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Difficulty: MediumPhysiography and Relief Features of India

Which of the following statements regarding the physical geography and relief features of the Peninsular Plateau and Coastal Plains of India are correct?

  1. The Meghalaya Plateau is an eastern extension of the Peninsular Plateau, separated from the Chota Nagpur Plateau by a structural fault gap.Answer
  2. The Western Coastal Plain is a submerged coast featuring narrow margins and estuaries, providing favorable conditions for natural deepwater ports.Answer
  3. C
    The Cardamom Hills are situated directly to the north of the Palghat Gap, forming a continuous chain with the Nilgiri Mountains.
  4. D
    The Bhabar belt is situated south of the Terai region, consisting of fertile older alluvial deposits.

Answer

The correct statements are that the Meghalaya Plateau is an eastern structural extension of the Peninsular Plateau separated by the Malda fault gap, and that the Western Coastal Plain is a submerged coast with narrow margins and estuaries favorable for deepwater ports.
The statement regarding the Meghalaya Plateau is accurate because it is a structural extension of the Peninsular Plateau formed by downfaulting between the Rajmahal Hills and Garo Hills (Malda gap). Furthermore, the statement regarding the western coast is correct because it is a submerged coastal line creating narrow plains, estuaries, and natural deep harbors.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Evaluate the geological connection of the Northeastern hill plateau.
Geologically, the Meghalaya and Karbi Anglong plateaus are outliers of the Peninsular block, separated from the Rajmahal Hills / Chota Nagpur Plateau by the Malda (Garo-Rajmahal) gap.
This establishes the structural continuity of the Peninsular shield.
2
Assess the physiographic nature of the Western Coastal Plain.
The Western Coastal Plain is a prime example of a submerged coastal plain, resulting in narrow coastal strips, steep continental gradients, estuaries, and natural deep harbors.
This contrasts with the emergent, deltaic, and broader Eastern Coastal Plain.
3
Examine the spatial arrangement of southern hill ranges around Palghat Gap.
From north to south, the sequence is Nilgiri Hills → Palghat Gap → Anaimalai Hills → Shencottah Gap → Cardamom Hills. The Cardamom Hills lie south of Palghat Gap.
This disproves the assertion that Cardamom Hills lie north of the Palghat Gap.
4
Analyze Northern Plains zonal relief features from north to south.
The sequence from north to south along the Himalayan foothills is Shiwalik → Bhabar (pebble zone) → Terai (marshy re-emergence zone) → Bangar (older alluvium) → Khadar (newer floodplains).
This refutes the assertion claiming Bhabar lies south of Terai.

Key Concept

Physiographic divisions, structural extensions, coastal submergence, and latitudinal relief sequencing of India.
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Topics

Physiography and Relief Features of India

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