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India Physical
IMPORTANT MOUNTAIN RANGES
1. Great Himalaya or Himadari
• Northern most part of the Himalayan Range is the world’s highest part with an average altitude of
6100 m above sea level.
• Include the world’s highest peak, Mt. Everest (8,848 m) and other high peaks-Makalu (8,481 m),
Mansalu (8,156 m), Annapurna (8,,078 m) and also the Indian peak Manghenjunga (8,598 m) and
Nanga Parbat (8,126 m).
• Includes some famous passes—Burzil and Zozi La in Kashmir, Shipki La and Bara Lapcha La in
Himachal Pradesh, Thaga La, Niti Pass, and Lipu Lekh in U.P., Jelep La and Nathu La in Sikkim.
ZASKAR RANGE
• Situated on the western part of the Greater Himalaya and to the south of Trans Himalaya.
Nanga Parbat (8,126 m)
• Forms the north-west part of Zaskar Range but geographically confined to Kashmir-Himachal
Pradesh- Garhwal region.
• Second highest peak of the Himalayan Range in India.
Dhaulagiri (8,172 m)
• Eastern continuation of Nanga Parbat and is located in Nepal.
2. Lesser Himalaya or Himachal
• Lying to the north of Siwalik Range they are separated from the Siwalik Range by Duns—
Dehradun, Kothridun and Patlidun.
(I) PIR PANJAL RANGE
• Located in Kashmir—Punjab and extends from the Jhelum River to the upper Beas River for over
300 km.
• Separated from the Zaskar Range by the valley of Kashmir.
(II) DHAULADHAR
• Southern most range of the Lessers Himalaya.

• Rarely attains elevations higher than 4,000 m.
• Continue eastward into Mahabharat Range.
3. Siwalik Range
• Extends from Jammu & Kashmir (150 km wide) to Arunachal Pradesh (8-15 km) over 2400 km.
• Also known as Sub-Himalaya or Outer Himalaya.
• Northern limit—Main Boundary Thrust which separates Outer Himalaya from the Lesser Himalaya.
Its southern limit is Indo Gangetic Plain.
• Youngest part of mountain chain, stretching from the Brahmaputra to the Indus.
CLASSIFICATION OF HIMALAYA ON THE BASIS OF GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
NAME LOCATION DISTANCE

Punjab Himalaya Between Indus and Satluj 560 km
Kumaon Himalaya Between Satluj and Kali 320 km

Nepal Himalaya Between Kali and Tista 800 km
Assam Himalaya Between Tista and Dihang 720 km
THE PURVANCHAL
(The North Eastern Highland)
• The Himalaya range after crossing the Dihang gorge in the east, bends southwards, forming a series
of hills in north south trend.
• They are divided into six physiographic region-Purvu-NEFA (Mishmi hills, Patkai Bum), Nagaland,
the Manipur Hills, North Cachar Hills, Mizo Hills and the Tripura Hills.
PURVU NEPA
(i) Mishmi Hills
• The highest range of Purvanchal Hills which is situated in the north-eastern part of Arunachal
Pradesh.
(ii) Patkai Bum
• A synclinal range extending north-south in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
NAGA RANGES
• Forms the Watershed between Nagaland and Myanmar.
MANIPUR HILLS
• Characterised by ridge and valley type of topography.

• Loktak lake (centripetal drainage) is situated in this hill.
NORTH CACHAR HILLS
• Larger portion of hilly belt lying between Meghalaya and the North eastern ranges.
MIZO HILLS
• Previously known as Lushai Hills

• Characterised by cuesta type of topography.
TRIPURA HILLS
• Characterised by ridge and valley topography.
The Northern Plains of India

• Largest alluvial tract of the world, extending from the mouth of
Indus to the mouth of Ganga between Peninsular plateau and the
East-west east 2,400 km northern are of the mountains.
(3,200 km if the Indus plains • Alluvial in nature, and are composed or Bhangar (old alluvium),
are included Average width: Khadar (new alluvium) in river bed, Bhabar (porous gravel ridden
150-300 km.) plains at the foot of Himalaya) and Terai (dam, thickly forest area,
where bhabar stream reappears.
SUBDIVISION OF GREAT PLAINS
• Thar of Great Indian Desert is the westernmost region of Great

THE RAJASTHAN PLAIN
Indian Plains in the western Rajasthan.
Extent : 650 km long.
• A semi and plain, lying to the east of Thar desert is known as
Average width : 250-300 km
Rajasthan Bagar.
wide
• The Luni si the only southwest flowing river of this region.
• The Sambar (largest), the Kuncman, and the Didwana are

important lakes situated to the north of Luni Basin.
• Extends from Punjab in the west to Yamuna River (Haryana) in

THE PUNJAB HARYANA
the east.
PLAINS
• Land of five rivers-is primary made up of ‘doabs’-the land
between two rivers’.
Extent : 640 km from north-
• They are composed by Bets (Khadar plains) and Dhaya (Heavily
west to southeast and 300 km in
gullied bluffs).
east west direction.
• The largest Great Plain stretching from Delhi to Kolkata across the
states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal.
• The Ganga and its tributaries like Yamuna, Ghagra, Gomti, Kosi,
Son deposit large amount of alluvium and make this extensive
THE GANGA PLAINS plain more fertile.
• They comprise of Ganga Yamuna Doab in the west, to the east of
this Doab are the Rohilkhand plains which merges with Avadh
plain in the east.
• The low level plains formed by the Brahmaputra river system is

situated between Eastern Himalaya (Arunachal Pradesh) in the
THE BRAHMAPUTRA north, Patkai and Naga hills in the east, Garo-Khasi-Jaintia and
PLAIN Mikir Hills and lower Ganga Plain and Indo-Bangladesh border in
the west.
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Peninsular Mountains
• Extending from the north east to the sout-west of India and

