Which of the following is NOT a physiographic subdivision of the Northern Plains of India?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is: (D) Vindhyan Plateau

• The Vindhyan Plateau is not a part of the physiographic subdivisions of the Northern Plains of India.

• It is part of the Peninsular Plateau region, located south of the Northern Plains, extending across Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

• The Northern Plains are formed by the deposition of alluvium by rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra and consist of flat, fertile land.

• The Northern Plains are broadly divided into the following physiographic subdivisions:

  • Bhabar – pebble-strewn area at the foothills of the Himalayas.

  • Tarai – marshy tract just south of Bhabar with high water table.

  • Bhangar – older alluvium, found away from river banks, with slightly elevated terraces.

  • Khadar – newer alluvium, close to river banks, very fertile.

• The Vindhyan Plateau is geologically ancient and rich in limestone and sandstone, not made of alluvium.

• It forms the southern boundary of the Northern Plains and contributes to the division between North and South India geographically.

• The Northern Plains are part of the Indo-Gangetic-Brahmaputra Plain, one of the largest fertile plains in the world.

• These plains support dense population due to flat terrain, fertile soil, and water availability, making them agriculturally significant.