Which one among the following is NOT a minor plate ?

Tectonic plates are classified into major and minor categories based on their size and extent. The Antarctic Plate is classified as a major tectonic plate, encompassing the entire continent of Antarctica and the surrounding oceanic crust [1]. Major plates are typically defined as those with an area greater than 20 million square kilometers [1]. In contrast, the Nazca Plate, Arabian Plate, and Philippine Plate are explicitly categorized as minor plates [2]. The Nazca Plate is located between South America and the Pacific Plate, the Arabian Plate covers the Saudi Arabian landmass, and the Philippine Plate lies between the Asiatic and Pacific plates [2]. While some sources list up to 15 significant plates, the standard geological classification distinguishes the massive Antarctic Plate from these smaller, minor lithospheric units [3]. Therefore, Antarctica is the only option that is not a minor plate.

Sources

1. [3] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Distribution of Oceans and Continents > PLATE TECTONICS > p. 32
2. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 7: Tectonics > Major Tectonic Plates > p. 102
3. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 7: Tectonics > Minor Tectonic Plates > p. 105