📘 Question Bank – Physical Features of India
✅ Part A: Multiple Choice
Questions (50 MCQs with Answers)
1. Which is the oldest landmass of
India?
a) Himalayas
b) Northern Plains
c) Peninsular Plateau
d) Coastal Plains
Ans: c) Peninsular Plateau
2. The Himalayas extend from ______ to
______.
a) Ganga – Brahmaputra
b) Indus – Brahmaputra
c) Satluj – Ganga
d) Yamuna – Godavari
Ans: b) Indus – Brahmaputra
3. The average height of the Himadri
range is about:
a) 1,000 m
b) 6,000 m
c) 3,000 m
d) 500 m
Ans: b) 6,000 m
4. Which of the following is the
highest peak in India?
a) Kanchenjunga
b) Nanda Devi
c) Nanga Parbat
d) Doda Betta
Ans: a) Kanchenjunga
5. The Kashmir, Kangra, and Kullu
valleys lie in which range?
a) Himadri
b) Himachal
c) Shiwaliks
d) Purvachal
Ans: b) Himachal
6. The outermost Himalaya is called:
a) Himachal
b) Himadri
c) Shiwaliks
d) Vindhya
Ans: c) Shiwaliks
7. Duns like Dehra Dun are found in:
a) Himadri
b) Himachal
c) Shiwaliks
d) Purvachal
Ans: c) Shiwaliks
8. Himalayas bend sharply in the east
forming:
a) Vindhyas
b) Purvachal Hills
c) Aravalis
d) Meghalaya Plateau
Ans: b) Purvachal Hills
9. The Northern Plains were formed by:
a) Volcanic eruption
b) Alluvial deposits of rivers
c) Plate movements
d) Glaciers
Ans: b) Alluvial deposits of rivers
10.
The
largest inhabited river island in the world, Majuli, is in:
a) Ganga
b) Indus
c) Brahmaputra
d) Godavari
Ans: c) Brahmaputra
11.
The
area with pebbly deposits where rivers disappear is called:
a) Terai
b) Bhabar
c) Khadar
d) Bhangar
Ans: b) Bhabar
12.
Marshy
and swampy land south of Bhabar is:
a) Bhangar
b) Terai
c) Khadar
d) Doab
Ans: b) Terai
13.
The
older alluvium soil is called:
a) Khadar
b) Bhabar
c) Bhangar
d) Terai
Ans: c) Bhangar
14.
Khadar
is renewed every year by:
a) Wind
b) Floods
c) Glaciers
d) Earthquakes
Ans: b) Floods
15.
The
Central Highlands lie to the:
a) North of Ganga
b) North of Narmada
c) South of Krishna
d) West of Godavari
Ans: b) North of Narmada
16.
The
Chotanagpur Plateau is drained by:
a) Godavari
b) Damodar
c) Krishna
d) Kaveri
Ans: b) Damodar
17.
The
Deccan Plateau is higher in:
a) West
b) East
c) North
d) South
Ans: a) West
18.
The
Garo, Khasi, Jaintia Hills belong to:
a) Deccan Plateau
b) Meghalaya Plateau
c) Chotanagpur Plateau
d) Vindhya Plateau
Ans: b) Meghalaya Plateau
19.
The
Western Ghats are continuous and crossed by:
a) Rivers
b) Passes
c) Faults
d) Plateaus
Ans: b) Passes
20.
Highest
peak in the Western Ghats is:
a) Nanda Devi
b) Doda Betta
c) Anai Mudi
d) Mahendragiri
Ans: c) Anai Mudi
21.
Highest
peak in Eastern Ghats is:
a) Anai Mudi
b) Mahendragiri
c) Kanchenjunga
d) Nanda Devi
Ans: b) Mahendragiri
22.
Which
plateau is rich in black soil?
a) Malwa Plateau
b) Deccan Plateau
c) Chotanagpur Plateau
d) Meghalaya Plateau
Ans: b) Deccan Plateau
23.
Aravali
hills extend from:
a) Punjab – Delhi
b) Gujarat – Delhi
c) Kerala – Odisha
d) Assam – Meghalaya
Ans: b) Gujarat – Delhi
24.
The
Thar Desert lies:
a) West of Aravalis
b) East of Aravalis
c) South of Vindhyas
d) North of Himalayas
Ans: a) West of Aravalis
25.
The
only large river in the desert is:
a) Yamuna
b) Luni
c) Chambal
d) Narmada
Ans: b) Luni
26.
Crescent-shaped
sand dunes are called:
a) Longitudinal dunes
b) Barchans
c) Doabs
d) Khadar
Ans: b) Barchans
27.
The
Konkan coast lies between:
a) Kerala–Goa
b) Mumbai–Goa
c) Odisha–WB
d) Gujarat–Kerala
Ans: b) Mumbai–Goa
28.
The
Coromandel Coast is along:
a) Western Coast
b) Eastern Coast
c) Desert
d) Plateau
Ans: b) Eastern Coast
29.
The
largest saltwater lake in India is:
a) Wular Lake
b) Sambhar Lake
c) Chilika Lake
d) Dal Lake
Ans: c) Chilika Lake
30.
Lakshadweep
islands are of:
a) Volcanic origin
b) Coral origin
c) Mountain origin
d) River origin
Ans: b) Coral origin
31.
HQ
of Lakshadweep Islands is:
a) Port Blair
b) Kavaratti
c) Minicoy
d) Kochi
Ans: b) Kavaratti
32.
Andaman
and Nicobar islands are believed to be:
a) Coral reefs
b) Submarine mountains
c) Delta formations
d) Volcanic plateaus
Ans: b) Submarine mountains
33.
India’s
only active volcano is on:
a) Minicoy
b) Barren Island
c) Car Nicobar
d) Rameswaram
Ans: b) Barren Island
34.
Himalayas
are made of:
a) Igneous rocks
b) Folded sedimentary rocks
c) Volcanic lava
d) Desert sand
Ans: b) Folded sedimentary rocks
35.
Himachal
range consists mainly of:
a) Granite
b) Compressed rocks
c) Igneous rocks
d) Limestone
Ans: b) Compressed rocks
36.
Which
plain is called the ‘Granary of India’?
a) Brahmaputra
b) Ganga
c) Punjab
d) Deccan Plateau
Ans: c) Punjab
37.
Doab
means:
a) Region between two rivers
b) Mountain pass
c) Fertile island
d) Hill slope
Ans: a) Region between two rivers
38.
Which
river has the largest delta in India?
a) Yamuna
b) Ganga-Brahmaputra
c) Godavari
d) Krishna
Ans: b) Ganga-Brahmaputra
39.
The
Vindhya range is located:
a) North of Ganga
b) South of Narmada
c) North of Narmada
d) Near Himalayas
Ans: c) North of Narmada
40.
The
Satpura range lies:
a) North of Himalayas
b) North of Narmada
c) South of Vindhyas
d) East of Aravalis
Ans: c) South of Vindhyas
41.
Purvachal
hills are mainly composed of:
a) Igneous rocks
b) Granite
c) Sandstones
d) Black soil
Ans: c) Sandstones
42.
The
Meghalaya plateau is separated from Chotanagpur plateau by:
a) Fault
b) River
c) Pass
d) Mountain range
Ans: a) Fault
43.
Which
ghats cause orographic rainfall?
a) Eastern Ghats
b) Western Ghats
c) Satpura Ghats
d) Aravali Ghats
Ans: b) Western Ghats
44.
