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Indian Geography – UPSC GS1

This module of the GS Paper 1: History, Culture, Geography & Society course covers physiography, rivers, climate, soils and vegetation. It has 2 study lessons and a 16-question practice quiz. Free lessons can be read in full; premium lessons show a preview.

Lessons in this module

1. Physical Features and Drainage of India

Free 7 min

India lies wholly in the Northern Hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) passes through eight states. Area: about 3.287 million sq km – the 7th largest country, with about 2.4% of the world's land area.…

2. Climate, Soils and Natural Vegetation

Premium 8 min

India has a tropical monsoon climate. The four seasons (as used by the IMD): Cold weather (December–February) – western disturbances bring rain and snow to the north-west. Hot weather (March–May) – loo winds; pre-monsoon showers…

 Module quiz: Indian Geography (16 questions)

Maps & infographics in this module

Political map of India showing all states and union territories including Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh
India's states and UTs. Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir became separate UTs in 2019; Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu merged in 2020.
Physical map of India with Himalaya, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Thar Desert, Western and Eastern Ghats
India's major physical divisions on shaded relief. K2 lies in Indian territory as depicted by the Survey of India.
Map of major rivers of India: Indus, Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri
Himalayan rivers are perennial; most peninsular rivers flow east into the Bay of Bengal, except the Narmada and Tapi.
Map of India's mineral belts: coal fields of Jharkhand and Odisha, iron ore in Bailadila and Singhbhum, oil at Digboi and Mumbai High, copper at Khetri
Most coal and iron ore is in the Gondwana and Dharwar rocks of the peninsula, especially the Chota Nagpur plateau.
Map of India highlighting the eight states crossed by the Tropic of Cancer – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram – and the 82°30′E Standard Meridian near Mirzapur
States found by intersecting the 23°26′N parallel with Survey of India-consistent state boundaries.
The Tibetan Plateau, the Himalaya and the Indo-Gangetic plain seen from space (NASA)
The Tibetan Plateau, the Himalaya and the Indo-Gangetic plain seen from space (NASA). Credit: Wikimedia Commons · Public domain.

Frequently asked questions

Lessons: Physical Features and Drainage of India; Climate, Soils and Natural Vegetation.

Answer: Mirzapur. The Indian Standard Meridian passes near Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.

Answer: Narmada. The Narmada (and the Tapi) flow west through rift valleys and form estuaries.

Answer: Godavari. The Godavari is the longest peninsular river, often called Dakshin Ganga.

Answer: Cotton. Black soil retains moisture and suits cotton cultivation.

Related modules

Ancient India3 lessons
Prehistoric and Harappan India3 lessons
Vedic Age, Mahajanapadas and Heterodox Religions4 lessons
Mauryas to Guptas5 lessons
Medieval India2 lessons
Early Medieval and Delhi Sultanate5 lessons
Mughals, Marathas and Bhakti–Sufi Movements5 lessons
Modern India4 lessons
Advent of Europeans and British Expansion5 lessons
Revolt of 1857 and Socio-Religious Reform4 lessons
Indian National Movement7 lessons
Post-Independence Consolidation4 lessons
World History2 lessons
World History in Depth6 lessons
Art and Culture2 lessons
Indian Art, Architecture and Literature6 lessons
Indian Physical and Economic Geography6 lessons
World Geography2 lessons
Physical Geography in Depth5 lessons
Geophysical Phenomena and Resource Distribution4 lessons
Indian Society2 lessons
Indian Society in Depth6 lessons

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