UPSC Prelims 2014 Q48: Geography – Indian Physical Geography
Consider the following pairs: Hills : Region
1. Cardamom Hills : Coromandel Coast
2. Kaimur Hills : Konkan Coast
3. Mahadeo Hills : Central India
4. Mikir Hills : North - East India
Which of the above pairs are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2
- (b) 2 and 3
- (c) 3 and 4
- (d) 2 and 4
Answer: (c) 3 and 4
Explanation
Hills and their regions
| Pair | Verdict | Actual region |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Cardamom Hills : Coromandel Coast | Incorrect | Southern Western Ghats, in Kerala and Tamil Nadu; nearer the Malabar side |
| 2. Kaimur Hills : Konkan Coast | Incorrect | Eastern end of the Vindhyan range, in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar |
| 3. Mahadeo Hills : Central India | Correct | Part of the Satpura range in Madhya Pradesh; Pachmarhi lies here |
| 4. Mikir Hills : North-East India | Correct | In Assam (Karbi Anglong), south of Kaziranga |
The coasts:
| Coast | Location |
|---|---|
| Coromandel | East coast of Tamil Nadu |
| Konkan | West coast of Maharashtra and Goa |
| Malabar | West coast of Kerala |
Answer: (c) 3 and 4.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Cardamom Hills are not on the Coromandel Coast, nor Kaimur on the Konkan.
- (b) Incorrect. Kaimur Hills are part of the Vindhyas, far from the Konkan Coast.
- (c) CORRECT. Mahadeo Hills - Central India and Mikir Hills - North-East are right.
- (d) Incorrect. Kaimur Hills are not on the Konkan Coast.
Key point
Cardamom Hills: southern Western Ghats. Kaimur: Vindhyan range. Mahadeo: Satpura, central India. Mikir: Assam.
Remember
Mahadeo = central India; Mikir = Assam.
Common mistakes
- Placing the Cardamom Hills on the east coast.
- Confusing Kaimur (Vindhyas) with hills of the Western Ghats.
- Not knowing the Mikir Hills of Karbi Anglong.
Exam tip
Satpura has three parts: Rajpipla, Mahadeo, Maikal. Mahadeo is in the middle, in central India.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — India: Physical Environment, Ch 2 (Structure and Physiography)
- Oxford School Atlas — India: Physical