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Class 10 Geography Chapter 6 Regional Geography of India
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Regional Geography of India
TEXTUAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWER
1. Give a brief introduction of India.
Ans: India is a vast country of Asia. It lies in the northern hemisphere of the world. The country is full of diversities. Such diversities apparent due to variation in climate, physical environment and socio-economic conditions. India has snow-capped mountain ranges of the Himalayas as well as the sandy desert of Rajasthan. The northern part of India lies in the temperate region while the southern part lies in the tropical regions. Indian landmass is characterized by varied landforms such as mountains, hills, plateaus, plains, floodplain etc. Indians belonging to a variety of racial groups such as Austro-Asiatic, Mongoloids, Aryans and Dravidian group of people. Various religion such as Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism etc in India. The unity is bought about by common physical landforms, monsoon climate, modern transport and communication system, trade and commerce, national freedom struggle movement and a unified administration growth in recent years.
2. Discuss the characteristics relating to India’s location and size.
Ans: India is situated in the southern part of the continent of Asia. India is surrounded by the Himalayas and China in the north, the Indian Ocean and Sri Lanka in the south, the Bay of Bengal and Myanmar in the east and the Arabian Sea and Pakistan in the west. It extends from Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari in and from Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Saurashtra in the west. India lies between 8°4′28″N and 37°17 53″ N lines of latitudes and 68°7′33″E and 97°24’47” lines of longitudes. The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into northern and southern halves. The northern part lies in the temperate climatic zone while the southern part falls under tropical zone. The north to south length of India is 3,214 km while the east-west length is about 2,933 km. It has a total coastline of 6,100 km while its landline boundary length is over 15,200 km. It shares a common boundary with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The total geographical area of India is 32,87,263 million sq. km. which makes it the 7th largest country in the world. India’s share in the total land area of the world is only 2.2%. Today, India consists of 28 states and 7 union territories.
3. Into how many physiographic divisions India can be divided? Discuss with diagram.
Ans: India can be divided into the following four divisions.
These are:
(a) The Northern Himalayas.
(b) The Northern Plains.
(c) The Deccan Plateau.
(d) The Coastal Plains.
(i) The Northern Himalayas: The Himalayan region lies in the northern part of India. It extends from Nanga Parbat in Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh in the east covering a distance 2500 km. It has an average width of 240 km to 500 km. The total geographical area of the Himalayan region is around 5,00,000 km². It’s height from the mean sea level is more than 8000m.The Himalayas were formed during the Tertiary period. The Himalayas consists of three parallel ranges running from east to west, namely the higher Himalayas, the lesser Himalayas and the outer Himalayas. The ranges are composed of easily erodible rocks of the Tertiary period. The higher peak of Himalayas are covered by snows. The average height of this range is 1,000 m.
(ii) The Northern Plain: The Northern Plain lies between the Himalayas in the north and the Deccan plateau in the south. It extends from Assam in the east to the Indo-Pakistan border in the west with a length of 24,00 km and width ranging from 240 km to 320 km. The Brahmaputra plain has an average width of 80 km. The entire northern plain region covers a total area of about 7,00,000 km². The vast northern plain consists of five plains.
These are:
(a) Western Plain.
(b) Punjab-Haryana Plain.
(c) Ganga Plain.
(d) North Bengal Plain.
(e) Brahmaputra Plain.
The western plain includes the dry areas of Punjab and Haryana. The Punjab-Haryana plain has been created by the sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers. The Ganga plain covering the plain areas of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and west Bengal has been created by the rivers Ganga and Jamuna. The rivers of the northern Himalayas have created the North Bengal plain. Similarly, the Brahmaputra and its large number of tributaries have created the Brahmaputra plain of Assam. Three main rivers namely the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra with their innumerable tributaries together created this vast plain. Ganga is the most important river and is originates from the Gangotri glacier of higher Himalayas.
(iii) The Deccan Plateau: The Deccan Plateau is situated on the south of the north Indian plain. This plateau is composed of old hard rocks. This vast plateau region includes Malwa plateau and Vindhya mountain in the north and Chotanagpur plateau on the north-east. The northern part is relatively less extensive and the Malwa and Chota Nagpur plateau are located here. This part extends from the Satpura, Mahadev and Mahakal mountain to the Cape Comorin. The Deccan plateau is higher toward the western Ghats and sloping towards the eastern Ghats. Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar and Kaveri are important rivers.
(iv) The Coastal Region: The coastal region of India is situated on the eastern and western boundary along the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It has a height between 30 m and 50 m from the mean sea level. It can be divided into eastern and western coastal region. It extends from the mouth of the Ganges to the Cape Comorin. It has an average height 1100 km and width of 120 km. In this coastal region the Chilka, Kolar and Pulicat lakes are located. India’s West coastal region is located between the Arabian sea and the western Ghats. It extends from the Gulf of Cambay in the north to the Cape Comorin in the south. This coastal region is long but narrow. Its height is about 1500 km and with ranges between 10 km and 15 km. The northern part lying between Mumbai and Mangalore is known as the Konkan coast. The southern part lying between Mangalore and Cape Comorin is known as the Malabar Coast.
