INDIA :SIZE AND LOCATION

Location
Lying entirely in the Northern and the
Eastern hemisphere
the main land extends between latitudes
8º4’N (Kanyakumari/Cape of Comorin
in Tamil Nadu) to 37 º 6’N (Jammu &
Kashmir).
 And longitudes 68 º 7’E (Ghuar Mota,
Gujarat) to 97 º 25’ E (Kibithu in
Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh).
 The southernmost point of the India
Indira Point got submerged under the
sea water in 2004 during the Tsunami.
 The Tropic of Cancer (23°30N) divides
the country into almost two equal parts.
 To the southeast and southwest of the
mainland lie the Andaman and Nicobar
Islands and the Lakshadweep islands in
 Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea
respectively.
 As the longitudinal extent of India is
about 30 longitudes lie 97°25’E to 68°7'
E.
 The time lag between easternmost and
westernmost points of India is of two
hours.
 the 82 º 30’ E is the Standard Time of
India; lies almost in the middle of India.
 This is five and a half hours ahead of
GMT
 Kanyakumari, the southernmost point
of the mainland of India is situated very
much near to the equator at 8 º 4’N; the
difference between the durations of day
and night is hardly felt, the maximum
difference is of 45 minutes only; when
we move further towards north,
 towards Kashmir, the difference
between the durations of day and night
increases (upto 5 hrs in Kashmir).
 Area: 3.28 million square km; about 2.4
percent of the total geographical area of
the world.
 India has a land boundary of about
15,200 km.
 The total length of the coast line of the
mainland is 6100 km; including Is of
Andaman and Nicobar and
Lakshadweep is 7,516.6 km.
 South of about 22" north latitude, it
begins to taper, and extends towards the
Indian Ocean, dividing it into two seas,
the Arabian Sea on the west and the
Bay of Bengal on its east.
 The north-south extension (3214
kilometer) of the country is more than
the east-west extension (2933
kilometer).
  The Tropic of Cancer (23°30′ N)
passes through eight Indian
states: Gujarat, Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura,
and Mizoram.
 Koriya district in Chhattisgarh
marks the intersection point of the
Tropic of Cancer and the Standard
Time Meridian (82.5° E longitude).

 naming an Ocean after a country- India

 Since the opening of the Suez Canal in
1869, India’s distance from Europe has
been reduced by 7,000 km. Since the
opening of the Suez Canal in 1869,
India’s distance from Europe has been
reduced by 7,000 km.
 India shares its land boundaries with
Pakistan and Afghanistan in the
 northwest, China (Tibet), Nepal and
Bhutan in the north and Myanmar and
Bangladesh in the east.
 southern neighbours across the sea -
island countries: Sri Lanka and
Maldives.
 Sri Lanka is separated from India by
the Palk Strait. the Palk Bay and
the Gulf of Mannar

 nine coastal states in India are Gujarat,

Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala,
Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha,
and West Bengal. Coastal Union
Territories include Puducherry, Dadra
and Nagar Haveli and Daman and
Diu, Lakshadweep, and Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
 The Western Ghats: one of the world’s
eight hotspots of biological diversity,
 The Western Ghats spans across six
states: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa,
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Top 5 States areawise
States Area (in Sq. kms)
Rajasthan 342,239
Madhya Pradesh 308,245
Maharashtra 307,713
Uttar Pradesh 240,928
Gujarat 196,024
Length of Coastline of 9 States/UTs
States/Union Length of the Coastl
Territories (in km)
Gujarat 1214.7
Andhra Pradesh 973.7
 Tamil Nadu 906.9
Maharashtra 652.6
Kerala 569.7
Odisha 476.4
Karnataka 280
Goa 160.5
West Bengal 157.5
Puducherry 30.6

