Home UPSC Geography Physiography Drainage Physiographic Sub-Units of India Physiographic Sub-Units of India

Physiographic Sub-Units of India Physiographic Sub-Units of India

Master the detailed classification of India's physiographic divisions — Northern Mountains, Great Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coasts, Deserts, and Islands for UPSC Prelims & Mains. Physiographic Sub-Units of India पर UPSC सिविल सेवा परीक्षा अध्ययन गाइड।

Medium मध्यम 40 min total (Concepts: 20m, Practice: 15m, Revision: 5m) कुल 40 मिनट (अवधारणाएँ: 20मि, अभ्यास: 15मि, पुनरावृत्ति: 5मि)

UPSC Civil Services FoundationUPSC सिविल सेवा आधारभूत अध्ययन

Physiographic Sub-Units of India

Master the detailed classification of India's physiographic divisions — Northern Mountains, Great Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coasts, Deserts, and Islands for UPSC Prelims & Mains.Physiographic Sub-Units of India पर UPSC सिविल सेवा परीक्षा अध्ययन गाइड।

Relevance for Prelims & Mainsप्रारंभिक एवं मुख्य परीक्षा महत्व

High-yield study area under Physiography Drainage for UPSC Civil Services Examination (Geography). Focus on core concepts, factual accuracy, and Mains analytical linkages.यूपीएससी सिविल सेवा परीक्षा (Geography) के लिए Physiography Drainage के तहत महत्वपूर्ण अध्ययन क्षेत्र। मूल अवधारणाओं, तथ्यात्मक सटीकता और मुख्य परीक्षा के विश्लेषणात्मक संबंधों पर ध्यान केंद्रित करें।

Key Learning Outcomesसीखने के मुख्य परिणाम

Understand key provisions, mechanisms, and historical/geographical context of Physiographic Sub-Units of IndiaPhysiographic Sub-Units of India के प्रमुख प्रावधानों, कार्यप्रणाली और संदर्भ को समझें
Analyze multi-dimensional UPSC Prelims facts and eliminate common distractorsयूपीएससी प्रारंभिक परीक्षा के बहुआयामी तथ्यों का विश्लेषण करें और सामान्य भ्रांतियों को दूर करें
Synthesize conceptual insights into structured UPSC Mains answersवैचारिक अंतर्दृष्टि को संरचित यूपीएससी मुख्य परीक्षा उत्तरों में संयोजित करें

Prerequisites:आवश्यक पूर्व ज्ञान:

Physiography Drainage

Core Provisionsमुख्य प्रावधान

Core Concepts & Provisionsमुख्य अवधारणाएँ एवं संवैधानिक प्रावधान

1. The Northern Mountains (Himalayas & Purvanchal)

The Northern Mountains are divided into the Trans-Himalayas, the Himalayan mountain range, and the Purvanchal (Eastern Hills).

Structural Ranges (N to S)

Trans-Himalayas: Karakoram, Ladakh, and Zaskar ranges. Mostly dry, cold desert conditions.
Greater Himalayas (Himadri): Highest peaks (Everest, Kanchenjunga). Continuous, composed of granite core.
Lesser Himalayas (Himachal): Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar, Mahabharat ranges. Highly rugged, famous hill stations.
Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks): Youngest range, made of consolidated sediments, characterized by flat valleys called **Duns** (e.g., Dehradun).

Regional Divisions (W to E)

Kashmir/Western Himalayas: Famous for Karewa formations (saffron), cold deserts.
Kumaon Himalayas: Between Satluj and Kali rivers; contains peaks like Nanda Devi.
Sikkim-Darjeeling Himalayas: Fast-flowing rivers, orchid flora, tea plantations.
Arunachal/Eastern Himalayas: High rainfall, deep gorges, home to tribes.
Purvanchal: Patkai Bum, Naga Hills, Manipur Hills, and Mizo Hills.

Himalayan Cross-Section Profile:

Schematic Section of Himalayan Zones

2. The Northern Plains & The Peninsular Plateau

The Plains and the Plateau form the agricultural and mineral backbone of India, respectively.

The Northern Plains (Sub-regions)

Bhabar: Porous gravel zone at foothills. Rivers run underground.
Terai: Swampy zone where rivers re-emerge; rich in biodiversity.
Bhangar: Older clayey alluvium forming upland terraces. Contains calcium nodules called **kankar**.
Khadar: Young, fertile alluvial silt renewed annually by floods.

The Peninsular Plateau (Sub-units)

Central Highlands: Malwa Plateau, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand. Bordered by Aravalli and Vindhyan ranges.
Deccan Plateau: Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana plateaus. Stepped basalt topography.
Northeastern Extension: Meghalaya (Garo, Khasi, Jaintia hills) and Mikir hills. Structurally part of Peninsular block.
Chotanagpur Plateau: Rich in minerals (coal, iron). Damodar valley coal graben.

3. Coastal Plains, Western & Eastern Ghats, and Islands

The coastal tracts, mountain borders, and oceanic islands form distinct ecological and structural zones.

Western vs Eastern Ghats

Western Ghats (Sahyadris): High, continuous, steep western slope. Thal Ghat, Bhor Ghat, and Pal Ghat are key passes. Highest peak: **Anamudi**.
Eastern Ghats: Discontinuous, highly dissected by east-flowing rivers. Average elevation is lower. Highest peak: **Jindhagada / Mahendragiri**.

Coasts and Islands

Western Coastal Plains: Narrow, submergent coast. Divided into Konkan, Kannad, and Malabar coasts. Features lagoons (Kayals).
Eastern Coastal Plains: Broad, emergent coast. Divided into Northern Circars and Coromandel coast. Famous for large river deltas.
Islands: Andaman & Nicobar (tectonic upliftment, volcanic activity like Barren Island) and Lakshadweep (atoll coral islands in the Arabian Sea).