Eastern Ghats Belt, Grenvillian-Age Tectonics and the Evolution of the Greater Indian Landmass: A Critical Perspective

The configuration of the Greater Indian Landmass was achieved during the late Proterozoic era (Grenvillian-age) through tectonic cycles involving cratonic blocks of India and East Antarctica in the broad framework of the assembly of the supercontinent Rodinia. Geological evidences are recorded from orogenic belts separating southern, northern and western cratonic blocks of India and its transcontinental neighbor East Antarctica. Eastern Ghats Belt of India played a pivotal role in the continental amalgamation process and it evolved in tandem with the Central Indian Tectonic Zone and the Aravalli Delhi Mobile Belt. We have collated geological and geochronological evidences from the cratonic blocks and the bounding orogenic belts to trace back the Grenvillian-age tectonics surrounding India and its eventual manifestation as the configuration of the Greater Indian Landmass. The status of the Greater Indian Landmass as a part of Rodinia is debated and unresolved issues are highlighted.