Which
Indian plateau is rich in coal and minerals?
a) Deccan Plateau
b) Chotanagpur Plateau
c) Malwa Plateau
d) Meghalaya Plateau
Ans: b) Chotanagpur Plateau
45.
Which
coastal plain has more delta formations?
a) Western Coast
b) Eastern Coast
c) Malabar Coast
d) Konkan Coast
Ans: b) Eastern Coast
46.
Mussoorie
is located in which Himalaya?
a) Himadri
b) Himachal
c) Shiwaliks
d) Purvachal
Ans: b) Himachal
47.
Kangra
valley is famous for:
a) Tea gardens
b) Cotton
c) Forests
d) Coal mining
Ans: a) Tea gardens
48.
Which
is NOT a physiographic division of India?
a) Himalayas
b) Peninsular Plateau
c) Tundra Region
d) Coastal Plains
Ans: c) Tundra Region
49.
Which
Indian desert is also called the “Great Indian Desert”?
a) Rann of Kutch
b) Thar Desert
c) Rajasthan Desert
d) Sindh Desert
Ans: b) Thar Desert
50.
The
island group closest to the equator is:
a) Andaman
b) Nicobar
c) Lakshadweep
d) Minicoy
Ans: b) Nicobar
✅ Part B: Short Answer
Questions (30 with Answers)
1. Name the six major physiographic
divisions of India.
Ans: Himalayas, Northern Plains,
Peninsular Plateau, Indian Desert, Coastal Plains, Islands.
2. What is the average height of the
Himadri range?
Ans: About 6,000 metres.
3. Mention two features of the Himachal
range.
Ans: Height 3,700–4,500 m; includes
valleys like Kashmir, Kangra, Kullu.
4. What are Duns?
Ans: Longitudinal valleys between
Lesser Himalayas and Shiwaliks (e.g., Dehra Dun).
5. Which river forms the easternmost
boundary of Himalayas?
Ans: Brahmaputra.
6. What are Purvachal Hills?
Ans: Eastern hills formed after
Himalayas bend south; include Patkai, Naga, Mizo Hills.
7. Name the three sections of Northern
Plains.
Ans: Punjab Plains, Ganga Plains,
Brahmaputra Plains.
8. What is Bhabar?
Ans: Pebbly belt at foothills of
Shiwaliks where rivers disappear.
9. Define Terai.
Ans: Marshy, swampy belt south of
Bhabar, rich in wildlife.
10.
Differentiate
between Bhangar and Khadar.
Ans: Bhangar = older alluvium,
terrace-like; Khadar = newer, fertile alluvium.
11.
Which
plateau lies north of Narmada?
Ans: Central Highlands.
12.
Name
the major rivers draining Central Highlands.
Ans: Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken.
13.
Which
plateau is drained by Damodar river?
Ans: Chotanagpur Plateau.
14.
What
is the slope of Deccan Plateau?
Ans: Higher in west, slopes
eastward.
15.
Name
the three hills of Meghalaya Plateau.
Ans: Garo, Khasi, Jaintia Hills.
16.
Name
the highest peak of Western Ghats.
Ans: Anai Mudi (2,695 m).
17.
Name
the highest peak of Eastern Ghats.
Ans: Mahendragiri (1,501 m).
18.
What
is Deccan Trap?
Ans: Black soil region of volcanic
origin in Deccan Plateau.
19.
Name
the oldest mountain range in India.
Ans: Aravali Hills.
20.
Where
is Thar Desert located?
Ans: West of Aravalis, mainly
Rajasthan.
21.
Which
is the only large river in Thar Desert?
Ans: Luni.
22.
What
are Barchans?
Ans: Crescent-shaped sand dunes
found in deserts.
23.
Name
three divisions of Western Coast.
Ans: Konkan, Kannad Plain, Malabar
Coast.
24.
Name
two divisions of Eastern Coast.
Ans: Northern Circar, Coromandel
Coast.
25.
Which
rivers form deltas on Eastern Coast?
Ans: Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna,
Kaveri.
26.
Which
is India’s largest saltwater lake?
Ans: Chilika Lake (Odisha).
27.
Name
two island groups of India.
Ans: Lakshadweep Islands, Andaman
& Nicobar Islands.
28.
Lakshadweep
Islands are of which origin?
Ans: Coral origin.
29.
Which
island has India’s only active volcano?
Ans: Barren Island (Andaman).
30.
Why
are Andaman & Nicobar islands strategically important?
Ans: Located near international sea
routes, useful for defence and trade.
✅ Part C: Long Answer
Questions (30 with Answers)
1. Explain the three parallel ranges of
the Himalayas.
Ans:
·
Himadri:
Highest, continuous, snow-bound, 6,000 m average height, glaciers, Everest
& Kanchenjunga.
·
Himachal:
3,700–4,500 m, Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar ranges, valleys like Kashmir, Kullu,
Kangra.
·
Shiwaliks:
Outermost, 900–1100 m, unconsolidated sediments, valleys called Duns.
2. Describe the regional divisions of
Himalayas.
Ans: Punjab Himalaya
(Indus–Satluj), Kumaon Himalaya (Satluj–Kali), Nepal Himalaya (Kali–Teesta),
Assam Himalaya (Teesta–Dihang), Purvachal Hills (east of Dihang).
3. Write about the formation and
importance of Northern Plains.
Ans: Formed by Indus, Ganga,
Brahmaputra alluvium; fertile, densely populated, “Granary of India,” base for
civilizations.
4. Explain relief features of Northern
Plains.
Ans: Bhabar (pebbly, rivers
disappear), Terai (swampy), Bhangar (old alluvium, terrace-like, kankar),
Khadar (new fertile soil).
5. Differentiate between Punjab, Ganga,
and Brahmaputra Plains.
Ans: Punjab = Indus tributaries,
doabs; Ganga = Ghaggar–Teesta, fertile; Brahmaputra = Assam, riverine islands
like Majuli.
6. Describe Central Highlands of
Peninsular Plateau.
Ans: North of Narmada, includes
Malwa Plateau, drained by Chambal, Betwa, Ken, eastward = Bundelkhand,
Baghelkhand, Chotanagpur Plateau (coal-rich).
7. Explain features of Deccan Plateau.
Ans: Triangular, south of Narmada,
higher in west, slopes east, Satpura in north, extensions in east &
northeast (Meghalaya Plateau).
8. Compare Western Ghats and Eastern
Ghats.
Ans: Western Ghats: continuous,
900–1600 m, orographic rainfall, higher peaks (Anai Mudi). Eastern Ghats:
discontinuous, 600 m, dissected by rivers, highest peak Mahendragiri.
9. What is the importance of
Chotanagpur Plateau?
Ans: Rich in coal, iron ore,
bauxite, mica, industrial hub, Damodar valley projects.
10.
Describe
Aravali Hills.
Ans: Oldest mountain range, eroded,
broken, extends Gujarat–Delhi, once very high but now low hills.
11.
Describe
features of Thar Desert.
Ans: West of Aravalis, arid,
<150 mm rainfall, sandy dunes, Luni = only large river, barchans dunes.
12.
Explain
divisions of Western Coastal Plains.
Ans: Konkan (Mumbai–Goa), Kannad
Plain (central Karnataka), Malabar Coast (Kerala).
13.
Explain
divisions of Eastern Coastal Plains.
