GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER ONE

India:
Location:

1. Latitudes: 8 degree 4’ N and 37 degree 6’ N- Longitudes: 68 degree 7’ E and 97 degree

25’ E

2. India is divided into almost two equal parts by the Tropic of Cancer (23 degree 30’ N).

3. Andaman and Nicobar Islands are situated towards the Southeast of the Indian mainland
in the Bay of Bengal.

4. Lakshadweep Islands are situated towards the Southwest of the Indian mainland in the
Arabian Sea.

Size

1. Seventh largest country in the world

2. Area of India: 3.28 million square km. India’s total area is 2.4% of the total geographical
area of the world.

3. Land boundary: 15,200 km

4. Length of coastline (including Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands):
7,516.6 km.

5. it is a peninsula; it narrows and extends towards the Indian Ocean, dividing it into two
seas – Arabian Sea in the West and Bay of Bengal in the East.

6. Time along the Standard Meridian (82 degree 30’ E) passing through Mirzapur (in U.P.) is
taken as the standard time for the entire country.

India and the World

1. India is centrally located in Asia.

2. The routes through the Indian Ocean connect countries of Europe and East Asia; thus,
providing a strategic central location to India.

3. Various passages through the mountains in the North were of great help for ancient
travellers as the oceans limited such communications for ages. These passages
contributed in globalizing the ideas of Upanishads, Ramayana, Panchatantra, Indian
numerals and decimal systems.

4. Likewise, Greek architecture can be found in various parts of our country.

 5. India’s Neighbours

 In the Northwest: Pakistan and Afghanistan

 In the North: China, Nepal and Bhutan

 In the East: Myanmar and Bangladesh

 Down South: Sri Lanka and Maldives

Union Territories of India

Andaman and Nicobar islands,
Chandigarh,
Delhi
Dadra and nagarhaveli,
Daman and Diu,
Lakshwadeep,
Puducherry
LADAKH

GEOGRAPHY - CHAPTER ONE

Answer in one – two sentences.

1. Mention longitudes and latitudes of India.

2. What is the area and the coastal length of India.
3. Which longitude represents the Standard Meridian of India.
4. Name the two routes by which India is connected with Europe.
5. Name two states through which Tropic of Cancer passes.
6. Name the island groups. In the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.
7. Which is the southern most point? When did it get submerged?
8. What is the land boundary in km?
9. What is the distance between Northen most and Southern most ends; eastern and
western most points of India?
10. India’s contacts with the world were established by which routes first?
11. Name the countries sharing land boundaries with India.
12. Which territory has the least area and the largest area?
13. Which state has the longest coast line?
14. Which neighbouring country lies to the South-East of Nicopbar islands?
15. Which place in India has days and nights of equal duration?
16. Name the union territories on the west of India.
17. Why is Indian Ocean named after India?
18. Why is 82.30*E has been selected as the standard meridian of India?

Give Reasons:
1. India is called a subcontinent. 2. Difference between the duration of day and night is
hardly felt at Kanyakumari but it is not so in Kashmir. 3. We need a standard Meridian
for India. 4. India’s geographical location is favourable for International trade.
Locate the following in the map of India: ( 5)
The largest state, the smallest state, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, The island groups in the
Arabian Sea, Tropic of Cancer, The strait separating India and Ceylon, The Std. Meridian of
India Island groups in the Bay of Bengal Northern and Southern most latitudes Eastern
most longitude western most longitude The place situated on the three seas The union
territories of India

1. Why do we need a standard meridian for India?

The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland is about 30°. From Gujarat to
Arunachal Pradesh there is a time lag of two hours. Hence to avoid confusion,
the mid point of the two places is taken i.e. Mirzapur (in Uttar Pradesh) is taken as the Standard
Meridian for the whole country which is 82°30'E longitude. Local time of Mirzapur becomes the
standard time for the whole of India.

2. The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great
significance. Why? (Or In what way central location of India in the Indian Ocean has
been to its advantage?)
India’s location right in the middle of the Indian Ocean has many advantages.
 It is convenient for India to trade with the countries to the west as well as to the East by
ocean routes.
 Towards the west India is connected with Soth Africa and Europe and towards the East
India gets easy access to Eastern Asia.
 Because of its location on the Indian Ocean, and also because of its triangular shape,
India has a long coast line. Thus it has many harbours and ports making it commercially
rich.
 It is because of this location that the Indian ocean has derived that name.

3. Give a brief account of India’s cultural contact with the outside world.

 Since ancient times, travellers have been entering India through passes through the
mountains in the North West India.
 These routes have contributed in the exchange of commodities since ancient
Times, e.g. spices, textiles, etc.
 The ideas of the Upanishads and the Ramayana, the stories of Panchtantra, the
Indian numerals and the decimal system could reach many parts of the world because of
these routes.
 India has benefitted from the Greek ideas of architecture, art and science from the west.
Structures such as domes and minarets from West Asia can be seen in different parts of
our country.

4) Name the neighbouring countries of India.

  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.
 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.
 Maldives Islands are situated to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.

5) Why is the difference in day and night hardly felt at Kanyakumari, but not in Delhi?

Kanyakumari is located near the equator. Therefore it experiences direct sun rays for
nearly 6 to 8 months continuously. Delhi is located far away from the equator. So the
difference of day and night is longer in Delhi.