Access the latest NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter-2: Physical Features of India, updated for 2024-2025. Solution is designed to help students tackle difficult questions with ease. The content is written in simple, easy-to-understand language.
Exercise
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) A landmass bounded by sea on three sides is referred to as
(a) Coast
(b) Peninsula
(c) Island
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Peninsula
(ii) Mountain ranges in the eastern part of India forming its boundary with Myanmar are collectively called
(a) Himachal
(b) Purvachal
(c) Uttarakhand
(d) None of the above
Ans. (b) Purvachal
(iii) The western coastal strip, south of Goa is referred to as
(a) Coromandel
(b) Kannad
(c) Konkan
(d) Northern Circar
Ans. (b) Kannad
(iv) The highest peak in the Eastern Ghats is
(a) Anai Mudi
(b) Mahendragiri
(c) Kanchenjunga
(d) Khasi
Ans. (b) Mahendragiri
Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) What is bhabar?
Bhabar is a narrow belt of pebbles and coarse sediments, located along the foothills of the Shiwaliks. It is 8 to 16 km wide, and rivers flowing from the Himalayas deposit their load here, causing the streams to disappear underground.
(ii) Name the three major divisions of the Himalayas from north to south.
The three major divisions of the Himalayas are:
1. The Himadri (Greater Himalayas)
2. The Himachal (Lesser Himalayas)
3. The Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas)
(iii) Which plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhyan ranges?
The Malwa Plateau lies between the Aravali and the Vindhyan ranges.
(iv) Name the island group of India having coral origin.
The Lakshadweep Islands have a coral origin.
Distinguish between:
(i) Bhangar and Khadar
- Bhangar: It refers to the older alluvial soil found on higher land above the floodplains. It is less fertile and contains kankar (calcareous deposits).
- Khadar: It refers to newer alluvial soil deposited by rivers in floodplains. It is more fertile and suitable for intensive agriculture.
(ii) Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
- Western Ghats: Higher, continuous, and form a natural barrier along the western coast. They receive heavy rainfall due to the monsoon and cause orographic precipitation.
- Eastern Ghats: Lower, discontinuous, and run along the eastern coast. They are dissected by rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna.
4. Which are the major physiographic divisions of India? Contrast the relief of the Himalayan region with that of the Peninsular plateau.
The major physiographic divisions of India are:
1. The Himalayan Mountains
2. The Northern Plains
3. The Peninsular Plateau
4. The Indian Desert
5. The Coastal Plains
6. The Islands
- Himalayan Region: It is young and tectonically active, with high peaks, steep slopes, and deep valleys. The region has a complex and rugged topography, formed by sedimentary rocks.
- Peninsular Plateau: It is older, stable, and composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks. The plateau has broad valleys, rounded hills, and a gently sloping terrain.
5. Give an account of the Northern Plains of India.
The Northern Plains have been formed by the deposition of alluvium by three major river systems—the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra. Spanning over an area of 7 lakh square kilometers, this fertile region supports dense populations. It is broadly divided into three sections:
1. The Punjab Plains (formed by the Indus and its tributaries)
2. The Ganga Plains (extending across Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal)
3. The Brahmaputra Plains (in Assam)
The Northern Plains can further be classified into four distinct regions: Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, and Khadar.
Write short notes on the following:
(i) The Indian Desert
The Indian Desert, also known as the Thar Desert, is located in western Rajasthan. It is characterized by sandy plains, sand dunes (barchans), and an arid climate with very low rainfall (less than 150 mm annually). Vegetation is sparse, and the only large river in this region is the Luni.
(ii) The Central Highlands
The Central Highlands form the northern part of the Peninsular Plateau. They lie between the Aravalis and the Vindhya ranges. This region includes the Malwa Plateau and is drained by rivers like the Chambal, Betwa, and Ken, flowing from southwest to northeast.
(iii) The Island groups of India
India has two major island groups:
1. Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea, which are coral islands.
2. Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, which are of volcanic origin and are an elevated part of submerged mountains.
Other Important Short Answer Type Questions
Here are some important short answer type questions and answers based on Chapter 2 of NCERT Class 9 Geography (Contemporary India I), along with some relevant questions often asked in NCERT and UPSC exams:
1. What are the major physiographic divisions of India?
Answer: India is divided into six major physiographic divisions:
- The Himalayan Mountains
- The Northern Plains
- The Peninsular Plateau
- The Indian Desert
- The Coastal Plains
- The Islands
2. What are the three main divisions of the Himalayas from north to south?
Answer: The Himalayas are divided into three parallel ranges:
- The Himadri (Greater Himalayas)
- The Himachal (Lesser Himalayas)
- The Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas)
3. What is ‘Bhabar’?
Answer: Bhabar is a narrow belt of 8 to 16 km width lying parallel to the Shiwaliks. It is characterized by the deposition of pebbles, where rivers disappear into the porous soil.
4. Distinguish between ‘Bhangar’ and ‘Khadar’.
Answer:
- Bhangar: It refers to the older alluvium that lies above the floodplain. It is less fertile and contains calcareous deposits called ‘kankar’.
- Khadar: This is the newer, younger alluvium found in the floodplains. It is highly fertile and ideal for agriculture.
5. What is ‘Doab’?
Answer: ‘Doab’ is a term used for the land between two rivers. For example, the area between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers is called the Doab region.
