Explore topic-wise InterviewSolutions in .

The Thar Desert is a vast low-lying plain with sandy ridges and shifting sand dunes. It lies mainly between the Aravallis in the east and the Sind Desert of Pakistan in the west. This desert lies primarily in north-western Rajasthan. The region receives very less rainfall, less than 25 cm annually and hence lacks water resources. River Luni is the only river that carries little water. The India Gandhi Canal has changed the desert into fertile land to some extent. Crops such as wheat, barley, grapes and melons grow here now.

Percentage of urban population in India – 31%

Percentage of rural population in India – 69%

The 82 ×/2 °E longitude passing through Allahabad is taken as the standard meridian for India because it lies in the middle of the long east-west extent of India. For every 1° of longitude, there is a difference of 4 minutes. So there is a difference of two hours in the local time of Gujarat in the west and Arunachal Pradesh in the east. To avoid confusion and have a uniform time in the entire country, standard meridian has been formed.

India, Pakistan, Nepal Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka form the Indian subcontinent.

Shipki La, Thaga La, Nathu La and Jelep La.

The Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges of mountains

1. The Greater Himalayas (Himadri)

2. The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal)

3. The Outer Himalayas (Shiwalik)

The Himalayas are relatively young mountains formed from the sediment deposited in the ancient Tethys Sea. The Tethys Sea lay between ancient land masses of Laurasia in the north and Gondawanaland in the south about 185 million years ago. The two land masses moved closer due to movements inside the earth and then collide with each other. This caused the seabed of the Tethys Sea to fold upwards, forming the mountains. The Himalayas are rising even now.

The Himalayas exert a significant influence on the life of the people of India in several ways. 

• They form a natural boundary between India and China. 

• They serve as a climatic barrier by preventing the entry of the cold winds from Central Asia and preventing the rain¬bearing monsoon winds from leaving India. 

• They are a source of perennial rivers such as the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra and their tributaries. 

• Their rugged terrain is ideal for hydroelectric power generation. 

• The mountain slopes are forested. These forests provide different types of timber and forest products.

• The Himalayas have beautiful hill Stations Shimla, Darjeeling, Mussorie, etc.

India lies entirely in the northern and eastern hemispheres. It extends from 8°4’N to 37°6’N latitudes and 68°7’E to 97°25 ‘E longitudes. The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two parts by passing through it. The approximate area is 3.3 million sq km. The Himalayas separate it from the rest of Asia. It has many neighbouring countries with whom it makes a subcontinent. South of the Tropic of Cancer lies peninsular Indiatriangular mass of land projecting into the Indian Ocean. It is surrounded by water on three sides. The Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east and the India Ocean in the south. The central position of India between the East and the West world has helped in the development of trade and commerce.

India at a Glance

Latitudinal extent: 8°4′ N – 37°6’ N

Longitudinal extent: 68°7’E – 97°25’E

Area : 32, 87, 263 sq. km

North-south extent: 3,214 km

East-west distance : 2,933 km

Length of land frontier : 15,200 km

Length of coastline : 7,500 km

Number of states : 29

Number of union territories : 7

Capital: New Delhi

Total population (According to 2011 Census) : 1.21 billion

Average population density : 382 persons per sq km

The Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and the Jhelum are the five main tributaries of the Indus (Panchnadi).

The hills of the north-east India are collectively called the Purvanchal ranges. They lie along the eastern borders of India. Their average elevation is less than 3,000 m. They consist of several hill ranges such as Patkai Bum, Naga, Mizo, Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills.

The location of India has helped in the development of trade and commerce. The existence of seas on three sides has encouraged international trade. From ancient times, India has had political, economic and cultural links with other countries. Today, India provides a link between the East and the West world. Its central position between the two world has helped the development of its own industries and trade.

The Northern Mountains consist of the Himalayas and the hills of north-east India and together they form the northern and north-eastern boundaries of the country.

The three divisions of the Great Northern Plains are :

1. The Ganga Plains in the centre : They are formed by the alluvial deposits of the river Ganga and its tributaries such as Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, Chambal, Betwa and the Son. It is in U.P., Bihar and West Bengal.

2. The Punjab Plains in the West : They are formed by the alluvial deposits of the tributaries of the rivers Indus — The Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and

the Jhelum. It is in Punjab and Haryana.

3. The Brahmaputra Valley in the East: It is formed by the Brahmaputra River. It lies in Assam.

Its left bank tributaries rise from the glaciers in the Himalayas. The Ramganga, the Gomti, The Ghaghara, the Gandak and the Kosi are the main left bank tributaries.

