PET 2026 · Geography

India’s relief: ranges, plains and plateau

Order the Himalayan ranges and locate the boundaries of the Peninsular block

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MINDMAPS FOR UPSCPET 2026 · VISUAL REVISION

India’s relief: ranges, plains and plateau

Order the Himalayan ranges and locate the boundaries of the Peninsular block

Concept map
Major physiographic divisions

Himalayas: north to south

  • North-to-south order: Himadri (Greater) → Himachal (Lesser) → Shiwalik (Outer).
  • Himadri holds the loftiest snow peaks; Himachal features valleys and hill stations.
  • Longitudinal valleys between the Lesser Himalaya and Shiwalik are called duns.

Northern alluvial plains

  • Built by alluvial deposits of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems.
  • Forms a fertile, densely populated foredeep south of the Shiwalik foothills.
  • Sub-zones include bhabar, terai, older bhangar and newer floodplain khadar.

Central Highlands

  • Part of the ancient Peninsular Plateau lying north of the Narmada river.
  • Bounded by the Aravalli Range on the northwest/west and the Vindhyan scarps south.
  • Slopes northeastward, as shown by the flow of the Chambal, Sind, Betwa and Ken.

Deccan and mountain contrasts

  • South of the Narmada lies the Satpura range and the triangular Deccan Plateau.
  • Western Ghats are higher and continuous; Eastern Ghats are lower and dissected.
  • Keep non-Indian peaks distinct: Mont Blanc is the highest peak of the European Alps.
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Practise this concept · संबंधित प्रश्न

One visual, several questions. These links open the original paper at the matching question.

25 Oct · Shift 1 · 2026

25 Oct · Shift 2 · 2026

30 Oct · Shift 1 · 2026

Sources & study notes · स्रोत

Independent revision material, linked to the paper’s concepts. The question papers and answer-key status are available on OpenPYQ.