Physical Features of India
Welcome to HSLC Guru! In this article, we present a complete English-medium guide to Class 9 Social Science (Geography) Chapter 2 — Physical Features of India, prepared strictly according to the ASSEB (Assam State School Education Board) syllabus. India is a vast country marked by an extraordinary variety of physical features — towering mountains, fertile plains, ancient plateaus, sandy deserts, sun-kissed coasts and emerald islands. This chapter explains how these landforms came into being through the long process of plate tectonics and how they are classified into six major physiographic divisions. The notes below include a clear summary, every textbook question and answer, additional MCQs, fill-in-the-blanks, true/false items and a glossary table to help students prepare confidently for examinations.
Summary
The diverse physical features of India owe their origin to the theory of plate tectonics, which states that the Earth’s lithosphere is broken into seven major and several minor plates that move continuously. About 200 million years ago, the supercontinent Pangaea split into Laurasia in the north and Gondwanaland in the south, separated by the Tethys Sea. The Indian Plate (a part of Gondwanaland) drifted northward and collided with the Eurasian Plate. The sediments of the Tethys were folded upward to form the lofty Himalayas, while the depression between the new mountains and the old plateau was gradually filled by river-borne alluvium to form the Northern Plains. The southern part of the Indian Plate became the stable Peninsular Plateau. On this geological basis, India is divided into six major physiographic divisions: the Himalayan Mountains, the Northern Plains, the Peninsular Plateau, the Indian Desert, the Coastal Plains and the Islands.
The Himalayan Mountains stretch about 2,400 km from the Indus in the west to the Brahmaputra in the east. They consist of three parallel ranges — the Greater Himalayas or Himadri (the loftiest, with peaks like Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat and Namcha Barwa, all permanently snow-covered), the Lesser Himalayas or Himachal (made of highly compressed rocks; famous ranges include Pir Panjal, Dhaula Dhar and Mahabharat; well-known hill stations such as Shimla, Mussoorie and Darjeeling lie here) and the outermost Shiwaliks (made of unconsolidated sediments and containing flat-floored valleys called duns, e.g. Dehra Dun). To the north of the Greater Himalayas lies the cold, arid Trans-Himalaya, including the Karakoram, Ladakh and Zaskar ranges. From west to east the Himalayas are regionally divided into the Punjab Himalayas (between Indus and Sutlej), Kumaon Himalayas (Sutlej to Kali), Nepal Himalayas (Kali to Tista) and Assam Himalayas (Tista to Brahmaputra). The eastward extension that bends sharply south is called the Purvanchal hills, comprising the Patkai, Naga, Manipur, Mizo and Lushai hills.
South of the Himalayas lie the great Northern Plains, formed by the alluvial deposits of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries. They are divided into the Punjab Plain (built by the Indus and its tributaries, with characteristic doabs), the Ganga Plain (the largest, stretching from Punjab to Bangladesh) and the Brahmaputra Plain (the easternmost, with numerous river-island formations). According to relief, the plains are sub-divided into four belts — bhabar (a narrow pebble-strewn zone where rivers disappear underground), terai (a wet, swampy belt south of the bhabar where streams re-emerge), bhangar (older alluvium forming higher terraces) and khadar (newer, fertile flood-plain alluvium renewed every year). South of the plains rises the ancient Peninsular Plateau — one of the oldest landmasses on Earth — divided by the Narmada into the Central Highlands in the north (Malwa, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand and Chotanagpur) and the Deccan Plateau in the south, flanked by the Western and Eastern Ghats. The Western Ghats are higher and continuous (Anaimudi being the highest peak), while the Eastern Ghats are lower and dissected by rivers.
To the north-west of the Aravalis lies the Indian Desert (Thar), an undulating sandy plain dotted with barchans (crescent-shaped dunes) and dry river beds; the Luni is its only large stream. Bordering the peninsula on either side are the Coastal Plains — the narrow Western Coastal Plain between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea (Konkan, Kanara and Malabar coasts, with lagoons called kayals) and the broader Eastern Coastal Plain between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal (Northern Circars and Coromandel coasts, with extensive river deltas). Finally, India possesses two groups of Islands: the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea — small coral atolls built on the tops of submerged volcanoes — and the larger Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, of volcanic and tectonic origin, with Barren Island being India’s only active volcano. Together, these six divisions give India a remarkable physiographic diversity that strongly influences its climate, drainage, soils, vegetation and human activity.
