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The Great Plains of India have been the repository of the Indian culture. This is covered with one of the most productive soils of the world. Its soils have the capacity to grow any crop of the tropical and temperate regions. The main points of significance of the Great Plains of India are as under:
(i) The soils of the plains are agriculturally most fertile. They are being devoted to the cereal and non-cereal crops. The plains are often termed as the ‘Granary of India’.
(ii) Most of the rivers traversing the Northern Plains of India are perennial in nature. A number of canals have been carved out of these rivers which make agriculture more remunerative and sustainable.
(iii) The northern plains have a rich underground water-table which is being utilised through tube-wells and pumping sets for irrigation, domestic and
industrial purposes.
(iv) The rivers of the plain have very gentle gradients which makes them navigable over long distances.
(v) Development of infrastructure like roads and railways could become easy in the plains.
(vi) The sedimentary rocks ol plains have petroleum and natural gas deposits.
(vii) The plains constitute less than one-third of the total area of the country, but support over 40 per cent of the total population of the country.
(viii) The plains have witnessed several religious, political, cultural and social movements since the dawn of history. Some of the great religions of the world, like Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism have their origin in the Great Plains of India. Several sacred places and centres of pilgrimage (Amritsar, Hardwar, Allahabad, Varanasi, Kushinagar, Bodh-Gaya, etc.) are situated in these plains.