Consider the following statements: 1. In the world, the tropical deserts occur along the western margins of continents within the trade wind belt. 2. In India, the East Himalayan region gets high rainfall from north-east winds. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Statement 1: In the world, the tropical deserts occur along the western margins of continents within the trade wind belt. This statement is correct. Tropical deserts like the Atacama, Namib, Sahara (western part), and parts of the Australian desert are typically found on the western margins of continents. This is due to several factors: 1. Offshore trade winds (easterlies) blow moisture away from the land. 2. The presence of cold ocean currents along these western margins (e.g., Benguela Current, Humboldt Current, California Current) cools the overlying air, leading to atmospheric stability and preventing the formation of rain-bearing clouds. 3. Subsiding air from the Hadley cell also contributes to high pressure and dry conditions in these latitudes. Statement 2: In India, the East Himalayan region gets high rainfall from north-east winds. This statement is also correct. While the South-West Monsoon is the primary source of very high rainfall in the East Himalayan region, the North-East Monsoon (winter monsoon) also contributes significantly to the rainfall, especially during the winter months (October-December). The north-east winds, after picking up moisture from the Bay of Bengal, strike the Eastern Himalayan ranges, causing orographic rainfall. This contributes to the overall high rainfall experienced in this region. Since both statements are correct, option C is the correct answer. The final answer is C