In this study Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) microwave imager (TMI) observations (2A12) are used to compare and contrast the characteristics of cloud liquid water and ice over the Indian land region and the ocean surrounding it, during the premonsoon (March through May, MAM) and monsoon (June through August, JJA) seasons. Based on the spatial homogeneity of cloud liquid water, we have selected five regions for our study: two over Bay of Bengal, the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, and Western Ghats. It is found that the profiles of cloud liquid water and ice over land and ocean have different characteristics. Specifically over eastern Indian land region, ice content is higher in premonsoon season than in monsoon season for the same rate of surface precipitation. Over ocean, however, the behavior is reversed. Preliminary simulations with WRF (cloud resolving) model were performed for selected convective systems to understand these observed differences.