Class 9

CH -1: INDIA-SIZE AND LOCATION

1. The Sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat in the West but
the watches show the same time. How does this happen?
Answer:
●​ The easternmost longitude of India is 97°25’E and the western most longitude of India is
68°7’E.
●​ Thus, the longitudinal extent is about 30°.
●​ There is a time difference of 4 minutes between the two consecutive longitudes.
Therefore the time difference is (30×4)=120 minutes or 2 hours.
●​ To avoid this time confusion, 82°30’E has been taken as the standard meridian of India
and the time of this meridian is followed everywhere in India. That is why the watches
show the same time.
2. What is the latitudinal extent of India? How is the latitudinal spread in India advantages to it?
Answer: India lies between 8° 4` N to 37°6` N latitudes . Its latitudinal extent is about 30°.
Advantageous of latitudinal extent
●​ The latitudinal extent influences the duration of day and night.
●​ The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two separate climatic zones-tropical zone and
subtropical zone.
●​ India enjoys the advantage of moderate climate in the south and extreme climate in the
north.
3. How does the long coastline benefit India?
Answer: India's total length of the coastline of the mainland including Andaman and Nicobar and
Lakshadweep Island is 7516.6 kms. This long coastline benefits India in many ways:
●​ It helps India to establish close contact with west Asia, Africa and Europe.
●​ Long coastline acts as a natural boundary.
●​ It is a storehouse of energy, food minerals etc which are essential for a growing
population.
4.Why do we need a standard meridian for India?
Answer:
●​ Standard meridian is required to avoid difference in time within the country.
●​ India is straight over nearly 30 degrees longitude. From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh
there is a time lag of two hours. Hence to have uniformity of time we need standard time.
●​ To integrate running of railways, flights and many telecasts and for all these things
different places can't have different timing.
5. Explain the significance of geographical location of India.
Answer:
●​ The Indian landmass has a Central location between East and West Asia.
●​ India is a southward extension of the Asian continent.
●​ India is located at the head of the Indian Ocean.
●​ It has helped India to establish its relationship with the countries of West as well as of
East equally.
●​ The land routes have contributed to the exchange of ideas and commodities since
ancient times.
Short Question-Answer.
1. Name the group of islands lying in the Arabian sea.
Or, Which Islands group lies in the Southwest of India?
Answer: Lakshadweep Islands lie in the Arabian sea.
2. Which island group of India lies to its south east ?
Or, Which island group of India lies in the Bay of Bengal?
Answer: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands group lies in the
southeast of India (in the Bay of Bengal).
3. Name the countries which are larger than India?
Answer: Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil and Australia are the
countries that are larger than India.
4. Which island countries are our southern neighbours?
Answer: Sri Lanka and Maldives are the two island countries that are
our southern neighbours.
5. Where is Indira Point located?
Answer: In Nicobar Islands.
6. What is the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland of India?
Answer: The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland of India is 8°
4'N to 37°6'N and 68° 7' E to 97° 25' E.
7. Name the island group of India that lies close to the coastline.
Answer: Lakshadweep
8. What is the narrow channel of sea which separates two land masses known
as?
Answer: Strait
9. Write the length of the land frontier and coastline of India.
Answer: Land frontier is about 15200 km and coastline is 7516.6 km.
10. Name two water bodies which separate India from Sri Lanka?
Answer: Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar.
11. How much distance has been reduced by Suez canal between India and
Europe?
Answer: 7000 kms.(the Suez canal was opened in 1869)
12. What is the southernmost point of the Indian union called?
Answer: The southernmost point of the Indian union is called Indira Point.
13. Name the neighboring countries of India.
Answer: India shares its land boundaries with Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest, China
(Tibet), Nepal and Bhutan in the north and Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east and Maldives
and Sri Lanka in the South.
14. Name the states through which Tropic of Cancer passes?
Answer: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura
and Mizoram.
15.State the geographical area of India. What is its percentage in relation to world area?
Answer: 3.28 million sq. km. It is 2.4% of the world area.

1.What is the time in Calcutta (longitude 96 degrees east) when it is 9.00 a.m. in Munich
(longitude 11 degrees east)?
●​ Longitude difference =(96-11)= 85 degrees
●​ Time= (85×4) minutes (1 degree=4 minutes)
=340 minutes
= (340÷60) hours (1 hr=60 minutes)
=5 hours 40 minutes
Time difference = 5 hours 40 minutes
●​ Calcutta is east of Munich, therefore the time is ahead.
Thus 9.00 a.m. + 5 hours and 40 minutes = 2.40 p.m.

2. What will be the time at 50° East if it is 10 a.m. on Prime Meridian.

Answer: (50x 4)= 200 minutes
= (200÷60)= 3 hours 20 minutes
It is 50 degrees East, therefore the time is ahead.
Thus 10:00 a.m.+ 3 hours 20 minutes
= 1.20 p.m.

3.What will be the time at 80° West if it is 12 p.m. at 5° East.

●​ Longitude difference: (50+80)=130 degrees
●​ Time= (130x4)= 520 minutes
= (520÷60)= 8 hours 40 minutes
●​ It is 80° West , therefore the time is behind.
●​ Thus (12-8 hours 40 minutes)
= 3.20 a.m.