India: Geographical Features ICSE Class 8 - Relief, Monsoon, Forests and Wildlife

What India: Geographical Features is about

Weightage: CISCE publishes no question paper, marking scheme or chapter weightage for Class VIII Geography: your school sets and marks the exam. India: Geographical Features sits in the India: Geographical Features theme of the CISCE Curriculum for Upper Primary Classes (VI-VIII).Source: CISCE Curriculum for Upper Primary Classes (VI-VIII), RDCD 2016

Key concepts

Location, extent and neighbours

Location: India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and in the Eastern Hemisphere.

• Latitudes: about 8 degrees 4 minutes N to 37 degrees 6 minutes N (mainland).
• Longitudes: about 68 degrees 7 minutes E to 97 degrees 25 minutes E.
• The Tropic of Cancer (23 degrees 30 minutes N) divides India roughly into two halves and passes through eight states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
• Standard Meridian: 82 degrees 30 minutes E, passing near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh; Indian Standard Time is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.
• Southernmost point: Indira Point on Great Nicobar Island; the mainland ends at Kanyakumari.

Size: about 3.28 million sq km; about 3,214 km from north to south and 2,933 km from east to west.
Neighbours:

• India shares land borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar; India's official map also shows a border with Afghanistan.
• Across the sea: Sri Lanka, separated by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar, and the Maldives to the south-west of Lakshadweep.
• Water bodies: Arabian Sea (west), Bay of Bengal (east) and Indian Ocean (south).

Worked example

(3 marks) India extends from about 68 degrees 7 minutes E to 97 degrees 25 minutes E. Find the longitudinal extent and the approximate difference in local time between its eastern and western ends.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Extent = 97 degrees 25 minutes - 68 degrees 7 minutes = 29 degrees 18 minutes - 1 mark.
2. Time = 4 minutes per degree; 29.3 x 4 = about 117 minutes - 1 mark.
3. That is nearly 2 hours; hence one Standard Time (82 degrees 30 minutes E) is used - 1 mark.

Answer: The longitudinal extent is about 29 degrees 18 minutes, giving a local time difference of about 117 minutes, nearly 2 hours, between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat. To avoid confusion, India uses one Standard Time based on 82 degrees 30 minutes E.

Political divisions: states, union territories and capitals

India has 28 states and 8 union territories (UTs).
States and capitals:
Andhra Pradesh - Amaravati; Arunachal Pradesh - Itanagar; Assam - Dispur; Bihar - Patna; Chhattisgarh - Raipur; Goa - Panaji; Gujarat - Gandhinagar; Haryana - Chandigarh; Himachal Pradesh - Shimla; Jharkhand - Ranchi; Karnataka - Bengaluru; Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram; Madhya Pradesh - Bhopal; Maharashtra - Mumbai; Manipur - Imphal; Meghalaya - Shillong; Mizoram - Aizawl; Nagaland - Kohima; Odisha - Bhubaneswar; Punjab - Chandigarh; Rajasthan - Jaipur; Sikkim - Gangtok; Tamil Nadu - Chennai; Telangana - Hyderabad; Tripura - Agartala; Uttar Pradesh - Lucknow; Uttarakhand - Dehradun; West Bengal - Kolkata.
Union territories and capitals:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair); Chandigarh - Chandigarh; Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu - Daman; Delhi (National Capital Territory) - New Delhi; Jammu and Kashmir - Srinagar (summer) and Jammu (winter); Ladakh - Leh; Lakshadweep - Kavaratti; Puducherry - Puducherry.
Notes: Chandigarh is a UT and also the capital of both Punjab and Haryana. Some states also have a second (winter or summer) capital, for example Nagpur for Maharashtra and Dharamshala for Himachal Pradesh. Names and numbers can change by law, so check the latest official list.

Worked example

(3 marks) Name the capitals of (i) Mizoram, (ii) Telangana, (iii) the union territory of Lakshadweep.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. (i) Aizawl - 1 mark.
2. (ii) Hyderabad - 1 mark.
3. (iii) Kavaratti - 1 mark.

Answer: (i) Aizawl, (ii) Hyderabad, (iii) Kavaratti.