The Great Northern Plains lie between the Northern Mountains in the north and the Peninsular Plateau of India in the south. They extend from Punjab in the west to the Brahmaputra. Valley in the east for about 2,400 km. These plains are formed by three major rivers — the Indus, the Ganga, and the Brahmaputra, and their tributaries.

Western Ghats : 

1. They extend from the mouth of river Tapi to Kan niyakumari. 

2. The average height is 1,200 m but in some parts it rises to 2,440 m. 

3. They are continuous. 

4. They are the source of rivers that flow across the Deccan. 

5. They are steep and rugged, and rise abruptly from the arrow Western Coastal Plains. 

6. They lie close to the Arabian Sea. 

Eastern Ghats : 

1. They extend from the Mahanadi Valley up to the Nilgiri Hills. 

2. The average height is 450 m, rarely exceeding 1,200 m. 

3. They are not continuous. Many rivers flow through them. 

4. They have gentle slopes that rise from the Eastern Coastal Plains. 

5. They lie at some distance from the Bay of Bengal.

The Ganga and the Brahmaputra join in Bangladesh where they flow as one river Padma — which drains into the Bay of Bengal. Together these rivers have built the largest delta in the world the Sundarbans.

1. The Northern Mountains

2. The Great Northern Plains

3. The Peninsular Plateau

4. The Coastal Plains

5. The Thar Desert

6. The Islands

The east-flowing rivers of South India :

1. The main rivers are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.

2. These rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal.

3. These rivers make deltas at their mouth.

4. These rivers have large- amount of water.

5. These rivers originate from the western Ghats and flow eastwards.

The West-flowing rivers of South India :

1. The main rivers are Narmada and Tapi.

2. These rivers drain in the Arabian Sea.

3. These rivers do not make deltas.

4. These rivers have less amount of water.

5. These rivers originate in Central India and flow westwards.

The river Ganga, which is about 2,510 km long, flows through four states of India – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.

Western Coastal Plains : 

1. They stretch from Kachchh in the north to Kanniya-kumari in the south. 

2. They lie between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. 

3. They are narrower than the Eastern Coastal Plains. 

4. They do not have deltas, only estuaries and lagoons. 

5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Konkan Coast in Maharashtra, The Kanara Coast in Karnataka and the Malabar Coast The Kerala. 

6. They lie in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa. Karnataka, and Kerala. 

7. Their important ports are Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagao, Mangalore, and Kochi. 

Eastern Coastal Plains : 

1. They stretch from the mouth of the river Ganga in the north to Kanniyakumari in the south. 

2. They lie between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. 

3. They are wider than the Western Coastal Plains. 

4. They are composed of the deltas of all the majorrlvers of the Deccan. 

5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Northern Circars in the region north of the river Godavari and the Coromandel Coast in the region south of the river Godavari. 

6. They lie in the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. 

7. Their important ports are Vishakhapatnam, Paradwip, Chennai, and Tuticorin.

1. There are seven union territories in India.

2. The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two halves.

3. The Himalayas literally means abode of snow.

4. The Lakshadweep Islands have been formed by the growth of corals.

The river Indus flows through the state of Jammu and Kashmir (from Tibet) and enters Pakistan.

The river Ganga flows through 4 states — Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.

The river Brahmaputra flows through Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Indira Col in the Himalayas is the point where the boundaries of five countries meet.

The countries are :

India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, China and Tajikistan.

The Himalayan Rivers : 

1. They are also called as North Indian Rivers. 

2. The three important rivers are the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra. 

3. They are longer and slow moving. 

4. They are snow fed and hence perennial. 

5. These rivers are navigable. 

6. These rivers are more suitable for irrigation. 

The Peninsular Rivers : 

1. They are also called as South Indian Rivers. 

2. The six important rivers are the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri, the Narmada and the Tapi.

3. They are shorter and fast flowing.

4. They are rain-fed and not always perennial.

5. These rivers are not navigable.

6. These rivers are less suitable for irrigation.

Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.

The states were re-organised on the basis of language after independence. There are 29 states and 7 union territories of India at present.

Union Territories – Capital

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands – Port Blair

2. Chandigarh – Chandigarh

3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli – Silvassa

4. Daman and Diu – Daman

5. Lakshadweep – Kavaratti

6. Delhi – Delhi

7. Puducherry – Puducherry

8. India – New Delhi