THE ARAVALLI RANGE
separates the semi-deset regions of Rajasthan from the fertile
Udaipur and Jaipur region.
Total length : 700 km.
• It is an example of relict mountain.
Highest peak : Guru Shikhar (1,722
• One of the Most oldest fold mountains in the world.
m) on the Abu Hills.
• A block mountain which separates northern Indian from the

southern mainland.
• Composed of sandstones, shales and quartzites.
VINDHYAN RANGE • Western part of the range is chiefly composed of Basalt.
• South of it, Narmada River flows in the rift valley.
• Acts as a natural watershed between north and south India.
SATPURA RANGE
• Extending in east west direction, to the south of Vindhyans.
Highest peak : Dhupgarh (1,350 m) • Starting from Rajpipala hills in the west through Mahadeo
near Pachmarhi. hills to Maikal ranges.
Average elevation : 1,030 m above
sea level.
• Eastern part of Satpura system is situated in Madhya
MAIKAL RANGE
Pradesh.
• Mount Amarkantak is the highest peak.
• Extending in east west direction, are all spurs of Western

AJANTA RANGE, BALAGHAT Ghats forming local watershed.
RANGE, AND HARISH • Kalsubai (1,646 m), the highest peak of Western Ghat, is
CHANDRA RANGE located in Harish Chandra Range.
• It is the meeting point of Western and Eastern Ghats.

• Doba Betta (2,637 m) is the highest peak of Nilgiri Hills.
NILGIRI HILLS • The hills are separated from southern hills by a gap called
Palghat Gap.
• Anai Mudi (2,695 m), the highest peak of South India is in

ANNAMALAI HILLS Annamalai Hills.
• It is situated in the extreme south of Peninsular India.

CARDAMOM HILLS • Formed of gneisses and schists.
• Extends in north south direction and is situated in the

RAJMAHAL HILLS northeastern edge of Chhotanagpur Plateau.
• Runs along the western coastal plain from the south of valley
of Tapi to Kanyakumari, the southern most point of mainland
SAHYADRIS (WESTERN
India.
GHATS)
• The northern section is made up of horizontal sheets of lava,
producing a typical trappean like landscape.
Total length : about 1600 km.
• The Western Ghats meet with Eastern Ghats in the Nilgiri
Average height : 1200 m.
hills.
Highest Peak : Kalsubai (1646 m).
• Acts as a main watershed of Peninsular rivers.
• Runs along the eastern coast of India from northern Orissa to

the Nilgiri Hills.
• Characterised by unbroken hills between Mahanadi and
EASTERN GHATS Godavari.
• Mahendragiri (1501 m) is the highest peak of Eastern Ghats.
• Nallamala Hills and Velikonda are other prominent ranges.
The Indian Plateau
BUNDELKHAND BHANDER, BAGHEL AND MALWA PLATEAU
• These highlands are situated to the north of Narmada rift valley

• Bundelkhand Plateau is a part of central highlands and is composed of granite and gneisses.
• Malwa plateau is an example of dissected lava plateau, which is covered with black soil.

MEGHALAYA PLATEAU
• It comprises of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills.

• Originally a part of Peninsular plateau.
• Garo-Rajmahal Gap separates it from the main block of peninsular plateau.
CHOTANAGPUR PLATEAU
Highest Peak - Parasnath (1,366 m) in the Hazaribagh Plateau.
• Situated in the north eastern part of Indian Plateau includes the region of Jharkhand, adjoining
Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.
• It consists of the Ranchi Plateau in the south, the Hazaribagh Plateau in the north, and the Rajmahal
Hills in the northwest.
• Described as the “Ruhr of India”
• Pat lands are one of the chief characteristics of Chotanagpur Plateau.
• Very rich in mineral resources.
DECCAN PLATEAU
• South of the Satpura Range in the peninsula is called the Deccan Plateau.
(1) The Deccan Lava Plateau Region
• Northwestern part of Deccan Plateau is the region of basaltic lava.

• It includes the Western Ghats north of 160 north latitude, plateau of Maharashtra (except the east of
Nagpur) and the adjoining parts of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
(2) Telengana Plateau
• Part of the Deccan Plateau, comprises of the interior region of Andhra Pradesh.
• North of Krishna River is the plateau of Telangana.
• South of the Krishna River, lying in the Rayalseema plateau region.
(3) The Karnataka Plateau
• Situated to the south of Deccan Lava Region.

• Malnad and Maidan are two physiographic regions of Karnataka Plateau.
(i) Malnad
• Hilly and dissected plateau region about 35 km wide lying close to the Western Ghats. The highest
hills is the Bababudan group.
(ii) Maidan
• Situated in the eastern part of Malnad, relatively large rolling plains with low granitic hills.
THE WEST COASTAL PLAIN
• Runs from Rann of Kachchh to Kanyakumari and are confined to a narrow belt about 10-15 km
wide.
KATHIAWAR COAST
• Extends from Rann of Kuchh to Daman in the south.
KONKAN COAST (Total length : 500 km)
• The West Coastal Plain between Daman in the north and Goa in the south in example of coast of
submergence due to vertical movements, and is consequently dissected.
Malabar Coast
• Extends from Goa in the north to Kanyakumari in the south is a coastline of emergence.
• Southern coastal region receives more rainfall during summer monsoon season.
THE EAST COASTAL PLAIN
• Extends from the deltaic plains of the Ganga in the north to Kanyakumari in the south for 1100 km
with an average width of 100 to 130 km.
(I) UTKAL COAST
• Extends for about 400 km from a little north of Subarnarekha river of the Ganga of the Mahanadi
delta.
(II) ANDHRA COASTAL PLAINS

• Extends from the southern limit of Utkal plains to Pulicat lake (Andhra Pradesh).
• It has large deltas of the Krishna and the Godavari rivers.
(III) TAMIL NADU PLAINS
• Extends about 675 km, from the north of Chennai to Kanyakumari in the south.
• It has the deltaic plains of Cauvery and is popularly called, the Granary of South India.
Important Gulfs
NAME SEPARATES LOCATION INFORMATION

Gulf of Kachchh and Kathiawar West of Region with highest potential of tidal energy
Kachchh Peninsula Gujarat generation.
Gulf of Kathiawar Peninsula and Tapi, Narmada, Mahi and Sabarmati river drain
Gujarat
Cambay Gujarat into the Gulf.
Gulf of Sri Lanka and Southern
South east of Asia’s first marine biosphere reserve.
Mannar India
Important Lagoons and Lakes
NAME STATE INFORMATION

Popularly called backwaters in Kerala, on the Malabar coast.
Kayals Kerala A chain of lakes which are connected with each other by canals.
(Peaty soils of backwaters are called Kari in Kerala).

Vembanad Lake Large sized backwater of Kerala, have fertile alluvial islands. It
Kerala
(Largest Kayal) is 75 km long and 5-10 km wide enclosed by a spit.
Chilka Lake
Situated to the south west of the Mahanadi Delta.
Maximum length - 64
km Enclosed by the sand pit, has an opening which permits sea-
Orissa
connection.
Maximum breadth - 20
km Largest brackish water lake in Asia.
Average width - 150 km
Fresh Water Lakes
Jammu and
Wullar Lake Largest fresh water lake of India.
Kashmir
Kolleru Lake A part of the southern border of Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra
60 km long and 60 km in Pradesh Lagoon formed due to enclosure by sand spit now called
the widest part. Sriharikota islands.
Jaisamand Lake Rajasthan Largest fresh water lake of Rajasthan.

A small natural lake near Mt. Abu surrounded by hills, important

Nakki Lake Rajasthan
as tourist place.
Site of hydroelectricity power generation. An example of
Loktak Lake Manipur
centripetal drainage.
Saline Water Lakes
Largest Lake of Rajasthan lies on the border of Jaipur and
Nagaur District.
Sambhar Lake Rajasthan
Sodium chloride (common salt) and sodium sulphate are
produced mainly by the Hindustan Salt Ltd.
Deedwana Lake Rajasthan Situated near Deedwana Town of Nagaur District.
INDIA—THEMATIC MAPS
INDIA GEOLOGY
Geology Time Scale

Physiographic Regions
MAJOR DIVISIONS CRITERIA FOR DIVISION

Comparatively cool, arid and semi-arid over a large
Western Himalaya
area. Rains during summer season occurs only over a
(i) Jammu and Kashmir state
small area in the southern part.
(ii) Punjab and Kumaon
Wetter, more densely forested and more thickly
Himalaya Region (between Nepal in the east to populated region than Jammu and Kashmir state
Jammu and Kashmir in the north west.
Assam Region - includes
Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur Mizoram,
Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam
(i) Assam Himalaya.
(ii) The Brahmaputra or Assam Valley.
(iii) The Meghalaya Hills of Shillong Plateau It is part of Peninsular plateau and structurally a granitic
including the Garo, Khasi, Jaintia and Mikir. block.
(iv) The Eastern Highlands Young fold mountains running from North to South.
Rainfall is the main criterion used for dividing sthis

The Plains of Northern India
alluvial plain into regions.
(i) The West Bengal Plain. Rice and Jute producing area.
(ii) The West Bengal duars and the Sikkim, Wetter than West Bengal Plain, semi-evergreen forest
Darjeeling, Himalaya and tea plantation.
(iii) The Ganga Plain
Decrease in the amount of summer rainfall in the west.
Comprising alluvial palin of U.P. and Bihar
(iv) The Punjab-Haryana Plain Extensive well-irrigation coupled with canalirrigation in
the northern districts.
Situated to the west of Yamuna and North of arid
and semi-arid Rajasthan desert.
(v) The Rajasthan desert Region deficient in rainfall. Entirely different in
character from the highly wet plains of the Ganga and
Situated to the west of Aravalli. Brahmaputra.
The Indian Plateau
Deccan Lava Region
Receives annual rainfall. Entirely 50 cm and 100 cm.
Region has Black soil and produces cotton, jowar and
Includes plateau area of Maharashtra and
groundnut.
neighbouring states of M.P., A.P. and Karnataka.
The North Western Plateau and the Aravalli
Range Receives less rainfall during summer than the Deccan
lava region and is relatively coller in winter.
Situatled to the north of Deccan lava region.
The Karnataka Plateau
Relatively cooler in summer than neighbouring areas
due to its high elevation.
Situtated to the East of Karnatak state.
The North Eastern Plateau
Situated to the east of the Deccan lava region and Region is very rich in minerals.
includes interior parts of Orissa, the Jharkhand
Plateau and eastern M.P.
More productive soils, heavier rainfall and better
The Coastal lowlands
irrigation facilities than the Indian Plateau.
Eastern Coastal Region
(i) Coastal Plains of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa.

(ii) Tamil Nadu Region.
Western Coastal Region Receives rainfall during winter also.
(i) Gujarat Region North of Daman Largely semi-arid, millet and cotton producing region.
(ii) The Konkan Region between Daman in the Dominated by port and industries of Mumbai.
north and Goa in the south. Plantation and wet crops producing region.

(iii) Goa and littoral of Karnataka, Kerala.
India-Major Soil Types
Soil Type Formation Characteristics Region & States

Formed due to
Northern plains or river
deposition of alluvium
basin: Punjab, Haryana,
brought by rivers over
Alluvial Soil Very fertile soil, rich in eastern part of Rajasthan,
millions of years. the
Distribution:7.7 lakh potash and lime, deficient Gujarat, U.P., Bihar, West
country’s total Newer
km2 (24% of and in humus, nitrogen and Bengal, Orissa, valleys of
alluvium is called khadar
area) phosphorus. Narmada, Tapti, Mahanadi,
and older Bangar soil :
Godavari, Krishna Cauvery,
Bhabar Infertile soil :
Brahmaputra.
Usar
It covers plateaus of
Black in colour due to
Black Cotton soil or Maharashtra, Saurashtra,
presence of Fe and Mg
Regur Soil. Malwa Northern Karnataka,
Formed from Deccan Deficient in nitrogen
Distribution : 5.18 parts of Rajasthan (two
lava, gneiss and granite. phosphoric acid and organic
lakh km2 (16% of the district-Bundi and Tonk),
matter. Rich in potash, lime
country’s total area). central and South Tamil
aluminium and Calcium.
nadu.
Red colour due to presence
The soil developed on Larger parts of Tamil Nadu,
of Fe.Deficient in organic
Red Soil old crystalline rock eastern Andhra Pradesh and
matter, phosphorus,
Distribution: 5.18 under mode-rate to Karnataka. Southern parts of
nitrogen and lime content.
lakh km2 (16% of the heavy rainfall. It is Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh,
Potash and alumina content
country’s total area). different shades of Red parts of Orissa and
are satisfactory. Acidic like
and Yellow. Chhotanagpur region.
laterite but less leached than
laterite soil.
More acidic on higher areas Tropical humid areas where
The laterite soil is a
Presence of hydrated oxides rainfall is more than 200 cm
Laterite Soil result of intense leaching
of Al and Fe Defi-cient in eg., hills of Karnataka,
Distribution : 1.26 due to heavy tropical
nitrogen, potash, Kerala and Tamil Nadu,
lakh km2 rains with alternate wet
magnesium and phosphoric West Bengal, Maharashtra
and dry seasons.
acid. and slopes of Eastern Ghats.
Sand and wind blown.
Weathering due to high
Deficient in humus and
temperature help in the South-west Punjab, southern
nitrogen, rich in
Arid or Desert Soil formation of these soils. Haryana, western Rajasthan
phosphorus. Due to less
Distribution : Developed under arid or and Rann of Kachchh in
leaching mineral content is
semi arid conditions in Gujarat.
high.
the north western part of
the country.
Formed by the
Himalayan region of Jammu
deposition of organic Rich in humus but deficient
and Kashmir, Himachal
matter derived from the in potash, phosphorus and
Pradesh. Also in Western
Mountain Soils forest growth. lime. Most suitable for
and Eastern Ghats as well as
Characteristic of soil plantation crops like tea,
in some region of Peninsular
varies with variation of coffee, etc.
plateau.
rocks, ground
They are confined to
depression caused by dried
Developed in hot Humid lakes in alluvial amnd costal
condition as a result of Dark and almost black in plains areas and developed
Peaty and Organic accumulation of large colour, very strongly acidic under water logged
amount of large amount and saline environments. For example,
of organic matter. regions, like Kari in Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, coastal Orissa,
West Bengal and Bihar.

Mean Annual Rainfall
AREAS OF HEAVY AREAS OF MODERATE AREAS OF SCANTY

RAINFALL RAINFALL RAINFALL
Rainfall between 200-400 cm Rainfall between 100-200 cm Rainfall between 40-60 cm
The Arabian Sea branch of south The average rainfall over North Parts of Punjab, Haryana, northern
west monsoon causes rainfall all Indian Plain generally remains and western Rajasthan and Kachchh
along the Western Ghats, west between 100 to 200 cm. Other areas and Kathiawar regions of Gujarat.
coast of Maharashtra, Gujarat, of moderate rainfall are northeastern A narrow strip of land, lying in rain
and parts of M.P. from June to parts of Peninsular India, highlands shadow areas of Peninsular India
September. of Central India, and Tamil Nadu. receives rainfall below 60 cm.
In north East India, the Bay of
Rainfall between 60-100 cm occurs The dry regions of Rajasthan, west
Bengal branch of monsoonal
in the upper Ganga Valley, eastern of the Aravalli hills receives rainfall
winds which causes monsoon in
parts of Aravallis, eastern Gujarat, below 20 cm, Northern parts of
the southern hills of Shillong
internal parts of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir
Plateau, Garo, Khasi, Jaintia
Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and are other regions which receive
hills (Meghalaya) and other
Karnataka. scanty rainfall.
states.
In these regions orographic Areas of Winter Rainfall
The intensity of rainfall decreases
important role because the
from east to west and north to south
moisture laden monsoon winds (i) The northwestern parts of
in the Northern Plains.
strike against physical barriers India-Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab
like mountains, to cause heavy and U.P. plains

rainfall. (ii) Coastal Tamil Nadu: Rainfall
due to North East monsoon.
River Valley Projects
PROJECT RIVER STATE PURPOSE

Bhakra Nangal Multipurpose
Project.
Satluj
Joint venture of
Bhakra dam: One of the highest
Punjab, Haryana Irrigation, hydro electricity.
gravity in the world. (A tributary of
and Rajasthan.
Indus).
Govind Sagar Lake (H.P.) is a
reservoir.
Ravi (A tributary
Thein Dam project Punjab Irrigation, hydroelectricity
of Indus).
Part of the programme of
Chenab (A Jammu and
Dulhasti project cascade development for
tributary of Indus). Kashmir
irrigation.
Chenab (A Jammu and

Salal project Irrigation.
tributary of Indus). Kashmir
Beas (A tributary Joint venture of
Beas Project of Indus). Punjab, Haryana Hydro electricity
and Rajasthan.
Sharda Sahayak Project Chuisot stream Irrigation, hydroelectricity.
near Kalabagh Uttar Pradesh
M.P., Bihar and
Bansagar project Son Irrigation
U.p.
Hydroelectricity for the
Rihand Scheme Reservoir: Govind
Rihand Uttar Pradesh development of south eastern
Ballabh Sagar (U.P.)
industrial region of U.P.
Damodar valley multipurpose
project
West Bengal (also
Flood control, Irrigation,
Four dams: Tilaiya and Maithon Damodar shared by
Hydroelectricity.
(on the Barakar River), Konar Jharkhand).
(Konar River) and Panchet
(Damodar River).
Mayurakshi project Mayurakshi West Bengal Irrigation, hydroelectricity.
Hirakud, multipurpose Project
Mahanadi Orissa Irrigation, hydroelectricity
(world’s longest mainstream dam).
Poochampad Project Godavari Andhra Pradesh Irrigation.
Jayakwadi Project Godavari Maharashtra Irrigation.
Nagarjuna Sagar Krishna Andhra Pradesh Irrigation, hydroelectricity.
Irrigation (Almatti dam is
Upper Krishna Project Krishna Karnataka
being constructed.
Joint venture of
Tungabhadra (A
Tungabhadra multipurpose project Andhra Pradesh Irrigation, hydroelectricity.
tributary Krishna).
and Karnataka.
Ghatprabha (A
Andhra Pradesh
Ghatprabha project tributary of Irrigation
and Karnataka.
Krishna).
Malprabha (A
Malprabha project tributary Karnataka Irrigation
of Krishna).
Bima project Bhima Maharashtra Irrigation
Mettur project Cauvery Tamil Nadu Hydroelectricity
Shivasamudram Scheme On Cauvery Falls Karnataka Hydroelectricity
Kundah project Kundah Tamil Nadu Hydroelectricity

Sharavati (near
Sharavati Project Jog Karnataka Hydroelectricity
falls)
Chambal project
Chambal (A Rajasthan, Madhya
(Gandhi Sagar Dam (M.P.), Rana Irrigation, hydroelectricity
tributary of Pradesh
Pratap Sagar and Jawahar Sagar
Dam or Kota Dam.
Kakrapara Project Tapi Gujarat Irrigation
Ukai Project Tapi Gujarat Irrigation
Gujarat, M.P.
Sardar Sarovar Project Narmada Rajasthan Irrigation, hydroelectricity
Maharashtra
Tawa (A tributary
Tawa project Madhya Pradesh Irrigation
of Narmada.
Mahi Project (Jamnalal Bajaj
Mahi Gujarat Irrigation
Sagar)
Uttar Pradesh,
Matatila project Betwa Irrigation, hydroelectricity
Madhya Pradesh
Food Crops Distribution
RICE (KHARIF CROP) WHEAT RABI CROP)

Conditions Required Distribution Conditions Required Distribution
Temperature : 100 to 210C 1. West Bengal Temperature : 10-150C 1. Uttar Pradesh
during sowing 350 to 370C 2. U.P. (winter) 210 - 260C 2. Punjab
3. Andhra Pradesh 3. Haryana
during harvest. 4. Punjab (summer) 4. Madhya Pradesh

5. Tamil Nadu 5. Rajasthan
Rainfall : 100 to 200 cm. 6. M P Rainfall : 15 to 75 cm. 6. Bihar
Soil: Heavy clay and Clayey 7. Orissa Soil: Well drained fertile, 7. Gujarat
loam is best suited. 8. Bihar friable loams, and clayey 8. Maharashtra
9. Assam laoms.
10. Karnataka
11. Maharashtra
12. Haryana
13. Kerala
Millets
Cash Crops
JUTE
Second important fibre crop of India, crop
1. West Bengal (70 percent of the production, over 60
of hot and humid climate.
percent of the area.
2. Bihar
Temperature: 240C- 350C
3. Assam
4. Orissa
Rainfall: heavy rainfall of above 150cm
5. U.P.
with 80-90 percent of relative humidity.
6. Maharashtra
7. Kerala (Coastal areas)
Soil: Alluvial soil also grown in light sandy
or clayey loams.
SUGAR CANE
Temperature: 200C - 260C 1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Maharashtra
Rainfall: 150 cm or irrigation facilities with 3. Tamil Nadu (highest yield / hectare)
high humidity. 4. Karnataka
5. Andhra Pradesh
Soil: Deep rich, loamy soils are ideal; black 6. Gujarat
soil is also suitable. 7. Bihar
8. Haryana
9. Punjab
TOBACCO
Plant of tropical and sub-tropical climates 1. Gujarat (90 percent of Tobacco from Vadodara and
and frost is harmful. Kheda districts).
2. Andhra Pradesh (West and East Godavari , Prakasham,
Temperature: 160C- 400C Kurnool and Nellore are the main producing
districts)
Rainfall: 50 cm or irrigation facilities. Other areas of minor production (a) Uttar Pradesh (b)
Karnataka (c) West Bengal.
Soil: well-drained, friable sandy loam.
Plantation Crops
IMPORTANT INDUSTRIES OF INDIA
COTTON TEXTILE INDUSTRY
The oldest and the largest organised modern industry of India.
MANUFACTURING CENTRES
• Mumbai largest centre.

• Other centres: Nagpur, Amravati,Wardha, Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Pune, Satara, Solapur, and
Kolhapur.
Gujarat
• Ahmedabad Second largest centre after Mumbai.

• Other centres: Porbandar, Rajkot, Vadodara Surat.
Madhya Pradesh
• Bhopal, Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Ratlam, Gwalior, Jabalpur etc.
Tamil Nadu
• Coimbatore. (Most important centre) Other centres - Chennai, Perambur, Salem, Tiruchirapalli,
Madurai, Tirunelvelli, Tuticorin, etc.
West Bengal
• Kolkata (most important centre).

• Other centres: Howrah, Serampur, Murshidabad, etc.
Uttar Pradesh
• Kanpur (largest centre). Other centres: Varanasi, Mirzapur, Lucknow, Agra, Modinagar, Saharanpur
etc.
Rajasthan
• Jaipur, Pali, Bhilwara, Kota, Udaipur, Ganganagar.
Karnataka
• Bangalore, Mysore, Mangalore, Chitradurga, Belgaum.
Orissa
• Cuttack.
Punjab
• Amritsar, Dhariwal, Phagwara, Ludhiana.
Kerala
• Thiruvananthapuram, Alleppey.
Bihar
• Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur.
Andhra Pradesh
• Hyderabad, Secundarabad, Rajamundry, East Godavari and Udayagiri.

JUTE TEXTILE INDUSTRY
• First large scale industry was established in 1855 at Rishra, (near Serampur) in West Bengal.
• This industry suffered a great because of partition in 1947 becasue 80 percen of Jute producing areas
went to Bangladesh while almost all the Jute mills remained in India.
West Bengal (56 mills)
• Kolkata.
• Other centres: Rishra, Serampore, Titagarh etc. mainly along the both banks of Hooghli river.
Andhra Pradesh
• Vishakhapatnam, Eluru, Guntur and Ongole.

• Other important states:
Uttar Pradesh
• Kanpur, Gorakhpur and Shahjawan.
Bihar
• Darbhanga, Samastipur, Purnea, Katihar and Gaya.
WOOLEN TEXTILE INDUSTRY
• One of the oldest textile Industries of India. The first woolen mill was started at Kanpur in 1876.
MANUFACTURING CENTERS
Other Important states:
Punjab
Karnataka
• Dhariwal (largest centre).
• Other centres: Amritsar, Ludhiana and Patiala. • Bangalore, Bellary.
Maharashtra Tamil Nadu
• Mumbai (industry based on imported wool). • Chennai, Salem.

• Other Centres: Jalgaon, Ambernath.
Jammu and Kashmir
Uttar Pradesh
• Srinagar.
• Kanpur, largest Woolen Textile centre in the state).
• Other Centres: Modinagar, Allahabad, Varanasi and Mirzapur. Himachal Pradesh
Gujarat • Kullu
• Jamnagar, Kalol, Vadodara. West Bengal
• Kolkata.
SILK AND SYNTHETIC FIBRE INDUSTRIES
• About 98 percent of the total production comes fromKarnataka,West Bengal and Jammu and
Kashmir.
MANUFACTURING CENTERS Other Important states:
Karnataka Bihar
• Bangalore, Kolar and Mysore. • Bhagalpur (famous for silk industry),

Patna, Gaya.
West Bengal
Jharkhand
• Murshidabad, Bankura, 24 Parganas and
Birbhum districts. • Palamau, Hazaribagh.
Jammu and Kashmir Madhya Pradesh
• Srinagar (big centre). • Birlanagar, Viragram and Indore.

• Other Centres: Baramulla, Anantnag, Udhampur,
Jammu. Uttar Pradesh
• Varanasi.
CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES
• Fourth largest set of industries after textiles, iron and steel and engineering industries.
• Products of chemical industry are more multifarious than of any other industries of equal importance.
IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY
MANUFACTURING CENTERS
West Bengal
Bengal Iron Work company
• Steel was first manufactured by modern methods at Kulti (near Asansol in West Bengal).
Indian Iron and Steel Company (IISCO)

Bengal Iron Work Company who taken over by IISCO. It was set up at Burnpur in 1919 and comprises three
units which are located at
• Hirapur-Hirapur produces pig iron.

• Kulti - making steel.
• Burnpur - steel rolling mill.
This company was nationalised in 1972.
Durgapur Steel Plant
It was set up in Burdwan district with the help of U.K.
• Influenced by the availability of market and proximity to Hooghly engineering works.
Jharkhand
Tata Iron and Steel Company (TISCO)
• Located at the confluence of Subarnarekha and Kharkai River at Sakchi (now Jamshedpur).
• Oldest and the largest iron and steel centre of India.
Bokaro Steel Plant:
• Located near the confluence of Damodar and Bokaro river with Soviet Collaboration.
Orissa
Rourkela Steel Plant
• Established in Sundergarh district with the help of West Germany.

• It is the only Plant in India where steel is produced by L.D. conversion process.
Daittari Steel Plant
• Located about 120 km away from the sea coast.

• It is shore based plant and is served by the Paradip port.
Gopalpur Steel Works
• Located about 100 km southeast of Bhubaneswar, a unit TISCO.

Chhattisgarh
Bhilai
• Discovery of coking coal in Korba encouraged the government to set up steel plant at Bhilai with the
help of Russia.
Karnataka
Visveshwaraya Iron and Steel Limited (VISL)
• Located at Bhadravati in Shimoga district.

• Only integrated Iron and steel plant located outside the iron and coal regions of India.
Vijay Nagar Steel Plant
• Located at Tornagal near Hospet area of Bellary district,, specialises in making mild steel.
Andhra Pradesh
Vishakhapatnam-Vizag Steel Plant
• First shore based steel plant, which is part of the govt.’s policy of industrial decentralisation.
Kothagudem
• Steel plant was set up with the assistance of UNDP, which produces sponge iron.
Tamil Nadu
Salem Steel Plant
• Produces world class stainless steel and even produces export quality steel.

ENGINEERING INDUSTRIES
Rail Equipments
Locomotives
• Burdawan district (West Bengal) - The Chittaranjan Locomotive Works is situated.

• Varanasi (U.P.): The Diesel Locomotives Works is situated.
• Patiala (Punjab): Diesel Component Works has been set up for manufacturing and repairs of
components of diesel locomotives and sub assemblies.
• Bangalore (Karnataka): A wheel and axle plant was set up to cut down the imports.
• Jamshedpur (Jharkhand) Tata Engineering and Locomotive Co. Ltd. (TELCO) is situated.
Coaches
• Perambur (Tamil Nadu): Integral Coach factory, which produces all types of coaches, is located.
• Kapurthala (Punjab): Rail coach factory.
• Bhilai (Chhattisgarh): Rails and sleeper bars are manufactured.
• Durgapur (West Bengal): Wheels, tyres, and axles are manufactured.
• Some others rail coaches and wagons manufacturing private companies are located at Calcutta,
Bangalore.
Air Craft Industry
Bangalore (Karnataka) : The first aircraft industry was set up in 1940.
Different parts of aircrafts are manufactured at different places due to security reasons.
STATE CITY MANUFACTURERS

Uttar Pradesh Lucknow Lucknow Frames.
Kanpur Kanpur
Orissa Koraput Engines.
Andhra Pradesh Hyderabad Electronic equipment.
Maharashtra Nasik Air frame.
Karnataka Bangalore Main centre of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
SHIP BUILDING INDUSTRY
MAIN CENTRES PUBLIC SECTOR

Kolkata (West Bengal) The Garden Reach workshop.
Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) Hindustan Shipyard Ltd.
Cochin (Kerala) Cochin Shipyard Ltd.
Mumbai (Maharashtra) The Mazagaon Dock.
Goa Goa shipyard.
ELECTRONIC MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT MAKING INDUSTRY
This industry is divided into
1. Heavy Electrical Equipment Industry and

2. Light Electrical Goods Industry.
Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd. (BHEL) is an important milestone in the development of heavy electrical
equipment industry.
Uttranchal
• Haridwar
Uttar Pradesh
• Jagdishpur.
Madhya Pradesh
• Bhopal.
Andhra Pradesh
• Hyderabad

Tamil Nadu
• Ranipet, Tiruchirapalli.
Karnataka
• Bangalore.
Other Industries are located at
• Kolkata (West Bengal).

• Mumbai, Pune (Maharashtra).
• Chennai, Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu).
• Bangalore (Karnataka).
• Sonipat (Haryana).
• Patiala (Punjab).
MACHINE TOOLS
BANGALORE (Karnataka): Two units of the Hindustan Machine Tools (H.M.T.) are located, which are
the largest manufacturers of machine tools.
Other units of HMT are located at
• Pinjore (Haryana)
• Kalamassery (Kerala).
• Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh).
• Ajmer (Rajasthan)
• Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir)
Thermal Power Projects
LOCATION NAME OF PROJECTS

Jammu and Kashmir Kalakote.
Punjab Bhatinda, Roopnagar.
Haryana Faridabad, Panipat, Yamunanagar.
Kota, Palana, Banswara, Sawai Madhopur Anta (Gas
Rajasthan
based project).
Gujarat Dhuvaran,Gandhinagar, Kawas (Gas based prject).
Obra (Mirzapur), Rihand, Hardwaganj (Aligarh),
Uttar Pradesh Dadri
Auraiya (gas based project).
Bihar Barauni.
Jharkhand Bokaro, Tenughat, etc.
Madhya Pradesh Korba (Bilaspur), Satpura etc.

Orissa Talcher.
Maharashtra (largest producer of thermal power in
Trombay, Uran Gas Turbine, Bhusawal, etc.
India).
Andhra Pradesh Ramagundam, Kothagundam, Vijaywada, Nellore.
Tamil Nadu Neyveli Mettur, Tuticorin Ennore (Chennai), etc.
Atomic Power Projects
LOCATION INFORMATION
• The Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS).
• First nuclear station of India was started in 1989.
Tarapur (Maharashtra)
• Provides electricity to Gujarat and Maharashtra.
• The Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS).

Rawat Bhata (Rajasthan). • Uses natural uranium as fuel, supplies electricity to rajasthan.
• The Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS).

Kalpakkam near Chennai (Tamil
• Electricity is provided to Chennai.
Nadu).
• The Narora Atomic Power Station (NAPS) provides electricity

Narora in Bulandsahar district
to Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.
(Uttar Pradesh).
• The Kakrapara Atomic Power Station (KAPS).

Kakrapara (Gujarat).
• The Kaiga Atomic Power Station.

Kaiga (Karnataka)

Name Infomation
Major ports on the East coast

• A riverine port located on the bank of the Hooghly River.• Handles
Kolkata (West Bengal). diversified commodities, coming from S.E. Asian countries. Australia and
New Zealand.
• A new port which has been developed on the River Hooghly to relieve
Haldia (West Bengal) Calcutta port.• Site of oil refinery.Paradip (Orissa) • Located on the coast of
Orissa, handles iron ore and coal.
Vishakhapatnam (Andhra
• India’s deepest landlocked port handling crude oil and petroleum products.
Pradesh)
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) • Handles petroleum products, crude oil, fertilizers, iron ore and dry cargo.
Tuticorin (Tamil Nadu) • Handles mainly coal, salt, edible oil dry cargo and petroleum products.
Major ports on the West Coast
• Tidal port and a free trade zone located at the eastern and of Rann of
Kandla (Gujarat) Kachchh.• Handles crude oil, petroleum products, edible oil, food grains, salt,
cotton, etc.
• Natural harbour on the west coast and is also the biggest port of India.•
Mumbai (Maharashtra) Handles maximum traffic (over one fifth of total traffic of ports) which
includes mineral oil and dry cargo.
Jawaharlal Nehru (Nhava • Equipped with modern facilities having mechanised container berths for
Sheva) near Mumbai handling dry cargo and service berths.
Mormugao (Goa) • Occupies fifth position in terms of total traffic handled.
New Mangalore • Handles the export of iron ore of Kudremukh and imports of petroleum
(Karnataka) products, fertilizers, edible oils, etc.
• Natural harbour.• Handles the export of tea, coffee and spices and imports of
Cochin (Kerala)
petroleum oil and fertilizers.


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Printed Study Material for IAS, CSAT Civil Services Exams

IMPORTANT MOUNTAIN RANGES

1. Great Himalaya or Himadari

Nanga Parbat (8,126 m)

• Second highest peak of the Himalayan Range in India.

• Eastern continuation of Nanga Parbat and is located in Nepal.

2. Lesser Himalaya or Himachal

(I) PIR PANJAL RANGE

• Southern most range of the Lessers Himalaya.

CLASSIFICATION OF HIMALAYA ON THE BASIS OF GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

NAME LOCATION DISTANCE

Kumaon Himalaya Between Satluj and Kali 320 km

(The North Eastern Highland)

(i) Mishmi Hills

(ii) Patkai Bum

• A synclinal range extending north-south in Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.

• Forms the Watershed between Nagaland and Myanmar.

• Characterised by ridge and valley type of topography.

NORTH CACHAR HILLS

• Previously known as Lushai Hills

• Characterised by ridge and valley topography.

The Northern Plains of India

SUBDIVISION OF GREAT PLAINS

• Thar of Great Indian Desert is the westernmost region of Great

• The Sambar (largest), the Kuncman, and the Didwana are

• Extends from Punjab in the west to Yamuna River (Haryana) in

• The low level plains formed by the Brahmaputra river system is

Online Coaching for IAS Exams

• Extending from the north east to the sout-west of India and

• A block mountain which separates northern Indian from the

• Mount Amarkantak is the highest peak.

• Extending in east west direction, are all spurs of Western

• It is the meeting point of Western and Eastern Ghats.

• Anai Mudi (2,695 m), the highest peak of South India is in

• It is situated in the extreme south of Peninsular India.

• Extends in north south direction and is situated in the

• Runs along the eastern coast of India from northern Orissa to

The Indian Plateau

BUNDELKHAND BHANDER, BAGHEL AND MALWA PLATEAU

• These highlands are situated to the north of Narmada rift valley

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• It comprises of Garo, Khasi and Jaintia Hills.

Highest Peak - Parasnath (1,366 m) in the Hazaribagh Plateau.

(1) The Deccan Lava Plateau Region

• Northwestern part of Deccan Plateau is the region of basaltic lava.

(2) Telengana Plateau

(3) The Karnataka Plateau

• Situated to the south of Deccan Lava Region.

THE WEST COASTAL PLAIN

• Extends from Rann of Kuchh to Daman in the south.

KONKAN COAST (Total length : 500 km)

THE EAST COASTAL PLAIN

(I) UTKAL COAST

(II) ANDHRA COASTAL PLAINS

(III) TAMIL NADU PLAINS

NAME SEPARATES LOCATION INFORMATION

Important Lagoons and Lakes

NAME STATE INFORMATION

(Peaty soils of backwaters are called Kari in Kerala).

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A small natural lake near Mt. Abu surrounded by hills, important

Geology Time Scale

MAJOR DIVISIONS CRITERIA FOR DIVISION

Rainfall is the main criterion used for dividing sthis