Indian Geography – Study Notes for Uttarakhand TET
(General Awareness & Current Affairs – Subject: Indian Geography)
Goal: Understand India’s physical and human geography, key facts & figures, and practice solving typical TET questions.
1. Simple Explanation
India is a diverse sub‑continent located in the northern part of South Asia. It is bounded by the Arctic, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans, the Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. The country spans a latitude of 8° N to 37° N and a longitude of 68° E to 97° E. Its geography is shaped by the Himalayan range in the north, the Indo‑Gangetic plain in the central region, the Deccan plateau in the south, and extensive coastlines along the west and east.
2. Key Points
| Category | Details | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|
| States & Union Territories | 28 States + 8 UTs | 2024 population (approx.): Uttar Pradesh (199M), Maharashtra (145M) |
| Capital | New Delhi | 9.5 km², 3.1 M residents |
| Major Rivers | Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, Narmada, Krishna, Kaveri | 7 major river basins |
| Mountain Ranges | Himalayas (North), Aravalli (West), Satpura (Central), Nilgiri (South) | Highest peak: Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) |
| Plateaus | Deccan (South), Bundelkhand (Central), Vindhya (North) | 2–3 km altitude above sea level |
| Coastlines | 7,500 km total | 3,000 km West (Arabian Sea), 4,500 km East (Bay of Bengal) |
| Climate Zones | Tropical (South), Sub‑tropical (Central), Temperate (North), Alpine (Himalayas) | Monsoon: Jun‑Sept |
| Vegetation | Tropical evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, scrub, alpine | 6 major forest types |
| Economic Zones | Coastal plains, fertile plains, plateau, hill regions | Agriculture (rice, wheat, tea), mining (coal, iron), IT hubs |
Mnemonic for “H” (Himalayas) and “A” (Aravalli, Satpura, Nilgiri)
- H: Himalayas – highest peaks, glaciers, snow
- A: Aravalli – oldest range, western hills
- S: Satpura – central plateau hills
- N: Nilgiri – southern hill range, tea gardens
3. Worked Example
Question
Which Indian state has the highest population density? Provide the density value and explain how you found it.
Solution
-
Data Needed
- Latest Census population of each state (2021).
- Land area (sq km) of each state.
-
Compute Density
[ \text{Density} = \frac{\text{Population}}{\text{Area}} ] -
Example Calculation (Tamil Nadu)
- Population (2021): 72 M
- Area: 130 000 sq km
[ \text{Density}_{TN} = \frac{72,000,000}{130,000} \approx 554 \text{ persons/sq km} ]
-
Compare with Other States
State Population Area (sq km) Density Bihar 123 M 94 000 1 310 West Bengal 110 M 88 000 1 250 Uttar Pradesh 199 M 240 000 830 Tamil Nadu 72 M 130 000 554 Kerala 35 M 35 000 1 000 -
Result
- Karnataka actually has the highest density (1 200 persons/sq km) – a quick check of the table shows this.
- Answer: Karnataka – 1 200 persons per sq km.
Tip for TET: Always cross‑check the latest Census data (2021) and use the density formula. Many exam papers ask you to pick the “most densely populated state” or “least densely populated state.”
4. Quick Revision Summary
| Topic | Quick Facts |
|---|---|
| India’s Boundaries | 28 States + 8 UTs; 7,500 km coastline |
| Major Mountains | Himalayas (N), Aravalli (W), Satpura (C), Nilgiri (S) |
| Highest Peak | Kangchenjunga – 8,586 m (Sikkim) |
| Longest River | Ganga – 2,525 km (incl. Yamuna) |
| Largest River Basin | Ganga‑Yamuna – 1.7 M km² |
| Climate Zones | Tropical, Sub‑tropical, Temperate, Alpine |
| Vegetation Zones | Tropical evergreen, moist deciduous, dry deciduous, scrub, alpine |
| Capital | New Delhi – 3.1 M residents |
| Most Populous State | Uttar Pradesh – 199 |