4. Describe the physiographic division of India.
Ans: The physiographic division of India are described below:
(i) The Northern Himalayas: The Himalayan region lies in the northern part of India. It extends from Nanga Parbat in Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh in the east covering a distance 2500 km. It has an average width of 240 km to 500 km. The total geographical area of the Himalayan region is around 5,00,000 km². It’s height from the mean sea level is more than 8000m.The Himalayas were formed during the Tertiary period. The Himalayas consists of three parallel ranges running from east to west, namely the higher Himalayas, the lesser Himalayas and the outer Himalayas. The ranges are composed of easily erodible rocks of the Tertiary period. The higher peak of Himalayas are covered by snows. The average height of this range is 1,000 m.
(ii) The Northern Plain: The Northern Plain lies between the Himalayas in the north and the Deccan plateau in the south. It extends from Assam in the east to the Indo-Pakistan border in the west with a length of 24,00 km and width ranging from 240 km to 320 km. The Brahmaputra plain has an average width of 80 km. The entire northern plain region covers a total area of about 7,00,000 km². The vast northern plain consists of five plains.
These are:
(a) Western Plain.
(b) Punjab-Haryana Plain.
(c) Ganga Plain.
(d) North Bengal Plain.
(e) Brahmaputra Plain.
The western plain includes the dry areas of Punjab and Haryana. The Punjab-Haryana plain has been created by the sutlej, Beas and Ravi rivers. The Ganga plain covering the plain areas of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and west Bengal has been created by the rivers Ganga and Jamuna. The rivers of the northern Himalayas have created the North Bengal plain. Similarly, the Brahmaputra and its large number of tributaries have created the Brahmaputra plain of Assam. Three main rivers namely the Indus, the Ganges and the Brahmaputra with their innumerable tributaries together created this vast plain. Ganga is the most important river and is originates from the Gangotri glacier of higher Himalayas.
(iii) The Deccan Plateau: The Deccan Plateau is situated on the south of the north Indian plain. This plateau is composed of old hard rocks. This vast plateau region includes Malwa plateau and Vindhya mountain in the north and Chotanagpur plateau on the north-east. The northern part is relatively less extensive and the Malwa and Chota Nagpur plateau are located here. This part extends from the Satpura, Mahadev and Mahakal mountain to the Cape Comorin. The Deccan plateau is higher toward the western Ghats and sloping towards the eastern Ghats. Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Pennar and Kaveri are important rivers.
(iv) The Coastal Region: The coastal region of India is situated on the eastern and western boundary along the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. It has a height between 30 m and 50 m from the mean sea level. It can be divided into eastern and western coastal region. It extends from the mouth of the Ganges to the Cape Comorin. It has an average height 1100 km and width of 120 km. In this coastal region the Chilka, Kolar and Pulicat lakes are located. India’s West coastal region is located between the Arabian sea and the western Ghats. It extends from the Gulf of Cambay in the north to the Cape Comorin in the south. This coastal region is long but narrow. Its height is about 1500 km and with ranges between 10 km and 15 km. The northern part lying between Mumbai and Mangalore is known as the Konkan coast. The southern part lying between Mangalore and Cape Comorin is known as the Malabar Coast.
5. Describe briefly the climatic characteristics of India.
Ans: India is a vast country. There are variation in the major climatic elements like temperature, wind, atmospheric pressure and humidity in the country. The climate of India varies and depends mainly on the factors like vastness of the country, distance from the equator, varied physiography, difference in elevation, distance from the sea and impact of the monsoons. The climate varies due to temperature variation in different latitudes. The Tropic of Cancer running across the middle of the country has divided into northern and southern parts. The northern part falls in the temperate climatic zone. So, the southern part is relatively warmer than the northern part. The places having same latitudes may enjoy different variations in temperature, pressure, rainfall, humidity etc. and so also the different types of climate. For example, Agra and Darjeeling enjoy different types of climate because of their variations in elevations, although they are located in the same latitudes. On the other hand, the high Himalayas protect India from the cold winds blowing from the north and so, the northern India has not experienced so much cold. The Deccan plateau falls in the tropical climatic zone, its climate is not so much hot because of its plateau character. The nearness to sea may also cause the climate of a place to be moderate. The places located near the sea, the variation in summer and winter temperature is not so high. Mumbai enjoys a pleasant climate because of its location near the sea.
6. Explain how the monsoon affect the climate of India.
Ans: The impact of monsoons on Indian climate is one of the most so features. Monsoons blow in different seasons of the year, especially during summer and winter. In summer the south-west Monsoons blow and in winter the north-east Monsoons blow. The south-west Monsoons enter India after blowing over the Arabian sea. As this wind comes from the south-western side, it is called south- west Monsoons. This wind carries enormous amount of moisture from the Arabian sea and hits the Western Ghats. Then it rises up and on getting cold rain occurs. The western coasts such as the Konkan and the Malabar coasts receive more than 300 cm of rainfall annually. This wind after crossing the western Ghats flows over the Bay of Bengal. While flowing over the Bay of Bengal the wind again takes enormous amount of moisture and then advances towards Assam in North East.
