CUET UG Geography: Indian Geography - Physical Divisions of India, Himalayas, Plains, Plateaus, Coasts

Must?Know (15–20 detailed bullets)

• The Great Himalayas (Himadri) have an average elevation of 6,000 meters, with peaks like Mount Everest (8,848 m) and Kanchenjunga (8,586 m).
• The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) range between 3,700 and 4,500 meters and include hill stations like Shimla and Mussoorie.
• The Shivalik Hills, southernmost division of the Himalayas, are composed of unconsolidated sediments brought by rivers from the north.
• Duns are longitudinal valleys between the Shivalik and Lesser Himalayas; Dehradun is the largest (78 km long).
• The Bhabar belt is a porous, rocky strip at the foothills of Shivaliks where rivers disappear underground.
• The Terai region lies south of Bhabar, where rivers re-emerge, creating marshy, forested conditions; it supports rhino and tiger habitats.
• The Indo-Gangetic Plains stretch over 3,200 km from Punjab to Assam, formed by alluvial deposits of Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra systems.
• The Northern Plains are divided into four units: Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar (older alluvium above flood levels), and Khadar (newer, fertile alluvium).
• The Peninsular Plateau is a stable block of ancient crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks, part of the Gondwana landmass.
• The Deccan Plateau is a triangular landmass south of the Narmada River, tilted eastward, with rivers like Godavari and Krishna flowing east.
• The Central Highlands lie north of the Narmada River, include the Malwa Plateau, and are bounded by the Aravallis in the northwest.
• The Aravalli Range, extending from Gujarat to Delhi (800 km), is the oldest fold mountain in India; Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) is its highest peak.
• The Western Ghats (Sahyadris) run parallel to the west coast from Tapi to Kanyakumari (1,600 km), with an average elevation of 900–1,500 m.
• Anamudi (2,695 m) in Kerala is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and in South India.
• The Eastern Ghats run discontinuously from Mahanadi in Odisha to Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu, meeting the Western Ghats at the Nilgiri Hills.
• The Eastern Coastal Plain is broader than the western, with major deltas formed by Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri rivers.
• The Coromandel Coast lies along Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, known for seasonal cyclones during the retreating monsoon.
• The Western Coastal Plain is narrow, with lagoons and backwaters (kayals) like Vembanad Lake in Kerala.
• The Lakshadweep Islands are coral atolls in the Arabian Sea, with Minicoy being the largest island.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are an extension of the Arakan Yoma range of Myanmar, with Barren Island hosting India’s only active volcano (verify from NCERT).

Difficulty Level

Intermediate — Requires understanding of regional variations, geological processes, and spatial relationships; some facts are easily confused (e.g., Bhabar vs. Terai).

Common CUET Traps (3 bullets)

• Trap: Confusing the order of Himalayan ranges from north to south.
  Avoid: Remember: Himadri (north)-Himachal-Shivaliks (south). Use "High Hills South" mnemonic.
• Trap: Assuming the Western Ghats are lower than the Eastern Ghats due to broken outline.
  Avoid: Western Ghats are higher (avg. 900–1,500 m) and continuous; Eastern Ghats are lower and dissected by rivers.
• Trap: Thinking the Indo-Gangetic Plain is made of igneous rocks.
  Avoid: It is entirely formed of alluvial deposits (sedimentary), not igneous or metamorphic rock.

Practice MCQs (5 questions)

Q1. Which of the following is the correct sequence of Himalayan ranges from north to south?
A. Shivalik – Himachal – Himadri
B. Himadri – Himachal – Shivalik
C. Himachal – Himadri – Shivalik
D. Shivalik – Himadri – Himachal

Answer: B
Explanation: The correct sequence is Himadri (northernmost), then Himachal, then Shivalik (southernmost).
Why others fail: Option A reverses the order, a common mistake due to south-to-north reading bias.

Q2. Which region is characterized by the re-emergence of rivers that disappeared in the Bhabar?
A. Bhangar
B. Khadar
C. Terai
D. Duars

Answer: C
Explanation: Rivers reappear in the Terai, south of Bhabar, creating wet, swampy conditions.
Why others fail: Bhangar and Khadar are parts of the floodplain, not associated with river re-emergence.

Q3. Which of the following plateaus is located south of the Narmada River and tilted eastward?
A. Chota Nagpur Plateau
B. Malwa Plateau
C. Deccan Plateau
D. Bundelkhand Plateau

Answer: C
Explanation: The Deccan Plateau lies south of the Narmada and is tilted eastward, causing rivers to flow east.
Why others fail: Malwa and Chota Nagpur are north of Narmada; Bundelkhand is part of Central Highlands.

Q4. Which peak is the highest in the Western Ghats and in South India?
A. Doda Betta
B. Mahendragiri
C. Anamudi
D. Kalsubai

Answer: C
Explanation: Anamudi (2,695 m) in Kerala is the highest peak in the Western Ghats and South India.
Why others fail: Doda Betta (2,637 m) is second highest, often mistaken as the highest.

Q5. Which of the following correctly describes the geological composition of the Peninsular Plateau?
A. Sedimentary rocks formed by river deposits
B. Young fold mountains formed during the Cenozoic era
C. Ancient crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks
D. Limestone deposits from marine transgression

Answer: C
Explanation: The Peninsular Plateau is composed of ancient crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks, over 2,500 million years old.
Why others fail: Option A describes the Northern Plains, a frequent mix-up in CUET.

Last?Minute Revision (15–20 one?liners)

• Himadri = Greater Himalayas; average height >6,000 m.
• Shivaliks = outermost Himalayas; made of unconsolidated sediments.
• Duns = valleys between Shivalik and Himachal; e.g., Dehradun, Kotli Dun.
• Bhabar: porous, rivers disappear; lies along Shivalik foothills.
• Terai: wet, marshy; rivers reappear; rich biodiversity.
• Bhangar: older alluvium; lies above flood plains; contains calcareous deposits (kankar).
• Khadar: newer alluvium; fertile; renewed annually.
• Indo-Gangetic Plains: formed by Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra; depositional feature.
• Peninsular Plateau: oldest landmass; part of Gondwana; stable block.
• Aravallis: oldest fold mountains; from Gujarat to Delhi; Guru Shikhar peak.
• Western Ghats: continuous, higher (900–1,500 m), source of peninsular rivers.
• Eastern Ghats: discontinuous, lower, dissected by rivers.
• Anamudi = highest peak in Western Ghats (2,695 m); Kerala.
• Deccan Plateau: south of Narmada; tilted east; rivers flow east.
• Central Highlands: north of Narmada; includes Malwa Plateau; bounded by Aravallis.
• Coromandel Coast = eastern coast; Tamil Nadu & Andhra; cyclone-prone.
• Western Coastal Plain: narrow; has lagoons (e.g., Vembanad); kayals in Kerala.
• Eastern Coastal Plain: broader; has major deltas (e.g., Sundarbans, Godavari).
• Lakshadweep: coral atolls; Arabian Sea; Minicoy largest.
• Barren Island: only active volcano in India; in Andaman & Nicobar.