MCQs on Physiographic Divisions of India for UPSC and State PSC exams

India’s physical landscape is traditionally classified into six major physiographic divisions: (1) The Himalayan Mountains, (2) The Northern Plains, (3) The Peninsular Plateau, (4) The Indian Desert, (5) The Coastal Plains, and (6) The Islands. This six-fold division captures the contrast between the young fold mountains in the north, the alluvial plains, the ancient stable plateau, the arid west, the narrow coastal strips, and the offshore island groups.

Central Highlands is not a major division; it is a sub-unit of the Peninsular Plateau lying north of the Narmada River, comprising the Malwa Plateau, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand and Chota Nagpur Plateau. The six major divisions are Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Indian Desert, Coastal Plains and Islands.

The Himalayan arc extends about 2,400 km from the gorge of the Indus in Jammu & Kashmir/Ladakh in the west to the gorge of the Brahmaputra (Dihang) in Arunachal Pradesh in the east. This west-east alignment forms India’s northern boundary.

The Himalayas form a continuous arc roughly 2,400 km long. The width varies from about 400 km in the west (Kashmir) to about 150 km in the east (Arunachal), reflecting compression and syntaxial bends.

The range is widest in the western Himalayas (Kashmir-Himachal) where the three parallel ranges are well developed, and narrowest in the east where the ranges converge. This variation influences climate, biodiversity and human settlement.

From north to south: Himadri (6,000 m average, perennial snow), Himachal (3,700-4,500 m, hill stations), and Shiwalik (900-1,100 m, foothills). This three-tier structure is the classic longitudinal division.

Himadri is the northernmost, loftiest range with average elevation above 6,000 m, containing peaks like Everest, Kanchenjunga, Nanda Devi, and is the source of glaciers feeding perennial rivers.

The Himadri maintains heights above 6,000 m, with many peaks over 8,000 m. Its high altitude ensures permanent snow cover and forms the core of the orogenic belt.

Kangchenjunga on Sikkim-Nepal border is India’s highest. K2 lies in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir claimed by India but not under administration; Everest lies in Nepal.

The Himachal range lies south of Himadri, with rugged terrain, 3,700-4,500 m elevation, hosting famous hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, and longitudinal valleys.

Though lower than Himadri, the Himachal is highly dissected, with steep slopes and deep valleys, making it important for tourism and horticulture.

These longitudinal ‘duns’ and valleys are formed by river erosion and tectonic activity, providing fertile basins between ranges.

Shiwaliks are the youngest, southernmost foothills composed of unconsolidated sediments, prone to landslides, rising 900-1,100 m.

Their low altitude and recent origin make them structurally weak, with many seasonal streams (chos) cutting through.

Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun, Patli Dun are flat-bottomed valleys formed by deposition, ideal for settlement and agriculture.

Lying north of the Great Himalayas, these ranges were formed before the Himalayas, are arid, and include K2, Siachen Glacier.

K2 is the world’s second highest, located in the Karakoram in PoK, part of Trans-Himalayas, heavily glaciated.

Comprising Patkai Bum, Naga Hills, Manipur Hills, Mizo Hills, they form India’s eastern boundary, lower than main Himalayas, heavily forested.

Based on river boundaries: Indus-Sutlej (Punjab), Sutlej-Kali (Kumaon), Kali-Teesta (Nepal), Teesta-Dihang (Assam).

Covering J&K, Ladakh, Himachal, characterized by Kashmir Valley and high passes.

Covering Uttarakhand, with Nanda Devi, Gangotri glacier, important pilgrimage sites.

Contains Everest, Kanchenjunga, highest concentration of 8000 m peaks.

Covering Sikkim, Bhutan, Arunachal, with heavy rainfall and biodiversity.

These three river systems brought sediments from Himalayas over millions of years, creating the world’s largest alluvial tract, extremely fertile.

Stretching from Punjab in west to Assam in east, with varying width, forming the granary of India.

Wider in the west (Punjab) and narrower in the east (Bihar-Bengal), influencing agriculture and population density.

Bhabar (porous pebble zone), Terai (marshy), Bhangar (old alluvium), Khadar (new floodplain) represent successive zones from foothills southward.

Porous sediments cause streams to sink, creating dry river beds, important for groundwater recharge.

Where underground streams re-emerge, creating wetlands, once malarial but now reclaimed for agriculture.

