The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
The Peninsular Plateau of India is broadly divided into two major parts by the Narmada River: the Central Highlands to the north and the Deccan Plateau to the south. The Central Highlands cover a major portion of the Malwa Plateau.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect. The Central Highlands are bounded to the west and northwest by the Aravali range, not the east. The further eastward extension of the Central Highlands is formed by the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand regions, leading up to the Chotanagpur Plateau.
- Statement 2 is Correct. The Satpura range is a series of scarped plateaus on the south of the Narmada River. It lies between the Narmada and the Tapi rivers and forms the northernmost boundary of the Deccan Plateau.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect. The general elevation of the Central Highlands slopes from the southwest towards the northeast. This is evidenced by the flow direction of the major rivers in this region, such as the Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa, and the Ken, which originate in the highlands and flow northeastwards to join the Yamuna.
Key Takeaway:
The Central Highlands are defined by the Aravalis in the northwest and the Narmada valley in the south. The region's slope is distinctively towards the northeast, indicated by the drainage pattern of the Yamuna tributaries.