Geography

Climatic regions of India

  1. India has a diverse climate due to its vast size, varying topography, and geographical location.
  2. The classification of India's climatic regions is based on the Köppen Climate Classification.
  3. The major climatic regions of India include Tropical Rainforest, Tropical Savanna, Tropical Steppe, Tropical Desert, Humid Subtropical, Mountain, and Cold Desert.
  4. The Tropical Rainforest region is found in a

Seasons

  1. India experiences four distinct seasons due to its geographical location and climatic diversity.
  2. The main seasons in India are Winter, Summer, Monsoon, and Post-monsoon.
  3. Winter season lasts from December to February, characterized by low temperatures.
  4. The coldest month is usually January, with temperatures dropping below freezing in northern regions.
  5. During winter, the northern plains experience cold waves, while the coa

Monsoon

  1. The Indian monsoon is a seasonal wind system influencing the climate of the Indian subcontinent.
  2. Monsoon winds are caused by differential heating and cooling of land and sea.
  3. The two branches of the Indian monsoon are the Southwest Monsoon and the Northeast Monsoon.
  4. The Southwest Monsoon occurs from June to September and brings significant rainfall to most parts of India.
  5. The Northeast Monsoon occurs from October to December and primarily affects Tamil N

Groundwater resources and challenges

  1. Groundwater is the water found beneath the Earth's surface in aquifers, which are permeable rocks or sediments.
  2. India is the largest user of groundwater in the world, with agriculture being the primary consumer.
  3. The total replenishable groundwater resources in India are estimated to be approximately 433 billion cubic meters (BCM).
  4. Major sources of groundwater recharge include rainfall, seepage from rivers, canals, and irrigation fields.
  5. The largest groundwater reserves are found in the

Dams and projects

  1. Dams are constructed to store water for irrigation, hydropower generation, flood control, and water supply.
  2. India is home to several significant multi-purpose river valley projects.
  3. The Bhakra Nangal Dam, built on the Sutlej River, is one of the largest in India and supports irrigation and power generation.
  4. The Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River in Odisha is the longest dam in India.
  5. The

Peninsular rivers

  1. Peninsular Rivers are mostly seasonal, with their flow primarily dependent on monsoon rainfall.
  2. These rivers originate in the Peninsular Plateau and have relatively short and shallow courses.
  3. The rivers are broadly divided into east-flowing (draining into the Bay of Bengal) and west-flowing (draining into the Arabian Sea).
  4. The Godavari River, the longest Peninsular river, originates from Trimbak Plateau

Himalayan rivers

  1. Himalayan rivers are perennial, meaning they flow throughout the year due to glacial melt and monsoon rainfall.
  2. These rivers originate in the Himalayan mountain ranges and have a large catchment area.
  3. The three main river systems are the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra.
  4. The Indus River System originates from the Bokhar Chu Glacier near Mount Kailash in Tibet.
  5. The Ganga River System

Coastal plains and islands

  1. India has two main coastal plains: the Western Coastal Plain and the Eastern Coastal Plain.
  2. The Western Coastal Plain lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea.
  3. The Eastern Coastal Plain lies between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal.
  4. The Western Coastal Plain is narrower and characterized by numerous lagoons and backwaters, such as Vembanad Lake in Kerala.

Peninsular plateau

  1. The Peninsular Plateau is one of the oldest and most stable landforms of India, formed during the Precambrian era.
  2. It covers a large area, spreading across central and southern India.
  3. The plateau is bordered by the Western Ghats to the west, Eastern Ghats to the east, and the Satpura and Vindhya ranges to the north.
  4. The plateau is divided into two main parts: the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.

Northern plains

  1. The Northern Plains of India are an extensive region formed by the deposition of alluvial soil by the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra river systems.
  2. The plains stretch across the northern part of India, covering an area of approximately 7 lakh square kilometers.
  3. These plains are extremely fertile and are one of the most densely populated regions in the world.
  4. The region is classified into three river basins: the Indus Basin, the Ganga Basi
Geography