UNCLOS
 Territorial Sea: Extending up to 12
nautical miles from the coastal state’s
baseline, the territorial sea grants full
sovereignty over the airspace above the
 sea, seabed, and subsoil within this
zone.
 Contiguous Zone: Stretching seaward
up to 24 nautical miles from baselines,
the contiguous zone acts as an
intermediary zone between the
territorial sea and the high seas. It
provides jurisdiction only over the
ocean’s surface and floor, without
granting air and space rights.
 Exclusive Economic Zone
(EEZ): Each coastal state may claim an
EEZ extending up to 200 nautical miles
from its baselines, beyond and adjacent
to the territorial sea. In the EEZ,
the coastal state has sovereign rights
for exploring, exploiting, conserving,
and managing natural resources of the
seabed and subsoil, including activities
like energy production from water,
currents, and wind.
 Unlike the territorial sea and contiguous
zone, the EEZ specifically allows
resource rights and does not grant the
coastal state the authority to prohibit or
limit freedom of navigation or
overflight, with very limited exceptions.
 India and Indonesia: The Great
Channel, located at 6° North of the
Equator, separates Indira Point from
Sumatra Is, Indonesia.
 India and Myanmar: Coco Channel
 India and Maldives: The 8°
Channel dividing the Maldives from
the Minicoy islands
Radcliffe Line
 declared on August 17, 1947; the
boundary between India and West
Pakistan and East Pakistan
 The McMahon Line - the boundary
between China and India; Sir Henry
McMahon, the then Foreign Secretary
 of Government of British India; 890
km, the McMahon Line resulted from
the Shimla Treaty of 1914 between
India and Tibet.
Durand Line
the boundary line between India and
Afghanistan; Sir Mortimer Durand –
1896
a short border is shared by Afghanistan
with the Indian state of Jammu and
Kashmir.
Line of Control (LoC)
 between the India and Pakistan; legally
a ceasefire line and not an international
boundary; the 1972 Shimla Agreement
after 1971 Bangladesh war
 war and subsequently ratified by both
Parliaments.
Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK)
 Line of Actual Control (LAC)

 Between India and Chinese occupied

kashmir
 India –China Boundary - three sectors:
Eastern sector (Arunachal Pradesh and
Sikkim), Middle sector (Uttarakhand
and Himachal Pradesh), and Western
sector (Ladakh).
 Designated in 1972 following the
Shimla Agreement, the LAC represents
the dividing line between the two
countries.
 South Andaman and Little Andaman
separated by Duncan Passage.
 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are
also known as the Emerald Islands.
 The Adam’s Bridge, situated between
Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka,
 includes Pamban Island and
Rameshwaram
 Coco Strait between the North
Andaman Islands and the Coco Islands
of Myanmar.
 Barren Island - India’s only active
volcano is located in the Andaman Sea,
about 135 km northeast of Port Blair in
the Andaman Islands.
 Narcondam Island - a volcanic island,
is situated in the northeastern part of
North Andaman.

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF INDIA

1. The Himalayan Mountains or the
Northern Mountains
2. The Northern Plains or the Indo-
Gangetic Plains
3. The Peninsular Plateau
 4. The Great Indian Desert
5. The Coastal Plains
6. The Islands
The Himalayan Mountains

 Geologically young and structurally

Fold Mountains
 Run in a west-east direction from the
Indus to the Brahmaputra.
 form an arc and covers a distance of
about 2,400 Km.
 width varies from 400 Km in Kashmir
to 150 Km in Arunachal Pradesh.
 The altitude is greate in the eastern half
than those in the western half.
 The Himalayas consist of three parallel
ranges
1. Great or Inner
Himalayas / Himadri /Himavan
2. Middle / Himachal Himalayas
3. Outer Himalayas / Shiwaliks
The Great or Inner Himalayas
 The northern most range
 run from the Indus to the Brahmaputra.
 the most continuous and consisting of
the loftiest peaks
 The folds of Great Himalayas are
asymmetrical in nature.
 The core of this part of Himalayas is
composed granite.
 perennially snow bound and a number
of glaciers descend from this range.
The Lesser Himalaya or Himachal:
 The altitude of peaks varies from 3,700
m to 4,500 m.
 Average width of this range is 50 km.
 mainly composed of highly compressed
and altered rocks.
 the Pir Panjal range is the longest and
the most important range
 Other ranges are the Dhaula Dhar and
the Mahabharat
 consists of the famous valley
of Kashmir, the Kangra and Kullu
Valley in Himachal Pradesh.
 well-known for its hill stations.
Outer Himalayas or Shiwaliks:
 the outermost range of the Himalayas.
 extend over a width of 10-50 Km and
have an altitude varying between 900
and 1100 meters.
 composed of unconsolidated sediments
brought down by rivers from the main
Himalayan ranges located farther north.
 valleys are covered with thick gravel
and alluvium.
 The longitudinal valley lying between
lesser Himalaya and the Shiwaliks are
known as Duns. Dehra Dun, Kotli Dun
and Patli Dun
 The Himalayas have been divided on
the basis of regions from west to east.
demarcated by river valleys.
 Punjab Himalayas: This part lies
between the Indus and Sutlej. From
west to east, this is also known as
Kashmir Himalaya and Himachal
Himalaya; respectively.
  Kumaon Himalayas: This part lies
between Sutlej and Kali rivers.
 Nepal Himalayas: This part lies
between the Kali and Tista rivers.
 Assam Himalayas: This part lies
between the Tista and Dihang rivers.
The Brahmaputra marks the eastern
most boundaries of the Himalayas.
Eastern Hills and Mountains:
 The Brahmaputra marks the eastern-
most boundary of the Himalayas.
 Beyond the Dihang gorge, the
Himalayas bend sharply to the south
and spread along the eastern boundary
of India.
 They are known as
the Purvachal or the Eastern hills and
mountains.
 mostly composed of strong sandstones
(sedimentary rocks).
 Covered with dense forests
 mostly run as parallel ranges and
valleys.
 the Patkai hills, the Naga Hills, the
Manipur hills and the Mizo hills.