Ans: Northern Circar (Andhra),
Coromandel Coast (Tamil Nadu), deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri.
14.
Write
a note on Chilika Lake.
Ans: Largest saltwater lake in
India, in Odisha, south of Mahanadi delta, rich biodiversity, bird sanctuary.
15.
Compare
Eastern & Western Coastal Plains.
Ans: Western = narrow, hilly, few
deltas; Eastern = wide, flat, large deltas.
16.
Describe
Lakshadweep Islands.
Ans: Coral origin, 32 sq km area,
HQ Kavaratti, rich in biodiversity, Pitti island = bird sanctuary.
17.
Describe
Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Ans: Larger, scattered, Andaman
(north), Nicobar (south), volcanic origin, equatorial climate, forests, Barren
Island = active volcano.
18.
Importance
of Islands for India.
Ans: Strategic location, tourism,
defence bases, biodiversity, fisheries.
19.
Explain
the significance of Himalayas to India.
Ans: Source of rivers, protection,
biodiversity, tourism, climate barrier, agriculture.
20.
Explain
the significance of Northern
part
c give point wise answer
Excellent 👍
Now I’ll rewrite Part C (Long Answer Questions – 30) with point-wise answers for easy understanding and
memorisation.
✅ Part C: Long Answer
Questions (30) – Point-wise Answers
1.
Explain the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas.
Ans:
·
Himadri (Great Himalaya):
o Highest and northernmost.
o Average height: 6,000 m.
o Loftiest peaks: Everest, Kanchenjunga,
Nanda Devi.
o Perennially snow-covered, many
glaciers.
·
Himachal (Lesser Himalaya):
o Height: 3,700–4,500 m.
o Includes Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar,
Mahabharat ranges.
o Valleys: Kashmir, Kangra, Kullu.
o Famous hill stations: Mussoorie,
Nainital, Ranikhet.
·
Shiwaliks (Outer Himalaya):
o Smallest, 900–1100 m high.
o Made of unconsolidated sediments.
o Longitudinal valleys (Duns): Dehra
Dun, Kotli Dun.
2.
Describe the regional divisions of Himalayas.
Ans:
·
Punjab Himalaya: Indus–Satluj region (Kashmir
& Himachal Himalaya).
·
Kumaon Himalaya: Satluj–Kali river region.
·
Nepal Himalaya: Kali–Teesta region.
·
Assam Himalaya: Teesta–Dihang region.
·
Purvachal Hills: East of Dihang gorge – Patkai,
Naga, Manipur, Mizo Hills.
3.
Write about the formation and importance of Northern Plains.
Ans:
·
Formed
by deposition of alluvium from Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra rivers.
·
Area:
7 lakh sq. km; Length: 2,400 km.
·
Very
fertile → “Granary of
India.”
·
Densely
populated region.
·
Base
for early civilisations.
·
Important
for agriculture, settlements, and transport.
4.
Explain relief features of Northern Plains.
Ans:
·
Bhabar: Pebbly deposits, rivers
disappear underground.
·
Terai: Marshy, swampy, rich in
wildlife (Dudhwa NP).
·
Bhangar: Old alluvium, terrace-like,
contains kankar (lime nodules).
·
Khadar: New alluvium, fertile, renewed
annually.
5.
Differentiate between Punjab, Ganga, and Brahmaputra Plains.
Ans:
·
Punjab Plains: Formed by Indus and
tributaries; dominated by doabs.
·
Ganga Plains: Ghaggar–Teesta; covers
Haryana, Delhi, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, WB.
·
Brahmaputra Plains: Assam region; riverine islands
like Majuli.
6.
Describe Central Highlands of Peninsular Plateau.
Ans:
·
Lies
north of Narmada river.
·
Includes Malwa Plateau.
·
Bounded
by Vindhya (south), Aravali (NW).
·
Rivers:
Chambal, Sind, Betwa, Ken (drain NE).
·
Extensions:
Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand.
·
Chotanagpur
Plateau → coal &
mineral rich.
7.
Explain features of Deccan Plateau.
Ans:
·
Triangular
shape, south of Narmada.
·
Higher
in west, slopes gently eastward.
·
Satpura
forms northern base.
·
Eastern
extensions: Mahadev, Kaimur, Maikal ranges.
·
NE
extension: Meghalaya Plateau (Garo, Khasi, Jaintia Hills).
8.
Compare Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
Ans:
·
Western Ghats:
o Continuous, parallel to west coast.
o Height: 900–1600 m.
o Orographic rainfall.
o Peaks: Anai Mudi, Doda Betta.
·
Eastern Ghats:
o Discontinuous, cut by rivers.
o Average height: ~600 m.
o Highest peak: Mahendragiri.
o Less rainfall.
9.
What is the importance of Chotanagpur Plateau?
Ans:
·
Rich
in coal, iron ore, bauxite, mica.
·
Industrial
hub of India.
·
Damodar
valley – major power projects.
·
Fertile
soils in valleys support farming.
·
Backbone
of India’s mineral-based industries.
10.
Describe Aravali Hills.
Ans:
·
Oldest
mountain range of India.
·
Highly
eroded, broken hills.
·
Extend
Gujarat → Delhi
(SW–NE).
·
Once
very high, now low hills.
·
Separates
Thar desert from fertile plains.
11.
Describe features of Thar Desert.
Ans:
·
Lies
west of Aravali Hills (Rajasthan).
·
Sandy,
undulating plain with dunes.
·
Rainfall
<150 mm, arid climate.
·
Sparse
vegetation.
·
Luni
= only large river.
·
Barchans
(crescent-shaped dunes) common.
12.
Explain divisions of Western Coastal Plains.
Ans:
·
Konkan Coast: Mumbai–Goa.
·
Kannad Plain: Central part (Karnataka).
·
Malabar Coast: Southern part (Kerala).
13.
Explain divisions of Eastern Coastal Plains.
Ans:
·
Northern Circar: Northern part (Andhra).
·
Coromandel Coast: Southern part (Tamil Nadu).
·
Major
deltas: Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri.
14.
Write a note on Chilika Lake.
Ans:
·
Located
in Odisha, south of Mahanadi delta.
·
Largest
saltwater lake in India.
·
Rich
biodiversity.
·
Famous
bird sanctuary →
migratory birds.
·
Important
for fishing & tourism.
15.
Compare Eastern & Western Coastal Plains.
Ans:
·
Western Coast:
o Narrow, hilly, short rivers.
o Few deltas, more estuaries.
o Regions: Konkan, Kannad, Malabar.
·
Eastern Coast:
o Wide, flat.
o Many deltas (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna,
Kaveri).
o Regions: Northern Circar,
Coromandel.
16.
Describe Lakshadweep Islands.
Ans:
·
Located
in Arabian Sea.
·
Coral
origin.
·
Area:
32 sq. km.
·
HQ:
Kavaratti.
·
Flora
& fauna diversity.
·
Pitti
Island → bird
sanctuary.
17.
Describe Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Ans:
·
Located
in Bay of Bengal.
·
Larger,
numerous, scattered.
·
Divided
into Andaman (north) and Nicobar (south).
·
Believed
to be submarine mountains.
·
Equatorial
climate, dense forests.
·
Barren
Island → only active
volcano in India.
18.
Importance of Islands for India.
Ans:
·
Provide strategic defence location.
·
Rich
in biodiversity.
·
Support
fishing & shipping.