6. What is the significance of the Northern Plains of India?
Answer: The Northern Plains are agriculturally rich and densely populated. They are formed by the deposition of alluvial soil brought by the rivers such as the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra. This region is vital for food production and early civilizations.
7. Name the island group of India having coral origin.
Answer: The Lakshadweep Islands are coral islands of India, located off the coast of Kerala.
8. Explain the significance of the Peninsular Plateau.
Answer: The Peninsular Plateau is rich in minerals and forms the backbone of India’s industrial growth. It is made of old crystalline rocks and is home to the Central Highlands and Deccan Plateau.
9. What is the Indian Desert?
Answer: The Indian Desert, also known as the Thar Desert, lies in the western margins of the Aravalli Hills. It is characterized by arid climate, low vegetation cover, and sand dunes.
10. Differentiate between the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats.
Answer:
- Western Ghats: These are continuous mountain ranges along the western coast with higher elevation (900–1600 meters).
- Eastern Ghats: These are discontinuous and irregular ranges along the eastern coast with lower elevation (600 meters).
MCQs: Physical Features of India
Here are 20 Multiple choice questions (MCQs) based on Chapter 2 of the NCERT Class 9 Geography book “Physical Features of India,” aligned with previous years’ NCERT and UPSC exams.
1. What is a landmass surrounded by water on three sides called?
(a) Coast
(b) Island
(c) Peninsula
(d) Plateau
2. Which of the following is known as the highest peak in India?
(a) Mt. Everest
(b) Kanchenjunga
(c) Nanda Devi
(d) Nanga Parbat
3. The Himalayas stretch over which part of India?
(a) Eastern India
(b) Northern India
(c) Southern India
(d) Western India
4. What is the southernmost range of the Himalayas known as?
(a) Himadri
(b) Himachal
(c) Shiwaliks
(d) Purvachal
5. The Indian desert is primarily located in which state?
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Gujarat
(c) Maharashtra
(d) Punjab
6. Which of the following rivers originates in the Himalayas?
(a) Godavari
(b) Narmada
(c) Ganga
(d) Krishna
7. Which region is known for its “doabs”?
(a) The Northern Plains
(b) The Indian Desert
(c) The Deccan Plateau
(d) The Coastal Plains
8. The Northern Plains are formed primarily by which river systems?
(a) Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra
(b) Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri
(c) Narmada, Tapi
(d) Sutlej, Yamuna, Ghaggar
9. What are the three major divisions of the Himalayas?
(a) Himadri, Himachal, Shiwaliks
(b) Vindhya, Satpura, Aravali
(c) Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Nilgiris
(d) None of the above
10. Which plateau is located between the Aravali and Vindhya ranges?
(a) Malwa Plateau
(b) Chotanagpur Plateau
(c) Deccan Plateau
(d) Baghelkhand Plateau
11. Which river forms the largest inhabited riverine island in the world, Majuli?
(a) Ganga
(b) Brahmaputra
(c) Narmada
(d) Godavari
12. Which of the following is a feature of the Peninsular Plateau?
(a) Formed by alluvial soil
(b) Made up of volcanic origin rocks
(c) Covered with snow year round
(d) High density of forests
13. The western coastal plain south of Goa is known as?
(a) Konkan
(b) Malabar
(c) Coromandel
(d) Northern Circar
14. What is the major physiographic feature found in the Indian desert?
(a) Sand dunes
(b) Valleys
(c) Dense forests
(d) River plains
15. Which of the following lakes is the largest saltwater lake in India?
(a) Sambhar Lake
(b) Chilika Lake
(c) Wular Lake
(d) Pulicat Lake
16. The Deccan Plateau slopes towards which direction?
(a) West to East
(b) North to South
(c) East to West
(d) South to North
17. Which hill range forms the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau?
(a) Western Ghats
(b) Eastern Ghats
(c) Nilgiri Hills
(d) Vindhya Range
18. What is the average elevation range of the Western Ghats?
(a) 900-1600 meters
(b) 600-800 meters
(c) 1000-1200 meters
(d) 500-1000 meters
19. Which state is home to the Duns like Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun, and Patli Dun?
(a) Himachal Pradesh
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Jammu and Kashmir
(d) Punjab
20. India’s only active volcano is found in which island group?
(a) Lakshadweep Islands
(b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(c) Maldives
(d) Sri Lanka
Answers:
1. (c) Peninsula
2. (b) Kanchenjunga
3. (b) Northern India
4. (c) Shiwaliks
5. (a) Rajasthan
6. (c) Ganga
7. (a) The Northern Plains
8. (a) Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra
9. (a) Himadri, Himachal, Shiwaliks
10. (a) Malwa Plateau
11. (b) Brahmaputra
12. (b) Made up of volcanic origin rocks
13. (b) Malabar
14. (a) Sand dunes
15. (b) Chilika Lake
16. (a) West to East
17. (b) Eastern Ghats
18. (a) 9001600 meters
19. (b) Uttarakhand
20. (b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Other Chapter
| Chapter 1: INDIA – SIZE AND LOCATION | Chapter 3:- DRAINAGE |
| Chapter 4:- CLIMATE | Chapter 5:- NATURAL VEGETATION AND WILDLIFE |
| Chapter 6:- POPULATION |
