THE ASIAN SCHOOL
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
GRADE -9
SUBJECTS: GEOGRAPHY
LESSON 1- INDIA-SIZE AND LOCATION
I. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING: 1. Describe the Location of India.
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India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. The mainland extends between latitudes
8°4′ N and 37°6′ N and longitudes 68°7′ E and 97°25′ E.
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The Tropic of Cancer (23°30′ N) divides the country into almost two equal parts. To the
southeast and southwest of the mainland, lie the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the
Lakshadweep islands in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea respectively.
2. Give a brief description of the size of India’s landmass.
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The land mass of India has an area of 3.28 million square km. India’s total area accounts
for about 2.4 percent of the total geographical area of the world. India is the seventh
largest country of the world.
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India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km and the total length of the coast line of the
mainland including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep is 7,516.6 km.
•
India measures 3,214 km from north to south and 2,933 km from east to west.
3. The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great
significance. Why?
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The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great
significant because of the following reasons:
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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.
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The Indian landmass has a central location between East and West Asia. India is a
southward extension of the Asian continent.
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The Deccan peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean helps India to establish close
contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the western coast and with southwest
and East Asia from the eastern coast.
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No other country has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India has. It is India’s
eminent position in the Indian Ocean which justifies the naming of an ocean after it.
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Through Indian Ocean it is easy to reach Australia.
4. Write the difference between the longitudinal and latitudinal extent of India. Why is the
north-south extent of India larger than east-west extent?
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The difference is 30° approximately between the longitudinal and latitudinal extent.
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The north-south extent of India larger than east-west extent because the latitude distance
is the maximum at the equator and decreases towards the poles.
5. Why the difference between the durations of day and night hardly felt at Kanyakumari
but not so in Kashmir?
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Latitudinal location influences the duration of day and night.
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The sun’s rays are always vertical at the equator and there for, duration of day and night
is always of 12 hours each.
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The difference of the duration of day and night also increases from south to north.
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The difference between the durations of the day and night is about 45 minutes at
Kanyakumari and over 4 hours in the extreme north of Kashmir due to the slanting rays
of the sun.
6. How did India’s contact with rest of the world contribute in the exchange of ideas and
commodities?
Or
What were the three main contributions of land routes to India in ancient time?
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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.
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The various passes across the mountains in the north have provided passages to the
ancient travelers.
These routes across the mountains have contributed in the exchange of ideas and
commodities.
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The ideas of Upanishads and Ramayana, the stories of Panchatantra, the Indian numerals
and the decimal system thus could reach in many parts of the world.
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The spices, muslin and other merchandise were taken from India to different countries.
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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.
7. What is the name of the southernmost point of India? Why is it not visible today?
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The southernmost point of India is Indira Point. The Indira point is situated in the Great
Nicobar Group of Island in Andaman Nicobar Islands.
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It is not visible today because it was submerged under the sea water in the 2004 during
the Tsunami.
8. How has the long coastline been beneficial to India?
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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.
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The total length of the coastline of the main land of India including Andaman and
Nicobar and Lakshadweep is 7516.6 km.
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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.
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India can establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from western coast
and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.
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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.
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II. EXTRA QUESTIONS
1. What do you know about the neighbors of India?
2. Which ocean is named after India? Give reason.
3. What were two types of states of India before Independence?
4. Why there is a time lag of two hours from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh? Explain.
5. Name the states through which the Tropic of Cancer passes.
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