option D (Capricorn/South). You are left with A (Arctic) and C (Equator). Basic logic: The Equator has equal day/night year-round, so 'special' solar events like the Solstice usually refer to the Tropics or Polar circles. Option A is the definition of the Solstice.

🔗 Mains Connection

Mains GS-1 & GS-3 (Energy): Link the 'Overhead Sun' concept to the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The ISA framework targets countries 'lying fully or partially between the Tropics' specifically because these are the zones that receive direct vertical insolation, maximizing solar photovoltaic efficiency.

✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

IAS · 2024 · Q15 Relevance score: -0.13

On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours ? 1. Equator 2. Tropic of Cancer 3. Tropic of Capricorn 4. Arctic Circle Select the correct answer using the code given below :

NDA-II · 2008 · Q14 Relevance score: -0.67

Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched? Month Position of Sun

NDA-I · 2025 · Q90 Relevance score: -4.12

Which one of the following latitudes will experience a minimum angle of the Sun's rays when it is Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere ?

NDA-I · 2015 · Q67 Relevance score: -4.34

The Sun is observed to be reddish when it is near the horizon, i.e., in the morning and the evening. This is because

CDS-I · 2017 · Q36 Relevance score: -4.66

Which one of the following statements with regard to the winter solstice is correct?