Read the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option:
Assertion (A): The northeastern extension of the Deccan Plateau is known for distinct hill ranges like the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills.
Reason (R): These hills are part of the Chotanagpur Plateau, from which they are separated by a geological fault.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
Answer: A is true, but R is false.
Explanation:
- Assertion (A) is true: The northeastern extension of the Deccan Plateau indeed manifests as the Meghalaya Plateau (Shillong Plateau), which comprises the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills. These hills are renowned for their distinctiveness and for receiving heavy rainfall.
- Reason (R) is false: These hills are not a part of the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Geologically, the Meghalaya Plateau is indeed a part of the 'Peninsular Plateau'; however, it is separated from the Chota Nagpur Plateau by a deep fault known as the 'Malda Fault' or the 'Garo-Rajmahal Gap.' The Chota Nagpur Plateau and these hills constitute distinct geographical units which, despite belonging to the same main Peninsular block, are not physically connected to one another.
Additional Points:
- Malda Gap: This is a vast plain filled with sediments deposited by the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, situated across West Bengal and Bangladesh.
- Rainfall: Mawsynram and Cherrapunji, located to the south of the Khasi Hills, are the places receiving the highest rainfall in the world.
- Geology: These hills are significantly older than the Himalayas and form part of the ancient rocky structure of Gondwanaland.
Potential Questions and Answers:
Question: In which state are the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills located?
Answer: Meghalaya.
Question: What is the name of the fault that separates the Peninsular Plateau from the Meghalaya Plateau?
Answer: Malda Fault or Rajmahal-Garo Gap.
Question: On which hill is 'Mawsynram'—the place with the highest rainfall in the world—located?
Answer: Khasi Hills.