Which of the following Indian states receives an important part of its winter rainfall due to western disturbances coming from the Mediterranean region?

Introduction / Context:
Western disturbances are extra tropical weather systems that originate near the Mediterranean region and move eastwards towards north west India. They bring important winter rainfall and snowfall to parts of the Indo Gangetic plain and the Himalayas. Exam questions often ask you to identify which states receive rainfall from these systems.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The phenomenon mentioned is rainfall due to western disturbances. • Four states are given as options: Punjab, West Bengal, Kerala and Gujarat. • Western disturbances mainly affect north western parts of India during winter.

Concept / Approach:
Western disturbances travel across Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan before reaching north west India. They typically bring winter rain and occasional hail to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, western Uttar Pradesh and the western Himalayas. This rainfall is crucial for the Rabi wheat crop. States such as Kerala and West Bengal primarily receive rainfall from monsoon systems rather than western disturbances, and Gujarat falls mostly in the drier west where the effect is limited.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that western disturbances mainly influence the weather over Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, western Uttar Pradesh and the Himalayan states during the winter months. Step 2: Compare the locations of the states in the options. Punjab lies squarely in the north western plains that are strongly affected by these systems. Step 3: Note that West Bengal lies in the eastern part of the country and is more influenced by the Bay of Bengal branch of the monsoon. Step 4: Recognise that Kerala in the south and Gujarat in the far west have different rainfall regimes and are not core areas for winter rain from western disturbances. Step 5: Conclude that Punjab is the correct state among the options.

Verification / Alternative check:
Weather reports and climatology texts describe the influence of western disturbances on Punjab and neighbouring states, highlighting their role in providing winter rain that benefits wheat. These sources do not treat West Bengal, Kerala or Gujarat as primary recipients of significant rainfall from these systems.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (West Bengal) receives most of its rain from the south west monsoon and retreating monsoon, not from Mediterranean western disturbances. Option C (Kerala) is associated with the onset of the south west monsoon and tropical rainfall patterns rather than winter disturbances from the west. Option D (Gujarat) lies on the western coast and interior and can receive some stray effects, but it is not a typical example used in textbooks for rainfall due to western disturbances.

Common Pitfalls:
• Learners may confuse western disturbances with the western branch of the monsoon and pick coastal states like Kerala or Gujarat incorrectly. • Others may choose West Bengal simply because it has high rainfall overall, forgetting that the question is specifically about winter rain from western disturbances.

Final Answer:
Among the given states, Punjab receives significant winter rainfall due to western disturbances.