It hits the Meghalaya plateau and as a result high rainfall take place in the southern slope of the plateau. The Cherrapunji area of the Meghalaya plateau receives about 1250 cm of rainfall annually. Assam and the foothills of Himalayas also receive heavy rainfall due to the south-west monsoon during summer. During winter, the north-east monsoon winds coming from Central Asia enter India through the mountain gaps of the Himalayan ranges. Since these winds are dry and cold, they do not bring rain to the north-eastern states. As these winds move towards south, they fly over the Bay of Bengal carrying in the process a bit of moisture which falls down as rain over the Coromandel coast.
7. What are the major soil types found in India? Give short description of each type of soil.
Ans: The major soil types found in India are:
(i) Mountain soil.
(ii) Soils of the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra plain.
(iii) Desert soil.
(iv) Lava soil.
(v) Soils of Deccan plateau.
(vi) Coastal soil.
(i) Mountain soils: Mountain soils are normally found on hills and mountain ranges. The glaciers deposit a lot of sediments and these form glacial soils at the foothills of the mountains. Coniferous forests tend to grow in such soil. As a result of the decomposition of leaves and mixed with soil, the soil becomes acidic. This type of soil is called podzol. The mountain soils are not very fertile. In the foothills of the mountains only rocky soils are found and little vegetation grows over this type of soil.
(ii) Soils of the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra plain: The Indo- Ganga-Brahmaputra region has alluvial soil. The alluvial soil is formed by the deposition of silt by the rivers.Two types of alluvial soils, namely new alluvial soil and old alluvial soil can be seen. New alluvial soil is found in the flood plains as well as on the river banks. These soils are free from salts and are extremely fertile due to humus content. The river valleys of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa, West Bengal and Assam have this type of soil. The old alluvial soil is relatively hard. As a result of chemical transformation and solidification process, these soils lose their fertility. Therefore, the use of fertilizers is necessary to regain their fertility. This type of soil is found in the plains of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Assam.
(iii) Desert soils: The desert soils are found in the Thar desert region of Rajasthan, Saurashtra and Rann of Kutch. Desert soils are formed due to various processes of weathering. These soils are composed of a mixture of sand and rock materials and have a high content of nitrogen and less amount of organic matters. So, this type of soil is not fertile. In some places, desert soil is free from salt and in those regions cultivation is possible with the help of irrigation. Wheat, barley, etc. are cultivated in such soil.
(iv) Lava soil: The soils formed out of the lava deposits are known as lava soils. Lava soils are also called black soils. This type of soil is found in Maharashtra, western part of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and neighbouring areas of Andhra Pradesh. This type of soil is ideal ideal for the cultivation of cotton, hence it is also known as cotton soil.
(v) Soils of Deccan plateau: The soils of Deccan plateau were formed as a result of weathering of the old Archaean and Cambrian rocks of the Deccan plateau. Laterite soil is also found in the Deccan plateau. It is found in the Malabar coast and in the eastern parts of Chotanagpur plateau. The laterite type of soil is also found in the Nilgiri hills and Western Ghats. Laterite soils are best suited for the cultivation of tea and coffee.
(vi) Coastal soils: Riverine soils are found in the delta regions of the east coast of India. The sea waves normally deposit sand-clay materials along the coastal region and thus soils are formed. Unlike the east coast, the soils of the west coast are not of riverin type. Coastal soils are generally sandy soils. Some alluvial soil and red soil laterite soils are also found in the coastal regions of Kerala and Karnataka.
8. What are the different vegetation types found in India? Mention them on a map.
Ans: The different vegetation types found in India are:
(i) Evergreen vegetation.
(ii) Monsoonal vegetation.
(iii) Dry thorny vegetation.
(iv) Grassland vegetation.
(v) Mangrove vegetation.
(vi) Mountain vegetation.
9. Describe the types of vegetation of India.
Ans: The types of vegetation of India are:
(i) Evergreen vegetation: Evergreen vegetation are found in region having an average annual rainfall of more than 200 cm and temperature ranges between 25⁰C to 27⁰C. The trees of evergreen forests are characterized by great height of about 45m. Besides tall trees, cane, bamboo, ferns and creepers of various kinds are also found as undergrowth on the ground. Sisum, Sandal, Rubber etc are valuable trees of the vegetation.
(ii) Monsoonal vegetation: Monsoonal vegetation generally grows in most of the regions of India having average annual rainfall between 100 cm and 200 cm and temperature of about 27⁰C. These vegetations are dependent on rainfall occurring during the monsoon season. As rainfall and temperature decrease in winter, the soils become dry and the trees shed their leaves during winter. Sal, teak, siris, sisu, simul and varieties of bamboos are the major trees of Monsoonal forests. These vegetations are found in Assam, UP, Himachal Pradesh and some other parts and the eastern part of Deccan plateau and the humid areas of the South Indian states are the regions where Monsoonal vegetations grow. These vegetations are also found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
(iii) Dry thorny vegetation: Dry thorny vegetation grows in the region where average annual rainfall is less than 50cm. and temperature is usually high. The soil is sandy and the water content in soil is less. Therefore, the vegetation have their thorny leaves instead of broad -leaf to check evapotranspiration. The western part of the Thar desert of Rajasthan and south-western parts of Punjab have this vegetation. The major trees of dry lands and desert region includes acacia, different varieties of cactus and date palm etc.
