📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Location & Extent
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Latitudinal extent | 8°4′ N – 37°6′ N (mainland) |
| Longitudinal extent | 68°7′ E – 97°25′ E |
| Area | 32,87,263 km² — ≈ 2.4% of world, 7th |
| N-S / E-W length | ≈ 3,214 km / ≈ 2,933 km |
| Land border / coastline | ≈ 15,200 km / ≈ 7,516.6 km (incl. islands) |
| Tropic of Cancer | Through 8 states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram |
- Extreme points: southernmost — Indira Point (Great Nicobar); mainland southernmost — Kanyakumari; northernmost — Indira Col (Ladakh); westernmost — Sir Creek/Guhar Moti (Gujarat); easternmost — Kibithu (Arunachal).
- Longest land border with Bangladesh (≈ 4,096 km), then China, Pakistan; shortest with Afghanistan (≈ 106 km, via PoK).
- State with the longest coastline: Gujarat; state bordering most countries — West Bengal (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh).
📌 2. The Himalayas
| Range | Features |
|---|---|
| Trans-Himalaya | Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar; K2 (Godwin Austen, 8,611 m) — India's highest peak (claimed); Siachen Glacier |
| Greater Himalaya (Himadri) | Avg ≈ 6,000 m; Everest (Nepal), Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) — highest peak within India (Sikkim), Nanda Devi, Nanga Parbat |
| Lesser Himalaya (Himachal) | Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar, Mahabharat; Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital, Darjeeling; Kashmir, Kullu, Kangra valleys |
| Shiwaliks (Outer) | Youngest and lowest; duns (Dehradun) |
| Purvanchal | Patkai, Naga, Mizo (Lushai), Garo-Khasi-Jaintia (Meghalaya) |
- Key passes: Zoji La (Srinagar-Leh), Khardung La (Ladakh), Rohtang (Manali-Lahaul; Atal Tunnel), Shipki La (HP-Tibet, Sutlej), Nathu La (Sikkim-Tibet), Bomdi La (Arunachal), Lipulekh (Uttarakhand — Kailash Mansarovar).
- Longest glacier in India — Siachen; source of the Ganga — Gangotri glacier.
📌 3. Northern Plains & Thar
- Indus-Ganga-Brahmaputra plain — alluvial deposits; among the most fertile and densely populated regions.
- Divisions: Bhabar (pebbles at Shiwalik foot, streams disappear), Terai (marshy, streams reappear), Bhangar (old alluvium, higher, kankar), Khadar (new alluvium, floodplain, more fertile).
- Thar Desert — west of the Aravallis; main river Luni (ends in Rann of Kutch); most densely populated desert.
📌 4. Peninsular Plateau
- India's oldest landmass (part of Gondwana); the Narmada divides it into the Central Highlands (Malwa, Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, Chota Nagpur) in the north and the Deccan Plateau in the south.
- Aravalli — among the oldest fold mountains; highest Guru Shikhar (Mount Abu, 1,722 m).
- Western Ghats (Sahyadri) — continuous and high; highest Anamudi (2,695 m, Kerala) — highest peak of South India; next Doddabetta (Nilgiris). UNESCO site and biodiversity hotspot.
- Eastern Ghats — discontinuous, cut by rivers; highest Mahendragiri (Odisha) / Jindhagada (AP). Both Ghats meet at the Nilgiris.
- Highest peak of the Satpura: Dhupgarh (Pachmarhi); the Narmada rift valley lies between Vindhya and Satpura.
📌 5. Coastal Plains & Islands
- West coast (narrow): Kutch-Kathiawar, Konkan (Mumbai-Goa), Kannada/Kanara, Malabar (Kerala — kayals/lagoons, e.g. Vembanad).
- East coast (wide, with deltas): Northern Circars (Odisha-AP), Coromandel (Tamil Nadu); lakes — Chilika (Odisha, India's largest lagoon), Pulicat.
