NCERT Answers
Q1. What, in your opinion, are two important geographical features of India? Why do you think they are important?
Answer:
Two important geographical features of India are:
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The Himalayas – They protect India from cold winds, give rise to rivers, and are a source of water, forests, and minerals.
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The Northern Plains – They are very fertile due to rivers like the Ganga, which makes farming possible for millions of people.
These features are important because they support life, farming, transport, and culture.
Q2. What do you think India might have looked like if the Himalayas did not exist?
Answer:
If the Himalayas did not exist:
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Cold winds from Central Asia would enter India, making the climate very cold.
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Rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra would not exist.
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Fertile plains would not have formed, and agriculture would be very poor.
India would look like a dry and barren land without much greenery.
Q3. India has been called a ‘mini-continent’. Based on what you’ve read, why do you think this is so?
Answer:
India is called a ‘mini-continent’ because it has:
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All types of landforms like mountains, deserts, plateaus, plains, coasts, and islands.
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A variety of soils, rivers, animals, and plants.
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Different climates from hot desert to cold mountains.
This diversity makes India look like a continent in itself.
Q4. Follow one of India’s big rivers from where it starts to where it meets the ocean. What are the different ways in which people might utilise this river along its journey?
Answer (example: River Ganga):
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Origin (Gangotri Glacier): Source of fresh water, pilgrimage site.
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Middle course (plains of UP, Bihar): Irrigation for farming, drinking water, transport, fishing.
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Lower course (West Bengal): Water for industries, navigation, fertile soil for farming.
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Mouth (Bay of Bengal): Creates delta, supports mangroves and fishing.
Q5. Why is the southern part of India referred to as a peninsular plateau?
Answer:
The southern part of India is called a peninsular plateau because it is a raised landmass with flat surfaces and is surrounded by water on three sides – the Arabian Sea (west), Bay of Bengal (east), and Indian Ocean (south).
Q6. Which UNESCO Heritage Site mentioned in this chapter did you find more interesting? Write a short paragraph.
Answer (example: Sundarbans):
I found the Sundarbans most interesting. It is a unique delta formed by the Ganga, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers. It has mangrove forests and is home to the Royal Bengal Tiger. It shows the close link between rivers, sea, and land.
Q7. Look at the two maps of India, physical as well as political, given at the end of this book. Identify the place you are at now. Which physical feature of India would you use to describe its location?
Answer:
(Students will answer according to their location. Example:)
I live in Delhi. On the physical map, Delhi is in the Northern Plains near the Yamuna River.
Q8. Food preservation techniques differ from place to place across India. Do a class project. Gather different methods of preserving food.
Answer (examples):
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Drying fish in coastal areas.
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Making pickles from mangoes in hot regions.
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Using spices and oil to preserve food in Rajasthan.
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Fermenting rice and bamboo shoots in the Northeast.
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Storing grains in air-tight containers in villages.
Q9. Despite having such different regions (mountains, deserts, plains, coasts), India remains one country. How do you think our geography has helped unite people?
Answer:
Geography has united India because:
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Rivers connect people by water and transport.
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Mountains and plains provide resources to all.
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Different climates give rise to different crops, which people share through trade.
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Coasts allow India to connect with the world.
Thus, India’s geography has made people interdependent and united.
Extra Questions for Practice
Short Answer Questions (2–3 sentences each)
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What does the word ‘Himalaya’ mean?
→ The word ‘Himalaya’ comes from Sanskrit: Hima means snow and Alaya means abode. So, it means “Abode of Snow.” -
Why are the Himalayas called the ‘Water Tower of Asia’?
→ Because the snow and glaciers in the Himalayas feed many rivers like the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra, which provide water to millions of people. -
Name the three main ranges of the Himalayas.
→ Himadri (Greater Himalayas), Himachal (Middle Himalayas), and Shivalik (Outer Himalayas). -
What is special about Ladakh’s climate?
→ Ladakh is a cold desert where winter temperatures fall below –30°C, and rainfall is very little. -
Why is the Northern Plain fertile?
→ The rivers like Ganga and Brahmaputra deposit rich alluvial soil, making the land very fertile. -
Which states are covered by the Thar Desert?
→ Rajasthan, Gujarat, Punjab, and Haryana. -
Why are the Aravalli Hills important?
→ They are among the oldest mountain ranges in the world and act as a barrier to prevent the Thar Desert from spreading eastward. -
Name two rivers that flow westward from the Peninsular Plateau.
→ Narmada and Tapti. -
Which is the only active volcano in India and where is it located?
→ Barren Island volcano in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. -
Why is Meghalaya famous?
→ Meghalaya gets very heavy rainfall, has lush forests, living root bridges, and the cleanest village of Asia (Mawlynnong).
Long Answer Questions (5–6 sentences each)
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Describe how the Himalayas are useful to India.
→ The Himalayas protect India from cold winds of Central Asia. They are the source of many important rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra. They provide fertile soil to the plains. They are rich in forests, wildlife, and natural resources. They are also home to many pilgrimage sites and tourist spots.
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Explain the main features of the Peninsular Plateau.
→ The Peninsular Plateau is a triangular landmass surrounded by water on three sides. It is bordered by the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. Important rivers like Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri flow through it. It is rich in minerals, forests, and has many waterfalls. Tribal communities like Santhal and Gond live here, closely connected with nature.
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What makes India a land of geographical diversity?
→ India has a wide variety of landforms: snowy Himalayas, fertile plains, hot deserts, plateaus, coasts, and islands. It has different soils, climates, forests, animals, and rivers. Each region has its own way of life, food, and traditions. This diversity supports different cultures, but at the same time, unites India as one nation.