·
Eco-tourism
hub.
·
Help
India control Indian Ocean trade routes.
19.
Explain the significance of Himalayas to India.
Ans:
·
Source
of perennial rivers.
·
Barrier
protecting from cold winds & invasions.
·
Support
forests, wildlife.
·
Influence
climate & rainfall.
·
Provide
fertile soil (alluvium) in plains.
·
Tourism
& pilgrimage centres.
20.
Explain the significance of Northern Plains.
Ans:
·
Fertile
alluvial soil → high
crop yield.
·
“Granaries
of India.”
·
Densely
populated, developed settlements.
·
Early
civilisations flourished here.
·
Rivers
provide irrigation, transport, hydro-power.
21.
Importance of Peninsular Plateau.
Ans:
·
Rich
in minerals (coal, iron, bauxite, mica).
·
Supports
industries.
·
Fertile
black soil for cotton.
·
Source
of rivers (Godavari, Krishna).
·
Hydroelectric
power potential.
22.
Importance of Indian Desert.
Ans:
·
Solar
& wind energy potential.
·
Tourism
(Jaisalmer, dunes).
·
Camel
rearing (“ship of the desert”).
·
Cultural
heritage of Rajasthan.
23.
Importance of Coastal Plains.
Ans:
·
Support
agriculture (rice, coconut).
·
Ports
& harbours for trade.
·
Fishing
industry.
·
Tourism
(beaches, backwaters).
24.
Importance of Islands.
Ans:
·
Defence
& naval bases.
·
Fishing,
shipping.
·
Tourism
spots.
·
Biodiversity
hotspots.
25.
How do India’s physical features complement each other?
Ans:
·
Himalayas
→ water, forests.
·
Plains
→ agriculture,
population centres.
·
Plateau
→ minerals &
industries.
·
Desert
→ renewable energy
& tourism.
·
Coasts
→ fishing, trade.
·
Islands
→ defence &
biodiversity.
👉 Together,
they enrich India’s natural resources.
26.
Why are Himalayas called young fold mountains?
Ans:
·
Formed
recently in geological history.
·
Still
rising due to plate tectonics.
·
Rugged
relief, deep valleys, fast rivers.
·
Frequent
earthquakes & landslides.
27.
Explain the importance of Western Ghats.
Ans:
·
Cause
orographic rainfall.
·
Rich
in biodiversity.
·
Important
rivers originate here (Godavari, Krishna).
·
Hydroelectric
projects.
·
Hill
stations & spice plantations.
28.
Explain the importance of Eastern Ghats.
Ans:
·
Provide
fertile valleys (cut by rivers).
·
Minerals
available.
·
Forest
resources.
·
Support
agriculture (paddy cultivation).
29.
Explain the importance of Meghalaya Plateau.
Ans:
·
Rich
in coal, limestone, uranium.
·
Fertile
valleys (rice, betel nut).
·
Heavy
rainfall → unique
biodiversity.
·
Famous
hills: Garo, Khasi, Jaintia.
30.
Explain the role of physical features in India’s development.
Ans:
·
Mountains:
rivers, forests, climate control.
·
Plains:
agriculture, food security.
·
Plateau:
minerals, industries.
·
Desert:
renewable energy, tourism.
·
Coasts:
trade, ports, fisheries.
·
Islands:
defence, biodiversity, tourism.
👉 Together,
they form the foundation of India’s economy & culture.
Chapter
2: Physical Features of India
1. Which mountain range separates the Indian
subcontinent from the rest of Asia?
A) Western Ghats
B) Eastern Ghats
C) Himalayas
D) Aravalli Range
Answer: C) Himalayas
2. The highest peak in
India, Mount Everest, is located in which state?
A) Himachal Pradesh
B) Uttarakhand
C) Sikkim
D) Jammu and Kashmir
Answer: D) Jammu and Kashmir
3. The Western Ghats
run parallel to the:
A) Arabian Sea coast
B) Bay of Bengal coast
C) Indo-Gangetic Plain
D) Thar Desert
Answer: A) Arabian Sea coast
4. Which river flows
through a rift valley before entering the Arabian Sea?
A) Ganga
B) Godavari
C) Narmada
D) Brahmaputra
Answer: C) Narmada
5. Which state is not
touched by the Western Ghats?
A) Kerala
B) Tamil Nadu
C) Karnataka
D) Odisha
Answer: D) Odisha
6. The Khasi and Garo
Hills are located in which state?
A) Meghalaya
B) Mizoram
C) Nagaland
D) Assam
Answer: A) Meghalaya
7. The Great Indian
Desert is also known as:
A) Thar Desert
B) Deccan Plateau
C) Rann of Kutch
D) Ladakh Desert
Answer: A) Thar Desert
8. Which river does
not originate in the Western Ghats?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Kaveri
D) Mahanadi
Answer: D) Mahanadi
9. Which of the
following is not a major physiographic division of India?
A) Northern Plains
B) Peninsular Plateau
C) Coastal Plains
D) Central Highlands
Answer: D) Central Highlands
10. The highest peak
of the Eastern Ghats is:
A) Anamudi
B) Mahendragiri
C) Kanchenjunga
D) Nanda Devi
Answer: B) Mahendragiri
11. The Palk Strait
lies between India and:
A) Sri Lanka
B) Myanmar
C) Maldives
D) Bangladesh
Answer: A) Sri Lanka
12. Which state does
not have a coastline along the Arabian Sea?
A) Gujarat
B) Maharashtra
C) Karnataka
D) West Bengal
Answer: D) West Bengal
13. Which river flows
through the Thar Desert?
A) Yamuna
B) Chambal
C) Luni
D) Tapi
Answer: C) Luni
14. Which state lies
at the southernmost tip of India?
A) Kerala
B) Tamil Nadu
C) Karnataka
D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: A) Kerala
15. The Gulf of Mannar
is situated between India and:
A) Sri Lanka
B) Maldives
C) Bangladesh
D) Myanmar
Answer: A) Sri Lanka
16. The Andaman and
Nicobar Islands are located in which ocean?
A) Indian Ocean
B) Pacific Ocean
C) Atlantic Ocean
D) Arctic Ocean
Answer: A) Indian Ocean
17. Which river flows
through the Himalayas?
A) Ganga
B) Godavari
C) Narmada
D) Krishna
Answer: A) Ganga
18. Which state has
the maximum coastline along the Bay of Bengal?
A) Odisha
B) Andhra Pradesh
C) West Bengal
D) Tamil Nadu
Answer: A) Odisha
19. The Kaveri River
flows through which states?
A) Karnataka and Kerala
B) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
C) Kerala and Tamil Nadu
D) Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
Answer: B) Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
20. Which hill station
is located in the Western Ghats?
A) Darjeeling
B) Ooty
C) Shimla
D) Mussoorie
Answer: B) Ooty
21. Which river forms
the Sundarbans delta with the Brahmaputra River?
A) Ganga
B) Godavari
C) Mahanadi
D) Yamuna
Answer: A) Ganga
22. The Cardamom Hills
are located in which state?
A) Kerala
B) Tamil Nadu
C) Karnataka
D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: A) Kerala
23. The Vindhya Range
is located in:
A) Western India
B) Southern India
C) Central India
D) Northern India
Answer: C) Central India
24. Which state has
the highest number of major ports along the Western Coast of India?
