Q11. Read the following scenario and identify the specific physiographic zone being described: A soil surveyor is examining a specific region at the foothills of the Himalayas. She notes a narrow, horizontal belt where numerous streams re-emerge to the surface, creating a persistently damp, marshy, and thickly forested environment. Which specific physiographic zone is she surveying?
Physiographic Divisions of India: RAS Prelims MCQs
58 RAS Prelims MCQs on the physiographic divisions of India cover the Himalayas, the northern plains, the Peninsular Plateau, the coastal plains and the islands. Peaks, passes, the Bhabar and Terai belts, the Central Highlands and the Lakshadweep and Andaman groups are asked as facts and matches, with the explanations tying each feature to its region.
Practice questions based on the RPSC RAS Prelims syllabus. They follow the exam pattern but are not past-paper questions.
Showing 11–20 of 58 questions
Q12. Which of the following represents the correct sequential order of the geomorphological features of the North Indian Plains moving strictly from North to South?
Explanation
Moving from the Himalayan foothills southward, the plains are organized into four distinct geomorphological zones. First is the Bhabar, a porous pebble belt where streams disappear. Second is the Terai, where water re-emerges into marshes. Third is the Bhangar, composed of older, elevated alluvium. Finally, the Khadar consists of the youngest, most fertile floodplains located closest to the active rivers.
Q13. Why are the Khadar soils universally considered to be more fertile than the Bhangar soils in the northern plains?
Explanation
Khadar soils are considered more fertile than Bhangar because they are part of the active floodplains. Every year, during the monsoon season, rivers overflow and deposit fresh layers of nutrient-rich silt and clay over these areas. This natural process of renewal ensures that the soil remains productive and highly suitable for intensive agriculture, unlike the older, more leached Bhangar soils.
Q14. Read the given statements and select the correct option.
Statement I: The Western Plains of India, encompassing large parts of Punjab and Haryana, are heavily dominated by the doabs of the Indus river system.
Statement II: This region strategically acts as a major water divide between the Indus and the Ganga river systems.
Statement I: The Western Plains of India, encompassing large parts of Punjab and Haryana, are heavily dominated by the doabs of the Indus river system.
Statement II: This region strategically acts as a major water divide between the Indus and the Ganga river systems.
Explanation
The Western Plains, primarily covering Punjab and Haryana, are dominated by the fertile doabs, which are land tracts situated between the tributaries of the Indus river. Simultaneously, this region serves as a crucial hydrological divide between the Indus and the Ganga drainage systems. It prevents the waters of the two major river basins from mixing, directing them towards different seas.
Q15. Which of the following statements presents the most appropriate description of the broad geographical extent of the Ganga Plains?
Explanation
The Ganga Plains represent a vast expanse of fertile land extending longitudinally between the Ghaggar river in the west and the Teesta river in the east. This region spans across several Indian states, including Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and parts of West Bengal. It is primarily formed by the depositional work of the Ganga and its numerous northern and southern tributaries.
Q16. Match List-I with List-II:
| Doab of Punjab | Rivers defining it |
|---|---|
| A. Bist Doab | i. Beas and Ravi |
| B. Bari Doab | ii. Beas and Sutlej |
| C. Rachna Doab | iii. Chenab and Jhelum |
| D. Chaj Doab | iv. Ravi and Chenab |
Explanation
The Bist Doab is situated between the Beas and Sutlej rivers, while the Bari Doab lies between the Beas and Ravi. Further west, the Rachna Doab is located between the Ravi and Chenab, and the Chaj Doab is found between the Chenab and Jhelum. These regions are characterized by extremely fertile alluvial soil, which supports intensive agriculture throughout the northern plains.
Q17. Consider the following statements regarding the Brahmaputra Plains:
I. They are formed largely by the continuous aggradational work of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
II. Braided channels, riverine islands, and shifting sandbars are prominent geographic features of this plain.
III. Majuli, recognized as the world’s largest fully formed riverine island, is situated in this region.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
I. They are formed largely by the continuous aggradational work of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
II. Braided channels, riverine islands, and shifting sandbars are prominent geographic features of this plain.
III. Majuli, recognized as the world’s largest fully formed riverine island, is situated in this region.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Explanation
The Brahmaputra Plains are formed by the extensive aggradational work of the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries in the Assam valley. This region is famous for unique geographic features like braided river channels, numerous shifting sandbars, and large riverine islands. Majuli, located within this plain, is officially recognized as the largest fully formed riverine island in the world, supporting vibrant communities.
