Veliconda group of low hills is a structural part of

1. Physiographic Divisions: The Peninsular Plateau (basic)

Welcome to your first step in mastering Indian geography! To understand the Peninsular Plateau, you must first imagine it as the "oldest and stablest" part of the Indian subcontinent. Unlike the towering, rugged Himalayas, which are "young" and still growing, the Peninsular Plateau is a massive tableland composed of very ancient crystalline, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. It was born from the breaking and drifting of Gondwanaland, making it a relic of one of the world's most ancient landmasses CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.12.

Geographically, the plateau is characterized by broad, shallow valleys and rounded hills—the latter being a sign of millions of years of natural erosion. It is broadly divided into two main sections, separated by the Narmada River:

• The Central Highlands: Located to the north of the Narmada, covering a large part of the Malwa Plateau. It is bounded by the ancient Aravalis in the northwest and the Vindhyas in the south.
• The Deccan Plateau: A triangular landmass south of the Narmada. It is higher in the west and slopes gently toward the east, which explains why most major rivers here flow toward the Bay of Bengal CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.12.

One fascinating detail often overlooked by beginners is that this plateau doesn't end in Central India. It has an extension in the northeast—the Meghalaya Plateau (including the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills) and the Karbi-Anglong Plateau. These were once part of the main block but were later separated by a massive geological fault CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.14.

Feature	Central Highlands	Deccan Plateau
Location	North of Narmada River	South of Narmada River
Key Ranges	Vindhyas, Aravalis	Satpura, Western & Eastern Ghats
Slope	Southwest to Northeast	West to East

Sources: CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.12; CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Physical Features of India, p.14

2. Western Ghats vs. Eastern Ghats: Structural Differences (intermediate)

The Peninsular Plateau of India is flanked by two distinct mountain systems: the Western Ghats (Sahyadris) and the Eastern Ghats. While both serve as the 'rims' of the Deccan Plateau, they differ fundamentally in their structural continuity and geological age. The Western Ghats are a continuous wall of mountains that can only be crossed through specific gaps or passes like the Thal, Bhor, and Pal Ghats CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2, p. 12. In contrast, the Eastern Ghats are a series of detached, discontinuous hills that have been heavily eroded and 'dissected' by the great rivers of the peninsula, such as the Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery, as they flow toward the Bay of Bengal.

The contrast in elevation and relief is equally striking. The Western Ghats are significantly higher, with an average elevation ranging between 900 and 1600 metres. The highest peak here is Anaimudi (2695 m), located in the Anaimalai Hills Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.), Physiography, p. 58. On the other hand, the Eastern Ghats are much lower, averaging only about 600 metres. They stretch from the Mahanadi Valley in the north to the Nilgiri Hills in the south, where the two ranges finally converge in a complex 'mountain knot' CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2, p. 12.

Structurally, the Eastern Ghats are composed of ancient, heterogeneous rocks like khondalites and charnockites, representing relicts of very old fold mountains. They appear as localized hill ranges with distinct names; for instance, in Andhra Pradesh, they form the Nallamala, Velikonda, Palkonda, and Erramala ranges Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.), Physiography, p. 62. Because the Western Ghats act as a solid barrier, they force moisture-laden winds to rise, causing orographic rain on their western slopes, whereas the Eastern Ghats do not present such a continuous barrier to the monsoon winds.

Feature	Western Ghats (Sahyadris)	Eastern Ghats
Continuity	Continuous; crossed via passes.	Discontinuous; dissected by rivers.
Avg. Elevation	900 – 1600 metres.	~600 metres.
Highest Peak	Anaimudi (2695 m).	Arma Konda / Mahendragiri.
Local Names	Sahyadri, Nilgiri, Anaimalai, Cardamom.	Nallamala, Velikonda, Javadi, Shevaroy.

Sources: CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I ,Geography, Class IX . NCERT(Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2: Physical Features of India, p.12; Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.), Physiography, p.58, 61, 62; INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Structure and Physiography, p.12

3. Geological Evolution of the Eastern Ghats (intermediate)

Unlike the Western Ghats, which stand as a continuous wall along the Arabian Sea, the Eastern Ghats are a series of detached, discontinuous hills that form the eastern edge of the Deccan Plateau. Geologically, these are much older than the Himalayas and represent relict fold mountains—ancient mountain systems that have been heavily eroded over millions of years. They stretch from the Mahanadi Valley in the north to the Nilgiris in the south, where they eventually meet the Western Ghats NCERT Class IX Contemporary India-I, Physical Features of India, p.12. Because they were elevated during ancient orogenic (mountain-building) events, such as those in the Cambrian Period, they have been subjected to immense weathering, leaving behind the 'stumps' or lower-elevation hills we see today.