A) Gujarat
B) Maharashtra
C) Karnataka
D) Goa
Answer: B) Maharashtra
25. Which river does
not drain into the Bay of Bengal?
A) Godavari
B) Krishna
C) Mahanadi
D) Narmada
Answer: D) Narmada
26. Which of the
following is a landform feature commonly found in the Himalayas?
A) Atolls
B) Moraines
C) Lagoons
D) Barrier reefs
Answer: B) Moraines
27. Which state is not
part of the Western Ghats?
A) Goa
B) Maharashtra
C) Kerala
D) West Bengal
Answer: D) West Bengal
28. The Brahmaputra
River originates in which country?
A) India
B) China
C) Nepal
D) Bhutan
Answer: B) China
29. Which of the
following is not a feature of the Northern Plains?
A) Bhabar
B) Khadar
C) Barind
D) Doab
Answer: C) Barind
30. Which river forms
the famous Dudhsagar Falls in India?
A) Ganga
B) Godavari
C) Mandovi
D) Sharavati
Answer: C) Mandovi
31. Which state does
the Thar Desert primarily cover?
A) Rajasthan
B) Gujarat
C) Punjab
D) Haryana
Answer: A) Rajasthan
32. The highest peak
of the Western Ghats is:
A) Anamudi
B) Kudremukh
C) Mullayanagiri
D) Mahendragiri
Answer: A) Anamudi
33. Which river flows
through the Kashmir Valley?
A) Ganga
B) Jhelum
C) Godavari
D) Narmada
Answer: B) Jhelum
34. The Gulf of Kutch
is an extension of which sea?
A) Arabian Sea
B) Bay of Bengal
C) Indian Ocean
D) Red Sea
Answer: A) Arabian Sea
35. Which state is
known for its extensive mangrove forests along its coastline?
A) Gujarat
B) Maharashtra
C) Odisha
D) West Bengal
Answer: D) West Bengal
36. Which river forms
the famous Hogenakkal Falls in South India?
A) Ganga
B) Kaveri
C) Godavari
D) Krishna
Answer: B) Kaveri
37. Which state does
the Satpura Range primarily cover?
A) Maharashtra
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Gujarat
D) Rajasthan
Answer: B) Madhya Pradesh
38. The Gir National
Park, famous for Asiatic lions, is located in which state?
A) Gujarat
B) Madhya Pradesh
C) Maharashtra
D) Rajasthan
Answer: A) Gujarat
39. Which river does
not flow into the Arabian Sea?
A) Tapi
B) Sabarmati
C) Mandovi
D) Mahanadi
Answer: D) Mahanadi
40. The Khasi Hills
are located in which northeastern state?
A) Assam
B) Manipur
C) Meghalaya
D) Tripura
Answer: C) Meghalaya
Very
Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Which are the two main causes of rock displacement?
Answer:
Folding, faulting and volcanic activity.
Question 2.
Mention the three types of plate movements.
Answer:
·
Convergent,
·
Divergent,
·
Transform.
Question 3.
Name any four factors which are responsible for creating and modifying the
relief to its present form.
Answer:
·
Weathering,
·
Erosion,
·
Deposition,
·
Geological activities like
earthquake, volcanic eruption etc.
Question 4.
What is convergent boundary?
Answer:
It is a boundary which is formed due to the movement of plates towards each
other.
Question 5.
What is transformed boundary?
Answer:
It is a boundary which is formed when two plates move horizontally passing each
other.
Question 6.
What is divergent boundary?
Answer:
It is a boundary which is formed when two plates move away from each other.
Question 7.
What was the Gondwanaland?
Answer:
It was an ancient super continent located in southern hemisphere which included
the present day South America, Africa, Australia and Antarctica.
Question 8.
Which continents of today were part of the Gondwanaland?
Answer:
·
South America,
·
Africa,
·
Australia,
·
Asia.
Question 9.
What is Khadar?
Answer:
The younger alluvium of the flood plains is known as the Khadar.
Question 10.
Name some of the depositional features formed by the rivers in the plain.
Answer:
Flood plains, levees, channel bars and bluffs.
Question 11.
What is distributary?
Answer:
The rivers in their lower course split into numerous channels due to the
deposition of silt. These channels are known as distributries. For example,
Hoogly, Meghna is a distributary of river Ganga.
Question 12.
What is meant by doab?
Answer:
The land between two rivers is locally known as the doab.
Question 13.
What is the Terai Zone?
Answer:
It is a zone next to the Bhabar zone which is wet and marshy. It has a thick
forest cover and a variety of wildlife.
Question 14.
What is a Bhangar? HOTS
Answer:
The older alluvium soil of the northern plains is called the Bhangar.
Question 15.
Name the part of the Himalayas lying between the Indus and Satluj rivers.
Answer:
Punjab Himalayas lies between the Indus and Su’tluj rivers. From west to east,
this is also known as Kashmir Himalaya and Himachal Himalaya respectively.
Question 16.
Name the most continuous range of Himalayas consisting of the lofty peaks.
Answer:
Himadri or Greater or Inner Himalayas.
Question 17.
Name the mountain range which bounds Central Highlands on the north west.
Answer:
Aravalli Hills.
Question 18.
How long are east-west distances covered by the Himalayas?
Answer:
2,400 km.
Question 19.
Which river marks the easternmost boundary of the Himalayas?
Answer:
The Brahmaputra.
Question 20.
Name the part of the Himalayas lying between Teesta and Dihang rivers.
Answer:
Assam Himalayas.
Question 21.
Which part of Himalayas is located between Kali and Satluj rivers? HOTS
Answer:
Kumaon Himalayas.
Question 22.
Which is the most important and longest mountain range of Himachal Himalaya?
Answer:
The Pir Panjal range forms the longest and the most important range.
Question 23.
Name the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas and give their other names.
Answer:
·
The Himadri (Greater
Himalayas),
·
The Himachal (Lesser
Himalayas),
·
The Shiwaliks (Outer
Himalayas).
Question 24.
Why are the Himalayas called the young fold mountains?
Answer:
The Himalayas are not very old, they are of recent birth. So they are called
the young fold mountains.
Question 25.
Which is the highest peak of India?
Answer:
Kanchenjunga (8,598 m).
Question 26.
Which is the northernmost range of Himalayas?
Answer:
The Himadri.
Question 27.
Which is the outermost range of Himalayas?
Answer:
The Shiwalik.
Question 28.
Which is the highest peak of the world? Where is it situated?
Answer:
Mount Everest (8848 m) located in Nepal is the highest peak in the world.
Question 29.
Which is the highest peak of the Deccan Plateau?
Answer:
The Anaimudi hill in Kerala.
Question 30.
How is the northern plain divided on the basis of the differences in the relief?
Answer:
·
Bhabhar,
·
Terai,
·
Bhangar,
·
Khadar.
Question 31.
Name some hill stations of the Himachal range.
Answer:
Mussoorie, Chakrata, Nainital, Ranikhet and Almora.
Question 32.
In which hill does the Narmada river rise?
Answer:
Amarkantak hills in Madhya Pradesh.
Question 33.
In which state Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills are located?
Answer:
Meghalaya.
Question 34.
Name the Himalayan range lying between Himadri and Shiwaliks.
Answer:
Himachal or lesser Himalayans.
Question 35.
Name two famous valleys in the state of
Himachal Pradesh.
Answer:
Kullu and Kangra.
Question 36.
What is the northern and southern extension of the western coast called?