The Northern Plains:

 The northern plain of India is formed
by three river systems, viz. the
 Indus, the Ganga and
the Brahmaputra; along with their
tributaries.
 This plain is composed of alluvial soil
which has been deposited over millions
of years.
 The total area of the northern plain is
about 7 lakh square kilometer.
 It is about 2400 km long and about 240
to 320 km broad
 a densely populated physiographic
division and is agriculturally a very
productive part of India.
 The rivers coming from Himalayas
involved in depositional work.
 In the lower course, due to gentle slope,
the velocity of the river decreases
which results in the formation of
Riverine islands.
 The rivers in their lower course split
into numerous channels due to the
 deposition of silt. These channels are
known as distributaries
 Majuli, in the Brahmaputra River, is the
largest inhabited Riverine island in the
world
The northern plain is divided into
three sections, viz. the Punjab Plain,
the Ganga Plain and the
Brahmaputra Plain.
Punjab Plains
 The Western part of the Northern Plain
 Formed by the Indus and its tributaries
and majorly lies in Pakistan.
 The Indus and its tributaries-the
Jhelum, the Chenab, the Ravi, the
Beas and the Satluj drains.
 dominated by the doabs.
Ganga Plains:
 extends
between Ghaggar and Teesta rivers.
 spread over the states of North India,
Haryana, Delhi U.P. Bihar, partly
Jharkhand and West Bengal
Brahmaputra Plains:
 the eastern part of the northern plain
 lies in Assam, West Bengal and
Bangladesh to India's eastern border.
The relief features of the northern
plain
Bhabar:
 After descending from the mountains,
the rivers deposit pebbles in a narrow
belt.
 The width of this belt is about 8 to 16
km
 lies parallel to the slopes of the
Shiwaliks.
 the streams disappear in this bhabar
belt.
Terai
 South of Bhabar belt, the streams and
rivers re-emerge and create a wet
swampy and marshy region known
as terai.
 a thickly forested region full of wildlife.
 The forests have been cleared to create
agricultural land and to settle migrants
from Pakistan after partition.
 Dudhwa National Park .
Bhangar:
 The largest part of the northern plain
 formed of older alluvium.
 lie above the flood plains of the rivers
 a terrace like feature.
 The soil in this region contains
calcareous deposits locally known
as kankar.
Khadar:
 The newer, younger deposits of the
flood plains
 They are renewed almost every year; so
fertile
 The Kosi River - “The Sorrow of
Bihar,” the Kosi River has shifted its
course by more than 120 kilometers,
during the monsoon season
 Bihar plains drained by the Kosi and
the Gandak River
The Plains of Rajasthan:
 Located to the west of the Aravalli
Range
 this plain formed as a result of the
recession of the sea, as evidenced by
 the presence of saltwater lakes like
Sambhar Lake near Jaipur.
 During the Permo-carboniferous period,
most of the Rajasthan plain was
submerged under the sea.
 The greater part of this plains is now
desert terrain characterized by sand
dunes and barchans.
 the Indira Gandhi Canal – longest man
made canal in India enabled intensive
agriculture in the northwestern region
of Rajasthan.
 Rohilkhand and Awvadh Plains
The Peninsular Plateau:
 The peninsular plateau is a tableland.
 It is composed of the oldest rocks
(composed of the old crystalline,
igneous and metamorphic rocks)
because it was formed from the drifted
part of the Gondwana land.
 Broad and shallow valleys and rounded
hills are the characteristic features of
this plateau.
The plateau can be broadly divided
into two regions, viz. the Central
Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.
The Central Highlands
The part of the peninsular plateau lying
to the north of the Narmada River,
covering a major area of the Malwa
plateau; Malwa plateau to Chota
Nagpur Plateau
 The Central Highlands lies to the north
of the Narmada River.
 It covers the major portion of the
Malwa plateau.
 The Vindhyan range is bounded by the
Satpura range on the south and the
Aravalis on the northwest.
 The further westward extension
gradually merges with the sandy and
rocky desert of Rajasthan.
 The flow of the rivers draining this
region, namely the Chambal, the Sind,
the Betwa and the Ken is from
southwest to northeast, thus indicating
the slope.
 It is wider in the west and narrower in
the east.
 The rivers in this region flow from
southwest to northeast; which indicates
the slope of this region.
 Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand mark
