The Arabian Sea Branch and Bay of Bengal Branch of the Indian monsoon merge together over which of the following regions?​

Correct option is A

The Arabian Sea Branch and Bay of Bengal Branch of the Southwest Monsoon merge over Punjab and adjoining Himalayan regions, particularly in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

• The Arabian Sea Branch moves northward after striking the Western Ghats and brings rainfall to central and northwestern India.
• The Bay of Bengal Branch moves towards the northeast, bringing heavy rainfall to Assam, West Bengal, and Bihar, then deflects northwestward towards the Himalayas.
• These two branches converge over Punjab, Haryana, and the Himalayan foothills, resulting in orographic rainfall due to the obstruction by the Himalayas.

Thus, the correct answer is "The Punjab and adjoining Himalayas."

Information Booster:

• Arabian Sea Branch – Brings heavy rainfall to the Western Ghats and interior Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan before reaching Punjab.
• Bay of Bengal Branch – Moves northwest, causing rainfall in West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh, before merging with the Arabian Sea branch near Punjab and the Himalayas.

• Central India:

  • The monsoon branches travel through Central India but do not merge here.

• North East Indian States:

  • The Bay of Bengal Branch causes heavy rainfall here, but no merging occurs in this region.

• Western Ghats:

  • The Arabian Sea Branch causes heavy orographic rainfall here, but no merging with the Bay of Bengal Branch occurs.