Answer:
Northern → Konkan coast, Southern → Malabar coast.
Question 37.
Which plateau lies between the Aravalli and the Vindhya ranges? HOTS
Answer:
The Malwa Plateau.
Question 38.
Name some of the important passes of the Himalayas from west to east.
Answer:
Shipkila, Nathula and Bomdila.
Question 39.
What are Duns?
Answer:
These are broad valleys between Himachal and the Shiwalik ranges.
Question 40.
What are duns made up of? Give an example of the duns.
Answer:
Duns are made up of gravel and alluvial soil. The Dehradun valley is an example
of duns.
Question 41.
Name any two hills which comprise the ‘PurvanchaT.
Answer:
The Patkai, Naga, Manipur and the Mizo hills, (any two)
Question 42.
Why are the Northern Plains primarily an agricultural belt?
Answer:
The Northern Plains have a thick soil cover composed of fine silt or alluvium
brought down by the Himalayan rivers. This alluvial soil is very fertile.
Hence, this is primarily an agricultural belt.
Question 43.
Name the major rivers of North India.
Answer:
The Indus, the Sutlej,
the Ganga, the Yamuna, the Kosi, the Teesta and ; the Brahmaputra are the major
rivers of North India.
Question 44.
What is the width of the northern plains?
Answer:
Its width varies from 240 to 320 kilometres. It gets narrower towards the east.
Question 45.
By which name, the coastal plain is known as in:
(i) Northern part
(ii) Southern part
Answer:
(i) Nortern part — Northern Circar.
(ii) Southern part — Coromandal Coast.
Question 46.
What is ‘barchan’?
Answer:
It is crest shaped sand dune with cusps of the crescent pointing downward.
Question 47.
Mention any two characteristics of the Aravalli Hills.
Answer:
·
The Aravalli Hills are eroded
hills.
·
They extend from Gujarat to
Delhi in a southwest — northeast direction.
Question 48.
What is the local name of the Western Ghats in:
(i) Maharashtra and Karnataka.
(ii) Along Kerala-Tamil Nadu border.
(iii) Tamil Nadu.
Answer:
(i) Sahyadri,
(ii) Anaimalai and Cardamom hills,
(iii) Nilgiri.
Question 49.
Name any two peaks of the Western GhaEST
Answer:
·
Anaimudi (2,695 m),
·
Doda Betta (2,637 m).
Question 50.
What are the two divisions of Peninsular Plateau?
Answer:
The Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.
Question 51.
Which physical feature marks the Western and the Eastern edges of the Deccan
Plateau?
Answer:
The Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
Question 52.
Which type of rainfall is received by the Western Ghats?
Answer:
Orographic rain.
Question 53.
Where are the Lakshadweep Islands situated?
Answer:
In the Arabian Sea.
Question 54.
Name the island group of India having a coral origin.
Answer:
The Lakshadweep Islands.
Question 55.
What are Coral polyps?
Answer:
Coral polyps are short-lived microscopic organisms which live in colonies.
Question 56.
Where are the Andaman Islands situated?
Answer:
In the Bay of Bengal.
Short
Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Explain the theory of Plate Tectonics. HOTS
Answer:
According to this theory, the crust of the earth has been formed out of seven
major and some minor plates. The movement of these plates led to folding,
faulting and volcanic activity. These are classified in three categories:
·
Convergent Boundary: When
plates come .towards each other, also called folding movement.
·
Divergent Boundary: When
plates move away from each other, also called faulting movement.
·
Transform Boundary: In the
event of coming together, they may collide or may slide under each other.
Question 2.
What is the difference between a tributary and a distributary?
Answer:
A Tributary: A tributary is that river which joins the main river, and
increases the volume of water. It is generally found in the upper or the middle
course of a river. For example, the Yamuna is the main tributary of the river
Ganga.
A Distributary: It is that river which
originates from a main river. It is formed near the river’s mouth before it
falls into the sea. It is found in the lower course of the river. For example,
the Hooghly is the main distributary of the Ganga.
Question 3.
Name the three major divisions of Himalayas from the north to south.
Answer:
The three major divisions of Himalayas from north to south are:
·
The northernmost range which
is known as the Great Himalayas or Inner Himalayas or Himadri. It is the most
continuous range consisting of the loftiest peaks. It has an average height of
6000 meters. It consists of all the prominent Himalayan peaks.
·
The southern range of Himadri
which is known the Himachal or the lesser Himalayas lies to the South of
Himadri. It forms the most rugged mountain system. The ranges are mainly
composed of highly compressed and altered rocks. The altitude varies between 3700
and 4500 meters and its average width is 50 kms.
·
The outermost range of the
Himalayas is known as Shiwaliks. Its height varies between 900 meters and 1100
meters. This range is composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by
rivers from the main Himalayan ranges. These are also called foothill ranges.
They represent the southernmost divison of Himalaya.
Question 4.
Name the southernmost range of Himalaya. Mention any four features of this
range.
Answer:
The southernmost range of Himalayas is called Shiwaliks.
Features:
·
The outermost range of the
Himalayas is called the Outer Himalayas or Shiwaliks.
·
They extend over a width of
10-15 km.
·
Their altitude varies between
900-1100 metres.
·
They are discontinuous ranges
and are composed of unconsolidated sediments, gravel and alluvium brought down
by the rivers from main Himalayan ranges located farther north.
·
Longitudinal valleys known as
Duns lie between the lesser Himalayas and Shiwaliks. e.g., Dehradun, Kote Dun,
Path Dun. (any four)
Question 5.
How is Himadri range different from Himachal range? Mention any three
differences.
Answer:
Himadri:
- This range is
the highest of Himalayas with an average height of 6,000 metres.
- This range
contains loftiest peaks. Example: Kanchenjunga and Nanda Devi.
- This range is always
covered with snow.
Himachal:
- Himachal is
not so high as Himadri. Its average height is between 3,700 and 4,500
metres.
- This range
contains hill stations Example: Shimla and Nainital.
- It snows here
in winter.
Question 6.
Differentiate between Western Himalayas and Eastern Himalayas.
Answer:
Western Himalayas
- These are
spread over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar
Pradesh.
- The Western
Himalayas are very high.
- The Indus and
the Sutlej are main rivers which pass throught the Western Himalayas and
fall into the Arabian Sea.
- The average
annual rainfall is less than 100 cm.
- Srinagar,
Shimla, Manali are the famous hill stations found in the Western
Himalayas.
Eastern Himalayas
- These are
spread over West Bengal, Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh.
- These are of
medium height.
- The
Brahmaputra is the main river which passes through these and falls into
the Bay of Bengal.
- The average
annual rainfall is more than 200 cm.
- Darjeeling and
Shillong are the famous hill stations found in the Eastern Himalayas.
Question 7.
Write about the main
features of the Shiwaliks.
Answer:
·
It is the outermost range of
the Himalayas.
·
The average altitude of the
Shiwalik range varies between 900 m and 1,100 m above the sea level, and
extends over a width of about 10-50 km.
·
This range is made of
unconsolidated material such as mud, silt and soft rocks and is prone to
earthquakes and landslides.
·
Some narrow valleys are found
between the Shiwaliks and the Himachal. They are called ‘duns’. For example,
Dehradun, is situated in one such valley.
Question 8.
How did the northern plains come to existence? Write two points briefly. Also
mention two features of these plains.
