Peninsular Plateau, Coasts and Islands Quiz: Clerkship 2024
A little practice. A step forward.
10 questions in the WBPSC Clerkship 2024 style on India’s peninsular plateau, the two Ghats, coasts and islands, each with an explanation. 📖 Read the detailed topic
The black soil (regur) of the Deccan Plateau is formed by the weathering of which rock?
Much of the Deccan Plateau is built of basalt, formed from cooled lava and known as the Deccan Traps. Weathered basalt gives black soil, which holds moisture and suits cotton. Granite and sandstone are not its parent rocks.
- Black soil is also called regur
- It suits cotton
- The Deccan Traps are volcanic in origin
- Black soil comes from igneous rock, not river silt
- Black soil = black lava (basalt)
Which is the highest peak of the Western Ghats?
Anai Mudi (2,695 m) in the Anamalai hills of Kerala is the highest peak of the Western Ghats and of South India. Doddabetta (2,637 m) is in the Nilgiris, the highest in Tamil Nadu. Saddle Peak is in the Andamans and Mahendragiri in the Eastern Ghats.
- Anai Mudi is in the Anamalai hills
- Highest peak of South India
- Doddabetta is in the Nilgiris
- Both Doddabetta and Anai Mudi are in the Western Ghats, but Anai Mudi is higher
- Anai = elephant: tall as an elephant (2,695 m)
| Peak | Location | Height (m) |
|---|---|---|
| Anai Mudi | Anamalai, Kerala | 2695 |
| Doddabetta | Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu | 2637 |
| Saddle Peak | North Andaman | 732 |
Peak heights
Which pass between the Nilgiri and Anamalai hills links Kerala and Tamil Nadu?
The Palghat (Palakkad) Gap is a break in the Western Ghats between the Nilgiris and the Anamalai hills, and carries traffic between Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Thal and Bhor Ghats are in Maharashtra, linked to the Mumbai region; Banihal is in Jammu and Kashmir.
- Palghat links Kerala and Tamil Nadu
- Thal and Bhor Ghats are in Maharashtra
- Banihal is in the Himalaya
- Thal/Bhor are in Maharashtra, Palghat in Kerala: do not mix them up
- Palghat = the southern gap in the Western Ghats
Which rivers cut through the Eastern Ghats to reach the Bay of Bengal, making them discontinuous?
The Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri cut through the Eastern Ghats to the Bay of Bengal, so the Eastern Ghats are broken while the Western Ghats are almost continuous. The Narmada and Tapi flow west to the Arabian Sea; the Ganga-Yamuna and Indus-Sutlej are northern rivers.
- Eastern Ghats are broken, Western Ghats continuous
- Large Deccan rivers flow east
- Narmada and Tapi flow west
- Narmada and Tapi flow west and have no delta
- East-flowing rivers = cut the ghats, build deltas
Where is the Coromandel Coast?
The Coromandel Coast is the southern part of the east coast, from south of the Krishna delta towards Kanyakumari, mainly in Tamil Nadu. Kerala's coast is the Malabar and Maharashtra-Goa's is the Konkan. Gujarat's coast is on the Arabian Sea.
- Coromandel is on the east coast
- Northern Circars lie north of it
- Malabar is on the west in Kerala
- Malabar and Coromandel are both southern but on opposite coasts
- Coromandel = Tamil east coast
Which states does the Konkan Coast cover?
The Konkan Coast is the northern part of the west coast, covering Maharashtra and Goa. Karnataka's stretch is the Karnataka (Kannad) coast and Kerala's is the Malabar. Gujarat lies north of the Konkan.
- West coast from north: Konkan, Karnataka, Malabar
- Konkan covers Maharashtra and Goa
- Gujarat has the longest coastline
- Gujarat's coast is separate, not Konkan
- Order north to south: Konkan, Karnataka, Malabar
| Coast | State |
|---|---|
| Konkan | Maharashtra, Goa |
| Karnataka (Kannad) | Karnataka |
| Malabar | Kerala |
In which state is Chilika, India's largest coastal brackish-water lagoon?
Chilika lies on Odisha's east coast, a brackish lagoon connected to the Bay of Bengal and the largest in India. Pulicat is on the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border and Vembanad is in Kerala.
- Chilika is in Odisha
- Pulicat is on the AP-Tamil Nadu border
- Vembanad is in Kerala
- Pulicat is also a lagoon, but Chilika is bigger
- Chilika: Odisha's lagoon
| Lagoon | State | Coast |
|---|---|---|
| Chilika | Odisha | East |
| Pulicat | Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu | East |
| Vembanad | Kerala | West |
Which two island groups does the Ten Degree Channel separate?
The Ten Degree Channel, along 10 degrees north, separates the Andaman Islands in the north from the Nicobar Islands in the south. The Palk Strait lies between India and Sri Lanka. Lakshadweep is in the Arabian Sea.
- Ten Degree Channel lies along 10 N
- Andaman is north, Nicobar south
- Palk Strait lies between India and Sri Lanka
- Confusing the Palk Strait with the Ten Degree Channel
- Ten degree = 10 degrees = Andaman | Nicobar
| Islands | Sea | Formation |
|---|---|---|
| Andaman and Nicobar | Bay of Bengal | Tops of a submerged mountain chain |
| Lakshadweep | Arabian Sea | Coral atolls |
Where is India's only active volcano?
India's only active volcano is on Barren Island in the Andaman Sea. Narcondam is dormant. Saddle Peak is the highest point of the Andamans, not a volcano. Lakshadweep is made of coral.
- Barren Island is in the Andaman Sea
- Narcondam is dormant
- Lakshadweep has no volcano
- Do not call Narcondam active
- Barren by name, but it still erupts
What are the Lakshadweep islands made of?
Lakshadweep is a group of coral atolls in the Arabian Sea. It is not the tops of a mountain chain like the Andaman and Nicobar, nor a silt delta. Its headquarters is Kavaratti.
- Lakshadweep is in the Arabian Sea
- Coral atolls
- Headquarters Kavaratti
- Do not think the Andamans are coral islands
- Lakshadweep = coral islands; Andaman = mountain islands
📊 Topic Analysis
10 questions in the WBPSC Clerkship 2024 style on India’s peninsular plateau, the two Ghats, coasts and islands, each with an explanation.
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