the eastward extension of this plateau.
 The plateau further extends eastwards
into the Chhotanagpur plateau.
 The Chhotanagpur plateau marks the
further eastward extension, drained by
the Damodar river.
The Deccan Plateau:
 The Deccan Plateau lies to the south of
the Narmada River.
 triangular in shape.
 The Satpura range flanks its broad base
in the north.
 While the Mahadev, the Kaimur
hills and the Maikal range form its
easter extensions.
 The Deccan Plateau is higher in the
west and slopes gently eastwards.
 An extension of the Plateau is also
visible in the northeast-locally known
as the Meghalaya, Karbi-Anglong
Plateau and North Cachar Hills.
 It is separated by a fault from the
Chotanagpur Plateau.
 Three prominent hill ranges from the
west to east are the Garo, the
Khasi and the Jaintia Hills.
 The Deccan Plateau, the largest region
of the Great Indian Plateau, covers an
 area of approximately 700,000 square
kilometers.
 Its triangular shape extends southward
from the Narmada River, with the
Western Ghats bordering it to the west,
the Eastern Ghats to the east, and the
Satpura, Maikal range, and Mahadeo
hills to the north.
The Western Ghats,
Sahyadri in Maharashtra, Nilgiri hills in
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and
Anaimalai hills and Cardamom hills in
Kerala
formed by a portion of land sinking into
the Arabian Sea.
Extending parallel to the western coast
from the mouth of the Tapi River to
Kanyakumari
 Western Ghats have a steeper western
slope compared to the gentler eastern
slope.
Major passes such as Thal, Bhor, and
Pal Ghat, Shengotta and Aralvoimozhi
gaps.
Eastern Ghats stretch
from the Mahanadi Valley to the Nigiris
in the south.
 discontinuous and irregular nature,
dissected by rivers like the Mahanadi,
Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, which
drain into the Bay of Bengal.
 To the southeast of the Eastern Ghats:
the Shevaroy Hills and the Javadi Hills.
 the Western Ghats are relatively higher
(900-1600 meters) and more continuous
compared to the Eastern Ghats (600
meters).
 The average elevation of the Western
Ghats is approximately 1,500 meters,
with height increasing from north to
south.
 The highest peak of the Peninsular
plateau, Anamudi – south India’s
highest peak located in kerala (2,695
meters), is located in the Anaimalai
hills of the Western Ghats, followed by
Dodabetta (2,637 meters) in the Nilgiri
hills.
 The Eastern Ghats - Mahendragiri
(1,501 meters) - highest peak.
 The Nilgiri hills is the meeting point of
the Eastern and Western Ghats.
 The Central Highlands stretch between
the Vindhyachal range in the south and
the Great Northern Plains in the north.
 Extending eastward from the Central
Highlands, we find the Rajmahal hills.
 The dominant part of the Central
Highlands is occupied by the Malwa
plateau.
 East of Malwa Plateau lies
Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand and the
Chota Nagpur Plateau
 The Chota Nagpur Plateau = drained by
the Damodar River and store house of
nineral resources in India
 the Mahadeo Hills, Kaimur Hills, and
Maikal Range.
 The subsidence of the land mass formed
rift valley between the Vindhyas and
the Satpuras - the Narmada Rift Valley.
 The general elevation of the Central
Highlands ranges from 700 to 1,000
meters, sloping towards the north and
northeast.
 tributaries of the Yamuna River,
including the Chambal, Sind, Betwa,
 and Ken, originate from the Vindhyan
and Kaimur ranges.
 The Banas River, a tributary of the
Chambal, originates from the Aravalli
range in the west.
 The Aravalli hills stretch from Gujarat
through Rajasthan to Delhi in a
northeast direction (700 kilometers).
 The highest peak in the Aravalli hills is
Gurushikhar (1,722 meters) and the hill
station is Mt. Abu.
 The North-Eastern Plateau is an
extension of the Peninsular plateau in
the northeast - the Meghalaya and
Karbi-Anglong Plateau.
 The North-Eastern Plateau is separated
from the Chotanagpur Plateau by the
Malda fault. Over time, this depression
has been filled up by sediment
deposition from numerous rivers.
 The Meghalaya plateau: the Garo Hills,
the Khasi Hills, and the Jaintia Hills,
named after the tribal groups inhabiting
the area; The highest peak in this
plateau is Shillong.
 The Chotanagpur Plateau and the
Meghalaya plateau are rich in mineral
resources such as coal, iron ore,
sillimanite, limestone, and uranium.
 the highest amount of rainfall during
the southwest monsoon -
Mawsynram

