NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Geography Chapter 2: Structure and Physiography

These Class 11 Geography Chapter 2 solutions cover Structure and Physiography from the textbook India: Physical Environment, updated for the 2026–27 session. The chapter explains India’s three broad geological divisions — the Peninsular Block, the Himalayas and other Peninsular mountains, and the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain — and then divides the country into six major physiographic units: the Northern and North-eastern Mountains, the Northern Plain, the Peninsular Plateau, the Indian Desert, the Coastal Plains and the Islands. Below you get step-by-step, exam-ready answers to every NCERT exercise question, plus key terms, extra practice, MCQs, Assertion–Reason questions and FAQs.

Class: 11 Subject: Geography Book: India: Physical Environment Chapter: 2 Title: Structure and Physiography Session: 2026–27
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Class 11 Geography Chapter 2 – Overview

Chapter 2, Structure and Physiography, traces how the present land of India evolved over roughly 4,600 million years through the interplay of endogenic and exogenic forces and the northward movement of the Indian plate. On the basis of geological structure, India is divided into three divisions: the rigid, ancient Peninsular Block of gneisses and granites; the young, weak and flexible Himalayas and other Peninsular mountains; and the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain, a former geo-synclinal depression filled with deep alluvium. Physiography — the outcome of structure, process and stage of development — gives India six divisions: the Northern and North-eastern Mountains, the Northern Plain (Bhabar, Tarai, Bhangar, Khadar), the Peninsular Plateau (Deccan Plateau, Central Highlands, North-eastern Plateau), the Indian Desert (Marusthali), the Coastal Plains (submerged western, emergent eastern) and the Islands (Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea groups). Together these features explain India’s great diversity of relief, drainage and resources.

Key Terms & Concepts

Endogenic and exogenic forces: internal forces (from within the earth, e.g. tectonic and volcanic activity) and external forces (weathering, erosion, deposition by rivers, wind, etc.) that together shape the surface and subsurface features of the earth.

Three geological divisions: (i) the Peninsular Block, (ii) the Himalayas and other Peninsular Mountains, and (iii) the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain.

Peninsular Block: one of the oldest and most stable landmasses, made mainly of ancient gneisses and granites; rigid since the Cambrian period, marked by rift valleys (Narmada, Tapi, Mahanadi) and relict mountains (Aravali, Nallamala, Javadi hills).

Physiography: the outcome of structure, process and the stage of development of an area — it describes the relief and landforms of a region.

Bhabar & Tarai: Bhabar is a narrow porous belt (8–10 km) of pebbles and boulders along the Shiwalik foothills where streams disappear; the Tarai (10–20 km) lies to its south, where streams re-emerge to form marshy, swampy land.

Bhangar & Khadar: Bhangar is the older alluvium of the plains; Khadar is the newer, more fertile alluvium deposited by floods.

Marusthali: the Great Indian Desert north-west of the Aravali hills — an arid land of barchans and longitudinal dunes receiving below 150 mm rainfall a year.

Submerged vs emergent coast: the western coastal plain is a narrow submerged coast offering natural harbours but no deltas; the eastern coastal plain is a broader emergent coast with well-developed deltas but fewer good ports.

Important channels: the Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman from the Nicobar Islands; the Nine Degree Channel divides the Lakshadweep group (Amini in the north, Cananore in the south).

Key peaks: Anaimudi (2,695 m) on the Anaimalai hills is the highest peak of the Peninsular plateau, followed by Dodabetta (2,637 m) on the Nilgiri hills.

NCERT “Exercises” — Full Solutions

All questions below are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT textbook’s end-of-chapter Exercises. Answers are original, written in exam-ready style. Figure/map activities are answered in words.

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

(i) Which one of the water bodies separates the Andaman from the Nicobar? (a) 11° Channel    (b) Gulf of Mannar    (c) 10° Channel    (d) Andaman Sea

ANSWER (c) 10° Channel. The Andaman group in the north and the Nicobar group in the south are separated by a water body known as the Ten Degree Channel.

(ii) On which of the following hill range is the ‘Dodabeta’ peak situated? (a) Nilgiri hills    (b) Anaimalai hills    (c) Cardamom hills    (d) Nallamala hills

ANSWER (a) Nilgiri hills. Dodabetta (2,637 m) is the second highest peak of the Peninsular plateau and is located on the Nilgiri hills, where the Eastern and Western Ghats meet.

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) If a person is to travel to Lakshadweep, from which coastal plain does he prefer and why?