Textbook Questions and Answers
Very Short Answer Type Questions (1 Mark)
Q1. What is the theory that explains the formation of the major physical features of India?
Answer: The Theory of Plate Tectonics.
Q2. Name the supercontinent that broke up to form Laurasia and Gondwanaland.
Answer: Pangaea.
Q3. Which sea once existed between Laurasia and Gondwanaland?
Answer: The Tethys Sea.
Q4. Name the highest peak of the Himalayas.
Answer: Mt. Everest (8,848 m).
Q5. What is a ‘dun’? Give one example.
Answer: A flat-floored longitudinal valley found in the Shiwaliks; example — Dehra Dun.
Q6. Name the river that divides the Peninsular Plateau into the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.
Answer: The Narmada River.
Q7. Which is the highest peak of the Western Ghats?
Answer: Anaimudi (2,695 m).
Q8. Name the only active volcano of India.
Answer: Barren Island, located in the Andaman group.
Q9. What is the only major river of the Thar Desert?
Answer: The Luni River.
Q10. Of what origin are the Lakshadweep Islands?
Answer: They are coral islands (atolls).
Short Answer Type Questions (2-3 Marks)
Q1. Distinguish between bhangar and khadar.
Answer: Bhangar is the older alluvium of the Northern Plains, lying above the flood level of rivers and forming higher terraces. It often contains calcareous deposits called kankar and is comparatively less fertile. Khadar is the newer alluvium found in the flood plains, renewed almost every year by fresh silt during floods. It is light-coloured, highly fertile and ideal for intensive cultivation of rice, wheat and sugarcane.
Q2. What are the bhabar and terai belts?
Answer: The bhabar is a narrow belt about 8-16 km wide running parallel to the foothills of the Shiwaliks. It is composed of pebbles, gravels and coarse sediments where streams emerging from the mountains disappear underground. South of the bhabar lies the terai, a wet and marshy belt 15-30 km wide where the underground streams re-emerge, supporting thick forests and wildlife before being cleared for agriculture.
Q3. Write a short note on the Purvanchal hills.
Answer: The Purvanchal hills are the eastward extension of the Himalayas after they take a sharp southward bend at the Dihang gorge. They run along the eastern boundary of India and consist of the Patkai Bum, Naga Hills, Manipur Hills, Mizo Hills (Lushai Hills) and Garo-Khasi-Jaintia Hills. They are made up of strong sandstones and are covered with dense forests, forming the natural border between India and Myanmar.
Q4. Mention any three differences between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
Answer: (i) The Western Ghats are continuous and can be crossed only through passes such as Thal, Bhor and Pal Ghats, whereas the Eastern Ghats are discontinuous and dissected by large rivers. (ii) The Western Ghats are higher (average 900-1,600 m; Anaimudi 2,695 m), while the Eastern Ghats are lower (average about 600 m; Mahendragiri the highest). (iii) The Western Ghats receive heavy orographic rainfall, while the Eastern Ghats receive comparatively less rainfall.
Q5. Why is the Indian Desert known as the Thar Desert? Describe its features briefly.
Answer: The Indian Desert lies to the north-west of the Aravali hills, mainly in Rajasthan, and is locally called the Thar. It is an undulating sandy plain receiving less than 150 mm of rainfall annually. The landscape is dotted with crescent-shaped sand-dunes called barchans. There is little vegetation, and the only important river is the Luni, which is itself a seasonal stream.
Q6. Compare the Western and Eastern Coastal Plains.
Answer: The Western Coastal Plain lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It is narrow (50-80 km), divided into the Konkan, Kanara and Malabar coasts and contains lagoons called kayals in Kerala. The Eastern Coastal Plain lies between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. It is wider (80-100 km) and includes the Northern Circars and Coromandel coasts. Large deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri are found here, making it more fertile.
Long Answer Type Questions (5-6 Marks)
Q1. Describe the formation of the major physical features of India with reference to the theory of plate tectonics.
