NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 1 Geographical Diversity of India help students understand the different landforms, climates and natural features of our country.
The chapter explains how the geographical diversity of India Class 7 affects people lives, including their food, clothes, work and culture.
With clear answers to textbook questions, these solutions make it easy for students to learn about mountains, plains, plateaus, deserts, rivers, and coasts and see how they all connect to form one nation. They are also helpful for covering the Class 7 Social Science syllabus, ensuring that students study all the important topics required for exams.
India is a vast country with many different landforms and climates. This chapter, Geographical Diversity of India Class 7 Social Science introduces students to the rich variety of physical features found in our country.
From the snow covered Himalayas in the north to the hot deserts in the west, from the fertile northern plains to the mineral-rich plateaus in the south, and from the long coastlines to the islands, India shows great diversity in its geography. T
These features not only shape the climate and natural resources but also affect the way people live, work, eat and celebrate. The chapter helps us understand how this diversity brings unity and makes India special.
With the help of these NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 1 Geographical Diversity of India students can easily understand the chapter and prepare well for exams.
The Big Questions? (page – 1)
Question 1. What are some key geographical features of India?
Answer:
India has many different landforms. In the north, the Himalayas block cold winds and give rise to big rivers. Below them lie the Northern Plains, which are flat and fertile, making them good for farming. On the western side is the Thar Desert, which is hot and dry. The southern region has the Peninsular Plateau, full of minerals and forests. Along the coasts, there are plains and islands that help in fishing, trade, and tourism. India also has major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Brahmaputra, Godavari, and Krishna, which provide water for farming, drinking, and transport.
Question 2. How does India’s geographical diversity affect our lives?
Answer:
India’s different landforms and climates affect how we live. The Himalayas are cold, the desert is hot, and the coasts are warm and humid. The plains are fertile, so people grow many crops there, while hills are used for terrace farming and plantations. Forests give us wood and medicines, and plateaus provide minerals. People’s jobs also depend on where they live — farmers in plains, fishermen near coasts, and miners in plateaus. Our food, clothes, festivals, and lifestyle also change with the geography of each region.
Let’s Explore
Question 1. Look at the map of India given below. What are you able to observe? Recall your lesson on different types of landforms—mountains, plains and plateaus. Which landforms can you identify on the map? What do the different colours on the map mean?
Answer:
Looking at the map of India, we can see different landforms:
The Himalayas in the north.
The Northern Plains below the Himalayas, covering states like Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
The Peninsular Plateau, including the Deccan Plateau, in central and southern India.
The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats along the sides of the southern plateau.
The Thar Desert in north-western India, mainly in Rajasthan.
The colors on the map show:
Dark brown – high mountains
Light brown or yellow – plateaus and hills
Green – plains and lowlands
Blue – rivers, lakes, and seas
Question 2. Do you recall your lesson on latitudes and longitudes? Look at the above map. Can you read, approximately, the latitude and longitude where India lies?
Identify the above features on India’s physical map. (Page 3)
Answer:
India is located between 8°4’N to 37°6’N latitude and 68°7’E to 97°25’E longitude. This means India is in the Northern Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere.
Question 3. Can you locate the names of the states in the different parts of the Himalayas? Take the help of both the physical and political maps for this exercise. (Page 6)
Answer:
The Himalayas are divided into three parts:
Western Himalayas: Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, and western Uttarakhand.
Central Himalayas: Central Uttarakhand and part of Sikkim.
Eastern Himalayas: Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, and northern West Bengal (Darjeeling area)
Question 4. Notice the concentration of lightning in the plains. What could be the reason for this concentration? (Page 11
Answer:
Lightning happens more in the plains because of a few reasons:
Flat land: Plains are flat with no big mountains, so warm, moist air rises easily and forms thunderstorms.
Near water: Many plains are close to rivers and lakes, which make the air humid and help thunderstorms form.
Hot summers: In summer, the plains get very hot, making warm air rise fast. When it meets cooler air, lightning can occur.
Monsoon winds: During the rainy season, monsoon winds bring heavy rain and more thunderstorms, causing more lightning in the plains.
Question 5. What is the shape of a sand dune? While mountains are made of rock and their shape is fixed, why do you think sand dunes also have a similar shape, even though they are made of sand? (Page 12)
Answer:
A sand dune usually looks like a crescent or a ridge, with one side gently sloping and the other side steeper. Even though dunes are made of loose sand, they keep this shape because of the wind. The wind moves sand particles and piles them in the same pattern. As long as the wind blows in the same direction, the dune keeps its shape, just like mountains keep their shape because of solid rock.
Question 6. Let’s go back to the map (given on page 8). Trace your path slowly from the Thar Desert towards the east. Do you see the Aravalli Hills? (Page 14)
Answer:
Yes, if we move east from the Thar Desert on the map, we can see the Aravalli Hills.
The Aravalli Hills are in the eastern part of the Thar Desert, mostly in Rajasthan. They are a narrow range running from southwest to northeast. These hills are very old and help separate the desert from the fertile plains to the east.
Question 7. Look at the political map given below and identify the states that the range spans. Did you see Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Gujarat?
Answer:
Yes, the Aravalli Range goes through these states:
Rajasthan: Most of southeastern and central Rajasthan.
Haryana: Southern Haryana.
Delhi: A small part reaches the Ridge area.
Gujarat: The southern end goes into northeastern Gujarat.
Question 8. Look at the physical map of India (given on page 8) of the book. Notice the direction of the flow of the rivers. (Page 16)
Answer:
In the Northern Plains, rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Brahmaputra flow from north to east, starting in the Himalayas and going into the Bay of Bengal.
In central and southern India, rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery mostly flow from west to east into the Bay of Bengal.
Some rivers, like the Narmada and Tapi, flow from east to west into the Arabian Sea. They start from the central highlands.
Question 9. Tribal communities are largely spread over the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Gujarat. Examine the physical map (on page 8) and political maps given above to locate the states and connect them to their location on the physical map.
Answer:
Tribal communities live in different parts of India:
Jharkhand: On the Chotanagpur Plateau, full of forests and minerals.
West Bengal: Mainly in the western Purulia region, which is hilly.
Odisha: In forested hills and the Eastern Ghats.
Assam: In the northeastern hills and valleys.
Madhya Pradesh: Across the central plateau and forested highlands.
Chhattisgarh: On the Chhattisgarh plain and forested hills.
Maharashtra: In hilly areas like Vidarbha and Western Ghats.
Telangana: On the Deccan Plateau, mainly in the northern forested hills.
Gujarat: In the eastern tribal belt near the Satpura ranges and forests.
Question 10. Look at the physical map of India in your school atlas or wall map and find the names of five rivers that flow into the Bay of Bengal. Find out India’s coastal states and discuss the difference between the western and eastern coastal plains. (Page 19)
Answer:
Five rivers that flow into the Bay of Bengal are: Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Godavari, and Krishna.
Coastal states of India:
Eastern Coastal States (Bay of Bengal): West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu
Western Coastal States (Arabian Sea): Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala
The difference between the western and eastern coastal plains are as follows.
Feature |
Western Coastal Plains |
Eastern Coastal Plains |
Location |
Between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea |
Between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal |
Width |
Narrow (50 to 100 km) |
Wide (up to 120 km) |
Rivers |
Small rivers, e.g., Narmada, Tapi |
Large rivers with deltas, e.g., Godavari, Mahanadi and Ganga |
Terrain |
Rocky and uneven |
Flat and fertile |
Coastal Features |
Features estuaries and lagoons backwaters (e.g., Kerala) |
Large deltas and lagoons |
Question 11. Do you know what it is called when these rivers split into multiple streams near the coast? Discuss with your teacher in class to find out!
Answer:
When rivers split into many smaller streams near the coast before entering the sea, it is called a delta. This process is called delta formation, and the smaller streams are called distributaries. For example, the Ganga-Brahmaputra and Godavari rivers form big deltas.
Students can download the PDF of NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 1 Geographical Diversity of India from the link given below. The PDF includes in text answers and exercise solutions, making it easier for students to study and prepare for exams.
Geographical Diversity of India
Using the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 1 Geographical Diversity of India gives students many learning advantages. Below are some key benefits:
Provides step-by-step answers to help students grasp concepts quickly.
Helps revise key topics like landforms, rivers, climate, and resources for better exam performance.
Students can use notes to revise important points before tests.
Solving previous years’ questions helps understand the type of questions frequently asked.
Working on sample papers improves time management and exam readiness.
Strengthens understanding of the geographical diversity of India (Class 7), which will also help in higher classes.