The Eastern Ghats are unique because of their heterogeneous composition. The range is primarily made up of Khondalites (metamorphosed sedimentary rocks) and Charnockites (igneous rocks like granite) Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.62. Their average elevation is relatively low, at about 600 metres, compared to the 900–1600 metres of the Western Ghats NCERT Class IX Contemporary India-I, Physical Features of India, p.12. This low elevation and the massive gaps between hills are due to the dissecting action of great peninsular rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Pennar, which cut through the range to reach the Bay of Bengal.

Structurally, the central and southern parts of the Eastern Ghats are divided into distinct local ranges. For instance, between the Krishna and Pennar rivers, we find the Velikonda, Nallamala, Palkonda, and Erramala ranges Majid Husain, Geography of India, Physiography, p.62. The Velikonda Range, specifically, forms the easternmost flank and is characterized by strongly folded and faulted structures that have been worn down over time. These hills are essentially the structural remnants of an ancient mountain chain that once rivaled much taller ranges in height.

Feature	Eastern Ghats	Western Ghats
Continuity	Discontinuous & dissected by rivers	Continuous; can be crossed only via passes
Average Elevation	~600 metres	900–1600 metres
Geological Nature	Relict/Residual Fold Mountains	Block Mountains/Escarpments

Sources: Geography of India, Majid Husain, Physiography, p.61-62; NCERT Class IX Contemporary India-I, Physical Features of India, p.12

4. Impact of Peninsular Drainage on Mountain Morphology (intermediate)

To understand the morphology (the form and structure) of the Indian mountains, we must look at them not as static rocks, but as landscapes being constantly sculpted by water. In Peninsular India, the drainage system is significantly older than the Himalayan one. Because these rivers have been flowing for millions of years, they have reached a stage of 'maturity,' characterized by broad, largely-graded shallow valleys INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Drainage System, p.23. This long-term erosional activity is the primary reason why the mountains of the Peninsula look so different from the jagged, high peaks of the North.

The Western Ghats serve as the primary water divide for the Peninsula, running close to the western coast CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Geography Class IX, Drainage, p.21. Because the plateau has a general tilt from West to East, most major rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri are forced to flow eastward INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Structure and Physiography, p.12. As these massive volumes of water move toward the Bay of Bengal, they must 'punch through' the eastern edge of the plateau. Over eons, this hydraulic action has dissected the Eastern Ghats, turning what might have been a continuous range into a series of isolated, low-lying hill groups.

This erosional history explains why the Eastern Ghats are described as discontinuous and broken Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science-Class VII, Geographical Diversity of India, p.16. For example, the Velikonda Range and its neighbors like the Nallamala and Palkonda hills are essentially relicts — surviving remnants of an ancient mountain system that has been heavily weathered and separated by river valleys. In contrast, the Western Ghats remain relatively continuous because they do not have to contend with large, transverse-flowing rivers cutting through them from the interior.

Feature	Western Ghats Morphology	Eastern Ghats Morphology
Continuity	Highly continuous; can be crossed only through passes (Ghats).	Highly discontinuous; broken by large river valleys.
Drainage Impact	Acts as the source/divide; minimal breach by major rivers.	Acts as the discharge zone; major rivers (Godavari, Krishna) erode wide gaps.
Structural Form	Steep, wall-like escarpments.	Lower, rounded hills and 'relict' structures like the Velikonda.

Sources: INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Drainage System, p.23; CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I, Geography Class IX, Drainage, p.21; INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.), Structure and Physiography, p.12; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science-Class VII, Geographical Diversity of India, p.16

5. Coastal Plains and their Relationship with the Ghats (intermediate)

The Indian subcontinent is framed by two distinct coastal strips that serve as the transition zone between the ancient Peninsular Plateau and the surrounding oceans. These plains are not merely 'beaches' but complex physiographic units formed through a combination of tectonic plate movement (faulting and subsidence during the Eocene Period) and the relentless depositional work of India’s great rivers Majid Husain, Geography of India, Chapter 2, p.63. To understand these plains, you must look at them through the lens of the mountain ranges that 'guard' them—the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.