Answer: According to the theory of plate tectonics, the lithosphere of the Earth is divided into seven major and several minor plates that move continuously due to convection currents in the mantle. About 200 million years ago, a single landmass called Pangaea existed, surrounded by an ocean named Panthalassa. Pangaea split into two parts — Laurasia in the north and Gondwanaland in the south — separated by the shallow Tethys Sea. The Indian Plate, which was a part of Gondwanaland, slowly drifted north-eastward and collided with the much larger Eurasian Plate. The sedimentary deposits accumulated in the Tethys were squeezed and folded upward to form the Himalayan Mountains. The deep depression created between these new mountains and the old peninsula was gradually filled with alluvium brought by the rivers, giving rise to the fertile Northern Plains. The southern portion of the Indian Plate, made of hard, ancient rocks, remained relatively stable and now forms the Peninsular Plateau. Volcanic and coral activities along the seas have given India its Islands, while denudation and deposition along the seas have produced its Coastal Plains and Indian Desert. Thus, plate tectonics explains the origin of all six major physical divisions of India.
Q2. Describe the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas.
Answer: The Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges running roughly east-west:
(i) The Greater Himalayas or Himadri — the northernmost and loftiest range, with an average height of more than 6,000 m. It is the most continuous range, covered with permanent snow, and contains the highest peaks of the world such as Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat, Namcha Barwa and Dhaulagiri. Many large glaciers like the Gangotri and Yamunotri originate here.
(ii) The Lesser Himalayas or Himachal — south of the Himadri, with heights of 3,700-4,500 m. It consists of highly compressed and altered rocks. Important ranges include the Pir Panjal, Dhaula Dhar and Mahabharat. The famous valleys of Kashmir and Kullu, and hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital and Darjeeling, lie in this zone.
(iii) The Shiwaliks — the outermost and lowest range, with heights of 900-1,100 m. It is composed of unconsolidated sediments brought down by rivers from the higher Himalayas. The longitudinal valleys lying between the Shiwaliks and the Lesser Himalayas, called duns (e.g., Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun), are an important feature of this range.
Q3. Describe the regional divisions of the Himalayas from west to east.
Answer: On the basis of rivers, the Himalayas are divided regionally into four sections:
(i) Punjab Himalayas — between the Indus and Sutlej rivers; also called the Kashmir and Himachal Himalayas; includes ranges such as Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar and Pir Panjal.
(ii) Kumaon Himalayas — between the Sutlej and Kali rivers; contains famous peaks like Nanda Devi, Kamet and Trishul.
(iii) Nepal Himalayas — between the Kali and Tista rivers; the loftiest section, containing Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and Annapurna.
(iv) Assam Himalayas — between the Tista and Dihang (Brahmaputra) rivers; covers Sikkim, Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh; peaks include Namcha Barwa and Kula Kangri. Beyond the Dihang gorge the Himalayas turn sharply south, forming the Purvanchal hills along India’s eastern border.
Q4. Describe the main features of the Peninsular Plateau of India.
Answer: The Peninsular Plateau is one of the oldest landmasses of the Earth, made up of ancient crystalline, igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is roughly triangular and lies south of the Northern Plains. The river Narmada divides it into two main parts:
(i) Central Highlands — lying north of the Narmada, bounded by the Aravalis in the west and the Vindhyas in the south. It includes the Malwa Plateau, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand and the mineral-rich Chotanagpur Plateau.
(ii) Deccan Plateau — lying south of the Narmada, triangular in shape and flanked by the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. The Western Ghats are continuous and higher (Anaimudi being the highest), while the Eastern Ghats are lower and dissected. The Satpura, Mahadeo and Maikal hills mark its northern edge. The plateau is the source of important rivers like the Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri, and is rich in minerals like coal, iron-ore, manganese and bauxite. Its black volcanic soil (regur) makes it ideal for cotton cultivation.
Q5. Write briefly on the islands of India.
Answer: India has two groups of islands. The Lakshadweep Islands lie in the Arabian Sea, about 300 km off the coast of Kerala. They consist of 36 small coral islands (atolls) built on the tops of submerged volcanic peaks. Kavaratti is its administrative headquarters, and Minicoy is the largest island. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie in the Bay of Bengal and consist of about 572 islands of volcanic and tectonic origin. They are divided into the Andaman group in the north and the Nicobar group in the south, separated by the Ten Degree Channel. Barren Island, the only active volcano in India, is located here. Saddle Peak in North Andaman is the highest point. These islands are strategically very important and are rich in marine biodiversity.
Additional Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Q1. The southern part of the ancient supercontinent Pangaea was called —
(a) Laurasia (b) Angaraland (c) Gondwanaland (d) Tethys
Answer: (c) Gondwanaland.
