India : Size and location

Question 1.
Write the size and extent of India.
Answer:
(a) India is the 7th largest country in the world. It has an area of 3.28 million square km.
It accounts for 2.4% of the world’s total area.
(b) India has a land frontier of 15,200 km.
(c) India has a coastline of 7516.6 km including the Andaman and Nicobar islands and
the Lakshadweep islands.

Question 2.
Explain why 82°30′ E an odd value has been chosen as the standard meridian of India.
Answer:
The odd value has been chosen as the standard meridian because the longitudinal
extent of India is 68°7′ E to 97°25′ E and this meridian passes through the centre of
India.
It passes through Mirzapur i.e. the centre of India. Then there is an understanding
among the countries of the world that the degrees of the meridian should be divisible by
712 i,e. 82° 30′ E. This
enables us to overcome the difference of 2 hours of time between Arunachal Pradesh
and Gujarat. The time is Indian Standard Time.
Question 3.
Why is the difference between the durations of day and night hardly felt at
Kanyakumari but not so in Kashmir?
Answer:
The difference in the durations of day and night and Kanyakumari and Kashmir are
respectively due to their latitudinal locations. Kanyakumari is located closer to the
equator and experiences a maximum difference of 45 minutes between day and night.
However, Kashmir lies further away from the equator and experience a significant gap
between the duration of day and night that can extend to as much as 3-5 hours.

Question 4.
What is a subcontinent? Name the countries that constitute the Indian subcontinent.
How is India different from other countries of Asia?
Answer:
A subcontinent is a distinctive geographical unit which stands out distinctively from rest
of the region because of its large size, varied climates, varied relief etc.
Countries that make up the Indian subcontinent are – India at the centre, Pakistan in the
west, Nepal and China (Tibet) in the north, Bhutan and Bangladesh in the east.
India is different from other countries of Asia regarding climate, vegetation and culture.
Question 5.
Justify the naming of Indian Ocean after India.
Answer:
India ocean is named after India because:
(a) India has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean.
(b) India has a central location between east and west Asia.
(c) India’s southernmost extension, the Deccan Peninsula, protrudes into the Indian
Ocean which makes it significant to international trade done through the Indian Ocean.
(d) India was the favourite destination of the traders of the world. (any three)

Question 6.
What do you know about India and her neighbours?
Answer:
(a) India occupies an important strategic position in south-east Asia. India has 29
states, 6 Union
Territories and one National Capital Territory.
(b) India shares her land borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan in the north-west, China
(Tibet), Nepal and Bhutan in the north, and Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east. Our
southern neighbours across the sea consists of two island countries i.e. Sri Lanka and
Maldives.
(c) Sri Lanka is separated from India by Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar while Maldives
islands are situated to the south of the Lakshadweep islands.

Question 7.
India’s land routes have been important since ancient times. Explain.
Answer:
(a) India’s contacts with the outside world have continued through the ages, but her
relationships
through the land routes are much older than her maritime contacts.
(b) The various passes across the mountains in the north have provided passages to
the ancient travellers. These routes (Kyber and Bolan pass) across the mountains have
contributed in the exchange of ideas and commodities since ancient times.
(c) The ideas of Upanishads and the Ramayana, the stories of Panchatantra, the Indian
numerals,
the decimal system could reach many parts of the world through the land routes. The
spices and muslin cloth along with other commodities were taken from India to other
countries. The Greek sculpture and the architectural style of dome and minarets from
west Asia can be seen in many parts of our country. This is the result of the exchange
of commodities and ideas movement of people.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question 8.
Why are Ahmedabad and Kolkata able to see the noon seen exactly overhead twice a
year but not Delhi?
Answer:
The sun’s apparent movement towards north and south of the equator is within two
tropics.
(a) All the places located within the tropics have overhead sun twice a year.
(b) Both Ahmedabad and Kolkata lie to the south of the Tropic of Cancer. That is why
these two stations see the noon sun overhead twice a year.
(c) Delhi is located at 29°N latitude much to the north of Tropic of Cancer.
(d) The sun’s rays are near overhead in sub-tropical zone. It will never see noon sun
overhead, at anytime of the year.

Question 9.
India occupies an important strategic position in south Asia. Discuss.
Answer:
(a) The Indian landmass has a central location between the east and the west Asia.
India is a
southward extension of the Asian continent.
(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 part that is attached to the Asian continent connects India through the land
routes and mountain passes to the various countries lying to its north, west and east.
(d) 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
southeast and east Asia from the eastern coast.

Question 10.
Describe how the geographical features of India have fostered unity and homogenity in
the Indian society.
Answer:
India has a distinct physical and cultural identity: India’s unity and homogenity have
been enabled by its physical diversity i.e., physical features.
(a) The lofty mountains in the north which run east-west for thousands of kilometres.
They provide a natural wall against all possible intrusions. It gives India an intact
structure.
(b) The southern part of India is surrounded by the seas and oceans on the sides. These
physical features have also ensured that the people from outside could enter India only
through well defended routes through sea or passes in the mountains.
(c) Standard meridian 82’30” has been taken as local time all over India providing
uniformity.
(d) Rivers and their tributaries provide irrigation facility throughout the country bring
uniform development.
(e) Monsoons foster unity. Many festivals are associated with it. Apart from that
agricultural and domestic needs are also met by monsoons.
Thus, by adopting new norms and values and accepting as their own, unity and
homogenity of India has been promoted.

Question 11. The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to
Gujarat in the west but the watches show the same time. How does this happen?
Answer:
From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, there is a time lag of two hours, but the watches
show the same time because the time along the Standard Meridian of India (82° 30’E)
passing through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh is taken as the standard time for the whole
country. Because the same standard time for the whole country has been adopted, the
watches show the same time in Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and in all parts of the
country.