Physiographic Divisions of India - UPSC MCQ

The correct answer is 1 and 3.

• Importance of the Himalayas:
  • The Himalayas play a very significant role in influencing the climate of India.
    • Due to its high altitude, length and direction, the Himalayas intercept the summer monsoons coming from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea and cause precipitation in the north and northeastern region. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • The Himalayas and its rivers help to flourish many tourism activities along the way it flows. Hence, statement 2 is incorrect.
  • The Himalayan Mountain system is the source of many rivers
    • The Himalayan Rivers and their tributaries sustain life in the whole of north India. Hence, statement 3 is correct.
  • The Himalayas contains an abundance of minerals like Copper, lead, zinc, nickel, cobalt, antimony, tungsten, gold, silver, limestone, semi-precious and precious stones, gypsum and magnesite. Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Himalayas indeed form an arc that covers a distance of about 2,400 km from Jammu & Kashmir in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east.

- Statement 2 is correct. The width of the Himalayas does vary from 400 km in Kashmir to 150 km in Arunachal Pradesh.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Great Himalayas are composed of archean rocks like granite, gneisses, and schists, not mostly sedimentary rocks.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Himalayas are indeed considered one of the 'newest fold mountains' of the world.

- Statement 2 is correct. They came up during the Tertiary epoch under Alpine earth movement.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The altitudinal variations are greater in the eastern half of the Himalayas than in the western half.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Great Himalayan Range is characterized by asymmetrical folds.

- Statement 2 is correct. The highest peak of the Great Himalayan Range is indeed Mount Everest.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Shiwalik Range is known as the Outer Himalayas, not the Inner Himalayan Range. The Inner Himalayan Range refers to the Great Himalayas.

1. Pir Panjal - Correctly matched. It starts from near PatniTop in Jammu and Kashmir and passes through Himachal Pradesh.

2. Dhauladhar - Correctly matched. It begins from near Dalhousie and passes through the Beas River in Kullu.

3. Nag Tibba - Correctly matched. It is located in Uttarakhand and is marked by the Mussoorie range.

4. Siachen Glacier - Incorrectly matched. Siachen Glacier is not located in the Lesser Himalayas; it is in the Karakoram range.

1. Punjab Himalayas - Correctly matched. It is between the Indus and Sutlej rivers.

2. Kumaun Himalayas - Correctly matched. It is between the Sutlej and Kali rivers.

3. Central Himalayas - Correctly matched. It is between the Kali and Teesta rivers.

4. Assam Himalayas - Correctly matched. It is between the Teesta and Brahmaputra rivers.

1. Lesser Himalayas - Correctly matched. The Lesser Himalayas have an average height of 3500-5000 m.

2. Shiwaliks - Correctly matched. The Shiwaliks are made of clay, sand, gravel, slate, and boulders.

3. Doon Valleys - Correctly matched. The Doon valleys are located in the Shiwaliks.

4. Mount Everest - Incorrectly matched. Mount Everest is located in the Greater Himalayas, not the Shiwaliks.

Statement-I correctly describes the features of the Kashmir/Punjab/Himachal Himalayas, emphasizing their geographical location and distinctive characteristics. However, Statement-II incorrectly associates the characteristics of the Kumaun Himalayas with the wrong river systems, as they are actually drained by different rivers (not the Indus and Ganga as mentioned). Hence, Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

The correct answer is (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I. Statement I accurately states that Southern Slopes receive more precipitation due to being in the rain shadow region, while Statement II explains this by noting that the Southern Slopes are covered with thick vegetation. This vegetation captures more precipitation, leading to the disparity in vegetation cover between the two slopes.

Statement-I inaccurately attributes the characteristics of the Central/Nepal Himalayas to the wrong rivers and features. On the other hand, Statement-II accurately lists major ranges in the Himalayas, including Karakoram, Ladakh, Pir Panjal, Zanskar, and Dhauladhar. Therefore, Statement-I is incorrect, while Statement-II is correct.

The Kumaun Himalayas region is renowned for hosting the "valley of flowers." This valley is famous for its diverse flora, creating a picturesque landscape that attracts visitors and botanists alike. The valley showcases a stunning array of colorful flowers, adding to the natural beauty of the region.

Among the passes listed, Nathu La is not situated in the Eastern Himalayas/The Assam Himalayas region. Nathu La is a pass located in the Central / Nepal Himalayas region, serving as an important route between India and Tibet. It holds historical significance due to its past use as a trade route and as a border crossing.