ANSWER He would prefer the western coastal plain, especially the Kerala (Malabar) coast. The Lakshadweep Islands lie in the Arabian Sea, only about 220–440 km off the Kerala coast, making the journey shortest and easiest from there.

(ii) Where in India will you find a cold desert? Name some important ranges of this region.

ANSWER India’s cold desert is Ladakh, lying in the rain-shadow of the Himalayas in the far north. Important ranges of this region are the Karakoram, Ladakh, Zaskar and Pir Panjal ranges of the trans-Himalayas.

(iii) Why is the western coastal plain is devoid of any delta?

ANSWER The western coastal plain is a narrow, submerged coast, and the rivers flowing across it are short and swift with steep gradients down the Western Ghats. They carry little sediment and reach the sea quickly, so they form estuaries instead of deltas.

3. Answer the following questions in not more than 125 words.

(i) Make a comparison of the island groups of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

ANSWER India has two major island groups, and they differ in location, origin and structure.
BasisBay of Bengal (Andaman & Nicobar)Arabian Sea (Lakshadweep & Minicoy)
NumberAbout 572 islands/isletsAbout 36 islands, only 11 inhabited
LocationRoughly 6°N–14°N and 92°E–94°ERoughly 8°N–12°N and 71°E–74°E
Origin/structureElevated parts of submarine mountains; some smaller ones volcanic (Barren Island is India’s only active volcano)Built entirely of coral deposits
DivisionsAndaman (north) and Nicobar (south), separated by the Ten Degree ChannelDivided by the Nine Degree Channel (Amini in north, Cananore in south)
Largest islandHas high peaks such as Saddle Peak (738 m)Minicoy, area about 453 sq km
Thus the Bay of Bengal group is larger, more elevated and partly volcanic, while the Arabian Sea group is small and entirely coral in origin.

(ii) What are the important geomorphological features found in the river valley plains?

ANSWER The river valley plains, especially the alluvial plains of the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra system, show features of the mature stage of fluvial erosion and deposition. From north to south the plain is divided into the Bhabar (a narrow 8–10 km porous belt of pebbles and boulders where streams disappear), the Tarai (a 10–20 km marshy, swampy belt where streams re-emerge, rich in vegetation and wildlife), and the alluvial plains made of the older Bhangar and newer Khadar. Characteristic depositional and erosional landforms include sand bars, meanders, ox-bow lakes and braided channels. The Brahmaputra plains are famous for their riverine islands and sand bars, and the mighty rivers build large deltas such as the Sunderbans.

(iii) If you move from Badrinath to Sunderbans delta along the course of the river Ganga, what major geomorphological features will you come across?

ANSWER Travelling from Badrinath in the Himalayas down to the Sunderbans, one passes from youthful mountain landforms to mature plains and finally a delta. Near the source, the Himalayas being young and tectonic show gorges, V-shaped valleys, rapids and waterfalls cut by fast-flowing youthful rivers. At the foothills come the Shiwalik ranges, followed by the Bhabar belt where streams sink into porous pebbles, and then the marshy Tarai belt where they re-emerge. Further south the river crosses the broad alluvial plains of Bhangar and Khadar, displaying meanders, ox-bow lakes, sand bars and braided channels. Finally, before entering the Bay of Bengal, the Ganga builds the vast Sunderbans delta, one of the largest deltas in the world.

Project/Activity

(i) Make a list of major Himalayan peaks from the west to the east with the help of an atlas.

ANSWER This is a map activity; using an atlas, a model list of major peaks from west to east is: K2 (Godwin Austen, 8,611 m) and Nanga Parbat (8,126 m) in the north-west; Nanda Devi (7,816 m) in Uttarakhand; Dhaulagiri (8,167 m), Annapurna (8,091 m), Mount Everest (8,848 m) and Kangchenjunga (8,586 m) in the central/eastern Himalayas; and Namcha Barwa (7,756 m) in the far east. Mark and label each on an outline map. (Use your atlas to confirm exact heights and positions.)

(ii) Identify the major landforms of your state and analyse the major economic activity practised by the people in each landform.

ANSWER This is an enquiry activity, so answers will vary by state; write about the landforms you actually live among. A model approach: list each landform of your state — for example plains (intensive agriculture of wheat, rice or sugarcane), plateaus/hills (mining, forestry and horticulture), mountains (terrace farming, tourism and animal rearing), and coastal plains (fishing, salt-making, port trade and tourism) — and explain how relief, soil and water in each landform shape the main occupation. (Use your own state’s map and local observation.)

