CAPF AC 2022 Q106: Geography – Indian Physical Geography
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists:
| List I (Type of plain) | List II (Characteristic feature) |
|---|---|
| A. Bhabar | 1. Marsh |
| B. Bhangar | 2. Silt |
| C. Khadar | 3. Gravels |
| D. Delta | 4. Kankar |
Code:
- (a) A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
- (b) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
- (c) A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
- (d) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
Answer: (b) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
Explanation
Belts of the Northern Plains
How to think: follow a Himalayan river from the foothills to the sea.
It drops the heaviest material first and the finest last.
| Belt | Where | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Bhabar | Narrow belt at the foot of the Shivaliks | Gravels and pebbles; streams disappear underground |
| Terai | South of the Bhabar | Streams reappear; wet and marshy; thick forest |
| Bhangar | Older alluvium on higher ground | Kankar (lime nodules) |
| Khadar | Newer alluvium of the flood plains | Fine silt, renewed every year; very fertile |
| Delta | Mouth of the river | Marshy, with mangroves |
So: A-3 (Bhabar: gravels), B-4 (Bhangar: kankar), C-2 (Khadar: silt), D-1 (Delta: marsh).
Answer: (b) A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. It swaps Bhangar (kankar) and Khadar (silt).
- (b) CORRECT. Bhabar: gravels, Bhangar: kankar, Khadar: silt, Delta: marsh.
- (c) Incorrect. It gives marsh to the Bhabar and gravels to the delta.
- (d) Incorrect. All four pairs are wrong here; the Bhabar is gravelly, not marshy.
Key point
North to south: Bhabar (pebbles, 8 to 16 km wide) → Terai (marshy, forests) → Bhangar (old alluvium, kankar) → Khadar (new alluvium, fertile). Doab: land between two rivers.
Remember
Bhabar gravel, Bhangar kankar, Khadar silt.
Common mistakes
- Swapping Bhangar (old, kankar) and Khadar (new, silt).
- Mixing up the Bhabar (gravel) with the Terai (marsh).
- Thinking kankar is found in the newest flood plains.
Exam tip
Educated guess: rivers drop gravel at the foothills, so A-3 is fixed and only (a) and (b) remain. Khadar is the fresh fertile silt farmers love, so C-2 gives (b).
Sources
- NCERT Class IX Geography — Contemporary India I, Chapter 2: Physical Features of India (the Northern Plain)
- NCERT Class XI Geography — India: Physical Environment, Chapter 2: Structure and Physiography