Long Questions: Our Country - India | NCERT Summary: UPSC PDF Download

Q1: What are the major physical divisions of India?
Ans: There are numerous physical characteristics. The main physical divisions of India are mountains, plains, plateaus, islands, and coasts. The Himalayan Mountain range, which guards India's northern border, is made up of three ranges: Himadri, Himachal, and Shivalik. The lush plains to the south of these mountains are formed by alluvial deposits from the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus rivers, as well as their tributaries. The peninsular plateau, which is triangular in shape, lies to the south of these plains. We have fertile areas in the Western and Eastern coastal plains. Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are both Indian island groups.

Q2: Name the countries with which India shares its borders.
Ans: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan are the seven nations with whom India has borders. These are India's neighbouring countries. On the northern side of India, these seven countries share geographical borders. There is nothing but ocean on India's southern coast. There are no land borders between us and any of the countries there. However, we have southern neighbours. We have two neighbours to the south, across the sea: the Maldives and Sri Lanka. India and Sri Lanka are separated by the Palk Strait.

Q3: Which deltas are formed by the Ganga and Bramhputra?
Ans: The Sundarbans delta is formed by the Ganges and the Brahmaputra rivers. The Sundarbans Delta is the world's largest delta. This delta has a triangle shape to it. The delta is the area formed at the point where the river enters the sea, which is formed at the river's mouth. The Bay of Bengal is where the rivers Ganges and Brahmaputra meet. This delta is home to a diverse range of biodiversity, including numerous animal and bird species. The Sunderbans are home to the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Q4: How many Union Territories and states do India have?
Ans: There are 28 states and 9 union territories in India. A shared capital exists between two states. These are the states of Punjab and Haryana, which share Chandigarh as their capital. India is a massive nation. The country is divided into 29 states and seven union territories in order to better govern the country administratively. For better governance within the states, these states are further divided into districts. Each state is represented by its own capital. Punjab and Haryana, on the other hand, share Chandigarh as their capital. New Delhi is the country's capital.

Q5: Why do most Indian people live in the Northern plains?
Ans: To the south of the Himalayan range are the Northern Indian plains. Alluvial deposits from the rivers Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra, as well as their tributaries, form these plains. The alluvial deposits, or fine soils brought in by rivers and deposited in basins, make this terrain extremely fruitful. This land is also quite flat and level. Many people dwell in these plains because they have fertile soil that can be used to grow crops and the ground is not extremely uneven. As a result, these plains are more suited for human habitation, as they have excellent soil for agriculture, rivers for water supply, and flat regions that are easy to build shelters on.

Q6: Describe the Peninsular River system of India.
Ans: Peninsular River System. Peninsular river system is further sub-divided as:

• Rivers which flow into the Arabian sea include the Narmada and the Tapti (Tapi). They originate on the Deccan plateau and flow westwards into the Arabian sea. These rivers form estuaries and not delta.
• Rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. All these rivers form deltas. Most of the Peninsular rivers are rapid flowing as the terrain through which they flow is hard and sloppy. They are ideal for generating hydel power.

Q7: Describe Himalayan rivers of India.
Ans: The Himalayan Rivers are further divided into two sub-groups:

• The Indus River System: Rivers of this system originate in the western Himalayas and western Tibetan plateau. They flow from north-east to north and then towards south-west, and fall into the Arabian sea. Major rivers of the system are the Indus and its tributaries like the Satluj, the Jhelum, the Chenab, the Beas and the Ravi. The Indus is believed to have been originated before the building of the Himalayas. Hence it is called an antecedent drainage. These rivers flow through Punjab and Haryana and then through Pakistan before falling into the Arabian Sea.
• The Ganga-Brahmaputra River System: This river system originates in the Himalayas, the Tibet Plateau, flows into the great plains of the north from west to east and then falls into the Bay of Bengal. Major rivers of this system are the Ganga and its tributaries, the Yamuna and its tributaries like Chambal and Betwa, the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. The Ganga’s tributaries are Yamuna, Gomti, Sharda, Ghaghara, Gandak, Kosi, Tista. All these rivers have formed the great plains of the north. They are most fertile areas of the world. Agriculture is the main occupation of the people. Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta is the largest delta of the world.

Q8: Describe the Coastal Plains and the Island groups.
Ans: The Coastal Plains:

• To the west of the Western Ghats and to the east of Eastern Ghats the Coastal Plains lie.
• The Western Coastal Plains are very narrow.
• Narmada and Tapi, the only west flowing rivers drain this coastal plain. The Eastern Coastal Plains are broad.
• Numerous east flowing rivers, like Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri drain water into the Bay of Bengal.
• They have formed fertile deltas at their mouth.

Islands: Two groups of islands are also an integral part of India.

• Lakshadweep Islands are located in the Arabian sea.
• These are coral islands located off the coast of Kerala.
• The Andaman and the Nicobar Islands lie to the south-east of the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal.

Q9: Explain major features of Peninsular Plateau.
Ans: Peninsular Plateau: South of the northern plains lies the Peninsular plateau.

• It is triangle shaped.
• Its relief is highly uneven.
• It has numerous hill ranges and valleys. Aravali hills is one of the oldest ranges of the world. It borders the plateau on the northwest side.
• The Vindhyas and the Satpuras are the other important ranges.
• Narmada and Tapi flow through these ranges. They are west flowing rivers. They drain water into the Arabian sea.
• The Western Ghats or Sahyadris border the plateau in the west and the Eastern Ghats form its eastern boundary.
• Western Ghats are almost continuous.
• The Eastern Ghats are broken and uneven.
• The plateau is rich in minerals. Coal and iron-ore are the important minerals found on this plateau.

Q10: Give an account of the Northern Indian Plains.
Ans: The Northern Indian Plains:

• The Northern Indian plains lie to the south of the Himalayas.
• They are generally plain and flat.
• Alluvial deposits laid down by the rivers have formed these plains.
• Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries flow through these plains.
• They provide fertile land for cultivation. Hence high density of population is found in the plains.

Thar desert lies in the western part of India. It is a dry, hot and sandy stretch of land.

• It has very little vegetation.
• Very few people live in this desert.

Q11: Describe the Himalayas.
Ans: The Himalayas:

• The Himalayas stands as sentinels in the North.
• They are the lofty snow capped Himalayas.
• Himalaya means ‘the Abode of Snow’.

The Himalayan mountains are divided into three main parallel ranges.

• The northernmost is the Great Himalayas or Himadri. The world’s highest peaks like Mt. Everest, Kanchanjunga are located in this range.
• Middle Himalayas or Himachal lies to the South of Himadri. Numerous popular hill stations are situated here. Mussorie, Chakrata, Dharmashala, Kullu and Manali are important hill stations.
• The Shiwaliks are the southernmost range of the Himalayas. It has several longitudinal valleys called ‘dunes’. Dehradun, Kotharidun, Patlidun are some examples of these valleys.