Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau and Coastal Plains of India: Physiographic Divisions Notes for SSC
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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India is divided into six physical divisions: the Himalayas, the Northern Plains, the Peninsular Plateau, the Indian Desert, the Coastal Plains and the Islands. This note covers the Northern Plains, the Peninsular Plateau and the Coastal Plains, with the technical words that SSC asks again and again: Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar, Khadar, Ghats and the plateaus.
Six Physical Divisions of India
| Division | Example |
|---|---|
| Himalayan Mountains | Himadri, Himachal, Shiwalik |
| Northern Plains | Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra plains |
| Peninsular Plateau | Deccan, Malwa, Chota Nagpur |
| Indian Desert | Thar Desert (Rajasthan) |
| Coastal Plains | Western and Eastern coasts |
| Islands | Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshadweep |
Northern Plains
They are formed by the soil (alluvium) deposited by the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries. They are the most fertile and the most densely populated part of India.
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Bhabar | A narrow belt of pebbles at the foot of the Shiwalik where the streams disappear |
| Terai | A marshy and wet belt south of the Bhabar where the streams come out again; thick forests and wildlife |
| Bhangar | The older alluvium, which is slightly higher and has kankar (lime) nodules |
| Khadar | The newer alluvium, which is new every year in the flood plain and is more fertile |
Regions of the Northern Plains
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Punjab Plains | Punjab and Haryana (the Indus system) |
| Ganga Plains | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal |
| Brahmaputra Plains | Assam |
Peninsular Plateau
It is the oldest and the most stable landmass of India, made of hard igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is rich in minerals.
| Plateau or hill | Features |
|---|---|
| Deccan Plateau | The largest part, south of the Narmada; the rock is basalt (black soil) |
| Malwa Plateau | Between the Aravali and the Vindhyas (Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) |
| Chota Nagpur Plateau | Jharkhand, Odisha and Chhattisgarh; very rich in coal, iron and mica |
| Meghalaya Plateau | The part of the peninsula in the north-east, with the Garo, Khasi and Jaintia hills |
| Aravali Range | One of the oldest fold mountains in the world; Gurushikhar (Mount Abu, 1,722 m) is the highest peak |
| Vindhya and Satpura | The central highlands; the Narmada flows in a rift valley between them |
Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats
| Point | Western Ghats (Sahyadri) | Eastern Ghats |
|---|---|---|
| Position | Along the west coast, from Gujarat to Kerala | Along the east coast, from Odisha to Tamil Nadu |
| Nature | Continuous, high and steep | Broken by rivers, low and discontinuous |
| Highest peak | Anamudi (2,695 m, Kerala) | Arma Konda or Jindhagada (about 1,690 m, Andhra Pradesh) |
| Rainfall | Heavy, from the southwest monsoon | Less |
| Other hills | Nilgiri hills (Doddabetta, 2,637 m), Cardamom hills | Mahendragiri, Nallamala, Javadi hills |
The Nilgiri hills are at the meeting point of the Western and the Eastern Ghats. Anamudi is the highest peak of the Peninsula and of South India.
Coastal Plains
| Coast | Parts | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Western Coastal Plain | Konkan (Maharashtra), Kannad (Karnataka), Malabar (Kerala) | Narrow; the rivers form estuaries, and not deltas |
| Eastern Coastal Plain | Northern Circars (north of the Krishna), Coromandel (south of the Krishna) | Wide; the big rivers (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri) form deltas |
- The Eastern Coast has the lagoons Chilika (Odisha) and Pulicat.
- The Western Coast has the backwaters and lagoons (kayals) of Kerala.
Quick Tips
- Learn the order Bhabar, Terai, Bhangar and Khadar from the hills to the south.
- Remember that the Deccan is basalt and the Chota Nagpur is rich in minerals.
- Compare the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats in a table.
- Remember Anamudi (Western Ghats) as the highest peak of South India.
Quick Revision Points
- The Northern Plains are made of alluvium.
- Khadar is new alluvium and Bhangar is old alluvium.
- The Western Ghats are higher and continuous, and the Eastern Ghats are broken.
- Anamudi is the highest peak of the Peninsular India.
- The eastern coast has deltas, and the western coast has estuaries.
Practice Questions With Answers
- Which belt of pebbles lies at the foot of the Shiwalik?
Answer: Bhabar - Which marshy belt lies south of the Bhabar?
Answer: Terai - What is the new alluvium of the Ganga plain called?
Answer: Khadar - What is the old alluvium called?
Answer: Bhangar - Which is the highest peak of the Western Ghats and of Peninsular India?
Answer: Anamudi - Which plateau is rich in coal, iron and mica?
Answer: Chota Nagpur Plateau - What is the highest peak of the Aravali range?
Answer: Gurushikhar (Mount Abu) - Which coast has deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri?
Answer: The Eastern Coastal Plain - Which hills lie at the meeting point of the Western and Eastern Ghats?
Answer: Nilgiri hills - What is the Western Ghats also called?
Answer: Sahyadri
How to Practise This Chapter
Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Indian Geography notes page, read the previous topic Himalayas and the next topic Lakes of India. Also read the Indian Geography mind map and Rivers of India.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Bhabar?
Bhabar is a narrow pebble belt at the foot of the Shiwalik where the streams sink.
What is Terai?
Terai is a marshy belt south of the Bhabar where the streams re-emerge.
What is the difference between Bhangar and Khadar?
Bhangar is older alluvium and Khadar is newer alluvium that is deposited by floods every year.
Which is the highest peak of the Western Ghats?
Anamudi in Kerala, at 2,695 m.
Which is the highest peak of the Eastern Ghats?
Arma Konda (Jindhagada) in Andhra Pradesh.
What is the Deccan Plateau made of?
It is made mainly of basalt, which gives black soil.
Which plateau is the richest in minerals?
The Chota Nagpur Plateau.
What are the parts of the western coastal plain?
Konkan, Kannad and Malabar.
What are the parts of the eastern coastal plain?
The Northern Circars and the Coromandel coast.
Which is the oldest mountain range of India?
The Aravali range.
Is this topic asked in SSC exams?
Yes. Physiographic divisions are asked in SSC General Awareness.
How can I remember the divisions?
Draw the six divisions on an outline map of India and mark the main features.
Previous chapter
Himalayas Notes for SSC: Himadri, Himachal, Shiwalik, Mountain Passes and Peaks of India (Geography)
Next chapter
Lakes of India List: Largest, Freshwater, Salt Water and Crater Lakes with State Names for SSC
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.