Physical Features of India

Overview

Physical Features of India is a foundational topic in the Geography section of JTET Paper II Social Studies. Questions typically test your knowledge of major landforms, river systems, and climatic patterns across India. This topic carries significant weightage as it connects to understanding agriculture, population distribution, and resource availability — themes that recur throughout the Social Studies syllabus.

For JTET, you must master the classification of physiographic divisions, identify key mountain ranges and passes, distinguish between river systems, and understand India's monsoon-driven climate. Jharkhand-specific geography (Chota Nagpur Plateau) often appears, so link national features to your state context.

Key Concepts

• **Six Major Physiographic Divisions**: India is divided into the Himalayan Mountains, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coastal Plains, Indian Desert, and Islands — each with distinct geological origin and characteristics.

• **Himalayan Formation**: The Himalayas are young fold mountains formed by the collision of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian tectonic plates about 50 million years ago; they continue to rise by a few millimetres each year.

• **Three Parallel Ranges of Himalayas**: Greater Himalayas (Himadri) with permanent snow, Middle Himalayas (Himachal) with hill stations, and Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks) with loose sediments.