The Peninsular Plateau

The Peninsular Plateau mainly extends in southern India. In exams remember it lies south of the Northern Plains.

The Peninsular Plateau lies south of the Northern Plains. Remember the north to south order of India physical divisions in exams.

The Peninsular Plateau is one of the ancient landmasses of India. In exams connect it with old hard rocks.

Correct answer: A, igneous and metamorphic rocks. The Peninsular Plateau is an ancient, stable landmass of India. Its foundation consists largely of very old crystalline rocks, especially igneous and metamorphic rocks. These rocks are generally hard and resistant, which helps explain the plateau's rugged surface, broad uplands, and long geological history. A is correct because it describes the major rock character of the plateau. B is wrong because coral rocks form mainly in warm, shallow marine environments and do not make up the main body of the Peninsular Plateau. C is wrong because new alluvium is river-deposited sediment characteristic of floodplains, especially the Northern Plains. D is wrong because glacial ice is not the bedrock of this plateau. Memory cue: the Peninsular Plateau is an old crystalline block—think hard igneous and metamorphic rocks.

The Peninsular Plateau is divided into Central Highlands and Deccan Plateau. Remember these two main parts in exams.

The Malwa Plateau is a part of the Central Highlands, which form an important division of the Peninsular Plateau. It lies in central India and is associated with the upland region north of the Narmada valley. The name Malwa should therefore be connected with an inland plateau and not with a coast, the Himalayas, or island groups.

When identifying major physical divisions, location and landform are useful clues. Malwa is a broad elevated region of central India, so it belongs to the Central Highlands. The Coastal Plains are low strips beside the sea, the Himalayas are young fold mountains in the north, and island groups are separate offshore landforms. Since none of these describes Malwa, option A is the correct choice.

The Aravalli lies to the north west of the Central Highlands. Remember Aravalli as an ancient range in exams.

The Satpura range lies near the northern boundary of the Deccan Plateau. In exams connect Satpura with the south of Narmada.

The Deccan Plateau generally slopes from west to east. Identify it from the eastward flow of many rivers in exams.

The Western Ghats run along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau. Identify the direction from their name in exams.

The Eastern Ghats lie on the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau. Remember them near the eastern coast in exams.

The Western Ghats are more continuous than the Eastern Ghats. Remember Western Ghats as higher and more continuous in exams.

Anai Mudi is the highest peak of the Western Ghats. Remember it as a high peak of South India in exams.

Mahendragiri is an important peak of the Eastern Ghats and is located in Odisha. Anai Mudi is the highest peak of the Western Ghats, whereas Everest and Dhaulagiri lie in the Himalayan region. Exam tip: remember Mahendragiri with the Eastern Ghats and Anai Mudi with the Western Ghats.

The Deccan Trap was formed by repeated, extensive outpourings of basaltic lava from ancient volcanic eruptions. These cooled lava layers often produce step-like landforms, giving the region the name “Trap.” Glacial deposits and river-borne alluvium are sedimentary materials, not the source of the Deccan Trap. Exam tip: Associate “Trap” with basaltic lava and volcanic activity.

The Chotanagpur Plateau is famous for mineral resources. Remember it as a mineral region of India in exams.

Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand are eastern extensions of the Central Highlands. Link them with central India in exams.

Plateau rivers often form broad and shallow valleys. Remember these valleys due to old hard land in exams.

The Peninsular Plateau is very old so its hills look worn and rounded. Treat this as a sign of old land in exams.

The Central Highlands form an important part of the Peninsular Plateau, lying mainly north of the Narmada River. The Malwa Plateau is included in this region, and rivers such as the Chambal, Sind, Betwa, and Ken are associated with the Central Highlands. The Chambal rises in the Vindhyan area and flows generally northeastward before joining the Yamuna. Its drainage and regional setting connect it with the central highland portion of the plateau.

Option A is correct because the Chambal is commonly listed among the rivers of the Central Highlands and is strongly associated with the Malwa region. The Eastern Coastal Plain is a low coastal strip, the Himalayas are a young fold mountain system, and the island groups are separate offshore landforms. These options do not identify the plateau region linked with Chambal. Therefore, the correct choice is A, Central Highlands.

Betwa and Ken are rivers linked with the Central Highlands. In exams link them with the plateau region of north central India.

The Western and Eastern Ghats meet near the Nilgiri region in the south. Remember Nilgiri as the southern meeting area in exams.

The Meghalaya Plateau is considered a north eastern extension of the Peninsular Plateau. Remember it as a part separated from Chotanagpur in exams.

The Meghalaya Plateau is located in north eastern India. Link Meghalaya with the extension of the Peninsular Plateau in exams.

The Garo Khasi and Jaintia hills are in the Meghalaya region. Remember these three names together in exams.