Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Answer: (a) 1 only

West-margin deserts are right; eastern Himalayan rain comes from the SW monsoon.

Statement by statement

1. ✓ CORRECT Tropical deserts lie on the western sides of continents in the trade-wind belt (Sahara, Atacama, Kalahari, Australian).

2. ✗ WRONG The eastern Himalaya gets heavy rain from the south-west monsoon (Bay of Bengal branch), not north-east winds.

The idea

Many tropical deserts occur beneath subtropical high pressure, where descending air discourages clouds. Cold currents can further limit rain along western coasts. In contrast, hills facing moist summer winds force air upward and receive heavy rain.

Air sinks near the subtropical highs → Descending air warms → Relative humidity falls → Cloud formation is limited → Cold coastal waters can stabilise the lower air → Dry western-margin climates develop

Why the others are wrong

(b) Accepts NE winds as the rain source.

(c) Accepts NE winds.

(d) Rejects the desert pattern.

The trap

“North-east” India makes “north-east winds” sound right.

Elimination technique

Do not infer wind direction from a region’s name. Eastern Himalayan summer rain belongs to the south-west monsoon, so statement 2 removes (b) and (c); the desert pattern must still be checked.

Also know

Atacama lies beside the cold Humboldt Current; the Namib lies beside the cold Benguela Current. These are hot-belt coastal deserts, unlike the cold interior desert of Ladakh. The Khasi hills also receive rain through the lifting of moist Bay of Bengal air.