The Bhutias, a community known for migrating to the "Bugyals" or summer grasslands, reside in the Kumaun Himalayas region. These grasslands provide fertile grazing grounds for livestock during the summer months, attracting pastoral communities like the Bhutias to these high-altitude areas for seasonal habitation.

- Statement 1 is incorrect. Karewa soil is found in the Valley of Kashmir, which is part of the Pir Panjal Range, not the Himachal Himalayas.

- Statement 2 is correct. Karewa soil is indeed known for the cultivation of saffron and other dry fruits.

- Statement 3 is correct. The snowline in the Western Himalayas is at a lower altitude than in the Eastern Himalayas due to the increase in latitude.

Thus, statements 2 and 3 are correct. Therefore, the correct option is C: 2 and 3 Only.

- Statement 1 is correct. The Siachen Glacier is indeed located in the Karakoram Range.

- Statement 2 is correct. The Pindari Glacier is a part of the Kumaon-Garhwal Range.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The term "glacier" comes from the French word "glace," not German.

Thus, statements 1 and 2 are correct. Therefore, the correct option is B: 1 and 2 Only.

- Statement 1 is correct. The snowline is indeed the boundary between a snow-covered and snow-free surface.

- Statement 2 is incorrect. The snowline in the Western Himalayas is at a lower altitude than in the Eastern Himalayas.

- Statement 3 is incorrect. The Satopanth Glacier is located in the Kumaon-Garhwal Range, not the Pir Panjal Range.

Thus, only statement 1 is correct. Therefore, the correct option is A: 1 Only.

1. Nanga Parbat is correctly matched as it is located in the Western Himalayas.
2. Annapurna is incorrectly matched; it is located in the Central Himalayas, not the Eastern Himalayas.
3. Mount Everest is correctly matched as it is located in the Nepal Himalayas.
4. Mount K2 is correctly matched as it is located in the Karakoram Range.

1. Rohtang Pass is correctly matched as it is located in Himachal Pradesh.
2. Nathu La is correctly matched as it is located in Sikkim.
3. Zoji La is incorrectly matched; it is located in Jammu and Kashmir, not Uttarakhand.
4. Thalghat is correctly matched; it is a pass in Maharashtra.

1. Trans-Himalayas are correctly matched as they include the Ladakh region.
2. Greater Himalayas are correctly matched as they extend into Sikkim.
3. Lesser Himalayas are correctly matched as they include Himachal Pradesh.
4. Shiwaliks are incorrectly matched; they are present in regions including Uttarakhand, not specifically Assam.

The correct answer is 2 only.

Namcha Barwa

• Namcha Barwa is in North-Eastern India whereas Garhwal Himalaya is in Uttarakhand. Hence, Pair 1 is not correctly Matched.
• It is in an isolated part of southeastern Tibet rarely visited by outsiders.
• It stands inside the Great Bend of the Yarlung Tsangpo River as the river enters its notable gorge across the Himalayas, emerging as the Siang and becoming the Brahmaputra.
• On other hand, the Garhwal Himalayas are mountain ranges located in the Indian state of Uttarakhand.

Nanda Devi

• Kumaun Himalayas, the west-central section of the Himalayas in northern India, extends 200 miles (320 km) from the Sutlej River east to the Kali River.
• The range, comprising part of the Siwalik Range in the south and part of the Great Himalayas in the north, lies largely within the state of Uttarakhand, northwest of Nepal.
• It rises to 25,646 feet (7,817 metres) at Nanda Devi, the range’s highest peak. Hence, Pair 2 is correctly matched.

Nokrek

• The Nokrek Biosphere Reserve is located in the northeast of India on the Tura Range, which forms part of the Meghalaya Plateau (average altitude: 600 meters). Hence, Pair 3 is not correctly matched.

The correct option is:

     3. Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I

Here’s why:

1. Statement-I is correct: The Western Himalayas extend up to the west of the Kali River, while the Eastern Himalayas stretch from the Kali River to the Brahmaputra River.

2. Statement-II is also correct: The Western Himalayas generally have less biodiversity compared to the Eastern Himalayas due to differences in climate, elevation, and vegetation.

However, Statement-II does not directly explain Statement-I; they address different aspects of the Himalayan region.