Contains calcareous kankar, less fertile, not renewed by floods, forms uplands like in UP and Bihar.

Highly fertile, ideal for intensive agriculture like sugarcane, wheat, paddy.

Doabs (interfluves) like Bist, Bari characterize this region, highly irrigated.

Divided into Upper, Middle, Lower Ganga Plain, supporting densest population.

Features Majuli, world’s largest river island, annual floods deposit fertile silt.

Located in western Rajasthan, extends into Pakistan, arid climate.

Covers about 60% of Rajasthan, with sandy dunes, low rainfall <150 mm.

Formed by rain-shadow of Aravallis, with Luni as only seasonal river.

Stable shield of crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks, dating >3 billion years, rich in minerals.

Narmada rift valley forms natural divide.

Composed of Vindhyan sandstones, sloping north to Yamuna basin.

Runs 800 km NE-SW from Gujarat to Delhi, once much higher, now residual.

Located in Rajasthan, important for climate barrier.

Forms northern escarpment of Central Highlands, composed of sedimentary rocks.

Comprises Mahadeo, Maikala hills, highest point Dhupgarh.

Located in Madhya Pradesh, source of Narmada at Amarkantak nearby.

Triangular plateau sloping eastward.

Formed by massive volcanic eruptions 66 million years ago at Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary.

Continuous escarpment along west coast, UNESCO World Heritage for biodiversity.

Western Ghats intercept monsoon, causing heavy rainfall.

Located in Eravikulam National Park, Anaimalai Hills.

Broken by rivers like Godavari, Krishna, forming isolated hills.

Eastern Ghats are fragmented; Jindhagada in Araku is highest, Mahendragiri historically noted.

Form a knot, with Dodabetta as highest, famous for tea plantations.

Second highest in South India after Anamudi.

Part of Anaimalai-Cardamom range, rich in spices.

Called ‘Ruhr of India’, drained by Damodar River.

Comprises Garo, Khasi, Jaintia hills, receives highest rainfall.

Flanking the Peninsular Plateau along Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Narrow, 50-80 km wide.

Characterized by estuaries, ports Mumbai, Ratnagiri.

Narrow, with laterite soils.

Features backwaters, lagoons, coconut cultivation.

Wider than western coast, 100-130 km.

Includes Utkal and Andhra coasts.

Known for cyclones, fertile deltas.

Rivers form estuaries not deltas due to steep slope.

Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri form extensive deltas.

Because of gentle slope and sediment load.

Due to rift valleys and hard rock, swift flow.

Two distinct groups with different origins.

Form a curved chain of 572 islands, tectonic origin.

Located in North Andaman, forested.

Located east of Middle Andaman, erupted recently.

Known for Narcondam hornbill, north of Barren.

Comprise 36 islands, total land 32 sq km, in Arabian Sea.

Classic atoll structure with lagoons.

Andrott is largest; Kavaratti is capital.

Cultural hub of Assamese neo-Vaishnavite culture, shrinking due to erosion.

Great Rann and Little Rann, white salt desert, flooded in monsoon.

Formed by Pleistocene lakes, fertile, well-drained.

Aeolian deposits along river banks.

e.g., Punjab’s five doabs between Indus tributaries.

Connect India to Tibet/China, vital for trade and strategy.

Historic trade route.

Part of ancient Silk Route, reopened for trade 2006.

Allows monsoon winds and rail-road connectivity.

Critical for Mumbai-Nashik and Mumbai-Pune routes.

Part of Trans-Himalayas, arid, surrounded by Karakoram and Himalayas.

Massive basalt flows linked to Deccan volcanism and dinosaur extinction.

Himalayan rivers are youthful, antecedent, cutting through rising mountains.

Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra maintain flow year-round.

Located on India-Myanmar border, part of Naga Hills.

Known as Valley of Gods, formed by Beas River, important for horticulture.

Formed by lacustrine deposits, famous for saffron and apples.

Flat fertile valleys ideal for settlement between Himachal and Shiwalik.

Created by downfaulting, filled by Ganga-Brahmaputra alluvium.

Formed by severe gully erosion in soft alluvium.

Composed of granite and gneiss, drought-prone region.

Part of Central Highlands, drained by Son River.

High-level lateritic surfaces in Jharkhand, used for agriculture.