Physiographic divisions: Himalaya and Northern Plains

1. The Himalaya: young fold mountains along the northern border, formed by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates. Three parallel ranges:

• Himadri (Greater Himalaya): the highest, with peaks such as Kangchenjunga in Sikkim, the highest peak in the area India administers; snow-covered, source of glaciers.
• Himachal (Lesser Himalaya): hill stations such as Shimla, Mussoorie and Darjeeling; valleys like Kashmir and Kullu.
• Shiwaliks (Outer Himalaya): the lowest, made of loose sediments; flat valleys called duns, such as Dehradun.

The Purvanchal hills (Patkai, Naga, Mizo hills) lie along the eastern border.
Importance: barrier to cold winds, source of perennial rivers, forests, tourism and hydropower.

2. The Northern Plains: formed by the deposits of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra and their tributaries.

• Very fertile alluvial soil; flat land; one of the most densely populated regions in the world.
• Divided into the Punjab plains (west), the Ganga plains (centre) and the Brahmaputra plains (east, in Assam).
• Older alluvium is called bhangar and newer alluvium khadar; the marshy belt at the foot of the Shiwaliks is the terai.

Worked example

(3 marks) Name the three parallel ranges of the Himalaya and give one feature of each.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Himadri: highest, snow-covered, highest peaks - 1 mark.
2. Himachal: hill stations, valleys - 1 mark.
3. Shiwaliks: lowest, loose sediments, duns - 1 mark.

Answer: The Himadri (Greater Himalaya) is the highest range, permanently snow-covered with the highest peaks. The Himachal (Lesser Himalaya) has hill stations like Shimla and valleys like Kashmir. The Shiwaliks are the lowest, made of loose sediments, with flat valleys called duns.

Physiographic divisions: Peninsular Plateau, Thar Desert, coasts and islands

3. The Peninsular Plateau: the oldest landmass, made of ancient hard rocks.

• Central Highlands (north of the Narmada; including the Malwa Plateau) and the Deccan Plateau (south of the Narmada).
• Bordered by the Western Ghats (continuous, higher; Anai Mudi, the highest peak in south India) and the Eastern Ghats (broken by rivers, lower).
• Rich in minerals; black soil of the Deccan suits cotton.

4. The Thar (Great Indian) Desert: in western Rajasthan; sandy, with dunes; rainfall usually below 25 cm a year; the Luni is the main river; vegetation is thorny and sparse.

5. Coastal plains:

• Western coastal plain: narrow, between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea; parts called Konkan, Kannad and Malabar; backwaters (lagoons) in Kerala.
• Eastern coastal plain: wider, along the Bay of Bengal; parts called the Northern Circars and the Coromandel coast; large deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri; Chilika Lake in Odisha.

6. Islands:

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal: a chain of many islands; Barren Island has India's only active volcano.
• Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea: small coral islands.

Worked example

(4 marks) Distinguish between the Western and Eastern coastal plains on four points.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Location: between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea / along Bay of Bengal - 1 mark.
2. Width: narrow / wide - 1 mark.
3. Parts: Konkan, Kannad, Malabar / Northern Circars, Coromandel - 1 mark.
4. Features: backwaters, few deltas / large deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri - 1 mark.

Answer: (1) The Western coastal plain lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea; the Eastern lies along the Bay of Bengal. (2) The western plain is narrow; the eastern is wide. (3) The western parts are Konkan, Kannad and Malabar; the eastern are the Northern Circars and Coromandel. (4) The west has backwaters and few deltas; the east has large deltas of the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.

Climate: factors and the monsoon

Factors affecting India's climate:
1. Latitude: the Tropic of Cancer divides India into a tropical south and a subtropical north.
2. Altitude: places at higher altitudes, such as Shimla, are cooler.
3. The Himalaya: block cold winds from Central Asia and trap the monsoon winds, causing rain in the north.
4. Distance from the sea: coastal places have moderate (maritime) climates; interior places such as Delhi have extreme climates.
5. Pressure and winds: seasonal reversal of winds, the monsoon.

The monsoon: 'monsoon' comes from the Arabic word 'mausim', meaning season. It refers to the seasonal reversal of wind direction.