Answer:
(i) The northern plains have been formed by the interplay of the three major
river systems, i.e., the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
(ii) The northern plain is formed of the alluvial soil brought by these rivers.
Features:
·
These plains are very
fertile.
·
These are densely polulated.
Question 9.
Why are Northern Plains agriculturally productive parts of India? Explain.
Answer:
·
The deposition of alluvium in
a vast basin lying at the foothills of the Himalaya over millions of years,
formed this fertile plain. It spreads over an area of 7 lakh sQuestion km.
·
The plain being about 2400
km. long and 240 to 320 km. broad, is a densely populated physiographic
division.
·
With a rich soil cover
combined with adequate water supply and favourable climate, it is
agriculturally a very productive part of India.
Question 10.
Which three river systems form the northern plains of India? Mention main
features.
Answer:
The northern plain has been formed by the interplay of the three major river
systems—the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.
Features:
·
The river Indus and its
tributaries form the western part of the northern plain which is referred to as
the Punjab plains. The larger part of this plain lies in Pakistan.
·
The Ganga plain extends
between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. It spreads over the states of North India;
Haryana, Delhi, U.P., Bihar, partly Jharkhand and West Bengal.
·
The Brahmaputra plain
particularly lies mainly in Assam. It forms the largest riverine islands in the
world.
Question 11.
State any three differences between Himadri range and Shiwalik range.
Answer:
Himadri Range:
- It is the
innermost or northernmost range of Himalayas.
- Its average
height is 6,000 metres. Shiwalik Range.
- The core of
this part of Himalayas is composed of granite.
Shiwalik Range:
- It is the
outermost range of Himalayas.
- Its height
varies between 900 and 1100 metres.
- These ranges
are composed of uncon¬solidated sediments brought down by rivers from the
main Himalayan ranges located farther north.
What is a delta? Name some deltas of the Indian sub-continent.
Answer:
The triangular deposition of sediments at the mouth of a river is known as a
delta.
·
The Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta.
·
The Mahanadi Delta.
·
The Godavari Delta.
·
The Krishna Delta.
·
The Kaveri Delta.
Question 13.
What are Purvanchal hills? Mention any two features of these hills.
Answer:
Mountains along the eastern boundary of India are called the Purvanchal. There
are medium heights. Some of the important mountains of Purvanchal are:
·
The Patkoi Bum and the Naga
Hills in the North.
·
The Mizo Hills in the South.
·
The Jaintia, the Khasi and
the Garo hills from east to west.
Features:
·
They comprise of sandstone
and sediments.
·
They are covered with dense
forests.
·
They comprise of Patkoi
Hills, Manipur hills etc. (any two)
Question 14.
Distinguish between Central highlands and Deccan Plateau on the basis of rivers
that flow and hill ranges.
Answer:
Central Highlands:
- The Central Highlands
are wider in the west but narrower in the east.
- The rivers
draining this region are the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and the Ken.
- The hills
lying in this region are the Vindhya range and the Aravalli hills.
Deccan Plateau:
- The Deccan
plateau is a triangular land mass.
- The rivers
draining this region are the Tapi, the Krishna, the Godavari and the
Kaveri.
- The hills
lying in this region are the Mahadev, the Kaimur and the Maikal.
Question 15.
Give an account of the Deccan Plateau.
Answer:
An account of Deccan Plateau of India:
·
It is a triangular landmass
that lies to the south of the river Narmada. The Satpura range flanks its broad
base in the north while the Mahadev forms its eastern extensions.
·
The Deccan Plateau is higher
in the west and slopes gently eastwards.
·
An extension of the Plateau
is also visible in the north-east. It is locally known as the Meghalaya, Karbi
Anglong Plateau and North Cachar Hills.
·
It is separated by a fault
from the Chhotanagpur Plateau. Three prominent hill ranges form the West to
East are the Garo, the Khasi and the Jaintia Hills. The Western Ghats and the
Eastern Ghats mark the Western and Eastern edges of the Deccan Plateau
respectively. The Western Ghats lie parallel to the western coast and Eastern
Ghats, lie parallel to the eastern coast.
Question 16.
Compare the main features of the Western Coastal Plain and Eastern Coastal
Plain.
Answer:
Western Coastal Plain:
- The plain is
located between the Western Ghat and the Arabian Sea coast.
- It is a narrow
plain with an average width of about 64 km.
- There are
several lagoons especially in the southern part.
- Kandla,
Mumbai, Marmagao, Cochin are the main ports.
- No big delta
is formed.
Eastern Coastal Plain:
- The plain is
located between the Eastern Ghats and the coast of Bay of Bengal.
- It is
comparatively broader plain with average width of around 80-100 km.
- Very few
lagoons are formed.
- Tuticorin,
Chennai, Paradeep, Vishakha- patnam are the major ports on the eastern
coast.
- Large deltas
are formed.
Question 17.
Name the four major states which are the parts of the eastern coastal plains.
Mention the two divisions of these coastal plains.
Answer:
The plains extend from the state of Tamil Nadu in the southern part to the
state of West Bengal in the northern region of India. Other states include
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The three main divisions into which the eastern
coastal plains can be divided are Utkal Plains, Tamil Nadu Plains and the
Andhra Plains.
(i) Utkal Plains: This is the coastal stretch of the state of Odisha and
consists of the Mahanadi delta. The famous feature of the region is the Chilka
Lake lying on the south of the Mahanadi Delta.
(ii) Tamil Nadu Plains: The plains extend
from the Pulicat Lake to Kanyakumari. The prominent feature of the region is
the Kaveri delta, the fertile soil and irrigational facilities of which make it
a granary in South India.
(iii) Andhra Plains: The plains extend
from the Utkal Plains on the North to Pulicat Lake in the south. The delta
formation by the rivers Kaveri and Godavari happens to be the important feature
of the region.
Question 18.
Describe any three features of coastal plains of India.
Answer:
·
The Peninsular plateau
is flanked by a strip of narrow coastal strips running along the Arabian Sea on
the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east.
·
The western coast, sandwiched
between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, is a narrow plain. It consists
of three sections. The northern part of the coast is called the Konkan
(Mumbai-Goa), the central stretch is called the Kannad Plain while the southern
stretch is referred to as the Malabar coast.
·
The plains along the Bay of
Bengal are wide and level.
·
In the northern part, it is
referred to as the Northern Gircar, while the southern part is known as the
Coromandel Coast.
·
Large rivers such as the
Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna and the Kaveri have formed extensive delta
on this coast. Lake Chilka is an important feature along the eastern coast.
Question 19.
Name two island groups possessed by India. Mention one feature of each.
Answer:
·
The Andaman and Nicobar
Islands: This group of island is composed of small coral islands.
·
Lakshadweep Islands: These
are bigger in size and are more numerous and scattered.
Question 20.
Write a note on corals.
Answer:
·
Corals are small, sedentary
marine animals with a calcareous homy skeleton.
·
These thrive in warm shallow
water and grow into large colonies called coral reefs.
·
They secrete hard rock like
substance. The coral secretion and their skeletons form coral deposits in the
form of reefs.
·
They are mainly of three
kinds: barrier reef, fringing reef and atolls.
·
The Great Barrier Reef of
Australia and Lakshadweep Islands are a good example of the first kind of coral
reefs.
Question 21.
Explain the formation of the Peninsular Plateau. Write any four of its distinct
features.
