Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 1, Geographical Diversity of India, takes you across every major physical division of the Indian subcontinent—from the snow-capped Himalayas and cold desert of Ladakh to the Gangetic Plains, Thar Desert, Peninsular Plateau, coastlines and islands.
What Class 7 Social Science Chapter 1 Covers
The Himalayas, Cold Desert & Gangetic Plains explores the three Himalayan ranges (Himadri, Himachal and Shiwaliks), how the collision of the Indian plate with Eurasia formed the Himalayas, Ladakh’s cold desert, and the fertile Northern Plains fed by the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra.
Thar Desert, Aravalli Hills & Peninsular Plateau examines life and water conservation in the Great Indian Desert, the ancient Aravalli barrier, and the mineral-rich Deccan and Central Highlands bordered by the Western and Eastern Ghats.
Coastlines, Islands, Sundarbans & Northeast Hills covers the West and East Coasts, coral Lakshadweep Islands, volcanic Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the Sundarbans delta and the hills of Northeast India.
Exercises in Chapter 1
- Before we move on… chapter takeaways and Questions and activities for revision and map work.
Read Class 7 Social Science Chapter 1 Online
More Chapters
- Next: Chapter 2: Understanding the Weather
- Hindi medium: Class 7 Social Science Part 1 Chapter 1 PDF in Hindi (Samaj ka Adhyayan)
- All Social Science chapters and the other Class 7 books: Class 7 NCERT books 2026-27
- All Class 1 to 12 NCERT Textbooks: NCERT Books PDF (Class 1–12)
FAQ
What are the three main parallel ranges of the Himalayas?
The Greater Himalayas (Himadri), the Lesser Himalayas (Himachal), and the Outer Himalayas (Shiwaliks).
What are the major physical divisions of India covered in Chapter 1?
The Himalayas, Cold Desert (Ladakh), Northern Gangetic Plains, Thar Desert, Aravalli Hills, Peninsular Plateau, West and East Coasts, Indian Islands, Sundarbans Delta and Northeast Hills.