Question

    Which Indian state first experiences rainfall from the

    southwest monsoon?
    A Himachal Pradesh Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    B West Bengal Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    C Rajasthan Correct Answer Incorrect Answer
    D Kerala Correct Answer Incorrect Answer

    Solution

    Kerala is the first Indian state to receive rainfall from the southwest monsoon, typically around early June, marking the official commencement of India's monsoon season. This meteorological pattern occurs because monsoon winds originate over the Indian Ocean and initially make landfall along India's western coast. The Western Ghats mountain range in Kerala plays a crucial role in this process by forcing the moisture-laden air to rise, cool, and precipitate. Other states receive the monsoon progressively later: West Bengal in mid-June as the system moves eastward, Rajasthan in late June or early July as it advances northwestward, and Himachal Pradesh afterward as part of the northern progression. This predictable sequence makes Kerala's monsoon arrival a significant meteorological and agricultural milestone for the entire country.

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