The Western and the Eastern Ghats:

 mark the western and the eastern edges
of the Deccan Plateau.
 Western Ghats le parallel to the western
coast.
 continuous and can be crossed through
passes only.
 The Western Ghats are higher than the
Eastern Ghats.
 The Eastern Ghats stretch from the
Mahanadi Valley to the Nigiris in the
south.
 The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous
and irregular and dissected by rivers
draining into the Bay of Bengal.
 The Western Ghats – South west
monsoon - orographic rain .
 Different local names of the Western
Ghats.
 The height of the Western Ghats
progressively increases from north to
south.
 The highest peaks include the Anai
Mudi (2,695metres) and the Doda
Betta (2,637
metres) Mahendragiri (1,501 metres)
is the highest peak in the Eastern Ghats.
 Shevroy Hills and the Javadi Hills are
located to the southeast of the Eastern
Ghats.
 hill stations of Udagamandalam,
popularly known as Ooty and
the Kodaikanal.
Features of the peninsular plateau
 One of the distinct features of the
peninsular plateau is the black soil area
known as Deccan Trap; volcanic
origin hence the rocks are igneous.
 The Araval Hills on the western and
north western margins of the peninsular
plateau are highly eroded hills and are
found as broken hills.
The Indian Desert
 an undulating sandy plain covered with
sand dunes; receives very low rainfall
below 150 mm per year.
 It has arid climate with low vegetation
cover.
 Seasonal Streams appear during the
rainy season.
 Luni is the only large river.
 Barchans (crescent shaped dunes) cover
larger areas.
 But longitudinal dunes become more
prominent near the Indo-Pakistan
boundary.

The Coastal Plains

 The Peninsular plateau is flanked by
narrow coastal plain.
 The western coast plain is sandwiched
between the Western Ghats and the
Arabian Sea and is a narrow plain.
Western Coastal Plain consists of
three sections
 1. The northern part of the coast is
called the Konkan (Mumbai – Goa).
2. The central stretch is called
the Kannad Plain.
3. While the southern stretch is
referred to as the Malabar Coast.
Eastern Coastal Plain:
 along the Bay of Bengal
 wide and level.
 In the northern part - the Northern
Circar.
 the southern part - the Coromandel
Coast.
 the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the
Krishna and the Kaveri - extensive
delta on this coast
 The Chilika Lake is the largest lagoon
(salt water) lake in India. It lies in the
state of Odisha, to the south of the
Mahanadi delta.
 The Malabar coast: “Kayals”
(backwaters) - fishing, inland
navigation, and tourism.

The Western Coastal Plains are

subdivided into
Kutch and Kathiawar Plains
 Kathiawar is primarily formed of
Deccan Lava, while tertiary rocks can
be found in the Kutch area.
 Kachchh is divided into the Great Rann
of Kutch and the Little Rann of Kutch.
 Gujarat Plain
 This plain, formed by the rivers
Narmada, Tapi, Mahi, and Sabarmati,
covers the southern half of Gujarat and
the coastal sections of the Gulf of
Khambhat.
Konkan Plain
 Location: Stretching from Daman to
Goa, the Konkan Plain lies to the south
of the Gujarat plain.
Karnataka Coastal Plain
 Extending from Goa to Mangalore, the
Karnataka Coastal Plain is
characterized by its narrow width,
typically ranging from 30 to 50
kilometers, with a maximum width of
70 kilometers near Mangalore.
 The Sharavati River creates the
magnificent Gersoppa (Jog) Falls
 The Eastern Coastal Plains are further
categorized intdivided into