(iv) Grassland vegetation: It is remarkable that extensive grasslands like Prairie of North America and Savanna of Africa are not found in India. But, some grassland vegetations are found to grow in the areas having average annual rainfall between 50 cm and 100 cm. The grassland vegetations include short grasses and thorny bushes. Such vegetations are distributed in Punjab, eastern part of Rajasthan and plains of Uttar Pradesh in northern India and also in the central parts of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and some parts of Maharashtra of the Deccan plateau. The wet and waterlogged environment of the Terai region of the Himalayan foothills also favour the growth of grassland vegetation like thatches, canes, reeds etc. Among these there also grow trees like khoir, simul etc.
(v) Mangrove vegetation: Mangrove vegetations are found in the coastal delta regions.These vegetations grow mainly in the coastal areas of the gulf of kutch, the delta region of the Ganga-Brahmaputra, i.e, the Sundarbans and also in the deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri rivers. The sundari, date palm, coconut and bushy plants are the major trees of the region.
(vi) Mountain vegetations: Altitude has its much impact on the types and distribution of vegetations. We find different kinds of vegetations at different altitudes of mountains and hills. There are also varieties of vegetations at different altitudes of the Himalayas. The Himalayan foothills having an elevation of 1000m are the low hills covered by the thick monsoonal forests. These forests include sal and other valuable trees. Bamboos are also abundantly found here.To the north of the monsoonal forests, one can find coniferous tress which are situated between 1,000 m and 2,000 m. Such forests are found in the Himalayan regions of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, etc. In the north-eastern hill regions, we can see the coniferous forests. At the altitudes between 1600 and 3,000 m, many varieties of coniferous trees are found. Beyond this elevation, the regions have Alpine types of forests.
10. Write a short note on the growth of population in India.
Ans: The population of India is 1,02,70,15,289 as per the census of 2001. India has nearly 16% of the world’s total population while she possesses only 2.2% of the total land area of the world. One of the noticeable features of Indian population is that it has been growing at a rapid rate since the beginning of the 20th century. India’s population was just 23.84 crores in 1901 which increased to 102.7 crores in 2001. It is noticed that the increase in population in the decade between 1991 and 2001 was far greater than those of the previous decades. In 1991, the population of India was 84.63 crores which reached to 102.7 crores in 2001-an increase of 18.07 crores within ten years. It is also to be noted that the growth pattern of the Indian population slightly decreased in the decade between 1911 and 1921.
The population of India in 1911 was around 25. 21 crores while the population size in 1921 was just 25.13 crores showing a slight negative growth. Today the growth rate of India’s population is over 1.7% while the world’s average growth rate of population is only 1.2%. The main causes of population increase or decrease are the rates of birth and death rate. Population also increase due to migration of population to the country concerned. India’s population is growing fast and therefore, India has become the second largest populous country in the world and soon it is going to become the first largest populous country in the world.
Population growth in India (1901-2001)
| Years | Population (crores) |
| 1901 | 23.84 |
| 1911 | 25.21 |
| 1921 | 25.13 |
| 1941 | 31.86 |
| 1951 | 36.11 |
| 1961 | 43.92 |
| 1971 | 54.82 |
| 1981 | 68.33 |
| 1991 | 84.63 |
| 2001 | 102.70 |
11. “Population distribution is not uniform in all places of India”.— Explain.
Ans: India is the second largest populous country in the world according to the census of 2001 with a population of about 102.7 lakh. The population size accounts for about 16% of the world’s total population. The population is not same, it changes from time to time.
The main causes of population increases or decreases are:
(i) Difference in relief conditions: The size of population of a place is greatly affected by the relief conditions of the place. The river valleys with alluvial plains have high population because of the possibility of agriculture, human settlement and better transport and communication facilities. Hilly regions with little scope for agriculture and transport facilities have less population.
(ii) Variation in climate: Climate exerts a great impact on the population distribution. Desert regions of Rajasthan have low population while Ganga plain has high population mainly because of the difference in climate. Extreme hot and cold climatic conditions and no rainfall discourage human settlement and economic activities in the plains of Rajasthan.
(iii) Influence of soil: Scope for agriculture depends on soil conditions. The alluvial soil of the river valleys and the black soil of Deccan plateau are ideal for cultivation of rice and wheat respectively. Hence, these regions are thickly populated. The mountain soil is not very good for agriculture. Hence, the population density is thin in the mountainous region.
(iv) Influence of rivers: River valleys have high population distribution mainly because of the availability of water for domestic and industrial purposes. Such regions are also best suited for the development of agriculture which in turn encourages human settlement. That is why river valleys are considered to be cradles of civilization.
(v) Presence of minerals: Availability of mineral resources help the industrialisation of an area. Industrialisation brings about a lot of job opportunities. Hence, the major industrial regions of India are thickly populated.