• South-west monsoon (June to September): in summer the land heats up and a low-pressure area forms over north-west India; moist winds from the Indian Ocean blow in from the south-west, bringing heavy rain. It usually reaches Kerala around 1 June and covers most of India by early July.
• Retreating (north-east) monsoon (October to December): winds reverse and blow from the land; they pick up moisture over the Bay of Bengal and give rain to the Tamil Nadu coast.
• Rainfall is very uneven: the windward Western Ghats and north-east India receive heavy rain (Mawsynram and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya are among the wettest places on Earth), while western Rajasthan receives very little.

Importance of the monsoon:
1. Most of India's annual rainfall (about three-quarters) comes from the south-west monsoon.
2. Agriculture, especially kharif crops like rice, depends on it.
3. It fills rivers, reservoirs and groundwater for drinking, irrigation and hydropower.
4. A good monsoon supports the whole economy; a weak or delayed one can cause drought, while excess rain causes floods.
5. It gives the country a common rhythm of seasons and festivals, acting as a unifying force.

Worked example

(4 marks) Explain the importance of the monsoon for India.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. Most of India's rain (about three-quarters) comes in the south-west monsoon - 1 mark.
2. Agriculture, especially kharif crops, depends on it - 1 mark.
3. Fills rivers, reservoirs and groundwater; hydropower - 1 mark.
4. Affects the economy: failure causes drought, excess causes floods / unifying force - 1 mark.

Answer: (1) The south-west monsoon brings about three-quarters of India's annual rainfall. (2) Agriculture, especially kharif crops such as rice, depends on it. (3) It refills rivers, reservoirs and groundwater for drinking, irrigation and hydropower. (4) Since so much depends on it, a weak monsoon can cause drought and economic loss, while excessive rain can cause floods.

Natural vegetation and conservation

Types of natural vegetation:
1. Tropical rainforests (evergreen): heavy rainfall (over 200 cm); Western Ghats, north-eastern states, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Dense, tall trees that stay green all year: ebony, mahogany, rosewood, rubber.
2. Tropical deciduous (monsoon) forests: the most widespread; rainfall about 70-200 cm; trees shed leaves in the dry season. Teak, sal, sandalwood, shisham, bamboo. Found in the Deccan, the Ganga plains, Odisha and the foothills.
3. Thorn forests and scrubs: rainfall below 70 cm; north-west India (Rajasthan, Gujarat) and dry parts of the Deccan. Acacia, babul, khair, cactus and thorny bushes with long roots and small leaves.
4. Tidal (mangrove) forests: in deltas and coasts flooded by tides; the Sundarbans in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta are named after the sundari tree. Also in the Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna deltas. Roots stick out of the mud to breathe.
5. Montane (mountain) forests: change with altitude in the Himalaya: wet temperate forests of oak and chestnut lower down; then pine, deodar, silver fir and spruce; then alpine grasslands; snow above.

Conservation of forests and wildlife:

• National park: a protected area where the habitat and wildlife are strictly protected; activities such as grazing and private land use are not allowed. Examples: Jim Corbett (Uttarakhand, the first, set up in 1936), Kaziranga (Assam, one-horned rhinoceros), Gir (Gujarat, Asiatic lion), Sundarbans (West Bengal, Royal Bengal tiger).
• Wildlife sanctuary: protected mainly for wildlife; some human activities, such as collecting forest produce or grazing, may be permitted. Examples: Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary (Maharashtra), Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala).
• Biosphere reserve: a large area protecting a whole ecosystem, with a core zone (no disturbance), a buffer zone (research and limited use) and a transition zone (where local people live and work). India's first was the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986); others include the Sundarbans, Gulf of Mannar and Nanda Devi. Several are part of UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves.
• Laws and projects: the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; Project Tiger (1973); Project Elephant (1992).

Worked example

(4 marks) Distinguish between a national park, a wildlife sanctuary and a biosphere reserve, with one example each.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution

1. National park: strict protection of habitat and wildlife; no grazing or private use; e.g. Kaziranga - 1 mark.
2. Wildlife sanctuary: protection mainly of animals; some human activities permitted; e.g. Bhimashankar - 1 mark.
3. Biosphere reserve: large area protecting whole ecosystem with core, buffer and transition zones - 1 mark.
4. Example: Nilgiri (first, 1986) / Sundarbans - 1 mark.

