Physical Geography of India

The Physical Geography of India plays a crucial role in shaping its climate, agriculture, biodiversity, and economy. This section explores India's location, major physiographic divisions, river systems, climate, soil, and natural vegetation, which are essential for UPSC preparation.

1. India: Location & Extent
  • India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and is bounded by the Himalayas in the north and the Indian Ocean in the south.
  • Latitudinal Extent: 8°4'N to 37°6'N (from Kanyakumari to Ladakh).
  • Longitudinal Extent: 68°7'E to 97°25'E (from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh).
  • The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) passes through 8 states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram.
  • Total Area: 3.28 million sq. km (7th largest country in the world).
  • India’s Borders:
    1. Land Borders (15,200 km): India shares boundaries with 7 countries (Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Afghanistan).
    2. Coastline (7516.6 km): Surrounded by the Arabian Sea (west), Bay of Bengal (east), and the Indian Ocean (south).
  • Indian Standard Time (IST): The reference meridian (82°30’E longitude) passes through Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) and is used to set India’s time zone.

Major Physiographic Divisions of India

India’s landform is divided into six major regions, each with unique geological and climatic characteristics.

The Northern Mountains (Himalayas)

  • The Himalayas form a natural barrier in the north and consist of three parallel ranges: >
    1. Greater Himalayas (Himadri): The highest range, home to peaks like Mt. Everest (8848m) and Kanchenjunga (8598m).
    2. Lesser Himalayas (Himachal): Contains famous hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, and Darjeeling.
    3. Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks): The youngest range, composed of loose sediments from rivers.
  • Trans-Himalayas: Includes Karakoram, Ladakh, Zanskar, Kailash ranges
  • Purvanchal Hills (Eastern Hills): Found in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram.
2. The Northern Plains
  • These plains are formed by the alluvial deposits of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers, making them extremely fertile.
  • Divisions:
    1. Punjab Plains (dominated by the Indus River system).
    2. Ganga Plains (stretching across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal).
    3. Brahmaputra Plains (found in Assam, highly flood-prone).
  • This region supports dense agriculture and population.
3. The Peninsular Plateau
  • Oldest landmass of India (Gondwana Land).
  • Two major divisions:
    1. Central Highlands (Vindhyas, Malwa Plateau).
    2. Deccan Plateau (South of the Narmada River, covers Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh).