GEOGRAPHY
EXTRA QUESTIONS
CHAPTER-1 INDIA: SIZE AND LOCATION
I. Very Short Answers [2 Marks]
Q1. What is the longitudinal and latitudinal extent of India?
Ans: The main land of India extends between latitudes 8°4'N and 37°6'N and
longitudes 68°7'E and 97°25′E.
Q2. Which important latitude passes through India?
Ans: The Tropic of Cancer (23° 30'N) is the important latitude which passes
through India.
Q3. Which Islands surround India?
Ans: The Lakshadweep Island in Arabian Sea and the Andaman Nicobar Islands
in Bay of Bengal surround India.
Q4. What was the reason due to which Indira point submerged under water?
Ans: The southernmost point of the Indian Union Indira Point got submerged
under the sea water in 2004 due to tsunami.
Q5. What is the area of landmass of India?
Ans: The land mass of India has an area of 3.28 million square km.
Q6. What influences the duration of day and night?
Ans: The latitudinal extent influences the duration of day and night, as one
moves from south to north.
Q7. Name the states through which Tropic of Cancer passes?
Ans: The states that the Tropic of Cancer passes through are Gujarat, Rajasthan,
Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
Q8. Where does the Standard Meridian of India pass through?
Ans: The Standard Meridian of India (82°30′E) passes through Mirzapur (in Uttar
Pradesh) and it is taken as the standard time for the whole country.
Q9. India shares land boundaries with which countries?
Ans: Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.
II. Short Answers [3 Marks]
Q1. What were the type of states before independence?
Ans: There were two types of states in India the Provinces and the Princely
states before 1947. Provinces were ruled directly by British officials, who were
appointed by the Viceroy. Princely states were ruled by local, hereditary rulers,
who acknowledged sovereignty in return for local autonomy.
Q2. India has shown progress in which areas in last five decades?
Ans: India has achieved multi-faceted socio-economic progress in the field of
agriculture, industry, technology and overall economic development.
Q3. Which physiographic features is India bounded by?
Ans: India is bounded by the young fold mountains Himalayas in the northwest,
north and northeast. South of about 22° north latitude, it begins to taper, and
extends towards the Indian Ocean, dividing it into two seas, the Arabian Sea on
the west and the Bay of Bengal on its east.
Q4. What are latitudes and explain its importance?
Ans: (1) Latitudes are the horizontal imaginary lines passing through the globe it
helps in determining the climatic conditions of a region.
(2) It influences the duration of day and night. India lies on 8°4’N to 37°6’N
which implies the geographical location of India and it show that it is a tropical
country.
(3) It helps in understanding the time zone of a country.
Q5. Standard Meridian passing through Mirzapur Allahabad is taken as IST.
Give reason.
Ans: There is a time lag of two hours between two extreme east and west points
of India. To avoid the confusion of time difference India has set a standard time.
The central longitude passes through Mirzapur in Allahabad which is taken as
the standard time for our country.
Q6. Does India have one time zone?
Ans: (1) Due to the time lag of two hours India has decided on having one time
zone as it avoids confusion.
(2) The functioning of transport, communication, trade, etc. needs alignment of
time.
(3) The development of an economy depends on these aspects. Also, a uniform
timing leads to smooth functioning of an economy.
Q7 'India is located centrally between east and west' Support the statement.
Ans. (1) The Indian landmass has a central location between the East and the
West Asia. India is a southward extension of the Asian continent.
(2) The Trans Indian Ocean routes, which connect the countries of Europe in the
West and the countries of East Asia, provide a strategic central location to India.
(3) The Deccan Peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean, thus helping India to
establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the western coast
and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.
Q8. What are longitudes and its importance?
Ans: (1) Longitudes are the vertical imaginary lines on the globe which helps in
determining the time of a particular area.
(2) India lies on 68°7’E to 97°25’E which leads to the two hours lag between its
extreme east and west.
(3) Time zones can be determined with the help of longitudinal extent of a
country.
III. Long Answers [5 Marks]
Q1. Write a short note on the exact location and size of India.
Ans: (1) India lies entirely in the Northern hemisphere. The main land extends
between latitudes 8°4'N and 37°6'N and longitudes 68°7'E and 97°25′E.
(2) The Tropic of Cancer (23° 30'N) divides the country into almost two equal
parts.
(3) To the southeast and southwest of the mainland, lie the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep islands in Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea
respectively
(4) The land mass of India has an area of 3.28 million square km. India's total
area accounts for about 2.4 per cent of the total geographical area of the world.
(5) India is the seventh largest country of the world. India has a land boundary
of about 15,200 km.
Q2. “The Trans Indian Ocean routes provide a strategic central location to
India" Give an argument supporting the statement.
Ans: The following points supports the argument:
(1) India has a central location between the East and the West Asia due to which
it can be reached easily for trade from all the directions.
(2) The coastline connects the countries of Europe in the West and the countries
of East Asia.
(3) It also helps to establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe and
with Southeast and East Asia.
(4) The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 has led to reduction of distance from
Europe which also led to better trade relations with various countries.
Q3. Give a brief idea on India and its neighbours.
Ans. (1) 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.
(2) Our southern neighbours across the sea consist of the two island countries,
namely Sri Lanka and Maldives. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow
channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar, while Maldives
Islands are situated to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.
(3) India has had strong geographical and historical links with her neighbours.
Q4. ‘India occupies an important and strategic position in South Asia’. Explain
the statement.
Answer: (i) India has 28 States and 7 Union Territories.
(ii) India shares its land boundaries with Pakistan and Afghanistan in the north-
west, China (Tibet), Nepal and Bhutan in the north and Myanmar and
Bangladesh in the east.
(iii) Our southern neighbours across the sea consist of the two island countries,
namely Sri Lanka and Maldives.
(iv) Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the
Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar while Maldives Islands are situated to the
South of the Lakshadweep Islands. India has had strong geographical and
historical links with her neighbours.
