Origin:-

The great Northern Plains of India are an aggradation surface of great extent formed after the Himalayas. They are comparatively of recent origin and are believed to have formed by the filling up of a depression resulting from the uplifting of the Himalayas, by deposition of sediments brought by swift-flowing Himalayan rivers, originated in Himalayas.
This plain is mainly developed by rivers Ganga, Indus and Bramaputra. The fine and the deep alluvium deposits by the rivers make the northern plains one of the most fertile plains in the wourld..

Features:

1.The most characteristic feature of the great plains of Northern India is their extreme horizontality. From the geomorphological aspect there is no difference between the Indus basin and the Ganga-Brahmaputra basin.

2.They are classified into four distinct divisions:
Bhabar belt: made up of pebbles and boulders, the streams flow underground, adjacent to foothills
Terai belt: composed of new alluvium, region is damped and thickly forested and receives heavy rainfall throughout the year and has a variety of wildlife.
Bangar Belt: composed of old alluvium, forms Gangetic delta, covered by laterite deposits
Khadar Belt: made up of new alluvium of the flood zones.

3.They are formed by the alluvial deposits of the rivers and their tributaries.

4.They extend from Sutluj river in the west to Brahmputra in the east.

5.They are divided into three parts :
(i) Indus plain
(ii) Ganga plain
(iii) Brahmputra plain.

6.Plains of northern India, a flat and enormous plain, extend in the east west direction between the Himalayan in the north and Great Indian Peninsular Plateau in the south. These plains form an unbroken belt of alluvium varying in thickness from east Bihar Plain to Punjab and northern Rajasthan . Sutlej Plain in the west, the Ganga Plain in the middle, the Ganga Delta and the Brahmaputra Valley in the east constitute the northern plains. These are among the largest plains of the world.

Importance of Northern Plains:

The northern plains is a riverine region, being bountifully endowed with the fertile soil, favourable climate, flat surface rendering possible the construction of roads and railways, and slow moving rivers. All these factors have made this plain very important.

1.Heavy Concentration of Population:

• The great plain of India with its deep, fertile, stoneless, alluvial soil and its many rivers, is the most favourable and most desirable part of the sub-continent.

2.Cultural and Political Importance:

• A significant fact is that in view of the immense concentration of population and resource the Ganga valley has always dominated North India.
• It is the dominant area from which not only the political power but also economic and cultural movements spread to Aryavarta (i.e., the area lying north of the Vindhyas). Delhi, Patna and Kolkata have served as the political capitals of the country.Himalayan forests have several wildlife species, and these forests are also having species for medicinal use.
• These plains have given birth to and nursed and nourished the unique civilizations in its river valleys the Harappa, Mohenjadaro, Lothal etc.

3..Social and Religious Significance:

• It has been famous for its inexhaustible people who wanted to enjoy its bounty either through sword or through the scale; for its literature and art; for its historical monuments and archaeological sites.
• Many holy sites are present in these plains.

4.Economic Significance:

• The plains have a fertile soil and because of the slow moving perennial water courses and favourable climate and they are, the great agricultural tracts of the country, raising bumper crops of rice, wheat, oilseeds, sugarcane, tobacco and jute.
• They are even now the foci of industrial and commercial activities.
• Rivers are navigable throughout the year and support inland transportation
• Flat land- good for roads and railways,
• Irrigational facilities.
• For construction of H.E.P. Plants
• It has well developed roads ,railways and navigable waterways which promotes trade and commerce in this region
• Northern Plains produces 60% of food in India. It is home to around 65 crore people.
• Agriculture, livestock, power plants, industries and tourism provide employment to more than half of population in India.