RAS question
The 'Western Ghats' are also known as:
Correct answer: (C) Sahyadri.
The Western Ghats are also known as the Sahyadri.
Explanation
The Western Ghats are also known as the Sahyadri. This range runs parallel to India's western coast for about 1,600 km from Gujarat to Kerala, and it received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2012. The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India treats the Western Ghats as a major mountain system and defines the Western Ghats region as extending north to south across six states. In an RAS context, the name matters because the same physical feature may be known by its conventional geographical name or its regional name.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Vindhyachal is not the alternate name for the Western Ghats; the correct alternate name is Sahyadri.
- (B) Satpura is not the alternate name by which the Western Ghats are known; the accepted synonym is Sahyadri.
- (D) Nilgiri does not match the alternate name for the Western Ghats; the correct name is Sahyadri.
Concept
Indian physiography recognises major relief features by alternate names. RAS map-based geography often depends on matching a physical feature with its accepted regional or classical name.