On the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, the Western Ghats act like which relief feature?

Correct answer: Steep mountain edge

The correct answer is A because the Western Ghats form a steep and fairly continuous escarpment along the western margin of the Deccan Plateau. An escarpment is a pronounced slope or mountain-like edge separating higher land from a lower coastal plain. Their western side faces the Arabian Sea, while the plateau lies to their east. This relief arrangement also influences drainage, transport routes, settlement, and the distribution of rainfall. Option B is a coastal water body, not a mountain edge; option C is a depositional plain associated with the Ganga basin; and option D is an ice feature found in high mountain environments. Thus, the governing concept is the contrast between a plateau margin and a coastal mountain barrier.