UP High Court RO / ARO 10 Dec 2021 Shift 1

Oldest Mountains in India are:

Verified Answer
A. Himalaya
B. Vindhyachal
C. Satpura
D. Aravali

Explanation:

The age of mountain ranges is determined by their geological formation periods. India has several prominent mountain ranges, each with a distinct geological history. \nOption (A) Himalaya: The Himalayas are young fold mountains, formed relatively recently (about $50$ million years ago) due to the collision of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate. They are still tectonically active and rising. Therefore, they are not the oldest mountains in India. \nOption (B) Vindhyachal: The Vindhya Range is a discontinuous chain of mountain ridges, hill-ranges, highlands, and plateaus in west-central India. Geologically, they are older than the Himalayas but younger than the Aravallis, formed during the Proterozoic Eon, approximately $1,000$ million years ago. Therefore, they are not the oldest. \nOption (C) Satpura: The Satpura Range is a range of hills in central India, running east to west. Like the Vindhyas, they are also block mountains, formed during the Proterozoic Eon, making them older than the Himalayas but not as ancient as the Aravallis. Therefore, they are not the oldest. \nOption (D) Aravali: The Aravalli Range is one of the oldest fold mountain ranges in the world, dating back to the Precambrian era, approximately $2,500$ to $1,500$ million years ago. Over millions of years, they have been subjected to extensive erosion, reducing them to residual mountains. Their ancient origin makes them the oldest mountain range in India. Therefore, this option is correct. \nIn summary, the Aravalli Range predates the other mountain ranges listed by a significant geological margin, making it the oldest in India.