On the western front, the coast is a story of submergence and narrowness. Sandwiched between the steep, wall-like Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea, the Western Coastal Plain is remarkably narrow. Because the Western Ghats are continuous and close to the sea, the rivers flowing west (like the Narmada and Tapi) are short and fast, forming estuaries rather than deltas NCERT, Contemporary India-I, Chapter 2, p.13. Conversely, the Eastern Coastal Plain is a wide, level expanse. Here, the Eastern Ghats are highly dissected and discontinuous, allowing massive rivers like the Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery to pass through and deposit vast amounts of alluvium, creating some of the largest deltas in the world Majid Husain, Geography of India, Chapter 2, p.65.

Feature	Western Coastal Plain	Eastern Coastal Plain
Width	Narrow strip (narrowest in the center).	Wide and expansive.
River Landforms	Estuaries (due to steep gradient).	Large Deltas (due to gentle slope).
Regional Names	Konkan (North), Kannad (Center), Malabar (South).	Northern Circar (North), Coromandel (South).
Ghat Relationship	Bordered by high, continuous Western Ghats.	Bordered by low, broken Eastern Ghats.

Sources: Geography of India (Majid Husain), Chapter 2: Physiography, p.63, 65; Contemporary India-I (NCERT Class IX), Chapter 2: Physical Features of India, p.13

6. Local Ranges of the Eastern Ghats (North to South) (exam-level)

Unlike the Western Ghats, which form a continuous wall along the Arabian Sea, the Eastern Ghats are highly dissected and discontinuous. They have been broken into individual local ranges by the massive east-flowing rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri. Geologically, these hills are relict mountains—the weathered remains of an ancient, folded mountain system that is much older than the Himalayas INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI, p.9.

Understanding these ranges requires a clear North-to-South mental map, primarily moving through Andhra Pradesh and into Tamil Nadu. In the central section (Andhra Pradesh), the ranges are clustered between the Krishna and Pennar rivers. Here, the Nallamala Hills sit to the north, followed by the Velikonda and Palkonda ranges. The Velikonda Range specifically represents the lower, easternmost flank of the Ghats before they descend into the coastal plains Geography of India, Majid Husain, p.62. Parallel to these, you will also find the Erramala Hills.

As we move further south into Tamil Nadu, the Eastern Ghats become even more fragmented. The sequence continues with the Javadi Hills and the Shevaroy Hills, which are famous for their hill stations like Yercaud. Further south still are the Panchaimalai, Sirumalai, and finally the Varushnad Hills near Madurai Geography of India, Majid Husain, p.62. This southward progression is a classic UPSC mapping favorite, as it highlights the transition from the Deccan plateau's edge toward the southern tip of the peninsula.

Region	Key Ranges (North to South)
Andhra Pradesh	Nallamala, Erramala, Velikonda, Palkonda, Seshachalam
Tamil Nadu	Javadi, Shevaroy, Panchaimalai, Sirumalai

Sources: Geography of India, Physiography, p.62; INDIA PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, Geography Class XI, Structure and Physiography, p.9

7. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

Now that you have mastered the building blocks of India's physiography, you can see how UPSC tests your ability to categorize specific local ranges into broader structural systems. The Eastern Ghats are characterized as a highly dissected and discontinuous mountain chain, unlike the continuous Western Ghats. Your understanding of the Peninsular Plateau's drainage pattern is the key here; because major rivers like the Godavari and Krishna flow eastward, they have carved the Eastern Ghats into distinct groups of low hills. The Veliconda Range, located in southeastern Andhra Pradesh, is one such structural block that forms the eastern flank of this ancient, weathered system as noted in Geography of India by Majid Husain.

To arrive at the correct answer, (C) Eastern Ghats, you should use regional nomenclature as a mental shortcut. In Indian geography, hill names ending in "-konda" (like Palkonda and Veliconda) or "-mala" (like Nallamala and Erramala) are almost exclusively associated with the Andhra Pradesh section of the Eastern Ghats. Reasoning through the map, since the Veliconda hills sit between the Krishna and Pennar rivers, they represent the lower, easternmost ridges of the central Eastern Ghats before the terrain levels out into the coastal plains.

UPSC often uses the other options as traps based on geographical fame. The Western Ghats and Cardamom Hills are situated on the opposite side of the peninsula and are geologically distinct, being much higher and more continuous. The Nilgiri Hills serve as the junction point where the Western and Eastern Ghats meet, but they are a massive crystalline knot, quite different from the low, folded, and faulted structure of the Veliconda group. As highlighted in NCERT Class IX Geography, distinguishing between the eastern and western flanks is essential for tackling these spatial reasoning questions.