(vi) Religious influence: Religious places like Varanasi, Mathura, Haridwar, Puri, etc. have thick population as many people like to settle in such holy places.
| S.L. NO. | CONTENTS |
| Chapter – 1 | Physical Geography |
| Chapter – 2 | Environmental Geography |
| Chapter – 3 | Concept Of Region And Regional Geography Of The World |
| Chapter – 4 | Regional Geography Of U.S.A |
| Chapter – 5 | Regional Geography Of Japan |
| Chapter – 6 | Regional Geography Of India |
| Chapter – 7 | Practical Geography |
| Chapter – 8 | Map Scale |
(vii) Transport and communication facilities: The population distribution is quite high in places that have better or modern transport and communication facilities. This is one of the major reasons for the presence of high population in towns and cities as compared to rural areas.
12. Discuss how population density varies in India.
Ans: One of the main features of Indian population is its uneven distribution of population. Some regions of India are thickly populated and some areas are thinly populated. The average density of the population is 324 persons per sq.km. This average density of population varies from region to region. For example, Delhi has 6,352 persons per sq. km while Arunachal Pradesh has only 13 persons per sq.km. Uttar Pradesh with a population of 16.6 crores is the most populous state of India while the total population of Lakshadweep islands adds up to just 60,000 people. West Bengal, Delhi, Chandigarh, Kerala, Daman and Diu, Pondicherry (present Puducherry), etc are some densely populated areas. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir. Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Andaman and Nicobar islands are the areas having low density of population. The factors that cause differences in the density of population of India are:
(i) Relief conditions.
(ii) Variations in climate.
(iii) Soil differences.
(iv) Availability of transport and communication.
13. Give a description of urban population of India and also present data on urban population growth in some major cities of the country.
Ans: The density of population in the towns and cities of India is quite high due to easy transport facilities, high industrial development, urban facilities, better development facilities etc. encourage people to settle in towns and cities. According to 1991 census 25.7% of the population of India lives in urban areas. 74.3% of the population lives in rural areas. The urban population has also been increasing at a rapid rate. In 1981, there were about 3,245 towns and cities in India which number rose to 3,768 in 1991. Today, there are 13 cities with over one million population. The most populous cities of India are Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai. According to 1991 census, the population of Mumbai was 125.71 million which was followed by Kolkata with a population of 109.16 million. The industrial development and economic growth achieved by India during the recent decades has boosted the growth of her towns and cities. For example, Assam in 1981 had 62 towns and in 1991 this number went up to 87. Guwahati is the largest town in Assam. According to 1991 census, the population of Guwahati was 5.84 lakhs. About 23.5% of the total urban population of Assam lives in the city of Guwahati.
Table: The first ten cities of India based on population size.
| Cities | Population as per 1991 census (in million) |
| 1. Mumbai | 125.71 |
| 2. Kolkata | 109.16 |
| 3. Delhi | 83.75 |
| 4. Chennai | 83.75 |
| 5. Hyderabad | 53.61 |
| 6. Bangalore | 42.80 |
| 7. Ahmedabad | 32.97 |
| 8. Pune | 24.85 |
| 9. Kanpur | 21.11 |
| 10.Nagpur | 16.61 |
14. Describe the characteristics of the major agricultural regions of India.
Ans: Agriculture plays an important role in the economy of India. About two-thirds of the country’s population depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
The characteristics of the major agricultural regions of India are:
(i) Fruits and vegetables region: This region extends from Kashmir to North-east India. The North-western part gets an annual rainfall of 60 cm and the eastern part receives around 200 cm of rainfall. Both the regions have ideal temperature for the growth of fruit trees. The main fruits grown in this region are apple, peach, cherries, plum, apricot, oranges, etc. Vegetables like potatoes, chillies, etc. are also grown here.
(ii) Rice-jute-tea region: India is one of the main rice producing countries of the world. The rice producing regions of India include Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Orissa, Northern and Eastern Bihar and the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh. This region has an abundance of fertile river valleys which are best suited for the cultivation of rice. Tea is largely grown in the Upper Brahmaputra valley of Assam, Tripura and North Bengal. Jute is grown in Assam, the Ganga plain, the delta region and the eastern coastal region of India. Besides rice, jute and tea, other crops, such as mustard, pulses and fruits like coconut, jackfruit, pineapple, mango, orange, etc. are also grown in this region.
(iii) Wheat and sugar cane region: This agricultural zone includes northern part of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, western part of Madhya Pradesh, northern part of Rajasthan, etc. This region gets moderate rainfall and so the shortfall in rainfall is met by irrigation. The major crops cultivated in this region are wheat and sugar cane. Rice is also grown in some places of this region. Wheat and sugar cane are grown in Uttar Pradesh, plains of Bihar and northern bank of the Ganges. Wheat is extensively muck cultivated in Ganga-Yamuna doab region, plains of Punjab, Haryana and northern Rajasthan. Besides these two crops, some other crops such as maize and pulses are also grown in this region.
