Major Physiographic Divisions of India

Q: Divide India into major physiographic divisions and describe the region in which the land of Odisha State is included.

India is a land of vast geographical diversity. Based on relief, tectonic history, and stratigraphy, the country is divided into six major physiographic divisions:

  • The Northern and North-Eastern Mountains: Comprising the Himalayas, these are young fold mountains acting as a climatic divide.
  • The Northern Plains: Formed by the alluvial deposits of the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers.
  • The Peninsular Plateau: The oldest and most stable landmass, including the Central Highlands and the Deccan Plateau.
  • The Indian Desert: Known as the Thar Desert, characterized by an arid climate and shifting sand dunes.
  • The Coastal Plains: Divided into the Western Coastal Plains and the Eastern Coastal Plains.
  • The Islands: The Andaman and Nicobar in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea.

Physiographic Inclusion of Odisha

Odisha occupies a unique transitional position. At the national level, the land of Odisha is included in two major divisions: the Peninsular Plateau (specifically the Eastern Ghats and Chota Nagpur segments) and the Eastern Coastal Plains.

Internal Physiographic Divisions of Odisha

For administrative and geographical precision, Odisha is internally divided into five morphological regions:

  • The Odisha Coastal Plains (Utkal Plains): Also called the "Hexadeltaic Region" or the "Gift of Six Rivers" (Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga, and Rushikulya).
  • The Middle Mountainous and Highlands Region: Covering about three-fourths of the state, this region includes the Eastern Ghats. The highest peak is Deomali (1,672 m).
  • The Central Plateaus: These are eroded plateaus like the Panposh-Keonjhar and Nabrangpur-Jeypore plateaus.
  • The Western Rolling Uplands: Lower elevation areas like the Bargarh and Bolangir uplands.
  • The Major Flood Plains: Highly fertile areas formed by the river systems that dissect the highlands.

Definition of Key Term

Hexadeltaic Region: A term used for the Odisha Coastal Plains because they are formed by the compound deltas of six major rivers, making the soil exceptionally fertile and the area a "rice bowl" for the state.

Conclusion

Odisha serves as a geological bridge between the ancient Gondwanaland plateau and the recent sedimentary coastal formations. Understanding this topography is vital for OPSC aspirants to grasp the state's mineral wealth in the highlands and its agricultural potential in the plains.

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