The Northern Plains

The Northern Plains extend south of the Himalayas. Exam tip: remember the broad plains below the Himalayas.

The Northern Plains are made of alluvium brought by rivers. Exam tip: connect alluvium with river deposits.

The Northern Plains are formed by the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra systems. Exam tip: remember all three systems together.

The Northern Plains are fertile because of alluvial soil. Exam tip: link fertile plains with Northern Plains.

The Northern Plains are a major plain division of India. Exam tip: remember Northern Plains when the word plain appears.

Rivers deposit alluvial soil and make the plains fertile. Exam tip: remember the link between rivers and fertile soil.

The Northern Plains are very level and extensive. Exam tip: connect level extensive area with plains.

Fertile soil and level surface make agriculture easier. Exam tip: remember alluvial plains for agriculture clues.

The Ganga Plain is a main part of the Northern Plains. Exam tip: connect the Ganga river system with Ganga Plain.

Punjab Plain is linked with the Indus and its tributaries. Exam tip: remember Punjab Plain with Indus system.

Brahmaputra Plain is linked with the Assam region. Exam tip: connect Brahmaputra with north-eastern India.

Himalayan rivers bring soil and silt to form the Northern Plains. Exam tip: connect Himalayan rivers with alluvial plains.

The land between two rivers is called Doab. Exam tip: understand Doab as land between two waters.

Bhangar is the old alluvium of the Northern Plains. It occurs on relatively higher land and often contains calcareous deposits called kankar. Khadar, in contrast, is newer alluvium deposited in river floodplains. Exam tip: remember Bhangar = old alluvium and Khadar = new alluvium.

New alluvium is called Khadar. Exam tip: connect Khadar with new and more fertile alluvium.

Bhabar is a pebbly belt at the foothills of Shiwalik. Exam tip: connect Bhabar with foothill zone.

The Terai region lies to the south of the Bhabar belt. In Bhabar, streams disappear into the porous layer of pebbles and boulders; farther south, this water re-emerges and creates the wet, marshy Terai region. Therefore, the north option is incorrect. Exam tip: remember the north-to-south sequence—Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, Khadar.

Terai is known as a wet and marshy region. Exam tip: connect Terai with moisture and marshes.

In Bhabar, rivers disappear into the pebbly surface. Exam tip: remember Bhabar with seepage of water.

Khadar is fresh alluvium deposited in new layers by rivers, especially in floodplains. It contains fine silt and minerals, so it is generally considered new and fertile. Older alluvium is called Bhangar, not Khadar. Exam tip: remember Khadar as new alluvium of floodplains and generally fertile.