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SSC CGL Physical Geography of India

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This page covers SSC CGL Physical Geography of India with complete concept notes, 24 graded practice MCQs, key points and exam-specific tips. Free to study.

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Concept Notes

Physical Geography of India— Rules & Concept

1.Core Concept

Read this first — the foundation of the topic

They are divided into 3 parallel ranges

- Greater Himalayas (Himadri) — highest peaks including Mt. Everest (8,849 m) and Kanchenjunga (8,586 m — highest in India) - Lesser Himalayas (Himachal) — Shimla, Mussoorie, Nainital are here - Outer Himalayas (Shivaliks) — foothills, youngest range TRICK TO REMEMBER: G-L-O = Greater, Lesser, Outer (north to south order) --- THE NORTHERN PLAINS --- Formed by alluvial deposits of 3 rivers: Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra. Length = 2,400 km. Width = 240 to 320 km. This is the most fertile region of India

Key terms

- Bhabar = narrow belt at foot of Himalayas (pebble-filled, rivers disappear) - Terai = marshy, swampy zone just south of Bhabar - Bhangar = old alluvium (higher ground) - Khadar = new alluvium (fertile, flood plains) TRICK: B-T-B-K = Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, Khadar (north to south sequence) --- THE PENINSULAR PLATEAU --- Made of old crystalline rocks. The Deccan Plateau is the largest part. Aravalli Hills = oldest mountain range in India (located in Rajasthan) Vindhya Range = separates North India from South India Western Ghats = run parallel to west coast, 1,600 km long. Highest peak = Anamudi (2,695 m) — also the highest peak in South India. Eastern Ghats = discontinuous, lower than Western Ghats. Highest peak = Jindhagada Peak

TRICK

Western Ghats are HIGHER and CONTINUOUS. Eastern Ghats are LOWER and DISCONTINUOUS. --- DRAINAGE SYSTEMS --- Two types of rivers in India: 1. Himalayan Rivers — perennial (flow throughout the year), fed by snow and rain

Example

Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra. 2. Peninsular Rivers — seasonal (depend on rainfall)

Example

Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri. Ganga = longest river in India (2,525 km). Originates from Gangotri Glacier. Brahmaputra = longest river in the world within a single country's portion by some rankings. Enters India from Tibet through Arunachal Pradesh. Called Tsangpo in Tibet. Godavari = longest peninsular river.

Called 'Dakshin Ganga' (Ganga of the South). ---

2.Formula Block

Memorise — at least one formula appears in every paper

Latitude of Tropic of Cancer = 23.5°N (passes through 8 states)

Standard Meridian of India = 82.5°E (passes through Mirzapur, UP)

Total coastline of India = 7,516.6 km (including islands)

Mainland coastline only = 6,100 km approximately

Area of India = 3.28 million sq km = 2.4% of world's land area

---

3.Exam Patterns

What examiners ask — read before attempting PYQs

--- SSC CGL regularly asks: - Tropic of Cancer states (8 states) - Highest peaks in India and South India - Longest rivers - Location of passes (Nathu La, Banihal, Shipki La) - Bhabar vs Terai vs Khadar differences - Western Ghats vs Eastern Ghats comparison ---

4.Worked Example

Solve this step-by-step before moving on

1

Step 1

Recall — South India = Peninsular region

2

Step 2

Western Ghats contain the highest peaks in peninsular India

3

Step 3

Anamudi = 2,695 m, located in Kerala (Eravikulam National Park) Answer: Anamudi --- WORKED EXAMPLE 2 --- Question: Through which states does the Tropic of Cancer pass in India?