- Andaman-Nicobar (Bay of Bengal; ≈ 570+ islands; raised peaks/volcanic) — highest Saddle Peak; the Ten Degree Channel separates Andaman from Nicobar. Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea, coral) — Nine Degree Channel separates Minicoy; Eight Degree Channel lies between Minicoy and the Maldives.
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- The highest peak within undisputed Indian territory is Kangchenjunga; K2 is claimed (PoK).
- Ten Degree Channel = Andaman/Nicobar; Nine Degree = Lakshadweep/Minicoy.
- Khadar is new and more fertile; Bhangar is old.
- The Tropic of Cancer crosses 8 states — Odisha and Bihar are NOT among them.
📌 6. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. The Tropic of Cancer passes through how many Indian states? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, WB, Tripura, Mizoram.
Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, WB, Tripura, Mizoram.
Q2. The Tropic of Cancer does NOT pass through — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Odisha lies south of the Tropic of Cancer.
Odisha lies south of the Tropic of Cancer.
Q3. India's southernmost point is — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Indira Point is on Great Nicobar; Kanyakumari is the mainland's southernmost point.
Indira Point is on Great Nicobar; Kanyakumari is the mainland's southernmost point.
Q4. India's longest land border is with — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The India-Bangladesh border is ≈ 4,096 km.
The India-Bangladesh border is ≈ 4,096 km.
Q5. Which Indian state has the longest coastline? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Gujarat's coastline is ≈ 1,600 km.
Gujarat's coastline is ≈ 1,600 km.
Q6. The highest peak within undisputed Indian territory is — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) is on the Sikkim-Nepal border.
Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) is on the Sikkim-Nepal border.
Q7. The youngest and outermost Himalayan range is the — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Shiwaliks are youngest and lowest, with dun valleys.
The Shiwaliks are youngest and lowest, with dun valleys.
Q8. Zoji La pass connects — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Zoji La links the Kashmir valley with Ladakh.
Zoji La links the Kashmir valley with Ladakh.
Q9. Nathu La pass is in — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Nathu La connects Sikkim with Tibet (China).
Nathu La connects Sikkim with Tibet (China).
Q10. The highest peak of South India is — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Anamudi (2,695 m) in Kerala's Anamalai hills.
Anamudi (2,695 m) in Kerala's Anamalai hills.
Q11. The highest peak of the Aravallis is — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) is at Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
Guru Shikhar (1,722 m) is at Mount Abu, Rajasthan.
Q12. The Eastern and Western Ghats meet at the — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Both Ghats meet in the Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu).
Both Ghats meet in the Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu).
Q13. New alluvium in the Ganga plain renewed by annual floods is called — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Khadar lies in floodplains; Bhangar is older, higher alluvium.
Khadar lies in floodplains; Bhangar is older, higher alluvium.
Q14. The pebbly belt at the Shiwalik foot where streams disappear is — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
Bhabar is an 8–16 km belt; the Terai lies south of it.
Bhabar is an 8–16 km belt; the Terai lies south of it.
Q15. Which channel separates Andaman from Nicobar? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The Ten Degree Channel lies near 10° N.
The Ten Degree Channel lies near 10° N.
Q16. India's largest brackish-water lagoon is — Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Chilika (Odisha) is among Asia's largest brackish lagoons.
Chilika (Odisha) is among Asia's largest brackish lagoons.
Q17. The Konkan coast is part of the — Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The Konkan runs from Mumbai to Goa on the west coast.
The Konkan runs from Mumbai to Goa on the west coast.
Q18. India's longitudinal extent, causing ≈ 2 hours time difference east-west, is about — Practice
Correct answer: (C)
68°7′ E to 97°25′ E ≈ 29° → ≈ 29 × 4 ≈ 116 min ≈ 2 h.
68°7′ E to 97°25′ E ≈ 29° → ≈ 29 × 4 ≈ 116 min ≈ 2 h.
Q19. The highest peak of the Satpura range is — Practice
Correct answer: (D)
Dhupgarh (≈ 1,350 m) is near Pachmarhi.
Dhupgarh (≈ 1,350 m) is near Pachmarhi.
Q20. Which Indian state shares borders with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
West Bengal borders three countries.
West Bengal borders three countries.