(iv) Millets and oilseeds region: This agricultural region o includes the Karnataka plateau, parts of Tamil Nadu, southern parts of Andhra Pradesh and eastern part of Kerala. This region gets scanty rainfall ranging from 75 cm to 125 cm annually. The main crops grown include millets such as bajra, ragi, jowar and oil seeds such as groundnut, mustard and other pulses. Besides these, fruits mangoes and bananas are also grown here.
(v) Maize and coarse crop region: This region includes western Rajasthan, the semi-arid regions of Gujarat and the desert regions of western India. The eastern part contains some areas of alluvial soils, while the western part is mostly dry and sandy. This region gets an annual rainfall of 50 cm. Wheat and ragi crops are grown in the Mewar plateau while maize is grown in the western part of this region. Cotton, sugar cane, rice, bajra, etc. are also grown on a smaller scale in some parts of this agricultural zone.
(vi) Cotton region: The Deccan plateau is highly suited for the cultivation of cotton. The river valleys of the region are covered by black soil which is ideal for the cultivation of cotton. This region is mainly spread over Gujarat and Maharashtra. As this region falls in the rain shadow area of the Western Ghats, it gets little rain. Although cotton is the main crop of this region, yet other crops like jowar, bajra, gram, sugar cane, wheat, etc. are also cultivated.
(vii) Spices and plantation crop region: This region covers most parts of the coastal plains of the east and west, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands. This region gets over 250 cm of annual rainfall. The main items produced here are coffee, rubber, tapioca, pepper and cardamom. Rice is also cultivated in certain parts of the region.
15. Locate the major industrial regions of India on a map and describe each of them briefly.
Ans: The major Industrial regions of India are:
(i) Hooghly industrial region: Hooghly industrial belt has grown up on the bank of the river Hooghly. It includes Kolkata city and its adjoining Howrah urban centre. The major industrial centres are Naihati, Jagatdal, Shamnagar, Tribeni, Belur, Liluah, Andul etc. This region took its origin from the British period. The jute and engineering industries are the old industries of the region. This region faced great crises due to partition which led to shortage of raw materials. The industries here have not developed upto the level of expectation due to the problems like labour unrest, power supply problem and lack of capital etc.
(ii) Mumbai-Pune industrial region: This region has flourished as an important cotton textile centre, like -Mumbai, Vile Parle, Thane, Bhandup and Pune. The region had to face a set back after partition for the non availability of raw cotton. But as the region is having petroleum in and around, some diversified industries like petrochemical, synthetic fibre etc. have grown up. Pune has become a major chemical and machinery producing city. Some diversified industries have developed in the region as there is no problem of capital and labour.
(iii) Ahmedabad-Surat Industrial Region: This industrial region is now fast growing region of the country. The major industries localised in the region are petro chemical, fertiliser, synthetic fibre, textile and other chemicals producing industries. Initially the region grew with cotton textile industries and subsequently it shifted to focus on the establishment of a variety of chemical industries due to availability of natural oil and gas.
(iv) Madurai-Coimbatore-Bangalore Industrial Region: This industrial region is also famous for cotton textile industries. In addition to these industries, a good number of government controlled industries like machine tools industry, Indian Telephone industry, aeronautic industry etc. have grown up.
(v) Chotanagpur Industrial Region: The industries of this region have mainly grown up based on the minerals found in the Chotanagpur plateau. Mining and metal industries, engineering and chemical industries are the major industries of this region. There are a number of small industrial areas here and there in the country besides these five major industrial belts. The small industrial areas along with the major ones have contributed much towards the field of industrialisation.
16. Write short notes on the following:
(a) The north Indian plain region.
Ans: The Northern Plain lies between the Himalayas in the north and the Deccan plateau in the south. It extends from Assam in the east to the Indo-Pakistan border in the west with a length of 24,00 km and width ranging from 240 km to 320 km. The Brahmaputra plain has an average width of 80 km. The entire northern plain region covers a total area of about 7,00,000 km². The vast northern plain consists of five plains.
These are:
(a) Western Plain.
(b) Punjab-Haryana Plain.
(c) Ganga Plain.
(d) North Bengal Plain.
(e) Brahmaputra Plain.
(b) Importance of agriculture on Indian economy.
Ans: Agriculture constitutes one of the main pillars of Indian economy. Nearly two-thirds of the Indian population is dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. It provides raw-materials for several agro-based industries. These industries not only boost industrial production but also provide employment opportunities to thousands of people in the country and thereby reduce economic poverty and the problem of unemployment. It contributes substantially to national income by various forms of taxes and revenues to the government. The production of agricultural machinery, fertilizer, pesticides, etc. greatly boosts industrial production which in turn adds to the national income. India earns a great deal of foreign exchange by the way of export of agricultural produce particularly spices, tea, raw-cotton, etc. It feeds over a billion people of this country. Today, India saves a lot of national income by producing sufficient amount of food stuff within the country. Thus, agriculture has a significant role in the overall economic development in Indian economy.
(c) Monsoon vegetation.
