India has several major mountain ranges that play crucial roles in climate, agriculture, defense, and tourism. These ranges are broadly classified into young fold mountains and old fold mountains.

• Age: 25-30 million years old (Tertiary period)
• Formation: Collision between Indian and Eurasian plates
• Type: Young, fold mountains
• Still rising: About 1 cm per year

Latitudinal Divisions (South to North):

Longitudinal Divisions (West to East):

• Kashmir Himalayas - K2, Nanga Parbat
• Himachal Himalayas - Dhaula Dhar, Pir Panjal
• Kumaon Himalayas - Nanda Devi, Kedarnath
• Central/Nepal Himalayas - Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga
• Assam Himalayas - Namcha Barwa

• Type: Block mountains (fault-block)
• Length: 1,600 km
• Orientation: North-South along western coast
• Average height: 900-1200m
• Highest peak: Anamudi (2,695m) in Kerala

• Kalsubai (1,646m) - Highest in Maharashtra
• Mullayanagiri (1,930m) - Highest in Karnataka
• Doddabetta (2,637m) - Highest in Nilgiris
• Anamudi (2,695m) - Highest in Western Ghats

• Monsoon barrier - Causes orographic rainfall
• Biodiversity hotspot - Endemic species
• River source - Origin of many peninsular rivers
• Coffee and spice cultivation

• Type: Residual mountains (eroded)
• Length: 1,750 km
• Orientation: Northeast-Southwest
• Average height: 600m
• Discontinuous - Broken by rivers

• Javadi Hills - Tamil Nadu
• Shevaroy Hills - Tamil Nadu
• Pachhaimalai - Tamil Nadu
• Nallamala Hills - Andhra Pradesh
• Simhachalam Hills - Andhra Pradesh

• Jindhagada Peak (1,690m) - Odisha
• Arma Konda (1,680m) - Andhra Pradesh
• Deomali (1,672m) - Odisha

• Location: Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Delhi
• Type: Oldest fold mountains in India
• Age: Pre-Cambrian (2.5 billion years)
• Highest peak: Mount Abu (1,722m)
• Direction: Southwest to Northeast
• Significance: Mineral wealth (zinc, lead, copper)

• Location: Central India (MP, Maharashtra)
• Direction: East-West
• Highest peak: Dhupgarh (1,350m)
• Features: Extensive plateau region

• Location: Central India
• Significance: Traditional divide between North and South India
• Rivers: Chambal, Betwa, Ken originate here

• Natural barriers - Himalayas protect northern borders
• Strategic passes - Khyber, Bolan (historical invasion routes)
• Border security - Mountain warfare challenges

• Monsoon patterns - Western Ghats create rain shadow
• Temperature regulation - Altitude affects climate
• Water cycle - Snow/glacier melt feeds rivers

• Deforestation - Loss of forest cover
• Climate change - Glacier retreat in Himalayas
• Mining impacts - Environmental degradation
• Urbanization pressure - Hill station development

• Paper: General Studies Paper I (Geography)
• Topics: Physical features, climate impact, economic geography
• Previous Year Questions:
  1. Compare Western and Eastern Ghats (2020)
  2. Himalayan formation and divisions (2019)
  3. Mountain ranges and monsoon patterns (2018)

Himalayan Divisions (South to North): Small Hills Grow Taller

• Shivaliks (Outer)
• Himachal (Lesser)
• Greater Himalayas (Himadri)
• Trans Himalayas (Karakoram)

Western Ghats Sections: Northern Central Southern

• Northern - Maharashtra
• Central - Karnataka
• Southern - Kerala/Tamil Nadu

• Impact on cyclone patterns
• Influence on coastal geography
• Relationship with Deccan Plateau

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Sources: NCERT Class 11 Geography, Certificate Physical and Human Geography