Indian Climate

The Himalaya is a very high mountain barrier along India’s northern boundary, and its position gives it major climatic importance. During winter, it restricts the southward movement of extremely cold continental winds from Central Asia. During the monsoon season, the range helps guide and intercept moisture-bearing winds; when moist air rises over mountain slopes, it cools and may produce rainfall. Thus option B correctly states that the Himalaya blocks cold winds and influences the monsoon. It does not form black soil, dry up the sea, or cut the Eastern Ghats. Those options confuse climate, soil formation, drainage, and other landforms. The answer depends on understanding the range’s height and location.

The governing climate concept is orographic rainfall. Moist air from the Bay of Bengal branch of the southwest monsoon moves toward the north-eastern hills. When this air encounters the Khasi Hills, it is forced to rise along the slopes. Rising air cools, water vapour condenses, and intense rainfall occurs on the windward side. Hence option A is correct. Glacial deposition, lava flow, and sand storms are not mechanisms that produce monsoonal rainfall. Cherrapunji and Mawsynram are well-known examples of places receiving exceptional rainfall because of this combination of moist monsoon flow and relief-induced uplift.