Explain the factors controlling the distribution of rainfall in India.

India's rainfall distribution is shaped by the monsoon system interacting with relief and location.

• Distance from sea — coastal areas receive higher rainfall than interior regions.
• Relief/orographic effect — windward slopes of the Western Ghats and Himalayas receive heavy rain, leeward sides remain dry.
• Monsoon wind direction — southwest and northeast monsoons drive seasonal variation.

Rainfall distribution directly shapes India's agricultural and water-resource planning.