RRB PREP
NTPC ALP Group D

Geography for RRB Exams

Physical Geography of India

Mountains & Plateaus

  • • Himalayas: Young fold mountains, highest peak K2 (8,611m), Mt. Everest (8,849m)
  • • Three Ranges: Himadri (Greater Himalayas), Himachal (Lesser), Shivaliks (Outer)
  • • Western Ghats: Continuous, avg height 900-1,500m, Anai Mudi highest (2,695m)
  • • Eastern Ghats: Discontinuous, avg height 600m, Mahendragiri highest (1,501m)
  • • Deccan Plateau: Triangular, black soil region, lava flows

Major Rivers

  • • Ganga (2,525 km): Originates at Gangotri, tributaries: Yamuna, Ghaghara, Gandak
  • • Brahmaputra (2,900 km): Originates Tibet, enters India at Arunachal Pradesh
  • • Godavari (1,465 km): Longest peninsular river, rises in Maharashtra
  • • Krishna (1,400 km): Originates Western Ghats, flows through Karnataka
  • • Narmada (1,312 km): Westward flowing, marble rocks at Bhedaghat
  • • Indus (3,180 km): Originates Tibet, enters India in Ladakh

Climate & Monsoons

  • • Monsoon Climate: Southwest monsoon (June-Sept), Northeast monsoon (Oct-Dec)
  • • Seasons: Winter, Summer, Monsoon, Post-monsoon
  • • Wettest Place: Mawsynram, Meghalaya (11,871 mm annual rainfall)
  • • Driest Place: Jaisalmer, Rajasthan
  • • Factors: Latitude, altitude, distance from sea, relief

Soil Types

  • • Alluvial: Most widespread, found in plains, highly fertile
  • • Black (Regur): Deccan region, cotton growing, moisture retention
  • • Red: High iron content, less fertile, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
  • • Laterite: Heavy rainfall areas, iron-rich, Kerala, Karnataka
  • • Desert: Rajasthan, low water retention
  • • Mountain: Hilly areas, varies with altitude

Indian Geography - States & Important Facts

States & Capitals (28 States)

Largest by Area: Rajasthan (342,239 km²)
Smallest by Area: Goa (3,702 km²)
Most Populous: Uttar Pradesh (241M)
Least Populous: Sikkim (0.7M)
Highest Literacy: Kerala (94%)
Most Forests: Madhya Pradesh (77,522 km²)

Union Territories (8)

  • • Delhi (NCT), Puducherry, Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
  • • Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh

Major Ports

  • • West Coast: Kandla, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru (Nhava Sheva), Marmagao, New Mangalore, Cochin
  • • East Coast: Kolkata-Haldia, Paradip, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Ennore, Tuticorin

Important Cities & Features

  • • Southernmost: Indira Point (Nicobar)
  • • Northernmost: Indira Col (Siachen Glacier)
  • • Easternmost: Kibithu (Arunachal Pradesh)
  • • Westernmost: Guhar Moti (Gujarat)
  • • Silicon City: Bengaluru
  • • Pink City: Jaipur

World Geography

Continents & Oceans

  • • 7 Continents: Asia (largest), Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia
  • • 5 Oceans: Pacific (largest, deepest), Atlantic, Indian, Southern, Arctic (smallest)
  • • Largest Desert: Sahara (Africa) - hot desert; Antarctica - cold desert
  • • Longest River: Nile (6,650 km), Amazon (largest by volume)
  • • Highest Mountain: Mt. Everest (8,849m)

Important Countries & Capitals

China: Beijing
USA: Washington D.C.
Russia: Moscow
Japan: Tokyo
Germany: Berlin
France: Paris
UK: London
Australia: Canberra

Time Zones & Lines

  • • Prime Meridian: 0° longitude, passes through Greenwich, UK
  • • International Date Line: 180° meridian, Pacific Ocean
  • • Equator: 0° latitude, divides Earth into Northern & Southern hemispheres
  • • Tropic of Cancer: 23.5°N, passes through India
  • • Tropic of Capricorn: 23.5°S
  • • IST: UTC+5:30, 82.5°E meridian (Mirzapur)

Key Facts

  • • Largest Country by Area: Russia (17.1M km²)
  • • Largest Country by Population: India (1.4B+)
  • • Smallest Country: Vatican City (0.44 km²)
  • • Longest Coastline: Canada
  • • Most Time Zones: France (12, including territories)

Natural Vegetation & Wildlife

Vegetation Types in India

  • • Tropical Evergreen: Western Ghats, Northeast (heavy rainfall areas)
  • • Tropical Deciduous: Most common, shed leaves in dry season
  • • Thorn & Scrubs: Rajasthan, Gujarat (low rainfall)
  • • Mangrove: Coastal areas, Sundarbans (largest)
  • • Mountain: Varies with altitude in Himalayas

Wildlife Sanctuaries & National Parks

  • • Jim Corbett (Uttarakhand): First national park, tigers
  • • Kaziranga (Assam): One-horned rhinoceros
  • • Gir (Gujarat): Asiatic lions
  • • Ranthambore (Rajasthan): Royal Bengal tigers
  • • Sundarbans (West Bengal): Mangrove forests, tigers

Test Your Knowledge

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