Question 1

Which of the following is the highest peak in the Indian Himalayas?

Accepted Answer

Kangchenjunga, located in the eastern Himalayas on the border between India and Nepal, is the highest peak in the Indian Himalayas with a height of 8,586 meters (28,169 feet). Mount Everest is higher but is not considered part of the Indian Himalayas as it lies on the Nepal-Tibet border.

Question 2

Which of the following soil types is most commonly found in the Indo-Gangetic Plain?

Accepted Answer

Alluvial soil is the most common soil type found in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. These soils are formed by the deposition of sediments by rivers, particularly the Ganges and its tributaries, and are highly fertile, making the region one of the most agriculturally productive areas in India.

Question 3

The Deccan Plateau is primarily located in which region of India?

Accepted Answer

The Deccan Plateau is a large plateau located in southern India, covering most of the Deccan region. It is bounded by the Western Ghats on the west, the Eastern Ghats on the east, and the Satpura and Vindhya ranges on the north, extending across states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

Question 4

Which of the following is the highest mountain peak in India?

Accepted Answer

Kangchenjunga, located in the eastern Himalayas on the border between India and Nepal, is the highest mountain peak in India at 8,586 meters (28,169 feet). Mount Everest, though higher, is located on the Nepal-China border and is not considered part of Indian territory.

Question 5

The Western Ghats mountain range is located along which coast of India?

Accepted Answer

The Western Ghats run along the western coast of India, parallel to the Arabian Sea. This mountain range extends approximately 1,600 km from Gujarat in the north to Kerala in the south and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Question 6

Which of the following rivers is the longest tributary of the Ganges River?

Accepted Answer

The Yamuna River is the longest tributary of the Ganges, with a length of approximately 1,376 km. It originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Western Himalayas and joins the Ganges at Allahabad (Prayagraj). Other major tributaries like the Ghaghra and Kosi are shorter in length.

Question 7

Which of the following is a major tributary of the Ganges River?

Accepted Answer

The Yamuna River is a major tributary of the Ganges River. It originates from the Yamunotri Glacier in the Himalayas and flows through northern India (approximately 1,376 km) before joining the Ganges at Allahabad (now Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh. The Yamuna is considered sacred in Hindu tradition.

Question 8

The Deccan Plateau is primarily composed of which type of rock?

Accepted Answer

The Deccan Plateau is predominantly composed of basaltic lava flows, which were formed during the Cretaceous period (approximately 66 million years ago). These volcanic rocks cover an area of about 500,000 sq km.

Question 9

Which of the following rivers originates from the Western Ghats and flows eastward to form the second-longest river in the Deccan Plateau?

Accepted Answer

The Godavari River originates from the Western Ghats in Maharashtra (near Trimbakeshwar) and flows eastward across the Deccan Plateau for approximately 1,465 km before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. It is the second-longest river in the Deccan Plateau after the Krishna River and is often called the 'Dakshin Ganga' (Ganges of the South).

Question 10

Which of the following passes is located in the Western Himalayas and connects the Kullu Valley with the Spiti Valley?

Accepted Answer

The Rohtang Pass is located in the Western Himalayas in Himachal Pradesh and connects the Kullu Valley with the Spiti Valley and Ladakh. It is situated at an elevation of approximately 3,978 meters (13,050 feet) above sea level on the Pir Panjal Range. The pass is an important trade and transportation route and remains snow-covered for much of the year. It is also a popular tourist destination.

Question 11

Which of the following soil types is most commonly found in the Indo-Gangetic Plain and is formed due to the deposition of sediments by rivers?

Accepted Answer

Alluvial soil is the most common soil type in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. It is formed by the deposition of fine sediments (silt, clay, and sand) carried by rivers, particularly during floods. This soil is highly fertile and supports intensive agriculture. The Indo-Gangetic Plain, formed by the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries, is one of the most fertile agricultural regions in the world due to the continuous deposition of alluvial soil.

Question 12

Which of the following is the correct order of the Himalayas from south to north?

Accepted Answer

The Himalayas are divided into three parallel ranges from south to north: the Outer Himalayas (Siwaliks), the Lesser Himalayas (Himachal), and the Greater Himalayas (High Himalayas). The Siwaliks are the youngest and lowest range, while the Greater Himalayas contain the highest peaks.

Question 13

The Western Ghats are primarily composed of which type of soil in their lower elevations?

Accepted Answer

The Western Ghats, particularly in their lower elevations and coastal regions, are characterized by laterite soil. This soil is formed due to intense weathering in tropical and subtropical climates with high rainfall, typical of the Western Ghats region.

Question 14

Which mountain pass connects the Kullu Valley with the Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh?

Accepted Answer

The Rohtang Pass, located at an altitude of 3,978 meters, connects the Kullu Valley with the Lahaul and Spiti region. It is one of the most important passes in the Indian Himalayas and remains snow-bound for several months each year.

Question 15

The Deccan Plateau is bounded by which two mountain ranges on its western and eastern sides respectively?

Accepted Answer

The Deccan Plateau is bounded by the Western Ghats on its western side and the Eastern Ghats on its eastern side. The Western Ghats run parallel to the Arabian Sea coast and are higher in elevation (average 1,000–1,500 m), while the Eastern Ghats run parallel to the Bay of Bengal coast and are lower in elevation (average 600–900 m). These two ranges form the natural boundaries of the triangular Deccan Plateau.

Question 16

The Narmada River, one of India's major peninsular rivers, originates from the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward to the Arabian Sea. Which of the following statements about the Narmada River system is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

The Narmada River is approximately 1,312 km long and flows through Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. It has several important tributaries including the Hiran, Burhner, Tawa, and Machkund rivers. The river forms the traditional boundary between North India and South India (Vindhya and Satpura ranges). The Narmada does NOT flow through Rajasthan; it flows westward from Madhya Pradesh directly into Gujarat and then to the Arabian Sea. The Tawa is a major tributary on the right bank, while the Hiran is on the left bank.

Question 17

The Zoji La pass connects which two regions in India?

Accepted Answer

Zoji La is a high mountain pass located in the Himalayas in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. It connects the Kashmir Valley (Srinagar) to the Ladakh region (Leh). It lies on National Highway 1 and is the only major road link between these two regions during winter months. It is situated at an altitude of approximately 3,528 metres.

Question 18

The Deccan Plateau, which covers a significant portion of southern India, is bounded by which two mountain ranges on its western and eastern edges respectively?

Accepted Answer

The Deccan Plateau is bounded by the Western Ghats on its western edge and the Eastern Ghats on its eastern edge. The Western Ghats run along the western coast of India from Gujarat to Kerala, while the Eastern Ghats run along the eastern coast from Odisha to Tamil Nadu. The Deccan Plateau itself is a large triangular landmass situated between these two mountain ranges.

Question 19

The Narmada River, which is one of India's major peninsular rivers, flows through how many states and forms the boundary between which two states for a significant portion of its course?

Accepted Answer

The Narmada River flows through four states: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan (briefly). For a significant portion of its course, it forms the boundary between Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. The river originates in the Amarkantak Plateau in Madhya Pradesh and flows westward for approximately 1,312 km before emptying into the Arabian Sea in Gujarat.

Question 20

Which of the following statements about the Western Ghats is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

The Western Ghats is a mountain range running along the western coast of India for approximately 1,600 km from Gujarat to Kerala. It is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a biodiversity hotspot. The Western Ghats receive high rainfall due to the southwest monsoon, resulting in dense tropical forests. The range has an average elevation of 1,000-1,500 meters, with the highest peak being Anamudi (2,695 m) in Kerala. The Western Ghats form a natural barrier and influence the climate of the Indian peninsula significantly.

SSC CGL Physical Geography of India

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Physical Geography of India — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Physical Geography of India