Physiographic Divisions of India
Notes
India has an area of about 3.28 million sq km (about 2.4% of the world's land; the 7th largest country). It lies between 8°4'N and 37°6'N and 68°7'E and 97°25'E. The Tropic of Cancer passes through eight States (Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram). The Standard Meridian is 82°30'E (near Mirzapur) and IST is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT. The land frontier is about 15,200 km and the coastline about 7,516 km (the mainland about 6,100 km). Indira Point (Great Nicobar) is the southernmost point of India; Kanyakumari is the southern tip of the mainland. The highest peak in India is Kanchenjunga (8,586 m).
Geological basis: the Peninsular block is Archaean (the oldest); the Himalaya is a Tertiary fold mountain system; the Northern Plains are Quaternary alluvium.
Six physiographic divisions
Division | Features |
|---|---|
Northern and North-eastern Mountains (Himalaya) | Young fold mountains, about 2,400 km long; Trans-Himalaya, Himadri, Himachal, Shiwaliks; Purvanchal in the east |
Northern Plains | Alluvial plains of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra; Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, Khadar |
Peninsular Plateau | Oldest landmass, a part of Gondwanaland; Central Highlands and Deccan Plateau; bounded by the Western and Eastern Ghats |
Indian Desert | West of the Aravallis; the Thar; sand dunes and low rainfall |
Coastal Plains | A narrow western coast and a wider eastern coast |
Islands | Andaman and Nicobar (Bay of Bengal), Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea) |
Neighbours: Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar share land borders; Sri Lanka and the Maldives are maritime neighbours.
Key Points
- Six divisions: Himalaya, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Desert, Coastal Plains, Islands.
- Tropic of Cancer passes through eight States; Standard Meridian 82°30'E.
- Peninsular Plateau is the oldest; Himalaya is the youngest.
- Indira Point is India's southernmost point.
- Kanchenjunga is the highest peak in India.
MCQs
Q1. Which of the following States is NOT crossed by the Tropic of Cancer?
(a) Gujarat
(b) Odisha
(c) Mizoram
(d) Jharkhand
Ans: (b).
Q2. The oldest physiographic division of India is the:
(a) Himalaya
(b) Northern Plains
(c) Peninsular Plateau
(d) Coastal Plains Ans:
(c).
Q3. The Standard Meridian of India passes close to:
(a) Mirzapur
(b) Delhi
(c) Nagpur
(d) Kolkata Ans:
(a). 82°30'E.