Physical Geography of India — TNPSC Group II/IIA Geography
Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coastal Plains, and Islands for TNPSC Group 2/2A.
Updated 3 June 20267 min read
Physical Geography of India — TNPSC Group II/IIA Geography
Overview
India's diverse physical geography — from the Himalayas to coastal plains and islands — determines its climate, agriculture, and resources. For TNPSC Group 2/2A, focus on the six physiographic divisions, key mountain ranges, plains, plateaus, and the coastal and island geography relevant to Tamil Nadu.
Six Physiographic Divisions of India
Division
Location
Key Features
Himalayan Mountains
North and Northeast
Young fold mountains; highest peaks; source of major rivers
Northern Plains
South of Himalayas
Fertile alluvial deposits; most densely populated
Peninsular Plateau
Central and South India
Ancient Precambrian rocks; Deccan Plateau
Indian Desert
Northwest (Rajasthan)
Thar Desert; arid; sparse population
Coastal Plains
East and West coast
Narrow strips; fertile; fishing; ports
Islands
Bay of Bengal + Arabian Sea
Andaman & Nicobar; Lakshadweep
The Himalayan Mountains
Three Parallel Ranges
Range
Local Name
Altitude
Key Features
Greater Himalayas
Himadri
6000m average
Mt. Everest (8848m); K2; Kangchenjunga; permanent snow and glaciers
Lesser Himalayas
Himachal
3700–4500m
Hill stations (Shimla, Mussoorie, Darjeeling); Pir Panjal, Nag Tibba ranges
Outer Himalayas
Shiwalik
900–1100m
Southernmost; foothills; terai marshland
Key Himalayan Peaks
Peak
Height
Location
Mt. Everest
8848.86m
Nepal-China border
K2 (Godwin-Austen)
8611m
PoK-China border
Kangchenjunga
8586m
India (Sikkim)-Nepal
Lhotse
8516m
Nepal-China
Makalu
8485m
Nepal-China
Indian peaks:
Kangchenjunga (8586m) — highest in India
Nanda Devi (7816m) — second highest in India; Uttarakhand
Himalayan Passes (Important for TNPSC)
Pass
State
Connects
Zoji La
Jammu & Kashmir
Srinagar–Leh
Rohtang Pass
Himachal Pradesh
Kullu–Lahaul and Spiti
Shipki La
Himachal Pradesh
India–Tibet
Nathula
Sikkim
India–Tibet (trade route restored)
Bomdila
Arunachal Pradesh
India–Tibet
Northern Plains (Indo-Gangetic Plain)
Feature
Details
Formation
Alluvial deposits from Himalayan rivers (Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra)
Length
2400 km east-west; 240–320 km wide
Soil
Deep alluvial; highly fertile
Population
Most densely populated region of India
States
Punjab, Haryana, UP, Bihar, West Bengal (and others)
Sub-divisions
Bhabar: Narrow zone at Himalayan foothills; porous; streams disappear underground
Terai: Marshy zone south of Bhabar; heavy forest; wildlife reserves (Jim Corbett, Kaziranga area)
Minicoy: Southernmost island; connected to Maldives culturally
Only UT with majority Muslim population
Closest island to Kerala (not to mainland India)
Key Facts for TNPSC Group II/IIA
Kangchenjunga (8586m): Highest peak in India; Sikkim
Anamudi (2695m): Highest peak in South India; Kerala (Anamalai Hills)
Doddabetta (2637m): Highest peak in Tamil Nadu; Nilgiris
Western Ghats: UNESCO World Heritage Site; source of Cauvery, Godavari, Krishna
Palakkad Gap: Natural gap in Western Ghats; connects Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Deccan Traps: Black cotton soil (Regur) — Maharashtra, Karnataka; great for cotton
Barren Island: Only active volcano in India; Andaman Islands
Indira Point: Southernmost point of India; Andaman Islands
Tamil Nadu coastline: ~1076 km — second longest state coastline in India (Gujarat is first)
Cauvery Delta: Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam — "Granary of Tamil Nadu"
Previous Year MCQ Patterns
Q: Which is the highest peak in South India? a) Doddabetta b) Anamudi c) Kalsubai d) Nanda Devi
Answerb) Anamudi — Anamudi (2695m) in the Anamalai Hills (Eravikulam National Park) in Kerala is the highest peak in South India and in the Western Ghats. Doddabetta (2637m) in the Nilgiris is the highest peak in Tamil Nadu. Nanda Devi is in Uttarakhand.
Q: Which of the following is the only active volcano in India? a) Narcondam Island b) Barren Island c) North Sentinel Island d) Car Nicobar Island
Answerb) Barren Island — Barren Island in the Andaman Sea (Bay of Bengal) is the only confirmed active volcano in India and South Asia. It has erupted multiple times in recent history. Narcondam Island, nearby, has a dormant volcano.
Q: The Western Ghats are the source of which of the following rivers? a) Ganga and Yamuna b) Mahanadi and Godavari c) Cauvery and Krishna d) Indus and Sutlej
Answerc) Cauvery and Krishna — The Western Ghats (Sahyadri) are the source of several major peninsular rivers: Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery (Kaveri), Tungabhadra, Periyar. The Cauvery (Kaveri) rises at Talakaveri in Kodagu (Coorg), Karnataka, and flows through Tamil Nadu.
Frequently Asked Questions
India has six main physiographic divisions: (1) The Himalayan Mountains (North); (2) The Northern Plains (Indo-Gangetic Plain); (3) The Peninsular Plateau (Deccan Plateau); (4) The Indian Desert (Thar Desert); (5) The Coastal Plains (West and East); (6) The Islands (Andaman & Nicobar + Lakshadweep).