Extra Practice Questions

Short Answer Type Questions

Q1. Name the three geological divisions of India.

ANSWEROn the basis of variations in geological structure, India is divided into (i) the Peninsular Block, (ii) the Himalayas and other Peninsular Mountains, and (iii) the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain.

Q2. What is meant by ‘physiography’?

ANSWERPhysiography of an area is the outcome of structure, process and the stage of development. It describes the relief and landforms of a region — for example, India’s rugged northern mountains, vast plains and stable southern plateau.

Q3. Distinguish between Bhabar and Tarai.

ANSWERBhabar is a narrow 8–10 km porous belt of pebbles and boulders along the Shiwalik foothills where streams disappear underground. The Tarai, just to its south (10–20 km wide), is where these streams re-emerge to create marshy, swampy land with thick vegetation and wildlife.

Q4. Why is the Peninsular Block considered very stable?

ANSWERThe Peninsular Block is one of the oldest landmasses, made of ancient gneisses and granites. Since the Cambrian period it has stood like a rigid block, largely unaffected by later mountain-building, so it is considered the most stable part of India.

Q5. Name the three sub-divisions of the Peninsular Plateau.

ANSWEROn the basis of prominent relief features, the Peninsular plateau is divided into (i) the Deccan Plateau, (ii) the Central Highlands, and (iii) the North-eastern Plateau.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q1. Describe the six physiographic divisions of India.

ANSWERBased on macro variations in relief, India is divided into six physiographic units. (1) The Northern and North-eastern Mountains include the Himalayas (a series of parallel ranges with the Greater Himalayas and the Shiwalik) and the north-eastern hills, marked by gorges and V-shaped valleys. (2) The Northern Plain, formed by alluvium of the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra, extends about 3,200 km and is divided into Bhabar, Tarai, Bhangar and Khadar. (3) The Peninsular Plateau is an old, stable triangle rising 600–900 m, comprising the Deccan Plateau, Central Highlands and North-eastern Plateau. (4) The Indian Desert (Marusthali), north-west of the Aravalis, is arid with barchans and dunes. (5) The Coastal Plains are the submerged western coast (with harbours, no deltas) and the emergent eastern coast (with deltas). (6) The Islands are the Andaman & Nicobar group in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep group in the Arabian Sea.

Q2. Compare the Himalayas with the Peninsular Block in terms of geological structure.

ANSWERThe Himalayas and other Peninsular mountains are young, weak and flexible in their geological structure, while the Peninsular Block is rigid and stable. Because the Himalayas are young, they are still being acted upon by the interplay of endogenic and exogenic forces, producing faults, folds and thrust plains; being tectonic in origin and dissected by youthful, fast-flowing rivers, they show gorges, V-shaped valleys, rapids and waterfalls. The Peninsular Block, in contrast, is one of the oldest and most stable landmasses, formed of ancient gneisses and granites that have stood firm since the Cambrian period. It has experienced only block faulting and vertical movements (giving rift valleys such as the Narmada, Tapi and Mahanadi) and is dominated by relict and residual mountains like the Aravali, Nallamala and Javadi hills, with shallow river valleys of low gradient.

Q3. Differentiate between the western and eastern coastal plains of India.

ANSWERThe two coastal plains differ in origin, width and features. The western coastal plain is a submerged coast; it is narrow (broader only towards the north and south) and the city of Dwaraka is believed to lie submerged off it. Its rivers form no deltas, but the submergence provides natural sites for ports such as Kandla, Mazagaon, JLN Navha Sheva, Marmagao, Mangalore and Cochin. It is divided into the Kachchh and Kathiawar coast, the Konkan coast, the Goan coast and the Malabar coast, the last famous for its ‘Kayals’ (backwaters). The eastern coastal plain is broader and is an emergent coast, with well-developed deltas built by the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. Because of its emergent nature and a continental shelf extending up to 500 km, it has fewer good ports and harbours than the west coast.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. The earth is estimated to be approximately how old?

