Which one of the following is a major plate?

The Earth's lithosphere is divided into major and minor tectonic plates based on their size and extent. The Pacific Plate is classified as a major tectonic plate and is the largest on Earth, covering approximately 103 million square kilometers [1]. It is almost entirely oceanic and encompasses most of the Pacific Ocean floor. In contrast, the Cocos Plate, Arabian Plate, and Philippine Plate are explicitly categorized as minor plates [1][2]. Specifically, the Cocos Plate is located between Central America and the Pacific Plate, the Arabian Plate consists mostly of the Saudi Arabian landmass, and the Philippine Plate is situated between the Asiatic and Pacific plates [1][2]. While some sources list up to 15 plates as 'major' in a general sense, standard geological classifications used in academic contexts distinguish the seven largest plates, including the Pacific Plate, from smaller minor plates like the Arabian or Philippine plates [3].

Sources

1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 4: Distribution of Oceans and Continents > PLATE TECTONICS > p. 32
2. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 7: Tectonics > Minor Tectonic Plates > p. 105
3. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 7: Tectonics > Minor Tectonic Plates > p. 106