Answer: A national park gives the strictest protection to habitat and wildlife, with no grazing or private use, e.g. Kaziranga. A wildlife sanctuary mainly protects animals but may allow some human activities such as collecting forest produce, e.g. Bhimashankar. A biosphere reserve protects a whole ecosystem over a large area divided into core, buffer and transition zones where local people also live, e.g. the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986).

India: Geographical Features in real life

Each concept, met in an everyday situation. Read the situation, answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Topics in this chapter

• India: Climate, Monsoon, Natural Vegetation and Conservation
• India: Location, Neighbours, States and Physiographic Divisions

India: Geographical Features: key facts

Location

$About8deg{4}^{\prime }Nto37deg{6}^{\prime }N;68deg{7}^{\prime }Eto97deg25^{\prime }E;StandardMeridian82deg30^{\prime }E;IST=GMT+5h30min$

Tropic of Cancer crosses 8 states.

Size

About 3.28 million sq km; about 2.4% of world area; 7th largest country

N-S 3,214 km; E-W 2,933 km.

Political divisions

28 states and 8 union territories

Check the latest official list.

Time and longitude

Local time changes by 4 minutes per degree of longitude

Vegetation and rainfall

$Rainforest:over200cm;deciduous:70-200cm;thorn:under70cm$

India: Geographical Features: map work

The places on the official CISCE map list for this chapter. Find each one on an outline map of India and practise marking it.

How the school exam asks India: Geographical Features

The question patterns to expect, and the method that works for each.

Tricks to remember India: Geographical Features

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

• Tropic of Cancer states

  'Good Rice Makes Children Joyful With Tasty Meals': Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram.

  Use it when: Eight states crossed by the Tropic.

• Himalayan ranges

  'H-H-S, high to low': Himadri, Himachal, Shiwaliks.

  Use it when: Order of Himalayan ranges.

• Forests by rain

  '200 Rain, 70 Leaves, under 70 Thorns': rainforest over 200 cm, deciduous 70-200 cm, thorn under 70 cm.

  Use it when: Linking rainfall and vegetation.

India: Geographical Features: exam-level solved questions

Ordered from exam level to HOTS. Cover the solution, write your own, then compare step by step.

Case-study practice (Section B style)

Read the situation, then answer every part. In a school exam set on the board pattern this is a 8-mark question split into 3 + 2 + 3 marks.

Where the marks are

How a typical answer is split into step marks. Show every step: a right final answer alone rarely earns full marks.

Where students lose marks in India: Geographical Features

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

• ✗Mistake: Writing Port Blair as the capital of Andaman and Nicobar without noting the change

  Older books.

  ✓Do this: Write Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair).

  Usually costs: Half to 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Saying the Tropic of Cancer passes through Odisha or Uttar Pradesh

  Guessing from the map.

  ✓Do this: Learn the eight states with the mnemonic.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Mixing up national parks and sanctuaries

  Both protect wildlife.

  ✓Do this: National park: strictest protection, no human use. Sanctuary: some activities allowed.

  Usually costs: 1 mark.

• ✗Mistake: Explaining the monsoon only as 'rainy season'

  Missing the wind reversal.

  ✓Do this: Monsoon = seasonal reversal of winds; explain pressure difference and direction.

  Usually costs: 1-2 marks.

Practice questions on India: Geographical Features

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQExam level

   Which of these states is NOT crossed by the Tropic of Cancer?
   (a) Gujarat
   (b) Odisha
   (c) Tripura
   (d) Jharkhand

   Hint

   Eight states only.

   Answer

   (b) Odisha.

2. Q2 · 1 mark · MCQHarder exam level

   India's only active volcano is on:
   (a) Barren Island
   (b) Kavaratti
   (c) Majuli
   (d) Great Nicobar

   Hint

   Andaman Sea.

   Answer

   (a) Barren Island.

3. Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level

   Name the capital of Arunachal Pradesh and of Ladakh.

   Hint

   I and L.

   Answer

   Itanagar; Leh.

4. Q4 · 1 mark · Very short answerExam level

   What is the southernmost point of India?

   Hint

   Great Nicobar.

   Answer

   Indira Point, on Great Nicobar Island.

5. Q5 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder exam level

   What are duns? Give an example.

