CLASS IX

GEOGRAPHY NOTES
2015-16
CHAPTER 1: INDIA: SIZE AND LOCATION
1. What is the effect of a large latitudinal extent on our country?
a. It is observed that India extends all the way from Kanniyakumari in the south to Jammu and Kashmir
in the north. The difference between both the latitudes comes to 29 degrees
b. So on one hand, Southern India has equatorial type of climate whereas northern India has sub tropical
type of climate

2. What is the effect of a large longitudinal extent on our country?

a. If we examine our eastern most state Arunachal Pradesh, and our westernmost state Gujarat, we find
that the longitudinal difference comes to 29 degrees.
b. We are aware that every 1 degree longitude stands for 4 minutes, so the time difference between our
eastern most state and westernmost state comes to approximately 2 hours, but we do not allow this
difference to exist as we all follow only one time, which is the Indian standard time

3. What effect does the passing of the Tropic of Cancer have on our country?
a. It is observed that tropic of cancer mainly divides our country into two equal parts. The northern part
has sub tropical climate and the southern part has tropical climate.
b. Sub tropical climate is characterised by distinctive change of season. On the other hand, tropical
climate has just one season which is the hot to moderately hot season.

4. Give features of latitudes.

a. It is the angular distance north or south of the equator measured through 90 degrees.
b. They are circular in nature.
c. They are parallel to each other and the distance between any 2 latitudes is nearly the same.
d. They help in determining the climatic zones of the earth.
e. 0 degrees latitude is referred to as the equator.

5. Give features of longitudes.

a. It is the angular distance on the earth’s surface measured east or west from the Prime Meridian.
b. They are semi-circular in nature.
c. They are not parallel. The distance between any two longitudes is the maximum at the equator, but it
goes on decreasing as we move towards the poles where they finally meet.
d. Every 1 degree of longitude represents 4 minutes of time; so they help in determining different time
zones.
e. 0 degree longitude is referred to as the Prime Meridian

6. List out the Indian states which have common boundaries with the following countries

NEIGHBOURING
COMMON BOUNDARY WITH INDIAN STATES
COUNTRIES
PAKISTAN Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat
NEPAL Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, West Bengal
BANGLADESH Meghalaya, Tripura, Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal
CHINA Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh
MYANMAR Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh
BHUTAN Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal

7. What is the latitudinal and longitudinal extension of India?

The mainland of India extends between 8º4' N and 37 º6'N latitudes and 68 º7'E and 97 º25'E longitudes.

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8. List out the island group which are part of the Indian union
Andaman and Nicobar islands located in the Bay of Bengal, south east of the mainland and Lakshadweep
islands located in the Arabian Sea, south west of the mainland

9. Examine the size of the country

a. The landmass of India has an area of 3.28 million square kilometres
b. India’s total area accounts for 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world
c. India is the seventh largest country of the world
d. India has a land boundary of about 15200 kilometres

10. Why has 82º30'E been selected as the Standard Meridian of India?
a. It is an international convention that longitudes should pass as close to the geographical centre of a
country
11. The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why?
a. 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.
b. The Peninsular plateau protrudes into the Indian Ocean, thus helping India to establish close contact
with West Asia, Africa and Europe on the western coast and with South East and East Asia on the
eastern coast.

12. Evaluate India’s contacts with the outside world in ancient times.
a. These routes have contributed in the exchange of ideas and commodities since ancient times.
b. The ideas of the Upanishads, the Ramayana, the Panchatantra, the Indian numerals and the decimal
system thus could reach many parts of the world.
c. The spices, muslin and other merchandise were taken from India to different countries.
d. On the other hand, the influence of Greek sculpture, and the architectural styles of domes and
minarets from west Asia can be seen in different parts of our country.

13. Name countries larger than India.

Russia
Canada
USA
China
Brazil
Australia