With reference to rainfall in India, consider the following options:

1. South west winds
2. Western disturbances
3. North east winds
4. North west winds

Which of the above options is/are the cause of winter rainfall in India?

a) 1, 2 and 3 only
b) 2, 3 and 4 only
c) 2 only
d) 3 only

Ans- c

Explanation– Western disturbance is the cause of rainfall during winters in North West part of the country.  They are shallow cyclonic depressions originating over the east Mediterranean Sea and travelling eastwards across West Asia, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before they reach the north-western parts of India. On their way, the moisture content gets augmented from the Caspian Sea in the north and the Persian Gulf in the south. When they reach NW India they cause rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh.

As per India: physical environment ncert unit 3, page 40, the cold weather season sets in by mid-November in northern India and the Peninsular region of India does not have any well-defined cold weather season. Confusion may arise due to NE rains in TN. We should note thatclimate of TN state is tropical with very little variation in temperature. It features fairly hot temperatures over the year except during the monsoon season which is Oct- November generally.

Therefore, question is specifically talking about northern India during winter in which rain happens due to western disturbances only. Hence ans is c.