Question & Solutions (India: Size & Location)

 1.Write a note on the location and size of India.

Answer:
Location: India is a vast country. Lying 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. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30’N) divides the country into almost two equal parts. To the southeast of India’s main land lie the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal and to the southwest lie the Lakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea.

Size: 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.
India is the seventh largest country of the world. India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km and the total length of the coastline of the mainland, including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep, is 7,516.6 km. It has an east-west extent of 2,933 km from Arunachal Pradesh to Kachchh in Gujarat and a north-south extent of 3,214 km from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari.

The southern part of the country is in form of a peninsula, tapering towards the Indian Ocean in the south. It is bounded by the Arabian Sea in the southwest and the Bay of Bengal in the southeast.

2.What was the contribution of land routes to India in ancient times? Explain.

 
Answer:
The contribution of land routes to India in ancient times are given below :
(a) The large land boundaries of India have helped to develop links with her neighbouring countries.
(b) It contributed in the exchange of ideas and commodities since ancient times.
(c) The ideas of the Upanishads, the Ramayana, the Geeta, etc. have become known to the world.
(d) The Indian numerals as well as the decimal system long back crossed the border. The Arabs took these ideas to the West.
(e) The spices, muslin and other merchandise were taken away from India to different countries through these land routes.
(f) On the other hand, the influence of Greek sculpture, and the architectural styles of dome and minarets from West Asia can be seen in different parts of our country

3.How has the long coastline been beneficial to India?

 
Answer:
The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, extensions of the Indian Ocean, lie to the west and east of Indian Peninsula, and the Indian Ocean lies to its south. The total length of the coastline of the main land of India including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep is 7516.6 km. The long coastline of India has helped in maritime trade since ages. The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean has provided it a strategic location along the trans-Indian Ocean routes. India can establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from western coast and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast. The long coastline has also played a major role in influencing the climate of India. It provides opportunities for fishing and extraction of petroleum. It serves as a natural boundary protecting India.

4. What do you know about the neighbours of India?

 
Answer:
India occupies an important strategic position in South Asia. India shares its land boundaries with Afghanisatan and Pakistan in the northwest; China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north and Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east. The island states of Sri Lanka and Maldives are our southern neighbours across the sea. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Manner, while Maldives Islands are situated to the South of the Lakshadweep Islands. Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and India form the most natural geographical unit, often referred to as the Indian subcontinent.

5.Why Is the knowledge of latitude and longitude important for people?
Answer:
The knowledge of latitude and longitude is important for people because it helps them to understand and locates the geographical location and globe better. The use of latitudes and longitudes offer a better and quick grasp of geographical facts.

It determines the time zones of the different regions of the world. With the help of longitudes and latitudes, it is easy to calculate local time and standard time. Longitudes and latitudes also help in calculating the distance from one place to another.

6.Why do the days and nights are almost of equal duration at Kanniyakumari?
Answer:
Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu is located at the southernmost tip of India’s main land. The latitude 8°4’ N passes close to it. The place is thus near the equator and lies close to the Equatorial region. As the sun shines directly over the Equator throughout the year, the durations of day and night are almost equal here. Hence, in Kanniyakumari, the difference in the duration of day and night is very little.

7.What is the latitudinal extent of India? How is the latitudinal spread in India advantageous to her?
Answer:
The latitudinal extent of India lies between 8°4’ N and 37°6’ N. This means that the longitudinal expanse is about 30° from west to east.
The advantages of longitudinal spread are :
(a) It influences the duration of the day and night as one moves from South to North.
(b) It also helps to take advantage of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on its east for sea movements.

8.How have been mountain passes been helpful in India since historic times? Explain.
Answer:
India is bounded by the young fold mountains in the northwest, north and northeast. The various passes across the mountains in the north have provided passages to the ancient travelers. The spices, muslin and other merchandise’ were taken from India to different countries through these passes. Mountain passes have contributed in the exchange of ideas and commodities since historic times.

9.Which ocean is named after India ? Give two reasons as to why it was named after India.
Answer:
The Indian Ocean is named after India. India is the only country which has the credit of an ocean named after it. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, extensions of the Indian Ocean, lie to the west and east of Indian Peninsula, and the Indian Ocean lies to its south. No other country has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India. The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean has provided India a strategic location of great significance along the trans Indian Ocean routes. It is India’s eminent position in the Indian Ocean which justifies the naming of the ocean after India.

10. How does India occupy an important strategic position in South Asia ?
Answer:
India occupies an important strategic position in South Asia in the following ways :
(a) The Indian landmass has a central location between the East and the West Asia.
(b) 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.
(c) The Deccan Peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean has helped 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.