Question

Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Bay of Bengal branch of the Southwest Monsoon?

1. It enters India from the southwesterly direction.

2. It is deflected by the Arakan Hills.

3. It causes widespread rains in the Brahmaputra valley.

4. It is the primary cause of rainfall in the Tamil Nadu coast.

• A. 1 and 3
• B. 2 and 3
• C. 1 and 4
• D. 2 and 4

Answer 1

Answer:

B. 2 and 3

• Statement 2: It is deflected by the Arakan Hills.

• Statement 3: It causes widespread rains in the Brahmaputra valley.

• The other statements are incorrect:

• Statement 1: It enters India from the southwesterly direction. (This is incorrect - the Bay of Bengal branch actually enters from the southeast after crossing the Bay of Bengal)

• Statement 4: It is the primary cause of rainfall in the Tamil Nadu coast. (This is incorrect - Tamil Nadu receives most of its rainfall from the Northeast Monsoon during October-December, not from the Southwest Monsoon)

• The Bay of Bengal branch of the Southwest Monsoon enters India from the southeast, gets deflected by the Arakan Hills in Myanmar, and then moves northeastward to cause heavy rainfall in the Brahmaputra valley and northeastern states. After hitting the Himalayas, it turns west and moves along the Indo-Gangetic plains.