Question

ASSERTION: The north western part of India receives rainfall in winter.
REASON: The winter rainfall in India occurs due to North East monsoon.
A) Both Assertion and Reasons are correct and Reason is the correct explanation for Assertion.
B) Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for the Assertion
C) Assertion is correct but Reason in Incorrect.
D) Both Assertion and Reason are Incorrect.

Answer 1

Hint: The northwestern part of India receives rainfalls in winter from the disturbances of the Mediterranean Sea. The north east monsoon winds bring post monsoon rains in states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Complete answer:
The Western disturbance is a mid-latitude cyclone or a wave cyclone. It originates in the Mediterranean Sea and brings sudden winter rains to the Indian subcontinent. These winter rains are part of a non-monsoonal precipitation pattern driven by the westerly winds. These winds carry moisture from the Mediterranean Sea, the Caspian Sea and the Black Sea. These winds are a global phenomenon and they carry moisture in the upper atmosphere.

When they reach the Indian subcontinent, they shed water as rain in the north western parts of India, before encountering the Himalayas. These western disturbances are more frequent and stronger in the winter seasons. These winds are an important source of water for the growth of Rabi crops in the states of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
Thus, the assertion is correct.

The north east monsoon winds are also called as post monsoon winds, since the bring rains during the winter season. The given statement is true that it causes winter rainfall in India, but it is not the correct explanation of the given assertion because it does not bring rains to the northwestern part of India. Rather it showers rains in the southern peninsular region of the country, i.e. Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh etc.

Thus, the correct answer is Option (B) Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct explanation for the Assertion.

Note:
i) The Western Disturbances also bring a wave of cold and dense fog over the Indo-Gangetic plains.
ii) The strongest effects of these western disturbances is experienced by Pakistan, which gets flooded during the winter season.
iii) As the winter season ends, these disturbances also start declining in number and intensity, but if they interact with monsoon winds then they cause dense clouds and heavy precipitation.