Correct Option
The correct option isWestern Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat
Explanation
The distribution of rainfall in India is highly uneven, primarily influenced by the direction of monsoon winds and the presence of mountain barriers (orography). Regions are generally categorized into areas of heavy, medium, low, and scanty rainfall based on annual precipitation levels.
Option Analysis
- Western coast is incorrect: The Western coast of India (including the Konkan and Malabar coasts) receives very heavy rainfall, typically exceeding 250 cm annually. This is due to the Western Ghats obstructing the moisture-laden South-West Monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea.
- Northeastern India is incorrect: Northeastern India (including Meghalaya, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh) is one of the wettest regions in the world, receiving annual rainfall ranging from 200 cm to over 1000 cm (e.g., Mawsynram). The funnel-shaped hills trap moisture-laden winds, causing intense orographic rainfall.
- Western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat is correct: Western Rajasthan and adjoining parts of Gujarat fall under the zone of scanty rainfall, receiving less than 60 cm annually. This is primarily because the Aravalli Range lies parallel to the direction of the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon, failing to act as a barrier. Additionally, the Bay of Bengal branch loses most of its moisture before reaching this region.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is incorrect: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands experience an equatorial type of climate and receive heavy annual rainfall, generally exceeding 200 cm, due to both the South-West and North-East monsoons.
Key Takeaway
Areas receiving less than 60 cm of annual rainfall in India include Western Rajasthan, adjoining parts of Gujarat, Haryana, and Punjab, as well as the rain-shadow interior of the Deccan Plateau and the cold desert of Ladakh.