1

Step 1

Remember the shortcut — 'GTR MJC WO' (mnemonic for 8 states)

2

Step 2

States = Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram

3

Step 3

Count = 8 states Answer: 8 states (from west to east: Gujarat → Rajasthan → MP → Chhattisgarh → Jharkhand → West Bengal → Tripura → Mizoram) --- COMMON TRAP / MISTAKE --- STUDENTS CONFUSE: Kanchenjunga and Mt. Everest. Mt. Everest (8,849 m) is the highest peak in the WORLD but it is NOT in India — it is on the Nepal-Tibet border. Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) is the highest peak IN INDIA, located on the India-Nepal border (Sikkim). Exam question will ask 'highest peak in India' — answer is Kanchenjunga, NOT Everest. This is the #1 trap in this topic.

Key Points to Remember

India is the 7th largest country in the world with an area of 3.28 million sq km.
Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) passes through exactly 8 states of India from west to east.
TRICK — G-L-O: Greater, Lesser, Outer Himalayas run north to south respectively.
Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) is the highest peak IN INDIA — NOT Mt. Everest which lies in Nepal-Tibet.
TRICK — B-T-B-K: Bhabar → Terai → Bhangar → Khadar is the north to south sequence of Northern Plains zones.
Anamudi (2,695 m) in Kerala is the highest peak in South India and the Peninsular region.
Ganga is the longest river in India at 2,525 km; Godavari is the longest peninsular river.
Standard Meridian of India = 82.5°E, passes through Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.
Western Ghats = continuous and higher; Eastern Ghats = discontinuous and lower.
Formula: Total coastline of India (including islands) = 7,516.6 km; mainland only ≈ 6,100 km.

Exam-Specific Tips

Highest peak in India = Kanchenjunga (8,586 m), located on Sikkim–Nepal border.
Highest peak in South India = Anamudi (2,695 m), located in Kerala's Eravikulam National Park.
Godavari river is called 'Dakshin Ganga' and is the longest peninsular river of India.
Brahmaputra river is called Tsangpo in Tibet and enters India through Arunachal Pradesh.
Aravalli Hills in Rajasthan are the OLDEST mountain range in India.
The Tropic of Cancer passes through 8 Indian states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram.
Vindhya Range acts as the geographical dividing line between North India and South India.
India's Standard Meridian is 82.5°E, chosen because 82.5 = 5.5 × 15, giving IST as UTC+5:30.

Practice MCQs

Physical Geography of India — Practice Questions

24graded MCQs · easy to hard · full solution & trap analysis · showing 20 of 24

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Practice 1easy

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

Practice 2easy

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

Practice 3easy

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

Practice 4easy

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

Practice 5easy

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

Practice 6easy

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

Practice 7easy

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

Practice 8medium

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

Practice 9medium

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

Practice 10medium

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

Practice 11medium

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

Practice 12medium

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

Practice 13medium

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?

Practice 14medium

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

Practice 15medium

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

Practice 16hard

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?

Practice 17hard

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

Practice 18hard

The Brahmaputra River, after originating in the Kailash Range, flows through which country before entering India, and what is its approximate length within Indian territory?

Practice 19hard

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

Practice 20hard

Which of the following rivers originates from the Amarkantak Plateau and flows through Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra before joining the Arabian Sea?

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60-Second Revision — Physical Geography of India

Remember: Highest peak IN INDIA = Kanchenjunga (8,586 m) in Sikkim — NOT Mt. Everest which is in Nepal.
Trick: G-L-O (north to south Himalayan ranges) = Greater → Lesser → Outer (Shivalik).
Trick: B-T-B-K (north to south Northern Plains zones) = Bhabar → Terai → Bhangar → Khadar.
Formula: Area of India = 3.28 million sq km; Coastline with islands = 7,516.6 km; Standard Meridian = 82.5°E.
Trap: Tropic of Cancer passes through exactly 8 states — memorise them west to east: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram.
Remember: Western Ghats = continuous + higher (Anamudi 2,695 m); Eastern Ghats = discontinuous + lower.
Remember: Ganga = longest river in India (2,525 km); Godavari = longest peninsular river = 'Dakshin Ganga'.

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