📘 Chapter: Physical Features of India
✅ Class 9 Geography – Questions and Answers
1. What are the six major physical divisions of India?
Answer:
India is divided into six major physical features:
- The Himalayan Mountains
- The Northern Plains
- The Peninsular Plateau
- The Indian Desert
- The Coastal Plains
- The Islands
2. Describe the formation of the Himalayas.
Answer:
The Himalayas were formed due to the collision of the Indo-Australian Plate with the Eurasian Plate. This tectonic movement caused the sedimentary rocks in the Tethys Sea to fold and rise, forming the young fold mountains we now call the Himalayas.
3. What are the three parallel ranges of the Himalayas?
Answer:
The Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges:
- Himadri (Greater Himalayas) – Highest and northernmost range.
- Himachal (Lesser Himalayas) – Middle range with hill stations.
- Shiwalik (Outer Himalayas) – Southernmost and youngest range.
4. What are the features of the Northern Plains of India?
Answer:
- Formed by alluvial deposits of Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra rivers.
- Very fertile, suitable for agriculture.
- Densely populated.
- Divided into Punjab Plains, Ganga Plains, and Brahmaputra Plains.
5. What are Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, and Khadar?
Answer:
These are the relief features of the Northern Plains:
- Bhabar – Pebble-strewn belt at the foothills.
- Terai – Marshy land just south of Bhabar.
- Bhangar – Older alluvium, less fertile.
- Khadar – New alluvium, very fertile and ideal for farming.
6. What is the Peninsular Plateau?
Answer:
The Peninsular Plateau is an ancient landmass made of igneous and metamorphic rocks.
It is a tableland and the oldest geological feature of India.
It is divided into:
- Central Highlands
- Deccan Plateau
7. How is the Deccan Plateau different from the Central Highlands?
Answer:
- Central Highlands lie north of the Narmada River, include Malwa Plateau.
- Deccan Plateau lies south of the Narmada, is triangular in shape and larger.
- Deccan Plateau is bounded by Western and Eastern Ghats.
8. Write a short note on the Indian Desert.
Answer:
- Also called the Thar Desert, located in Rajasthan.
- Arid climate, sand dunes, and low rainfall (less than 150 mm/year).
- Luni River is the main river.
- The Indira Gandhi Canal helps in irrigation and cultivation.
9. What is the difference between the Western and Eastern Coastal Plains?
Answer:
| Feature | Western Coastal Plains | Eastern Coastal Plains | |——–|————————|————————| | Location | Arabian Sea coast | Bay of Bengal coast | | Width | Narrow | Wider | | Terrain | Rocky | Flat | | Rivers | Short, swift rivers | Long rivers forming deltas | | Ports | Mumbai, Kochi | Chennai, Visakhapatnam |
10. Where are the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands located?
Answer:
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal.
- Lakshadweep Islands are located in the Arabian Sea.
- Andaman & Nicobar are volcanic in origin; Lakshadweep are coral islands.
11. Why is the Northern Plain agriculturally productive?
Answer:
The Northern Plain is agriculturally productive due to:
- Fertile alluvial soil
- Adequate water supply from rivers
- Flat terrain suitable for farming
- Favorable climate
12. Mention two characteristics of the Shiwalik range.
Answer:
- Composed of unconsolidated sediments like sand, gravel, and silt.
- Prone to landslides and erosion, youngest part of the Himalayas.
13. Name the main rivers that form the Northern Plains.
Answer:
The main rivers forming the Northern Plains are:
- Indus River
- Ganga River
- Brahmaputra River
14. How are the Himalayas important for India?
Answer:
- Act as a climatic barrier against cold winds.
- Cause rainfall by blocking monsoon winds.
- Source of perennial rivers.
- Provide forests, minerals, and tourism sites.
15. What is the significance of the Peninsular Plateau?
Answer:
- Rich in mineral resources.
- Acts as a watershed between major river systems.
- Source of black soil ideal for cotton cultivation.
- Home to tribal communities and biodiversity.
16. What is the importance of coastal plains?
Answer:
- Support fishing and marine trade.
- Fertile soil supports rice cultivation.
- House important ports and industries.
- Coastal tourism contributes to the economy.
17. How are islands helpful to India?
Answer:
- Extend India’s territorial waters and EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone).
- Rich in marine biodiversity.
- Strategically important for defense and naval bases.
- Promote tourism and fisheries.
18. What is the average height of the Himadri range?
Answer:
The average height of the Himadri (Greater Himalayas) is above 6,000 meters.
19. Which is the highest peak in India?
Answer:
The highest peak in India is Kanchenjunga (8,586 meters), located in Sikkim.
20. Why is the Peninsular Plateau called a tableland?
Answer:
Because it is an elevated flat surface, made of old crystalline rocks, resembling a table in shape, hence the name tableland.