Answer:
The Peninsular Plateau was formed due to the breaking and drifting of the
Gondwana land. It is a tableland composed of the old crystalline, igneous and
metamorphic rocks.
·
It has broad and shallow
hills, valleys and rounded hills.
·
It consists of the two broad
divisions namely, the Central Highland and Deccan Plateau.
·
It has black soil area known
as Deccan Trap which is of volcanic origin.
·
The flow of rivers is
westward.
Long
Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
“The land of India displays great physical variations”. Justify this statement
with five examples. HOTS
Answer:
Physical variations of land of India are:
·
Geologically, the Peninsular
Plateau constitutes one of the ancient landmasses on the earth’s surface. It
was supposed to be one of the most stable land blocks.
·
The Himalayas and the
Northern Plains are the most recent landforms.
·
From the yiew point of
geology, Himalayan Mountains form an unstable zone.
·
The whole mountain system of
Himalaya represents a very youthful topography with high peaks, deep valleys
and fast flowing rivers.
·
The Northern Plains are
formed of alluvial deposits.
·
The Peninsular Plateau is
composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks with gently rising hills and wide
valleys, (any five)
Question 2.
“Each physiographic region of India complements the other and makes the country
richer in its natural resources.” Justify this statement with five examples.
Or
‘The diverse physical features of India are of immense value’.
Justify the statement by giving suitable examples.
Answer:
Importance of diverse physical features of India is as follows:
·
The northern mountains are
the major sources of water and forest wealth.
·
The northern plains are the
granaries of the country. They provide the base for early civilisations.
·
The plateau is a storehouse
of minerals which has played a crucial role in the industrialisation of the
country.
·
The coastal region and island
groups provide sites for fishing and port activities.
·
The deserts are the
storehouse of solar energy.
Question 3.
Explain the three types of plates and write the effects of movements of plates.
Answer:
The plate movements are classified into three types:
·
Some plates come towards each
other and form convergent boundaries.
·
Some plates move away from
each other and form divergent boundary.
·
At times, they may also move
horizontally pass each other and form transform boundary.
When two plates come together, they are
known as convergent plates. They are also known as constructive plates. When
two plates move far away from each other, they are known as divergent plates.
When two plates coming towards each other collide or burst pass, they are known
as transform plate. The movement of plates causes volcanic eruptions,
earthquakes, formation of mountains etc.
Question 4.
Distinguish between Bhabhar and Terai.
Answer:
Bhabhar:
- It lies to the
south of Shiwalik range.
- The width
ranges between 8 to 16 km.
- The area is
highly coarse in nature due to many pebbles and ‘kankars’ found over here.
- Vegetation
found here is very less.
- Main feature
is that river disappears in the Bhabhar region because big pores present
in it.
Terai:
- The belt exist
to the south of Bhabhar area.
- It is almost
parallel to the Bhabhar.
- The area has
got highly fine sediments due to the deposition made by several streams.
- Very dense vegetation is found in Terai region.
- Since the river re-emerges back in this region, the area
becomes highly swampy and marshy.
Question 5.
Describe any five features of northern plains of India.
Answer:
Features of northern plains of India are:
(i) The northern plains have been formed from the alluvium deposited by the
mountain rivers.
(ii) They are located between the Himalayan rivers in the north and the
Peninsular Plateau in the south.
(iii) They turned the soil on the surfaced land fertile for growing a rich
harvest of variety of crops. This led to the development of the Indus river
valley civilization.
(iv) They are made up of deposits of alluvium and cover an area of 7 lakh
sQuestion km.
(v) They are densely populated physiographic division of India and are believed
to be highly productive in terms of agriculture.
(vi) The North Indian plains have the Indus river system in the west and the
Ganga, Brahmaputra river system in the East.
(vii) The first include Jhelum, Chenab, Rabi, Beas. The Indus flows into the
Arabian Sea.
The second includes Ganga-Brahmaputra which combines with Meghna at the point
when it drains into the Bay of Bengal. They form the world’s largest and
fastest growing delta.
On the basis of difference of relief, they are divided into four parts—Bhabhar,
Terai, Bhangar and Khadar.
(viii) The northern plain is divided into three sections— Punjab plain, Ganga
plain and Brahmaputra plain. The Ganga plain has diverse relief features. It
has four belts:
·
Bhabhar is a belt of pebbles
extending from 8-16 kms in width in which stream disappears.
·
Terai is a wet, swampy, marshy
region with thick forests and wildlife.
·
Bhangar is a terrace-like
feature made of old alluvium. It contains calcareous deposits called Kankar.
·
Khadar is the flood plain
which renewed everywhere and is very fertile.
Question 6.
Which is the oldest land mass of India? Name its two hroad divisions and
explain any three features of each.
Answer:
The Great Peninsular Plateau lies to the south of the great plains and is , the
oldest land mass of India. It is triangular in shape. The river
Narmada divides it into two parts:
·
The Cental Highlands and
·
The Deccan Plateau.
The Central Highlands:
·
It is made up of hard igneous
and metamorphic rocks.
·
It comprises the Malwa
Plateau, the small plateau of Bundelkhand and the Chhota Nagpur Plateau while
the Western Ghats extend to the west of the Deccan Plateau.
·
Chambal, Sind and Betwa are
three important rivers which flow through the Central Highlands.
·
It has been’drained by
tributaries of Yamuna and Ganga.
·
Bundelkhand in southern UP
and Baghelkhand in northern Madhya Pradesh.
The Deccan Plateau:
·
It is a triangular landmass
that lies to the south of river Narmada.
·
It is higher in the west and
slopes gendy eastwards.
·
It is the largest unit of the
Peninsular Plateau of India.
·
Satpura range, Mahadev hills,
Maikal range covers northern edge.
·
It is the oldest block made
up of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Question 7.
Describe any five features of the Central highlands of India.
Answer:
Features of Central Highlands:
·
The part of the Peninsular
Plateau lying to the north of the Narmada river covering major area of the
Malwa Plateau is known as the Central Highland.
·
The Vindhyan range is bounded
by the Central Highland on the south and the Aravallis on the northwest. The
further westward extension gradually merges with the sandy and rocky desert of
Rajasthan.
·
The flow of the rivers
draining this region, namely Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and Ken is from
southwest to northeast, thus indicating the slope.
·
The Central Highlands are
wider in the West but narrower in the East.
·
The eastward extensions of
this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand.
Question 8.
Describe the features of Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats in reference to
height, slope, continuity, rivers and vegetation.
Answer:
|
Features |
Western Ghats |
Eastern Ghats |
|
(i) Height |
Their height is 900 to 1,100 m. The highest peak of this
region is from Anaimudi with a height of 2,659 km. |
The Eastern Ghats are lower in height than the Western Ghats.
It ranges from 600 to 900 m. Mahendragiri is the highest peak in Eastern
Ghats. |
|
(ii) Slope |
They have steep slop as height increases from North to South. |
They have a gentle slope. |
|
(iii) Continuity |
They are continous and can be crossed through passes only. |
They are irregular and discontinous and dissected by the
rivers. |
|
(iv) Rivers |
They lie parallel to Western Coast and are source for some
rivers. |
They stretch from Mahanadi valley to Niligiris in South. The
rivers flow through easily. |
|
(v) Vegetation |
Western Ghats have tropical evergreen forests. They are
evergreen to deciduous forests. |
· Eastern Ghats have scrub vegetation due to overgrazing
and deforestation. |
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