Q2. The northernmost range of the Himalayas is —
(a) Shiwaliks (b) Himachal (c) Himadri (d) Purvanchal
Answer: (c) Himadri.
Q3. The flat-floored valleys lying between the Lesser Himalayas and the Shiwaliks are called —
(a) Doabs (b) Duns (c) Kayals (d) Barchans
Answer: (b) Duns.
Q4. Which of the following is the highest peak of the Western Ghats?
(a) Doda Betta (b) Anaimudi (c) Mahendragiri (d) Dhupgarh
Answer: (b) Anaimudi.
Q5. The newer alluvium of the Northern Plains is known as —
(a) Bhangar (b) Bhabar (c) Khadar (d) Terai
Answer: (c) Khadar.
Q6. The Lakshadweep Islands are located in the —
(a) Bay of Bengal (b) Arabian Sea (c) Indian Ocean (d) Andaman Sea
Answer: (b) Arabian Sea.
Q7. The Andaman group is separated from the Nicobar group by the —
(a) Palk Strait (b) Ten Degree Channel (c) Eight Degree Channel (d) Gulf of Mannar
Answer: (b) Ten Degree Channel.
Q8. The Peninsular Plateau is divided by which river?
(a) Tapi (b) Mahanadi (c) Narmada (d) Godavari
Answer: (c) Narmada.
Q9. The only active volcano of India is —
(a) Saddle Peak (b) Barren Island (c) Narcondam (d) Minicoy
Answer: (b) Barren Island.
Q10. Crescent-shaped sand-dunes of the Thar Desert are known as —
(a) Atolls (b) Barchans (c) Doabs (d) Kankars
Answer: (b) Barchans.
Fill in the Blanks
Q1. The supercontinent that broke up to form the present continents was called __________.
Answer: Pangaea.
Q2. The Himalayas extend for about __________ km from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.
Answer: 2,400.
Q3. The Himalayas situated between the Kali and Tista rivers are called __________ Himalayas.
Answer: Nepal.
Q4. The lagoons found along the Malabar coast are locally known as __________.
Answer: Kayals.
Q5. The only major river of the Thar Desert is the __________.
Answer: Luni.
True or False
Q1. The Shiwaliks are the highest range of the Himalayas.
Answer: False. The Greater Himalayas (Himadri) are the highest range; the Shiwaliks are the lowest and outermost.
Q2. The Northern Plains have been formed by the deposits of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems.
Answer: True.
Q3. The Lakshadweep Islands are of volcanic origin.
Answer: False. They are coral islands (atolls).
Q4. The Western Ghats are higher and more continuous than the Eastern Ghats.
Answer: True.
Q5. The Aravali range marks the eastern boundary of the Indian Desert.
Answer: True.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pangaea | The single supercontinent that existed about 200 million years ago. |
| Gondwanaland | The southern part of Pangaea that included present-day India. |
| Tethys Sea | The shallow sea that lay between Laurasia and Gondwanaland. |
| Plate Tectonics | Theory explaining the movement of lithospheric plates and formation of landforms. |
| Himadri | The Greater (loftiest) range of the Himalayas. |
| Himachal | The Lesser or middle Himalayas. |
| Shiwaliks | The outermost and youngest range of the Himalayas. |
| Dun | A flat-floored longitudinal valley in the Shiwaliks (e.g., Dehra Dun). |
| Purvanchal | The eastern hill ranges of India that bend southward from the Himalayas. |
| Bhabar | Narrow pebbly belt at the foothills of the Shiwaliks where streams disappear. |
| Terai | Wet, marshy belt south of the bhabar where streams reappear. |
| Bhangar | Older alluvium forming higher terraces above the flood plain. |
| Khadar | Newer alluvium of the flood plains, renewed every year by floods. |
| Doab | Land lying between two rivers (e.g., Ganga-Yamuna doab). |
| Barchan | Crescent-shaped sand-dune of the Thar Desert. |
| Atoll | A ring-shaped coral island enclosing a lagoon. |
| Kayal | Lagoon found along the Malabar coast used for fishing and tourism. |
| Regur | Black soil of the Deccan plateau, ideal for cotton cultivation. |
This completes the English-medium notes for Class 9 Social Science (Geography) Chapter 2 — Physical Features of India, prepared in line with the ASSEB syllabus. Keep practising with HSLC Guru for more chapter-wise question-answers, MCQs and revision material.