Question

Part of Indian landmass covered by Deccan peninsula is
a. $42\%$
b. $36\%$
c. $33\%$
d. $31\%$

Answer 1

Deccan plateau is a large plateau which is present in the southern and western part of India. The portion of India south to the river Narmada, which has a triangular tableland at centre, is the Deccan peninsula.

Complete answer: The word Deccan is derived from a Sanskrit word ‘Dakshin’ means the south direction. The Deccan plateau has a rise of 100 metres in the north and about 1000 metres in the south. This forms a triangle centrally. In the east and west, it is surrounded by Ghats (Eastern Ghats and Western Ghats respectively), in the north it is terminated at the Range Satpura. The landmass of India which is covered by the Deccan peninsula is about $42\%$.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Additional information:
The principal rivers of the Deccan plateau are Krishna, Kaveri, and Godavari. The rivers flow to the south. Godavari flows from the Western Ghats to the Bay of Bengal. River Krishna and its tributaries also flow towards the east. River Kaveri rises in Western Ghats and after bending towards south, it passes through the Nilgiri Hills and finally goes to Bay of Bengal.

The climate at plateau is somewhat dry and is arid. The mountains at the Western Ghats block the Southwest monsoon from entering the plateau, so the rainfall in the plateau is very less.

Note: In India, the Deccan plateau extends more than eight states and is a large habitat over Telangana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. It has provided some important and well known Indian dynasties. The mineral wealth in the plateau is high and history has many stories of fighting for it.