Physiographic Divisions of Bihar — The Ganga Splits Everything

Bihar's Physiography — And Why It Is Its Own Question

This is area 5 of the nine Prelims areas, and it is Bihar-specific. National geography material will not carry you through it.

The state at a glance:

• ›Area: 94,163 sq km — 12th largest state
• ›Landlocked; the Ganga runs west → east straight through the middle
• ›Borders: Uttar Pradesh (west), Nepal (north), West Bengal (east), Jharkhand (south)

The one idea that unlocks the topic: the Ganga splits Bihar into a North half — young, wet, flood-prone, fed by Himalayan rivers — and a South half — older, drier, fringed by plateau, fed by rain. Almost every question reduces to that contrast.

1. Bihar's highest point lies in which hill range?

2. The older alluvium found across the South Ganga Plain of Bihar is called:

3. Which of the following does NOT share a border with Bihar?

4. The southern plateau region of Bihar is the northern extension of which plateau?

5. The only hilly tract lying in North Bihar is formed by the:

6. Bihar's only hot water spring is located at:

7. After the bifurcation of 2000, Bihar retained:

8. India's oldest surviving rock-cut caves, dating from the Mauryan period, are located in the: