Question

The oldest landmass of India is _______ .
a.The Peninsular plateau
b.The Himalayan mountains
c.The Coastal plains
d.The Indian Desert

Answer 1

Hint: India is a large landmass which is formed during different geological periods and this has influenced
her relief. The processes like weathering,erosion and deposition have also played a role in modifying the present relief features of India.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The five major physiographic divisions of India are;
1.The Himalayan mountains
2.The Northern Plains
3.The Peninsular plateau
4.The Indian desert
5.The Coastal plains
6.The Islands
Among the five physical divisions of India, the Peninsular part is the oldest landmass whereas the Himalayas and the Northern Plains are the most recent
landforms.
From the viewpoint of geology, the Himalayan mountain system is an unstable zone with youthful topography. The Northern Plains of India are formed of alluvial deposits which are deposited by the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Indus river system. The Peninsular part of India is a part of the Gondwana land, which is the southern part of the supercontinent Pangea.
The Gondwana land consisted of India, Australia, Africa, Madagascar, and Australia, as well as the Arabian Peninsula and the Indian Subcontinent,as one single landmass. The peninsular plateau was formed due to the drift of the Gondwana landmass. Hence, it is the oldest landmass.
Looking at the above options:
Option a: The Peninsular plateau which is a part of the ancient Gondwanaland is the oldest landmass. Hence, this is the correct answer.
Option b: Geologically, the Himalayas are the youngest physical division which is formed due to collision of the Indo Australian plate and the Eurasian plate. They are fold mountains which stretch over the northern borders of the Indian subcontinent. This is an incorrect option.
Option c: The peninsular part of India which is bordered by the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal
on the east constitute the coastal plains. It consists of 3
sections;
1.The northern part, Konkan coast
2.The central stretch, Kannad Plain
3.The southern stretch, Malabar coast
Option c is not correct.
Option d: The Indian desert is a sandy plain covered with dunes which lie towards the western
margins of the Aravali Hills. This is not the correct option.

Option 'a' is correct.

Note: While answering this question don't get confused between the Himalayas and the Peninsular part. Though the Himalayas is also formed due to the breaking of the tectonic plates it is not the oldest.