Ans: Monsoona vegetation generally grows in most of the regions of India having average annual rainfall between 100 cm and 200 cm and temperature of about 27⁰C. These vegetations are dependent on rainfall occurring during the monsoon season. As rainfall and temperature decrease in winter, the soils become dry and the trees shed their leaves during winter. Sal, teak, siris, sisu, simul and varieties of bamboos are the major trees of Monsoonal forests. These vegetations are found in Assam, UP, Himachal Pradesh and some other parts and the eastern part of Deccan plateau and the humid areas of the South Indian states are the regions where Monsoonal vegetations grow. These vegetations are also found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
(d) Monsoon and rainfall in India.
Ans: The impact of monsoons on Indian climate is one of the most so features. Monsoons blow in different seasons of the year, especially during summer and winter. In summer the south-west Monsoons blow and in winter the north-east Monsoons blow. The south-west Monsoons enter India after blowing over the Arabian sea. As this wind comes from the south-western side, it is called south- west Monsoons. This wind carries enormous amount of moisture from the Arabian sea and hits the Western Ghats. Then it rises up and on getting cold rain occurs. The western coasts such as the Konkan and the Malabar coasts receive more than 300 cm of rainfall annually. This wind after crossing the western Ghats flows over the Bay of Bengal. While flowing over the Bay of Bengal the wind again takes enormous amount of moisture and then advances towards Assam in North East. It hits the Meghalaya plateau and as a result high rainfall take place in the southern slope of the plateau. The Cherrapunji area of the Meghalaya plateau receives about 1250 cm of rainfall annually. Assam and the foothills of Himalayas also receive heavy rainfall due to the south-west monsoon during summer. During winter, the north-east monsoon winds coming from Central Asia enter India through the mountain gaps of the Himalayan ranges. Since these winds are dry and cold, they do not bring rain to the north-eastern states. As these winds move towards south, they fly over the Bay of Bengal carrying in the process a bit of moisture which falls down as rain over the Coromandel coast.
(e) Causes of population growth in India.
Ans: The population of India is 1,02,70,15,289 as per the census of 2001. India has nearly 16% of the world’s total population while she possesses only 2.2% of the total land area of the world. One of the noticeable features of Indian population is that it has been growing at a rapid rate since the beginning of the 20th century. India’s population was just 23.84 crores in 1901 which increased to 102.7 crores in 2001. It is noticed that the increase in population in the decade between 1991 and 2001 was far greater than those of the previous decades. In 1991, the population of India was 84.63 crores which reached to 102.7 crores in 2001-an increase of 18.07 crores within ten years. It is also to be noted that the growth pattern of the Indian population slightly decreased in the decade between 1911 and 1921. The population of India in 1911 was around 25. 21 crores while the population size in 1921 was just 25.13 crores showing a slight negative growth. Today the growth rate of India’s population is over 1.7% while the world’s average growth rate of population is only 1.2%. The main causes of population increase or decrease are the rates of birth and death rate. Population also increase due to migration of population to the country concerned. India’s population is growing fast and therefore, India has become the second largest populous country in the world and soon it is going to become the first largest populous country in the world.
(f) Causes responsible for uneven distribution of population in India.
Ans: One of the main features of Indian population is its uneven distribution of population. Some regions of India are thickly populated and some areas are thinly populated. The average density of the population is 324 persons per sq.km. This average density of population varies from region to region. For example, Delhi has 6,352 persons per sq. km while Arunachal Pradesh has only 13 persons per sq.km. Uttar Pradesh with a population of 16.6 crores is the most populous state of India while the total population of Lakshadweep islands adds up to just 60,000 people. West Bengal, Delhi, Chandigarh, Kerala, Daman and Diu, Pondicherry (present Puducherry), etc are some densely populated areas. Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir. Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Andaman and Nicobar islands are the areas having low density of population. The factors that cause differences in the density of population of India are:
(i) Relief conditions.
(ii) Variations in climate.
(iii) Soil differences
(iv) Availability of transport and communication.
(g) Lava soil.
Ans: The soils formed out of the lava deposits are known as lava soils. Lava soils are also called black soils. This type of soil is found in Maharashtra, western part of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and neighbouring areas of Andhra Pradesh. This type of soil is ideal ideal for the cultivation of cotton, hence it is also known as cotton soil.
(h) Hooghly industrial region.
Ans: Hooghly industrial belt has grown up on the bank of the river Hooghly. It includes Kolkata city and its adjoining Howrah urban centre. The major industrial centres are Naihati, Jagatdal, Shamnagar, Tribeni, Belur, Liluah, Andul etc. This region took its origin from the British period. The jute and engineering industries are the old industries of the region. This region faced great crises due to partition which led to shortage of raw materials. The industries here have not developed upto the level of expectation due to the problems like labour unrest, power supply problem and lack of capital etc.
(i) Characteristics of the north Indian rivers.
Ans: The main characteristics of north Indian rivers are:
(i) The Ganges originates from the Gangotri glacier of the Higher Himalayas. The Brahmaputra originates from the Chema-yu-Dung glacier of China.
(ii) The north Indian rivers are quite young and have been formed in the recent past.
(iii) They all are quite long.
(iv) They carry an enormous amount of water and silt.
(v) The north Indian rivers have distinct upper, middle and lower courses.
(vi) These rivers change their course frequently.
(vii) They cause floods frequently causing huge destruction.
