India's Geography and Resources

Physical Features of India

India is a vast nation with diverse landscapes, ranging from the snow-capped Himalayas to the sandy beaches along the Bay of Bengal. The country is primarily divided into three physiographic regions:

1. The Northern Plains (Indo-Gangetic Plains): A fertile alluvial plain stretching from the Himalayas to the Ganges Delta, formed by the deposition of sediment from the mighty rivers.
2. The Peninsular Plateau: A region consisting of ancient crystalline rocks and plateaus, home to India's mineral-rich states.
3. The Coastal Plains: A narrow strip of land hugging the extensive coastline, with varied geography and ecosystems.

Climate of India

India experiences a wide range of climates, with three primary climate zones:

1. Tropical Monsoon: The majority of India falls under this zone, characterized by hot and humid summers and mild, dry winters. Rainfall is largely driven by the southwest and northeast monsoons.
2. Tropical Savanna and Semi-Arid: These areas include regions like Rajasthan and Gujarat, which experience hot summers and relatively low rainfall.
3. Subtropical Highland: The Himalayas and the surrounding regions, such as Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh, and Sikkim, have a temperate climate with cool summers and snowy winters.

Mineral Resources

India is rich in minerals, with over 20,000 mineral deposits and reserves of about 60 minerals. The country is particularly noted for its metallic minerals, such as iron ore, manganese, chromite, copper, and gold. The distribution of these minerals is concentrated in specific regions:

• Peninsular Plateau: Iron ore, manganese, bauxite, and limestone are predominantly found in this region, including states like Odisha, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Goa, and Tamil Nadu.
• Northern Plateau Region: Coal, manganese, and bauxite are found in states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal.
• South-Western Plateau Region: Karnataka, Goa, and Kerala contain deposits of iron ore, manganese, limestone, monazite, and thorium.
• North-Western Region: This region is rich in copper, zinc, and salt, primarily found in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Agriculture in India

India is the world's second-largest producer of food grain and is self-sufficient in most food products, with the exception of some essential oils and fats. Approximately 70% of India's population depends on agriculture for their livelihood, and the country's total cultivable area is 155 million hectares. Major agricultural products include rice, wheat, pulses, sugarcane, oilseeds, fruits, and vegetables.

Natural Vegetation

India's natural vegetation is diverse, characterized by four main types of forests: tropical moist forests, tropical dry forests, montane forests, and mangrove forests. The country's forest cover has increased from around 68,000 sq km in 1951 to approximately 708,000 sq km in 2021. The Himalayas, the Western Ghats, and the eastern foothills of the Himalayas are particularly noted for their unique biodiversity and rich flora.