Daily Current Affairs Quiz: December 03, 2025

Statement 1 is correct: The Northern Plains are indeed formed by the three major river systems — the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra — and their tributaries. These rivers bring enormous amounts of alluvium that create the extensive plains.

Statement 2 is correct: The plains contain deep, fertile alluvial soil, making them ideal for agriculture.
Because of high agricultural productivity and favorable living conditions, they are among the most densely populated regions in the world.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Northern Plains do not experience a desert climate. They have a humid subtropical monsoon climate, with sufficient rainfall and abundant vegetation. Desert climate is characteristic of western Rajasthan, not the entire Northern Plains.

Statement 4 is correct: The Northern Plains form the agricultural heartland of India, producing large quantities of food grains — especially rice, wheat, sugarcane, pulses, and oilseeds — due to fertile soil, irrigation, and flat terrain.

Explanation: The Indo-Ganga-Brahmaputra floodplains are characterized by flat, fertile alluvial plains formed by the deposition of sediments carried by the rivers. Oxbow lakes and meanders are common features resulting from the shifting courses of the rivers. Seasonal flooding contributes to the fertility of the land, making it ideal for agriculture. Inselbergs and rugged terrain are features of peninsular India, not the floodplains.

A: (Correct Option) The Upper Ganga Plain is characterized by the presence of ‘Bhabbar’ and ‘Terai’ regions. These are formed by the deposition of sediments carried down by rivers from the Himalayas. The Bhabhar is a narrow belt of porous and coarse alluvial deposits, while the Terai is a marshy and swampy area south of the Bhabhar, formed due to waterlogging. The confluence of the Yamuna and Ganga rivers also occurs in this region.

B: The Middle Ganga Plain includes regions like the Rohilkhand plains and is characterized by a more mature river system with meandering courses and oxbow lakes. Bhabhar and Terai are not prominent features here.

C: The Lower Ganga Plain is dominated by the deltaic region, characterized by numerous distributaries, swamps, and mangroves. Bhabhar and Terai are absent in this region.

D: The Rajasthan Plain is part of the western arid and semi-arid landscape and is not associated with the Bhabhar and Terai formations, which are specific to the Himalayan foothills.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: The Upper Ganga Plain extends from the foothills of the Shiwaliks to the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers at Allahabad (Prayagraj).

Statement 2 is correct: The Middle Ganga Plain has numerous tributaries like the Ghaghara, Gandak, and Kosi rivers contributing to fertile alluvial soil.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta is formed primarily by the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers; the Indus does not contribute to this delta.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The Rohilkhand Plain is situated west of the Ganga river, not east, and is drained by the Ramganga river.

Explanation:

Statement 1 is correct: Bhabar is the northernmost zone of the Indo-Gangetic plains, located along the foothills of the Shivaliks. It is composed of coarse sediments such as boulders, pebbles, and gravel, deposited by fast-flowing Himalayan streams.
Because these materials have very high porosity and permeability, the streams disappear underground as soon as they enter the Bhabar belt.

Statement 2 is correct: Just south of the Bhabar lies the Terai region, where the gradient decreases and the underground water from Bhabar resurfaces. This results in marshy, swampy land, with lush vegetation and high groundwater levels. The Terai is therefore characterized by wetlands and thick forests, formed due to the re-emergence of rivers lost in the Bhabar zone.

Statement 3 is incorrect: Khadar refers to the younger alluvium, deposited annually by river floods. It forms the active floodplains, which are lower in elevation and highly fertile.
The statement wrongly describes Khadar as being “above flood levels” and made of “older alluvium”—these are characteristics of Bhangar, not Khadar.

Statement 4 is correct: Bangar consists of older alluvium and lies on the higher terraces, away from the active floodplains. It is less fertile than Khadar because it contains kankar (calcareous concretions) that reduce soil fertility.
However, Bangar soils can still be cultivated effectively when supported by adequate irrigation, making them productive despite being comparatively less fertile.