Q18. The remarkably frequent and devastating annual floods in the Brahmaputra Plains are primarily caused by:
Explanation
Devastating annual floods in the Brahmaputra Plains are caused by exceptionally heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of northeast India and Tibet.
Q19. Which of the following statements about the broad structure of the Peninsular Plateau is incorrect?
Explanation
The Peninsular Plateau is geologically a part of the ancient Gondwanaland, making it one of the oldest and most stable landmasses on Earth. It was not formed by the recent tectonic collision that created the Himalayas. Instead, it consists of ancient crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. The plateau’s landscape is characterized by rounded hills and broad, shallow, well-graded river valleys.
Q20. The following question consists of two statements--Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Answer the question by selecting the appropriate option.
Assertion (A): The rivers of the Peninsular Plateau generally form deep V-shaped valleys characterized by intense active erosion.
Reason (R): The Peninsular Plateau is considered to be one of the most stable, ancient, and mature landmasses of the Earth’s crust.
Assertion (A): The rivers of the Peninsular Plateau generally form deep V-shaped valleys characterized by intense active erosion.
Reason (R): The Peninsular Plateau is considered to be one of the most stable, ancient, and mature landmasses of the Earth’s crust.
Explanation
The Peninsular Plateau is a highly stable and mature landmass, characterized by rivers that flow through broad, shallow valleys with gentle gradients. Unlike youthful Himalayan rivers that carve deep V-shaped valleys through active erosion, peninsular rivers have reached a graded profile. Therefore, the assertion regarding deep V-shaped valleys is incorrect, while the description of the plateau’s stability is accurate.Answer key for these questions
| Q | Correct answer |
|---|---|
| 11 | (c) Terai |
| 12 | (b) Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, Khadar |
| 13 | (c) They receive regular and recurrent deposits of fresh, nutrient-rich silt during annual river floods. |
| 14 | (c) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct. |
| 15 | (d) It extends longitudinally between the Ghaggar and Teesta rivers. |
| 16 | (b) A-ii, B-i, C-iv, D-iii |
| 17 | (d) I, II and III |
| 18 | (a) Extremely heavy rainfall in the catchment area combined with the river’s inherently high sediment load. |
| 19 | (d) It was formed directly by the massive tectonic collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate. |
| 20 | (d) A is false but R is true. |
Key facts from Physiographic Divisions of India
- India is divided into six major physiographic divisions on the basis of macro-level features.
- Barren Island in the Andaman Sea has India’s only confirmed active volcano.
- The northern plains were built by the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra; the sequence of belts is Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar and Khadar.
- The Central Highlands are bounded on the south by the Vindhya Range; the Malwa plateau has badland ravines.
- K2 is in the Karakoram, not the Greater Himalayas; Gangotri and Yamunotri glaciers lie in the Greater Himalayas.
- The Lakshadweep Islands are coral islands; the highest peak of the Aravallis is Guru Shikhar, of the Satpuras Dhupgarh and of the Nilgiris Doddabetta.
Frequently asked questions
How many RAS Prelims practice MCQs are there on Physiographic Divisions of India?
This page has 58 practice MCQs on Physiographic Divisions of India (Indian Geography). Each has the correct answer, and most have an explanation.
Where is India’s only active volcano?
On Barren Island in the Andaman Sea, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Narcondam Island nearby is a dormant volcano, and the Andaman volcanic arc is part of the Indo-Burmese island chain.
What is the Bhabar?
A narrow, porous belt of pebbles and boulders along the foot of the Shivalik hills, where streams sink underground. South of it lies the marshy Terai, where the water comes out again.
What is the highest peak of the Aravallis?
Guru Shikhar, near Mount Abu in Rajasthan. The Aravallis are among the oldest fold mountains in the world, and Guru Shikhar rises to about 1,722 metres and is a common answer in questions on the highest peaks of Indian mountain ranges.