CONTEMPORARY INDIA-I

INDIA-SIZE AND LOCATION

1.“Write a note on size and location of India?
Geographical Location:
India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.
The mainland extends between latitudes 8°4'N and 37°6'N and longitudes
68°7'E and 97°25'E. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) divides the country into
almost two equal parts.
a)Islands:
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie to the southeast and the
Lakshadweep Islands lie to the southwest of the mainland in the Bay of
Bengal and the Arabian Sea respectively.
b)Area:
India has a total land area of 3.28 million square km. This area accounts for
about 2.4 percent of the world's total geographical area.
India is the seventh largest country in the world.
c)Boundaries:
The country has a land boundary of about 15,200 km.
The total length of the coastline, including the Andaman and Nicobar and
Lakshadweep Islands, is 7,516.6 km.
India is bounded by young fold mountains in the northwest, north, and
northeast.
d)Tapering of the Country:
South of about 22° north latitude, the country tapers and extends towards
the Indian Ocean, dividing it into the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of
Bengal on the east.
e)Latitudinal and Longitudinal Extent:
The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland is about
30°.Despite the extent being about 30°, the east-west extent appears
smaller than the north-south extent.
f)Time Zones:
There is a time lag of two hours from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh. The
Standard Meridian of India (82°30'E) passing through Mirzapur in Uttar
Pradesh is taken as the standard time for the whole country.
 The latitudinal extent influences the duration of day and night as one
moves from south to north.
2. In which hemisphere does India lie?
Northern Hemisphere
3.Between which latitudes does the mainland of India extend?
Between latitudes 8°4'N and 37°6'N
4. What divides India into almost two equal parts?
The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N)
5. Where is the Andaman and Nicobar Islands located?
In the Bay of Bengal
6.Where are the Lakshadweep Islands located?
In the Arabian Sea
7. What is the total land area of India?
3.28 million square kilometers
8.What percentage of the world's total geographical area does India
account for?
About 2.4 percent
9. Which country is the seventh largest in the world?
India
10.What is the length of India's land boundary?
About 15,200 km
11. What is the total length of India's coastline, including its islands?
7,516.6 km
12. Which mountains bound India in the northwest, north, and
northeast?
The young fold mountains
13. Towards which ocean does India extend south of 22° north latitude?
The Indian Ocean
14. Which seas does the Indian peninsula divide?
The Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east
15.What is the time lag from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh?
Two hours
16.Which longitude has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India?
 82°30'E
17.Through which place does the Standard Meridian of India (82°30'E)
pass?
Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh
18. How does the latitudinal extent affect the duration of day and night in
India?
The duration of day and night varies as one moves from south to north.
19. Why 82°30'E has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India?
The 82°30'E longitude has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India for the
following reasons:
a)Central Location: It passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, which is
approximately in the center of the country. This central location helps in
minimizing the time difference across the entire country.
b)Uniform Time: Using a single standard time helps in maintaining a uniform
time across the country, which is important for administrative, commercial,
and social purposes.
c)Time Zone Calculation: 82°30'E is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of the
Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+5:30). This simplifies the calculation of the local
time from the global standard time.
20.Why is the difference between the durations of day and night hardly felt
at Kanyakumari but not so in Kashmir?
The difference between the durations of day and night is hardly felt at
Kanniyakumari but not so in Kashmir because:
Proximity to the Equator: Kanniyakumari is close to the equator, where
the duration of day and night is almost equal throughout the year.
Latitude: Kashmir is much farther from the equator, at a higher latitude, where
the length of day and night varies more significantly with the seasons.
These factors result in minimal variation in day and night durations at
Kanyakumari, while Kashmir experiences noticeable differences.
21.What is India's location between East and West Asia?
Central location
22.What is India a southward extension of?
The Asian continent
 23.Which routes provide a strategic central location to India?
Trans Indian Ocean routes
24.What does the Deccan Peninsula protrude into?
The Indian Ocean
25.Which regions does India establish close contact with from the
western coast?
West Asia, Africa, and Europe
26.Which regions does India establish close contact with from the
eastern coast?
Southeast and East Asia
27.Which ocean is named after India?
The Indian Ocean
28. “The central location of India at the head of the Indian ocean is
considered of great significance”. Justify it.
India’s central location at the head of the Indian Ocean is significant because:
a)Strategic Maritime Routes: India’s position connects major trade routes
between Europe and East Asia, enhancing its role in global commerce.
b)Extended Coastline: The Deccan Peninsula extends into the Indian Ocean,
allowing India to establish close maritime links with West Asia, Africa, Europe,
Southeast Asia, and East Asia.
c)Historical Trade and Cultural Exchange: India's central position facilitated
ancient land and maritime routes, promoting the exchange of ideas,
commodities, and cultural influences. This exchange included Indian
contributions like the Upanishads, Ramayana, and Indian numerals, and the
influence of Greek sculpture and architectural styles on India.
29. How much has India’s distance from Europe been reduced since the
opening of the Suez Canal in 1869?
India’s distance from Europe has been reduced by 7,000 km.
30.How many states and Union Territories does India have?
India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories.
31. How is Sri Lanka separated from India?
Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
32.Where are the Maldives Islands located in relation to the
Lakshadweep Islands?
 The Maldives Islands are situated to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.
33.Which countries does India share its land boundaries with?
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.
34.Who is India's southern neighbors across the sea?
The two island countries to the south are Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
35.Write down the neighbours of India.
India shares its borders with the following neighbors:
Pakistan (northwest), Afghanistan (northwest)
China (Tibet) (north), Nepal (north), Bhutan (north)
Myanmar (east), Bangladesh (east)
India's southern neighbors across the sea are:
1.Sri Lanka
2.Maldives
36. What is the name of the group of islands lying in the Arabian Sea?
The Lakshadweep Islands.
37.Which island group of India lies to its southeast?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
38. Which island countries are India's southern neighbours?
Sri Lanka
Maldives
39. Which countries are larger than India?
Russia, Canada, China, United States, Brazil, Australia 40.What
were the two types of states in India before 1947?
The two types of states were provinces and princely states.
41.Who ruled the provinces before 1947?
The provinces were ruled directly by British officials appointed by the Viceroy.
42.Who ruled the princely states before 1947?
The princely states were ruled by local, hereditary rulers who acknowledged British
sovereignty in return for local autonomy.
43.The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachala Pradesh as compared to
Gujarat in the west but the watches show the same time. How does
this happen?
This happens because India follows a single time zone based on the Indian
Standard Time (IST), which is set at 82°30' E longitude.
This ensures uniformity in time across the country, even though there is a two-
hour difference in sunrise time between Arunachal Pradesh in the east and
Gujarat in the west. OR
This happens because India follows a single time zone based on the
Indian Standard Time (IST), which is set at 82°30' E longitude.
The longitudinal extent of India is from 68°7' E to 97°25' E. Arunachal
Pradesh is located near the easternmost longitude of 97°25' E, while Gujarat
is near the westernmost longitude of 68°7' E.
Due to this wide longitudinal extent, there is a two-hour difference in the actual
sunrise time between these two locations. However, IST ensures uniformity in
time across the country, so watches in both regions show the same time.