Laterite soil is the outcome of strong oozing, owing to heavy tropical rains. They are generally found capping the flat uplands, and are spread in the western coastal region, getting incredibly heavy rain. They are also found in areas along the edge of the plateau in the east, covering small parts of Tamil Nadu, and Orissa and a small part of Chhotanagpur in the north and Meghalaya in north-east. The soils are habitually poor and can hold only pastures and scrub forests.

Among the mixed types of soils, two groups are more substantial. They include the desert soils of west Rajasthan and mountain soils of the Himalayas.