Consider the following statements : 1. The duration of the monsoon decreases from southern India to northern India. 2. The amount of annual rainfall in the northern plains of India decreases from east to west. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Statement 1 is correct. The Southwest Monsoon arrives in southern India (Kerala coast) around the beginning of June and reaches northern India much later (end of June/early July). Similarly, the withdrawal begins from the northwest in early September and withdraws from the southern peninsula much later (October/November). Thus, the overall duration of the monsoon season indeed decreases from south to north. 2. Statement 2 is correct. The northern plains of India receive rainfall primarily from the Bay of Bengal branch of the Southwest Monsoon. As these moisture-laden winds travel from east to west across the plains, they progressively lose moisture. Consequently, the amount of annual rainfall decreases from regions like West Bengal and Bihar towards Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. 3. Since both statements are correct, option (C) is the appropriate answer.