(viii)The river basins of these rivers are very fertile and hence thickly populated.
(ix) These rivers have large deltas.
(x) Many towns and cities are established on their banks.
(xi) They are highly useful for power generation and irrigation.
(j) Characteristics of the south Indian rivers.
Ans: The main characteristics of the south Indian rivers are:
(i)) The rivers of the Deccan originate in plateaus and low hills of the region. They are fed by rains. Therefore, most of these rivers are seasonal and become dry during the dry season.
(ii) These rivers are much older than their counterparts in the north.
(iii) These rivers are relatively shorter in length.
(iv) They carry less water and sediments than the northern rivers.
(v) There are no distinct upper, middle and lower courses.
(vi) These rivers do not change their courses.
(vii) The river valleys created by the Deccan rivers are not very extensive. They are rather small.
(viii) The river basins of the Deccan rivers are not very suitable for agriculture.
(ix) These have small deltas or no deltas.
(x) These are highly suitable for power generation. (xi) Only few towns are situated on the banks of the Deccan rivers.
(k) Indian islands.
Ans: The two island groups of India are the Lakshadweep Island group that lies in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Island group which lies in the Bay of Bengal. The Lakshadweep island group consists of 25 islands and these islands are situated quite close to the state of Kerala. Its total geographical area is only 32 sq.km and the capital is Kavaratti. The average height of the Lakshadweep Islands from the sea level is as low as 3 to 5 metres. On the other hand, the Andaman and Nicobar Island group consists of 215 islands. These Islands are situated far away from the east coast of India in the Bay of Bengal. This island group has a length of 590 km. and a width of 58 km. Its total geographical area is 8,249 sq.km. Its height from the sea level is not more than 5 metres. The capital of this island group is Port Blair. Most of the islands of the above mentioned island groups are small and uninhabited. Both of these island groups have their own geographical, economic and socio-cultural features. The Lakshadweep islands are coral in nature while the Andaman and Nicobar islands are volcanic in origin.
(l) The Himalayan mountain region.
Ans: The Himalayan ranges extend from the Indus valley in the west to the Brahmaputra valley in the east covering a distance of 2,500 km. Most of the northern rivers such as the Ganges and the Brahmaputra originate from the Himalayas. The Himalayas consist of three parallel ranges, namely the Greater Himalayas or Himadri, the Middle Himalayas or Himachal and the Outer Himalayas or Siwaliks. The Greater Himalayas contains some of the highest peaks of the world such as Mt Everest, Kanchenjunga, Nanda Devi, etc. To the south of the Greater Himalayas run the middle ranges and these ranges are known as Lesser Himalayas. Many of the important hill stations such as Dalhousie, Nainital, Dehradun, Darjeeling, etc. are situated on these ranges.
To the south of Lesser Himalayas lie the Outer Himalayas. This is known as Siwaliks. The Outer Himalayan ranges are not very high and are characterised by thick forests and tea gardens. The eastern ranges of the Himalayas are known as Purvanchal which consist of several hills such as Patkai, Bum, Naga, Jaintia, Khasi, Garo hills, etc. The western branch of the Himalayas extend from the north-west to the Arabian Sea. This part consists of ranges such as Hindukush, Safed Koch, Sulaiman, Kirthar, Zanskar ranges, etc. They separate India from Afghanistan and are not as high as their eastern counterparts. These ranges are noted for their mountain passes such as Khyber, Kurram, Gomal, Tochi and Bolan passes.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A. Ans the following questions in a word or a sentence:
1. From where do the Brahmaputra originated?
Ans: Chema-yu-Dung glacier.
2. What is the total geographical area of India?
Ans: 32,87,263 sq. km.
3. What is the length of the coastline of India?
Ans: 6100 km.
4. How many islands that constitute the Lakshadweep islands?
Ans: 25 islands.
5. Which is the most populated state in India?
Ans: Uttar Pradesh (16.6 crores)
6. Name the most thinly populated state of India.
Ans: Arunachal Pradesh ( 13 persons per sq. km).
7. What is the density of population in India?
Ans: 324 persons per sq. km.
8. What is the population of India according to 2001 census?
Ans: 1,02,70,15,289 ( 102.7 crores).
9. What is the percentage of urban population in India?
Ans: 25.7%.
10. What is the percentage of rural population in India?
Ans: 74.3%.
B. Fill in the blanks:
1. The area in India that has highest density of population is _____.
Ans: Delhi.
2. India share the total land area of the world is _____.
Ans: 2.2%.
3. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands group constitute _____ islands.
Ans: 215.
4. The Himalayas were formed during the _____ .
Ans: Tertiary period.
5. First cotton textile industry of India was established in _____.
Ans: Mumbai (1854).
6. _____ forests are found in the coastal delta regions.
Ans: Mangrove.
7. The crops that are cultivated during winter season is called _____.
Ans: rabi crops.
8. Narmada and Tapti empty themselves into the Gulf of _____.
Ans: Cambay.
9. The Ganges originates from the _____ glaciers.
Ans: Gangotri.
10. The thunderstorms that occur in Assam during the monsoon season is locally called _____.
Ans: Bordoichila.
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