Authentic Classroom Explanation by IAS Monk

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📍 The Question

In the Northern Hemisphere, the longest day of the year normally occurs in the:

(a) First half of the month of June
(b) Second half of the month of June
(c) First half of the month of July
(d) Second half of the month of July

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✅ Correct Answer: (b) Second half of the month of June

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🎯 Theme of the Question

Physical Geography | Earth–Sun Relationship | Seasons | Solstices

This is a fundamental conceptual question from NCERT Geography, testing understanding of axial tilt and solstices.

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🧠 Classroom Explanation

🌍 Why does the longest day occur in June?

The Earth’s axis is tilted at 23½° relative to the plane of its orbit around the Sun.

Because of this tilt:

• On June 21 (±1 day), the Northern Hemisphere is maximally tilted towards the Sun
• The Sun’s rays fall vertically on the Tropic of Cancer (23½° N)
• This results in:
  • Longest duration of daylight
  • Shortest night in the Northern Hemisphere

This astronomical event is called the Summer Solstice.

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📅 Why “second half of June”?

• Summer Solstice occurs around June 21
• June 21 lies in the second half of June

Hence, the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere falls in the second half of June.

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❌ Why other options are incorrect

• First half of June ❌
  → Sun has not yet reached its maximum northward position
• July (first or second half) ❌
  → After June 21, days start gradually shortening in the Northern Hemisphere

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📊 Final Assessment

Option	Reason
First half of June	Before solstice ❌
Second half of June	Summer Solstice (~June 21) ✅
First half of July	Days already decreasing ❌
Second half of July	Much shorter days ❌

👉 Correct answer: (b)

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🧩 Memory Hook

“June 21 — Sun pauses, day peaks.”

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🧠 Prelims Strategy Insight

For all day–night length questions:

• June 21 → Longest day (NH)
• Dec 22 → Shortest day (NH)
• Tie answers to months, not vague seasons

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🧭 IAS Monk Whisper

When the Sun stands still,
the calendar reveals the truth of the sky.