Utkal Coast
 Extent: The Utkal Coast spans from
Chilka Lake to Kollur Lake,
encompassing a substantial area.
 This region primarily consists of the
coastal parts of Odisha, forming the
Utkal Plain.
 The Utkal Coast is part of the Mahanadi
River delta basin.
 Chilka Lake, the country’s largest lake
Andhra Coast
 The Andhra Coast extends from Kollur
Lake in the north to Pulicat Lake in the
south.
 the basins of the Krishna and Godavari
rivers.
 The most prominent feature of this
plain is the delta formed by the merging
of the Godavari and Krishna river
deltas, creating a single physiographic
entity. Sriharikota Island, a lengthy
sand spit, blocks access to this region
(housing the ISRO launch facility).
Kolleru Lake, once a coastal lagoon,
has shifted further inland over time.
Coromandel Coast
 The Coromandel Coast stretches along
the Tamil Nadu Plain for approximately
675 kilometers, from Pulicat Lake to
Kanyakumari, with an average width of
100 kilometers.
 The Cauvery delta, which spans 130
kilometers in width, is the most notable
feature of this plain.
 Notable Characteristics: This region
receives substantial rainfall, particularly
during the northeast monsoon in winter.
 The fertile land and extensive irrigation
systems in the Cauvery delta have made
it the granary of South India.

The Islands
Lakshadweep
 The Lakshadweep Islands group in the
Arabian Sea is close to Kerala.
 This group of islands is composed of
small coral islands.
 The Lakshadweep Islands were earlier
known
as Laccadive, Minicoy and Amindive.
 In 1973, these were named as
Lakshadweep. It covers small area
of 32 sq km.
 Kavaratti Island is the administrative
headquarters of Lakshadweep.
 The island group has great diversity of
flora and fauna.
 The Pitti Island, which is uninhabited,
has a bird sanctuary.
Coral
 Coral polyps are short-lived
microscopic organisms, which live in
colonies.
 They flourish in shallow, mud-free and
warm waters.
 They secrete calcium carbonate.
 The coral secretion and their skeletons
from coral deposits in the form of reefs.
 They are mainly of three kinds: barrier
reef. fringing reef and atolls.
 The Great Barrier Reef of Australia is a
good example of the first kind of coral
reefs.
 Atolls are circular or horse shoe-shaped
coral reefs.
Andaman and Nicobar
 The elongated chain of islands located
in the Bay of Bengal extending from
north to south are Andaman and
Nicobar islands.
 They are bigger in size and are more
numerous and scattered.
 The entire group of islands is divided
into two broad categories.
 The Andaman in the north and the
Nicobar in the south.
 It is believed that these islands are an
elevated portion of submarine
mountains.
 These island groups are of great
strategic importance for the country.
 There is great diversity of flora and
fauna in this group of islands too.
 These islands lie close to equator and
experience equatorial climate and have
thick forest cover.

 India’s only active volcano is found on
Barren island in Andaman and Nicobar
group of Islands.

