Mains Practice Questions

Introduction:

Landforms are natural features of the Earth’s surface shaped by the interplay of endogenic forces such as tectonic movements and volcanism, and exogenic forces like weathering, erosion, and deposition. They are not static entities but dynamic features, constantly recording the Earth’s geological and climatic processes.

Body:

• Endogenic (Tectonic and Structural) Processes: 
  • Orogeny and Plate Collision (Himalayas): The Indian plate’s ongoing collision with the Eurasian plate makes the Himalayas seismically active, prone to earthquakes, landslides, and slope instability. 
    • This demonstrates that mountains are not static but continuously rising and reshaping, making the Himalayas a “living mountain system.”
  • Ancient Structural Legacy (Aravalli Hills): The Aravallis, though among the world’s oldest fold mountains, continue to influence regional drainage systems, soil profiles, and local microclimates. 
    • Their weathered ridges highlight how ancient tectonic forces still shape present-day landscapes.
  • Volcanic Landforms (Deccan Trap):The Deccan Plateau, formed by massive basaltic lava flows during the Cretaceous period, preserves layered basalt traps.
    • These serve as geological archives of ancient volcanic activity while continuing to affect soil fertility, groundwater storage, and agricultural patterns.
• Exogenic (Surface) Processes:
  • Fluvial Processes (Rivers and Floodplains): Running water shapes landscapes through erosion, transportation, and deposition. 
    • The Indo-Gangetic Plains are continuously renewed by river sedimentation and flooding, while the Sundarbans delta evolves under the combined influence of rivers and tidal forces.
  • Erosional Landforms (Badlands and Ravines): Intense soil erosion by streams forms ravines and gullies, such as the Chambal badlands. 
    • These are striking examples of how fluvial erosion alters landforms in semi-arid regions.
  • Aeolian Processes (Wind Action in Deserts): In the Thar Desert, winds create barchans and longitudinal sand dunes, which constantly shift in shape and position, making desert landscapes highly dynamic.
  • Coastal Processes (Waves and Tides): Shorelines along Odisha and the Konkan coast exhibit wave-cut platforms, beach erosion, and accretion, showcasing the continuous interaction of marine forces with the land.
  • Glacial Processes (Ice Dynamics in the Himalayas): Retreating glaciers like Gangotri and Siachen actively reshape valleys, carve out moraines, and deposit glacial till. 
    • These features provide living evidence of climatic change and ongoing geomorphic transformation.

Conclusion:

Landforms are not fixed monuments but living records of Earth’s continuous and negotiated processes. India’s varied physiography: mountains, plains, plateaus, deserts, and coasts offers clear evidence of time-transgressive nature of landforms, underlining the Earth’s ever-evolving nature.