(a) 460 million years    (b) 4,600 million years    (c) 64 million years    (d) 180 million years

2. Which of the following is NOT one of the three geological divisions of India?

(a) The Peninsular Block    (b) The Himalayas and other Peninsular Mountains    (c) The Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain    (d) The Coastal Plains

3. The Peninsular Block is composed mainly of:

(a) gneisses and granites    (b) alluvium    (c) coral deposits    (d) sand dunes

4. The narrow porous belt of pebbles and boulders along the Shiwalik foothills is called:

(a) Tarai    (b) Bhabar    (c) Khadar    (d) Bhangar

5. The highest peak of the Peninsular plateau is:

(a) Dodabetta    (b) Mahendragiri    (c) Anaimudi    (d) Nanda Devi

6. The Great Indian Desert is also known as:

(a) Marusthali    (b) Bhabar    (c) Tarai    (d) Doab

7. The western coastal plain is an example of a:

(a) emergent coast    (b) submerged coast    (c) deltaic coast    (d) fault coast

8. Barren Island, the only active volcano in India, is located in the:

(a) Lakshadweep group    (b) Andaman and Nicobar Islands    (c) Gulf of Mannar    (d) Rann of Kachchh

9. The Lakshadweep Islands are built entirely of:

(a) volcanic rock    (b) alluvium    (c) coral deposits    (d) granite

10. The Meghalaya plateau is sub-divided into the Garo Hills, the Khasi Hills and the:

(a) Jaintia Hills    (b) Mikir Hills    (c) Naga Hills    (d) Cardamom Hills

Answer key: 1-(b), 2-(d), 3-(a), 4-(b), 5-(c), 6-(a), 7-(b), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(a).

For each Assertion–Reason question, choose: (A) Both true and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion; (B) Both true but the Reason is not the correct explanation; (C) Assertion true, Reason false; (D) Assertion false, Reason true.

A-R 1. Assertion: The Himalayas are still subjected to the interplay of endogenic and exogenic forces.

Reason: The Himalayas are young, weak and flexible in their geological structure.

A-R 2. Assertion: The western coastal plain does not form deltas.

Reason: It is a submerged coast and its rivers are short and swift, forming estuaries rather than deltas.

A-R 3. Assertion: The eastern coastal plain has very few good ports and harbours.

Reason: The eastern coast is an emergent coast and its continental shelf extends up to about 500 km into the sea.

A-R 4. Assertion: The Peninsular Block is the youngest landmass of India.

Reason: It is made of ancient gneisses and granites and has stood as a rigid block since the Cambrian period.

A-R 5. Assertion: The Tarai belt is marshy and swampy with thick vegetation.

Reason: Streams that disappeared in the Bhabar belt re-emerge in the Tarai without a properly demarcated channel.

Answer key: 1-(A), 2-(A), 3-(A), 4-(D), 5-(A).

Exam Tips & Common Mistakes

How to score full marks in this chapter

Memorise the three geological divisions and the six physiographic divisions with one or two identifying features each. For comparison questions (islands, coastal plains, Himalayas vs Peninsula) use a clear two-column or two-sided structure. Learn the key facts — Ten Degree Channel (Andaman–Nicobar), Nine Degree Channel (Lakshadweep), Anaimudi 2,695 m, Dodabetta 2,637 m, plain length 3,200 km, alluvium depth 1,000–2,000 m — and quote them in answers. Practise locating peaks, ranges and channels on a blank outline map, as map-based questions are common.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Confusing the Ten Degree Channel (separates Andaman from Nicobar) with the Nine Degree Channel (in Lakshadweep).
  • Reversing Bhabar (porous, streams disappear) and Tarai (marshy, streams re-emerge).
  • Mixing up Bhangar (old alluvium) with Khadar (new, fertile alluvium).
  • Saying the eastern coast is submerged — it is emergent; the western coast is the submerged one.
  • Calling the Peninsular Block ‘young’ — it is one of the oldest and most stable landmasses.
  • Confusing Anaimudi (highest Peninsular peak) with Dodabetta (second highest, on the Nilgiris).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chapter 2 of Class 11 Geography (India: Physical Environment) about?

Chapter 2, Structure and Physiography, explains India’s three geological divisions (the Peninsular Block, the Himalayas and other Peninsular Mountains, and the Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra Plain) and its six physiographic divisions: the Northern and North-eastern Mountains, the Northern Plain, the Peninsular Plateau, the Indian Desert, the Coastal Plains and the Islands.

What separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands?

The Andaman group in the north and the Nicobar group in the south are separated by the Ten Degree Channel. The Lakshadweep group, by contrast, is divided by the Nine Degree Channel.

Why does the western coastal plain not have deltas?

The western coastal plain is a narrow submerged coast, and its rivers are short and swift with steep gradients down the Western Ghats. They carry little sediment and reach the sea quickly, forming estuaries rather than deltas.

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