 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands,

situated in the Bay of Bengal, form a
narrow band running from north to
south between 6° 45′ N and 13° 45′ N.
 This archipelago consists of
approximately 265 large and small
islands, stretching over approximately
590 kilometers between 6° 45′ N and
13° 45′ N latitude, and from 92° 10′ E
to 94° 15′ E longitude.
 The Andaman Islands are divided into
three main groups: North, Middle, and
South. The Duncan Passage separates
Little Andaman from South Andaman,
while the Ten Degree Channel
 separates the Great Andaman group in
the north from the Nicobar group in the
south.
 The Great / Grand Channel links the
Indonesian islands of Great Nicobar
and Sumatra, while the Coco Strait
separates Myanmar’s Coco Islands
from the North Andaman Islands.
 The capital of the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands is Port Blair, located in
the South Andaman group. The largest
of the Nicobar Islands is Great Nicobar,
which is the world’s southernmost
island, situated near Indonesia’s
Sumatra. Car Nicobar is the
northernmost of the Nicobar Islands.
 The majority of these islands are
predominantly composed of tertiary
sandstone, limestone, and shale, with
basic and ultrabasic volcanoes forming
their foundation. The Barren and
 Narcondam Islands, located north of
Port Blair, are volcanic in origin.
 Many of the islands are fringed by coral
reefs, while dense forests cover others.
The landscape is generally
mountainous, with the highest peak in
North Andaman being Saddle Peak,
reaching an elevation of 737 meters.
 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands
experience a tropical marine climate
influenced by the seasonal monsoon
winds. The region is covered by lush
tropical rainforests, and mangrove
forests line the shores.
 Coconut serves as a staple food source
for the inhabitants, and fishing and pig
farming are important economic
activities. The islands are also home to
the Giant Robber Crab, the world’s
largest and rarest crab, known for its
 ability to climb coconut trees and crack
open their tough shells.
 Many of the islands remain
uninhabited, and even the populated
ones have relatively low population
densities. The region is located in a
seismically active zone, making it prone
to earthquakes.
 The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are
often referred to as the Emerald Islands.
 Notably, the Andaman Islands are home
to the Sentinelese people, one of the last
remaining uncontacted tribes on Earth,
known for their isolation from modern
civilization.
 The state animal of the Andaman
Islands is the dugong, a marine
mammal native to the Indo-Pacific
coastal regions, particularly the
Andaman Islands.
 These islands were formerly known as
Laccadive, Minicoy, and Amindivi. The
channels that separate these islands are
relatively narrow.
 Lakshadweep is India’s smallest Union
Territory, with its administrative capital
being Kavaratti, also the largest city
within the Union Territory.
 The Lakshadweep Islands consist of 12
atolls, three reefs, five submerged
banks, and 10 inhabited islands,
forming a single-district Union
Territory. The name “Lakshadweep”
means “a hundred thousand islands” in
Malayalam and Sanskrit.
 Located between 280 and 480
kilometers off the coast of Kerala, these
islands are part of the Reunion Volcanic
 Hotspot and are predominantly covered
by coral deposits.
 Fishing is a primary source of
livelihood for many inhabitants of these
islands, and the storm beaches consist
of unconsolidated pebbles, shingles,
cobbles, and boulders.
 The largest island within the
Lakshadweep group is Minicoy Island,
situated to the south of the nine-degree
canal. It is separated from the Maldives
by the 8 Degree Channel (at 8 degrees
north latitude) and from the main
Lakshadweep archipelago by the 9
Degree Channel (at 9 degrees north
latitude).
 The Lakshadweep region lacks forests
and is characterized by low-lying
islands that barely rise more than five
meters above sea level. The landscape
is predominantly flat, devoid of any
 notable relief features such as hills,
streams, or valleys.
 Pitti Island is home to sea turtles and
various pelagic birds, including the
brown noddy, lesser crested tern, and
larger crested tern. It has been
designated as a bird sanctuary within
the Lakshadweep Islands.

New Moore Island (South Talpatti /

Purbasha Island)
 New Moore Island, also known as
South Talpatti or Purbasha Island, is a
small uninhabited sandbar landform
located in the Bay of Bengal, near the
Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta area.
 It first emerged in November 1970,
following the Bhola cyclone, and it
periodically appears and disappears due
to natural forces.
 Despite its lack of permanent
inhabitants or installations, both India
and Bangladesh claimed sovereignty
over the island, driven by rumors of
potential oil and natural gas reserves in
the vicinity. This led to a dispute over
maritime borders.
Diu Island
 Diu Island is situated off the south coast
of Kathiawar, separated from the
Gujarat Coast by a tidal brook.
 The island features limestone cliffs,
rocky coves, and sandy beaches, with
Nagoa Beach being a popular
destination.
 Notable attractions on Diu Island
include the old Diu fort, known for its
stunning architecture, and other
beautiful beaches like Ghoghla Beach.
 Majuli Island
 Majuli is a significant river island
located on the Brahmaputra River in
Assam.
 Its formation was influenced by the
changing course of the Brahmaputra
River and its tributaries, particularly the
Lohit River.
 This island emerged as a result of
historical shifts in the river’s course,
likely triggered by earthquakes.
 Majuli is also a spiritual center for
Assamese neo-Vaishnavites.
Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island)
 Abdul Kalam Island, also known as
Wheeler Island, is a small island off the
coast of Odisha.
 It serves as India’s most advanced
missile testing facility, playing a crucial
 role in the country’s missile
development and defense capabilities.
Sagar Island:
 Sagar Island is a substantial island
situated in the Ganga delta in the Bay of
Bengal.
 It holds great religious significance for
Hindus and is a major pilgrimage site.
Halliday Island:
 Halliday Island is part of the
Sundarbans region in the state of West
Bengal. It is situated in the Malta River
and has been designated as a wildlife
refuge.
Phumdis (Floating Islands)
 The state of Manipur is home to the
unique Phumdis or Floating Islands,
which are part of the Keibul Lamjao
National Park.
 These islands are renowned for their
biodiversity, particularly the presence
of the Eld’s deer or Sangai.
Munroe Island
 Munroe Island is an inland island group
located at the confluence of Ashtamudi
Lake and the Kallada River in Kerala,
South India.
Geological Time Scale of India
Major Geological Events in India
The upheaval of the Himalayas during
the tertiary period.
 Aggradational formation of the Indo-
Gangetic plain during the Pleistocene
period, an ongoing process
characterised by sedimentation in the
floodplains of rivers and the lower
Gangetic plain.
Geological Survey of India has
classified the rock systems of the
country into four major divisions:
1. Archaean Rock System:
2. Purana Rock System:
3. Dravidian Rock System:
4. Aryan Rock System:

