Research Summary

A comprehensive retrospection of India's geological evolution spanning 200 million years — from Gondwana breakup through Deccan Traps volcanism to the Himalayan orogeny — revealing how tectonic forces shaped the subcontinent's terrain, biodiversity, and civilization.

Abstract

India's geographical and geological evolution represents one of the most fascinating transformations in Earth's history; a journey from fiery infernal origins to the creation of the majestic Himalayas and the vibrant landscapes of the present day. This study explores the dynamic processes that shaped the Indian subcontinent over hundreds of millions of years, tracing its path from the ancient supercontinent Gondwana to its current continental configuration. Drawing upon geological, tectonic, and paleoenvironmental evidence, the paper reconstructs the sequence of events that led to the subcontinent's dramatic northward drift, the formation of the Western and Eastern Ghats, the cataclysmic Deccan Traps volcanism, and the monumental collision with the Eurasian Plate that gave birth to the great Himalayas. This research review highlights the interplay between plate tectonics (Molnar & Tapponnier, 1975), volcanism, and climate evolution, demonstrating how these forces have continuously molded India's terrain, biodiversity, and ecological systems more so the mountain ranges. It emphasizes the enduring impact of the Gondwana breakup, the volcanic activities that thinned the Indian Plate, and the subsequent uplift of the Himalayas that continues to this day, influencing monsoons, river systems, and human settlement patterns. By viewing India as a “living planet in miniature,” this study underscores the inseparable connection between geological processes and the evolution of life and civilization.

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