Which one of the following is the oldest mountain range in India ?

The Aravalli Range is recognized as the oldest mountain range in India and one of the oldest fold mountain systems in the world [2]. Geologically, it dates back to the Proterozoic Eon, with some formations estimated to be approximately 2.5 billion years old [3]. Unlike the Himalayas, which are young fold mountains formed during the Tertiary period, the Aravallis are ancient relict mountains that have undergone extensive denudation and erosion over millions of years [2]. The range is primarily composed of Precambrian rocks, including quartzites, gneisses, and schists [1]. While the Satpura and Nilgiri hills are also ancient parts of the Peninsular Plateau, the Aravallis represent the earliest orogenic belt in the Indian subcontinent [2]. Today, they exist as highly eroded ridges stretching from Gujarat through Rajasthan to Delhi, with Guru Shikhar being the highest point [1].

Sources

1. [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > 1. The North Central Highlands > p. 54
2. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 10: Types of Mountains > 2) Old Fold Mountains > p. 135
3. [3] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Geographical Diversity of India > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 14