Archaean Rock System (Precambrian

Rocks)
The Archaean Rock System
encompasses rocks formed before the
Cambrian system, dating back
 approximately 4 billion years. This
system includes:
Archaean Gneisses and Schists [4
Billion Years]:
Gneiss exhibits varying mineral
compositions, ranging from granite to
gabbro.
Schists are predominantly crystalline
and may contain minerals like mica,
talc, hornblende, and chlorite.
 Oldest rocks formed around 4 billion
years ago during the pre-Cambrian era.
 Resulted from the solidification of
molten magma on a highly heated
Earth’s surface.
 Referred to as the ‘Basement Complex’
due to their age, forming the base for
subsequent layers.
 Azoic or unfossiliferous, foliated,
thoroughly crystalline, and includes
 plutonic intrusions (volcanic rocks
found deep inside).
Dharwar System [4 – 1 Billion Years]:
 Formation period ranges from 4 billion
years ago to 1 billion years ago.
 Comprises highly metamorphosed
sedimentary rock-system, resulting
from the metamorphosis of sediments
of Archaean gneisses and schists.
 Found abundantly in the Dharwad
district of Karnataka.
 Economically significant for hosting
valuable minerals such as high-grade
iron-ore, manganese, copper, lead, gold,
etc.
Purana Rock System (1400 – 600
Million Years) includes two divisions:
Cuddapah System:
 Deposits of unfossiliferous clay, slates,
sandstones, and limestones in synclinal
basins.
 Prominently observed in the Cuddapah
district of Andhra Pradesh.
 Rich in ores of iron, manganese,
copper, cobalt, nickel, and large
deposits of cement-grade limestones.
Vindhyan System (1300-600 million
years):
 Named after the Vindhya mountains, it
comprises ancient sedimentary rocks
(4000 m thick) superimposed on the
Archaean base.
 Mostly unfossiliferous and covers a
large area of the Deccan trap.
 Diamond-bearing regions, yielding
Panna and Golconda diamonds.
 Devoid of metalliferous minerals but
provides durable stones, ornamental
stones, limestone, and pure glass-
making sand.
 The Dravidian Rock System
(Palaeozoic) formed about 600 – 300
million years ago.
Found in the Extra Peninsular region
(Himalayas and Ganga plain) and is
abundant in fossils. The Carboniferous
rocks (350 million years) within the
Dravidian system are particularly
noteworthy:
Carboniferous Rocks (350 Million
Years):
 Mainly composed of limestone, shale,
and quartzite.
 Mount Everest is composed of Upper
Carboniferous limestones.
 Marks the beginning of coal formation,
with most of the coal found in India not
belonging to the Carboniferous period.
 The term “Carboniferous” denotes coal-
bearing, and high-quality coal from
 regions like the Great Lakes Region-
USA, U.K., and Ruhr region is
Carboniferous coal.
Aryan Rock System (Upper
Carboniferous to the Recent)
 Gondwana System derived its name
from the Gonds, the most primitive
people of Telangana and Andhra
Pradesh.
 It includes deposits laid down in
synclinal troughs on an ancient plateau
surface. Notable for containing nearly
98% of India’s coal reserves,
Gondwana coal is younger than
Carboniferous coal.
 It also has rich deposits of iron ore,
copper, uranium, antimony, and serves
as a source of building materials.
The Jurassic System involves marine
transgressions, giving rise to shallow
water deposits in Rajasthan and
Kachchh.
Deccan Trap, resulting from volcanic
outbursts, covers a vast area in
Peninsular India, with basaltic lava
flows creating distinct geological
features.
It has been divided into three groups –
the Upper Trap, Middle Trap, and
Lower Trap.
The Tertiary System (Eocene to
Pliocene) spans about 60 to 7 million
years ago and is crucial in India’s
geological history, marking the birth of
the Himalayas and the formation of
India’s present shape.