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Q58 (IAS/2017) Geography › Indian Physical Geography › Indian physical features Official Key

Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only. 2. Western Ghats are spread over five States only. 3. Pulicat Lake is spread over two States only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: B
Explanation

The correct answer is option B (statement 3 only).

**Statement 1 is incorrect**: The Indian states that share boundaries with China are Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal[1] Pradesh – these five states contain the Himalayas. However, the Himalayas also extend into other Indian states like West Bengal (Darjeeling region) and parts of the Northeast, making the total count more than five states.

**Statement 2 is incorrect**: The Western Ghats starts south of the Tapi river in Gujarat and runs about 1600 km through the six states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala[2]. This clearly indicates six states, not five.

**Statement 3 is correct**: The Pulicat lake lies further south on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu[3]. This confirms that Pulicat Lake is spread over exactly two states only.

Therefore, only statement 3 is correct, making option B the right answer.

Sources
  1. [1] https://edustud.nic.in/edu/SupportMaterial202324/9/09_sst_english_sm_2024.pdf
  2. [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 5: Natural Vegetation and National Parks > Western Ghats: A World Heritage Site > p. 55
  3. [3] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 2: Physiography > The Eastern Coastal Plain > p. 66
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PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Consider the following statements : 1. In India, the Himalayas are spread over five States only. 2. Western Ghats are spread over five St…
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Moderate fairness Books / CA: 6.7/10 · 3.3/10
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This question exposes the gap between 'reading' geography and 'visualizing' it. While books like Majid Husain explicitly list the Western Ghats states, the Himalayan count requires synthesizing multiple regional descriptions (Punjab, Kumaon, Assam Himalayas) onto a political map. The 'only' keyword is a specific trigger to check for small, easily missed states like Goa or West Bengal.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
List all Indian states over which the Himalayas are spread and give the total number of such states.
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"the part of Himalayas lying between Indus and Sutlej has been traditionally known as Punjab Himalaya but it is also known regionally as Kashmir and Himachal Himalaya from west to east respectively. The part of Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali river is known as Kumaon Himalayas. The Kali and Tista rivers demark the Nepal Himalayas and the part lying between Tista and Dihang river as Assam Himalayas. The Brahmaputra marks the eastern most boundaries of the Himalayas."
Why this source?
  • Describes parts of the Himalayas by river valleys and gives regional names tied to Indian states/regions.
  • Explicitly names Punjab (Punjab Himalaya), Kashmir, Himachal, Kumaon (Uttarakhand), and Assam Himalayas, and marks the Brahmaputra as the eastern boundary.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"Indian states shall boundaries with China Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh"
Why this source?
  • Lists Indian states that share boundaries with China — these are the northern Himalayan states along India's Himalayan front.
  • Specifically names Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.
Web source
Presence: 3/5
"Himalayas in the Darjiling and Sikkim regions lie in an eastwest direction, while in Arunachal Pradesh they are from southwest"
Why this source?
  • Mentions Himalayan zones in specific regions (Darjiling and Sikkim) and names Arunachal Pradesh as part of the Himalayan orientation.
  • Supports inclusion of West Bengal (Darjiling), Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh among Himalayan areas.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Biogeographic zones of India > p. 25
Strength: 5/5
“• 5. Te Himalayan Floristic Region: Te Himalayas have been divided into two foristic divisions, i.e. Te Western Himalayas and the Eastern Himalayas. Te Western Himalaya sprawls over the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Tis region is characterised with altitudinal zonation of natural vegetation. Te main vegetation types of this region include Sal, teak, rhododendron, Laburnum, orchids, bamboo, champa, Semul, pines, deodar, oak, alder, chest-nut, birch, larch, spruce, fr, silver fr and juniper. At higher altitudes, are the alpine pastures known as Margs in the state of Jammu & Kashmir.• 6. Trans-Himalayas Floristic Region: Te Trans-Himalayas Floristic Region sprawls over the leeward-side of the Greater Himalayas in the Ladakh Division of Jammu & Kashmir.”
Why relevant

Gives a floristic division naming the Western Himalaya (sprawls over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand) and notes a Trans‑Himalaya region in Ladakh.

How to extend

A student can map these named regions onto current political units (and count Jammu & Kashmir / Ladakh appropriately) to start building the state list.

Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > Himalayas and east and south east Asia > p. 8
Strength: 4/5
“• 23. Himalayan Hotspot (Formerly Eastern Himalayan Hotspot) Tis Himalayan Hotspot stretches over the Himalayas, covering Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and the eastern states of India. Most of the highest peaks of the world are located in this region. In the Himalayas, there is altitudinal zonation of ecosystems. Te growing population, deforestation, industrialisation, urbanisation and agricultural encroachment have transformed the ecosystems of the Himalayas substantially. Several species of plants and animals of this hotspot are in the list of endangered or threatened species (Fig. 4.1).• 24. Te Eastern Himalayas Identifed in 2005, this hotspot spreads over the hill state of north-east India including Sikkim, Bhutan, western Myanmar and the Yunnan province of south-west China.”
Why relevant

Describes the 'Himalayan Hotspot' covering Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan and the eastern states of India; separately identifies the Eastern Himalayas including the hill state of north‑east India including Sikkim and Bhutan.

How to extend

Use this to infer that Sikkim and other north‑eastern hill states contact the Himalaya and check a political map to see which specific north‑eastern states meet the Himalayan range.

CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Physical Features of India > MAJOR PHYSIOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS > p. 10
Strength: 4/5
“The part of the Himalayas lying between Satluj and Kali rivers is known as Kumaon Himalayas. The Kali and Teesta rivers demarcate the Nepal Himalayas and the part lying between Teesta and Dihang rivers is known as Assam Himalayas. There are regional names also in these broad categories. Find out some regional names of the Himalayas The Brahmaputra marks the eastern-most boundary of the Himalayas. Beyond the Dihang gorge, the Himalayas bend sharply to the south and spread along the eastern boundary of India. They are known as the Purvachal or the Eastern hills and mountains. These hills running through the north-eastern states are mostly composed of strong sandstones, which are sedimentary rocks.”
Why relevant

Defines regional Himalayan subunits (Kumaon Himalayas, Nepal Himalayas, Assam Himalayas) and states that the Brahmaputra marks the easternmost boundary and that the Purvachal (eastern hills) run through the north‑eastern states.

How to extend

A student can trace these river boundaries on a map to determine which Indian states lie within those Himalayan subunits (e.g., Kumaon → Uttarakhand; Assam Himalayas → states in the northeast).

CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 2: Physical Features of India > MAJOR PHYSIOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS > p. 8
Strength: 3/5
“This range consists of the famous valley of Kashmir, the Kangra and Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. This region is well-known for its hill stations. • Location of Mussoorie, Nainital, Ranikhet from your atlas and also name the state where they are located. The outer-most range of the Himalayas is called the Shiwaliks. They extend over a width”
Why relevant

Mentions well‑known Himalayan valleys and hill stations in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh and notes the outermost Shiwaliks extend over a width (implying multiple states).

How to extend

Combine this with an atlas to confirm which states contain the Shiwalik range and major Himalayan valleys (supporting inclusion of those states).

Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 1: Geographical Diversity of India > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 6
Strength: 3/5
“Can you locate the names of the states in the different parts of the Himalayas? Take the help of both the physical and political maps for this exercise.”
Why relevant

Explicitly prompts locating names of states in different parts of the Himalayas using physical and political maps.

How to extend

Follow this exercise: use physical/political maps to list and count all states intersected by the Himalayan system.

Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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