Indian Geography Short Notes | Complete GK for Competitive Exams

INDIAN GEOGRAPHY — SHORT NOTES 

(Highly Structured | Exam-Focused | SSC, RRB, PSC, Banking Level)

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1. Introduction to Indian Geography

India is the 7th largest country (3.28 million sq. km) and lies entirely in the Northern & Eastern Hemispheres, extending from 8°4'N to 37°6'N latitude and 68°7'E to 97°25'E longitude.
The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) passes through 8 states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram.

India is a peninsular country, surrounded by:

• Bay of Bengal (east)

• Arabian Sea (west)

• Indian Ocean (south)

The mainland coastline is 6,100 km, including islands ~ 7,516.6 km.

India’s physiography is a combination of young mountains (Himalayas), stable landmass (Peninsular Plateau), and fertile plains (Indo-Gangetic Plains).

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2. Physiographic Divisions of India

India is divided into 6 major physiographic regions:

1️⃣ The Northern Mountains
2️⃣ The Northern Plains
3️⃣ The Peninsular Plateau
4️⃣ The Indian Desert
5️⃣ The Coastal Plains
6️⃣ The Islands

Let’s study each in detail.

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2.1 The Northern Mountains (Himalayas)

A young fold mountain of Tertiary period, formed due to collision of Indo-Australian & Eurasian plates.
Himalayas stretch for 2,400 km, width varies 400 km (Kashmir) to 150 km (Arunachal).

Three Parallel Ranges

1. Himadri (Greater Himalayas)

• Highest range

• Avg. height: 6,000 m

• Contains highest peaks: Mt. Everest (8848 m), K2, Kanchenjunga

2. Himachal (Middle Himalayas)

• Ranges: Pir Panjal, Dhauladhar, Mahabharat

• Hill stations: Shimla, Nainital, Mussorie

• Valleys: Kangra, Kullu

3. Shivaliks (Outer Himalayas)

• Newest & lowest

• Made of unconsolidated sediments

• Famous for Duns: Dehradun, Patli Dun

Trans-Himalayas

• Includes Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar ranges

• Cold desert of Ladakh lies here

Purvanchal Hills (NE India)

• Includes Patkai, Naga, Manipur, Mizo hills

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2.2 Northern Plains

Formed by alluvium from Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra.
Length: 2,400 km, Width: 150–300 km.

Divisions

• Punjab-Haryana Plain – Indus tributaries

• Ganga Plains – most fertile region

• Brahmaputra Plains – Assam; prone to floods

• Sunderbans Delta – world’s largest delta

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2.3 Peninsular Plateau

Oldest landmass of India.
Triangular in shape.
Composed mostly of igneous & metamorphic rocks.

Divisions

• Central Highlands – Malwa Plateau, Bundelkhand

• Deccan Plateau – Largest plateau; basalt rocks

• Western & Eastern Ghats

  • Highest peak in Western Ghats: Anamudi (2,695 m)

  • Highest in Eastern Ghats: Mahendragiri (1,501 m)

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2.4 Indian Desert (Thar Desert)

• Located in Rajasthan

• Annual rainfall < 150 mm

• Sand dunes (Barchans & longitudinal dunes)

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2.5 Coastal Plains

Eastern & Western coasts:

West Coast

• Narrow

• Includes: Konkan, Kanara, Malabar

East Coast

• Wide

• Includes: Coromandel, Northern Circars

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2.6 Islands

Andaman & Nicobar Islands

• In Bay of Bengal

• Volcanic: Barren Island active volcano

• Indira Point – Southernmost point

Lakshadweep

• Coral islands

• Capital: Kavaratti

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3. Drainage System of India

India has two drainage patterns:

1️⃣ Himalayan Rivers (perennial)
2️⃣ Peninsular Rivers (seasonal)

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3.1 Himalayan Rivers

Indus System

5 tributaries = Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas, Sutlej

Ganga System

Main tributaries:

• Left: Gandak, Kosi, Ghaghra

• Right: Yamuna, Son

Brahmaputra System

Known as Tsangpo in Tibet, Dihang in Arunachal.

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3.2 Peninsular Rivers

East-flowing (major deltas)

• Godavari (Dakshin Ganga)

• Krishna

• Kaveri

• Mahanadi

West-flowing

• Narmada

• Tapi

• Luni (Rajasthan)

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4. Climate of India

India has tropical monsoon climate.

Seasons

1. Winter – Dec to Feb

2. Summer – Mar to May

3. Southwest Monsoon – Jun to Sep

4. Retreating Monsoon – Oct to Nov

Important Climatic Factors

• Jet streams influence monsoons

• El Niño affects monsoon rainfall

• Western Disturbances bring winter rain in north India

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5. Natural Vegetation

Types

• Tropical Evergreen – Western Ghats

• Tropical Deciduous – Central India (largest)

• Thorn Forests – Rajasthan

• Montane Forests – Himalayas

• Mangroves – Sunderbans (Royal Bengal Tiger habitat)

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6. Soils of India

Major Soil Types

• Alluvial Soil – most fertile; Ganga plains

• Black Soil – cotton; Deccan plateau

• Red Soil – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

• Laterite Soil – leached; Karnataka, Kerala

• Desert Soil – Rajasthan

• Mountain Soil – Himalayas

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7. Agriculture of India

India is an agricultural country employing ~45% population.

Crops

Kharif (Monsoon crops)

• Paddy, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Sugarcane

Rabi (Winter crops)

• Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Peas

Zaid (Summer crops)

• Watermelon, Cucumber, Fodder crops

Green Revolution

• High Yielding Varieties (HYV)

• Major crop: Wheat

• Key states: Punjab, Haryana, UP

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8. Mineral Resources

Iron Ore

• Odisha (largest), Jharkhand, Karnataka

Coal

• Jharkhand (Jharia), Odisha, Chhattisgarh, WB

Petroleum

• Mumbai High

• Assam

• KG Basin

Manganese

• Odisha, Karnataka

Bauxite

• Odisha (largest)

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9. Industries of India

Major Industries

• Iron & Steel – Jamshedpur, Bhilai, Rourkela

• Cotton Textile – Mumbai, Ahmedabad

• IT Industry – Bengaluru, Hyderabad

• Automobiles – Chennai, Pune, Gurugram

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10. Transport & Communication

Railways

• Largest network in Asia

• Longest route: Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari

Roadways

• Golden Quadrilateral connects: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata

Waterways

• NW-1: Allahabad–Haldia

• NW-2: Sadiya–Dhubri (Brahmaputra)

Airways

• Fastest growing sector

• Busiest airport: Delhi (IGI)

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11. Population Geography

India is the 2nd most populous country.

Density

• Highest: Bihar

• Lowest: Arunachal Pradesh

Literacy

• Highest: Kerala

• Lowest: Bihar

Sex Ratio

• Highest: Kerala

• Lowest: Haryana

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12. Important Exam Facts (Super-Quick Revision)

• Highest peak in India: K2 (Godwin Austen)

• Longest river in India: Ganga

• Largest state: Rajasthan

• Smallest state: Goa

• Largest desert: Thar

• Largest delta: Sunderbans

• Wettest place: Mawsynram

• Longest coastline state: Gujarat

• Northernmost point: Indira Col

• Southernmost: Indira Point