Correct Option
Statement 2 is correct. The winter precipitation, including rain in the plains and snow in the mountains, in the North-Western region of India is primarily caused by Western Disturbances. These are extratropical storm systems that originate over the Mediterranean Sea and are carried eastward by the subtropical westerly jet stream. They bring moisture and cause precipitation as they traverse across Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan into India during the winter months.
Incorrect Options
Statement 1 is incorrect. Westerlies are prevailing winds that blow from the west towards the east in the middle latitudes. They are found between 30° and 60° latitude in each hemisphere. Specifically, they blow between 30°N and 60°N in the Northern Hemisphere and between 30°S and 60°S in the Southern Hemisphere. The statement incorrectly combines latitudes from different hemispheres (30°N and 60°S) as a single zone for westerlies, which is geographically inaccurate.
Option (a) is incorrect because Statement 1 is factually wrong.
Option (c) is incorrect as only Statement 2 is correct.
Option (d) is incorrect because Statement 2 is correct.