UPSC Prelims 2017 Q58: Geography – Indian Physical Geography
Consider the following statements:
1. In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only.
2. Western Ghats are spread over five States only.
3. Pulicat Lake is spread over two States only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (b) 3 only
Explanation
Spread of the Himalayas, Western Ghats and Pulicat Lake
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only | Incorrect | They cover many more: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal (Darjeeling) and the north-eastern hill States |
| 2. Western Ghats are spread over five States only | Incorrect | They cover six States |
| 3. Pulicat Lake is spread over two States only | Correct | It lies in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu |
Western Ghats, north to south:
| Order | State |
|---|---|
| 1 | Gujarat |
| 2 | Maharashtra |
| 3 | Goa |
| 4 | Karnataka |
| 5 | Kerala |
| 6 | Tamil Nadu |
Pulicat is India's second-largest brackish water lagoon, after Chilika.
Sriharikota island separates it from the Bay of Bengal.
Answer: (b) 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Both are false: the Himalayas and the Western Ghats cover more than five States.
- (b) CORRECT. Only Pulicat Lake fits: it is spread over Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
- (c) Incorrect. The Western Ghats are spread over six States, not five.
- (d) Incorrect. The Himalayas in India are spread over far more than five States.
Key point
Western Ghats = six States (Gujarat to Tamil Nadu); Pulicat Lake = Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu; the Himalayas cover well over five States.
Remember
Western Ghats = 6 States; Pulicat = 2 States.
Common mistakes
- Leaving out Gujarat or Goa when counting the Western Ghats States.
- Forgetting that West Bengal and the north-eastern States are part of the Himalayas.
- Placing Pulicat Lake wholly in Tamil Nadu; most of it is in Andhra Pradesh.
Exam tip
The word 'only' with a number is a warning. Count the States one by one.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — India: Physical Environment, Ch 2 (Structure and Physiography)
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change — Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel Report (2011)