Northern Mountains
Q170. Which listed region experiences particularly low rainfall because it lies in a Himalayan rain shadow?
[SSC MTS, 21 October 2024, Shift 3 (2024)]
(A) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(B) Haryana
(C) Ladakh
(D) Meghalaya
Answer: (c) Ladakh
Explanation: Ladakh lies north of high Himalayan barriers that intercept much of the monsoon moisture. Its elevated valleys and plateaus consequently have a cold-desert climate. Meghalaya and the Andaman Islands, in contrast, receive substantial rainfall from moisture-bearing winds.
Physical Divisions
Q169. Which natural region has the largest difference between day and night temperatures?
[SSC MTS, 13 November 2024, Shift 2 (2024)]
(A) Coastal region
(B) Island region
(C) Desert region
(D) Peninsular region
Answer: (c) Desert region
Explanation: Desert surfaces typically heat rapidly under clear skies and lose heat quickly after sunset. Limited moisture and cloud cover intensify the diurnal temperature range. Maritime coastal and island areas generally show smaller fluctuations because nearby water moderates temperatures.
Northern Mountains
Q168. Which statements are correct? 1. Zaskar, Ladakh, Kailash and Karakoram are trans-Himalayan ranges. 2. Greater Himalayas generally receive less rainfall than Lesser Himalayas and Shiwaliks. 3. Outer Himalayas form the most continuous range.
[TNPSC Group 4 Official Paper (2024)]
(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) 2 and 3 only
Answer: (b) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Trans-Himalayan ranges include Zaskar, Ladakh, Kailash and Karakoram. Much of the Greater Himalaya is comparatively dry relative to southern slopes. The high Great Himalayan chain, rather than the fragmented Shiwaliks, is considered the most continuous major range.
Northern Mountains
Q167. Which Himalayan division is considered oldest among these?
[WBPSC WBCS 2023 Mains, held 18 August 2024 (2024)]
(A) Middle Himalayas
(B) Greater Himalayas
(C) Lower Himalayas
(D) Trans-Himalayas
Answer: (d) Trans-Himalayas
Explanation: Trans-Himalayan belts contain extensive older rock successions north of the main Himalayan arc. The Shiwalik foothills developed much later from sediment deposits, while the Greater and Lesser Himalayas reflect different stages of tectonic uplift and deformation.
Coastal Region
Q166. Which Indian state has the longest coastline among these?
[UPSC CDS-I (2023)]
(A) Tamil Nadu
(B) Gujarat
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Andhra Pradesh
Answer: (b) Gujarat
Explanation: Gujarat has India’s longest state coastline, including the indented shores of Kachchh, Saurashtra and the Gulfs of Kachchh and Khambhat. Coastal measurements can be updated with improved mapping, but Gujarat remains the leading state.
Mountain Passes
Q165. Which of these passes is outside the Indian Himalayan region?
[UPSC CDS-II (2023)]
(A) Zoji La
(B) Bolan Pass
(C) Shipki La
(D) Lipulekh
Answer: (b) Bolan Pass
Explanation: Bolan Pass lies in present-day Pakistan, linking parts of Balochistan toward the Afghanistan region. Zoji La is in the Kashmir–Ladakh corridor, Shipki La in Himachal Pradesh, and Lipulekh in Uttarakhand. Thus only Bolan lies outside India.
Southern and Central Hills
Q164. Which hill group belongs to the Western Ghats?
[SSC CGL Tier-I, 24 July 2023, Shift 3 (2023)]
(A) Anaimalai Hills
(B) Khasi Hills
(C) Jaintia Hills
(D) Garo Hills
Answer: (a) Anaimalai Hills
Explanation: The Anaimalai or Elephant Hills lie in the southern Western Ghats near Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Khasi, Jaintia and Garo hills instead occupy Meghalaya’s northeastern plateau extensions. Anamudi, the tallest Western Ghats summit, lies in the Anaimalai highlands.
Plateaus
Q163. Which statement about the Deccan Plateau is incorrect?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 8 August 2023, Shift 2 (2023)]
(A) The Satpura Range lies south of the plateau
(B) Eastern Ghats border its east
(C) Western Ghats border its west
(D) Vindhyan uplands lie to its north
Answer: (a) The Satpura Range lies south of the plateau
Explanation: The Satpura belt marks a northern limit rather than the southern side of the Deccan Plateau. Western and Eastern Ghats flank the peninsular uplands. The plateau’s broad triangular highland mass stretches toward the southern Indian hill ranges.
Southern and Central Hills
Q162. At which hills do the Eastern and Western Ghats meet?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 2 August 2023, Shift 2 (2023)]
(A) Satpura Hills
(B) Nallamala Hills
(C) Nilgiri Hills
(D) Mahendragiri Hills
Answer: (c) Nilgiri Hills
Explanation: The Nilgiri highlands form the familiar meeting zone of the western and eastern peninsular hill systems in southern India. Their uplands stretch around Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala, with Dodda Betta as one of the best-known summits.
Plateaus
Q161. Which physiographic region is popularly called India’s storehouse of minerals?
[SSC CHSL Tier-I, 17 August 2023, Shift 4 (2023)]
(A) Deccan Plateau
(B) Western Ghats
(C) Chota Nagpur Plateau
(D) Himalayas
Answer: (c) Chota Nagpur Plateau
Explanation: The Chota Nagpur Plateau includes mineral-bearing crystalline and metamorphic formations across Jharkhand and adjoining states. Important iron ore, coal, mica and other mineral belts have made it a major mining and industrial region within India’s eastern Peninsular highlands.