   Hint

   Shiwaliks.

   Answer

   Duns are flat, longitudinal valleys between the Shiwaliks and the Lesser Himalaya, such as Dehradun.

6. Q6 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder exam level

   Distinguish between bhangar and khadar.

   Hint

   Old and new alluvium.

   Answer

   Bhangar is older alluvium found on higher ground above flood levels; khadar is newer, more fertile alluvium deposited every year by floods in the river plains.

7. Q7 · 2 marks · Very short answerHarder exam level

   Why is the Thar Desert so dry?

   Hint

   Aravalli and monsoon.

   Answer

   The Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon passes along the Aravalli range, which lies parallel to the winds, so they do not rise and shed rain; the Bay of Bengal branch loses its moisture before reaching this far west.

8. Q8 · 3 marks · Short answerExam level

   State three features of tropical deciduous forests.

   Hint

   Rain, leaves, trees.

   Answer

   They grow where rainfall is about 70-200 cm; trees shed their leaves in the dry season to save water; and they contain valuable trees such as teak, sal, sandalwood and shisham.

9. Q9 · 3 marks · Short answerHOTS / competency

   Why do the Western Ghats receive heavier rain than the Deccan Plateau east of them?

   Hint

   Windward and leeward.

   Answer

   Moist south-west monsoon winds from the Arabian Sea are forced to rise up the windward western slopes of the Ghats, cool and give heavy rain. After crossing the Ghats they descend on the leeward side, warm up and give little rain, so the Deccan Plateau lies in a rain-shadow area.

10. Q10 · 4 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Suppose the monsoon fails in a year. Predict three effects on India.

    Hint

    Farms, water, prices.

    Answer

    (1) Drought: kharif crops such as rice fail, reducing farmers' incomes. (2) Water shortage: reservoirs and groundwater are not refilled, affecting drinking water, irrigation and hydropower. (3) Food prices rise and the wider economy slows, as rural demand for goods falls.

11. Q11 · 2 marks · Very short answerExam level

    Name two national parks of India with the animal each is famous for.

    Hint

    Rhino and lion.

    Answer

    Kaziranga (one-horned rhinoceros) and Gir (Asiatic lion).

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

1. 1.What is India's latitudinal extent?Show answer

   About 8 deg 4' N to 37 deg 6' N.

2. 2.How many states and union territories does India have?Show answer

   28 states and 8 union territories.

3. 3.What is the highest peak of south India?Show answer

   Anai Mudi.

4. 4.Which forests are the most widespread in India?Show answer

   Tropical deciduous forests.

5. 5.Which was India's first national park?Show answer

   Jim Corbett National Park (1936).

6. 6.Which was India's first biosphere reserve?Show answer

   Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (1986).

Quick revision checklist

The night before the exam: can you do each of these without looking?

• ☐Location: about 8 deg 4' N-37 deg 6' N, 68 deg 7' E-97 deg 25' E; Tropic of Cancer through 8 states; Standard Meridian 82 deg 30' E; IST = GMT + 5:30.
• ☐Size: about 3.28 million sq km (2.4% of world area); neighbours: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar (Afghanistan on official map); Sri Lanka and Maldives across the sea.
• ☐28 states and 8 UTs; e.g. Dispur, Aizawl, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram; UT capitals Sri Vijaya Puram, Kavaratti, Leh, Srinagar/Jammu.
• ☐Divisions: Himalaya (Himadri, Himachal, Shiwaliks, Purvanchal), Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau (Western and Eastern Ghats), Thar Desert, coastal plains (Konkan-Malabar; Circars-Coromandel), islands (Andaman-Nicobar, Lakshadweep).
• ☐Climate factors: latitude, altitude, Himalaya, distance from sea, winds. Monsoon: SW June-Sept (about three-quarters of rain), retreating NE Oct-Dec; vital for farming, water, economy.
• ☐Vegetation: rainforest (>200 cm), deciduous (70-200 cm), thorn (<70 cm), tidal (Sundarbans), montane. Conservation: national parks (Corbett 1936, Kaziranga, Gir), sanctuaries, biosphere reserves (Nilgiri 1986); Wildlife Act 1972, Project Tiger 1973.

India: Geographical Features: frequently asked questions