Major Physiographic Divisions

Himalaya is high mountains and Northern Plains are made by river deposits. Exam tip: note the difference of height and flatness.

The Peninsular Plateau is considered an old and stable part of India. Exam tip: remember plateau for ancient landmass.

The Indian Desert is mainly found in western Rajasthan and west of the Aravalli. Exam tip: study Thar with western India.

Coastal plains spread along both sea coasts of India. Exam tip: connect west coast with Arabian Sea and east coast with Bay of Bengal.

Andaman Nicobar lies in the eastern sea region and Lakshadweep in the western sea region. Exam tip: remember islands with their water bodies.

The Himalaya is an example of young fold mountains. Exam tip: connect Himalaya with north and young mountains.

The three parallel Himalayan ranges occur in this order from north to south. Exam tip: do not reverse the order.

Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar and Khadar are local features of the Northern Plains. Exam tip: connect them with subdivisions of plains.

The Peninsular Plateau is understood as Central Highlands and Deccan Plateau. Exam tip: remember the main parts of the plateau.

Western and Eastern Ghats are linked with the margins of the Peninsular Plateau. Exam tip: remember Ghats as plateau edges.

The Eastern Coastal Plain is generally wider than the Western Coastal Plain. Exam tip: also remember large deltas on the eastern coast.

The Western Coastal Plain is narrow between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea. Exam tip: remember the narrowness of the western coast.

Northern Plains are formed by deposits of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems. Exam tip: remember these three systems together.

Many large rivers form deltas on the Eastern Coastal Plains. Exam tip: remember deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.

The direct answer is A: it is a major river linked with the Thar region. The Luni rises in the Aravalli region and flows through the arid parts of Rajasthan toward the Rann of Kachchh. In the desert, its water flow is often seasonal and it does not normally reach the sea as a large perennial river, but it is an important river associated with the Indian Desert. Option A is correct. Option B is wrong because Luni is not a Himalayan river and is certainly not the highest river. Option C is wrong because Luni is a river, not an island in the Bay of Bengal. Option D is wrong because a river is not a delta; the eastern coast has other major delta systems. Memory cue: Luni is the key river to remember with the Thar Desert.

Lakshadweep is associated with coral islands. Exam tip: connect Lakshadweep with Arabian Sea and coral.

Direct answer: A, Himalayan Mountains—young fold mountains. A physiographic division is a large natural landform region, and its main feature helps identify it. The Himalayas were formed when tectonic plates pushed together, so folded rocks rose into high mountains. They are geologically young compared with the old Peninsular Plateau. Option A is correct because the Himalayas are a famous example of young fold mountains. Option B is wrong: the Northern Plains are made mainly of alluvial deposits, not coral islands. Option C is wrong: the Indian Desert is mainly sandy and arid, not an alluvial plain. Option D is wrong: Lakshadweep is a coral island group in the Arabian Sea, not a Himalayan valley. Memory cue: Himalaya means high, young, folded mountains.

Lakshadweep is an island group while Himadri is a Himalayan range. Exam tip: do not mix islands with mountain ranges.

Himalaya is young fold mountains and Peninsular Plateau is old stable land. Exam tip: remember the young and ancient contrast.

Northern Plains are linked with river deposits and Peninsular Plateau with old rocky base. Exam tip: keep formation bases separate.

India has many types of landforms together. Exam tip: remember the diversity of six major divisions.

From north to south, Himalaya is followed by Northern Plains and then Peninsular Plateau. Exam tip: remember the general location order.

Northern Plains lie between the Himalaya and the Peninsular Plateau. Exam tip: remember this intermediate location.

The Indian Desert is linked with low rainfall and dry climate. Exam tip: connect low rainfall clue with Thar.

The direct answer is A: west coast, Arabian Sea, Western Coastal Plain. To solve this, match the three facts in order: the west coast of India faces the Arabian Sea, and the plain along that coast is called the Western Coastal Plain. Option A is correct because all three parts agree. Option B is wrong in two ways: the east coast faces the Bay of Bengal, not the Arabian Sea, and the eastern coast is associated with the Eastern Coastal Plain, not the Western Coastal Plain. Option C is wrong because the west coast does not face the Bay of Bengal, and the Eastern Coastal Plain belongs to the east coast. Option D is wrong because the Himalayas are a mountain system, not a coast; also, the Arabian Sea and island groups do not create the stated correct three-part relationship. A useful map check is to place India between the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east. Memory cue: west–Arabian–Western; east–Bay of Bengal–Eastern.