Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India.
The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from East to West.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Only 1
Only 2
1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Both statements are correct.
Statement 1—Correct
The duration of the monsoon generally decreases from southern India towards northern India.
The southwest monsoon normally reaches the Kerala coast at the beginning of June.
It subsequently advances over Peninsular India, central India and the Northern Plains.
It reaches most parts of north-western India by late June or early July. Thus, monsoon rainfall begins later in northern India than in southern India.
The withdrawal of the monsoon normally begins from north-western India in September.
Its withdrawal from southern Peninsular India is completed by October-November.
Consequently, monsoon conditions continue for a longer period in southern India, while northern India has a comparatively shorter monsoon season.
Statement 2—Correct
Annual rainfall in the Northern Plains generally decreases from east to west.
Most monsoon rainfall in the Northern Plains is received from the Bay of Bengal branch.
This branch enters the Northern Plains from eastern India and advances westward and north-westward approximately along the Ganga Plain.
As the monsoon winds travel westward, they continuously produce rainfall and progressively lose moisture.
Consequently, the plains of West Bengal and Bihar receive comparatively greater rainfall.
Rainfall progressively decreases from eastern Uttar Pradesh towards western Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.
Local relief and seasonal conditions may create exceptions, but the broad rainfall pattern of the Northern Plains shows an east-to-west decline.