GEOGRAPHY CLASS 9 INDIA SIZE AND LOCATION

 INDIA SIZE AND LOCATION GEOGRAPHY NOTES CLASS 9

Introduction: India is one of the oldest civilizations and has a remarkable history. After Independence from British rule, it achieved multi faceted socio economic progress. India also made a remarkable progress in the field of agriculture, industry, technology and overall economic development.

Location: India is lying entirely in the Northern hemisphere as shown in the figure below.

• The 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 India into almost two equal parts.
• It passes through the States of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
• Andaman and Nicobar islands situated in South-East of mainland in Bay of Bengal.
• Lakshadweep islands situated South-West of mainland in Arabian Sea.

 

Longitudinal:

The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of India is about 30⁰. The North-South extent is 3214 km and East-West extent is 2933 km. The distance between any two lines of longitude is maximum at the equator and goes on decreasing as one goes from the equator to the poles

 

Size:

India’s total area accounts for about 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world. Thus, it is the 7th largest country in the world, by its size.

• India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km.
• The total length of the coastline of the mainland is 7,516.6 km including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep.
• India is bounded by the mountains in the northwest, north and northeast. South of about 22° north latitude, it begins to taper and extends towards the Indian Ocean, dividing it into two seas, the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on its east.
• Time along the Standard Meridian of India (82°30’E) passing through Mirzapur (in Uttar Pradesh) is taken as the standard time for India.

 

Extent:

·         India is bounded by young fold mountains in the North-West, North and North- East.

·         India’s  land mass begins to form cone shape in South of 22⁰  North Latitude.

·         The East West extent appears smaller than the North-South extent.

 

Fold Mountains-

Mountains which develop when two tectonic plates come together causing compression, result in bulking and folding of rocks.

 

 

Why 82°30’E has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India?

From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh there is a time lag (period of time) of about two hours, Hence, time along the Standard Meridian of India (82°30’E) passing through Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh is taken as the Standard time for the whole country. Otherwise different regions of India would have different times, which would create problems, so to have one  common standard time for the whole country.

 

Why is Indian Ocean named after our country?

India has the longest coastline on the Indian Ocean. India holds a central location which is at the head of the Indian Ocean. India in ancient times was an important location in the Indian Ocean which connected Europewith countries of Southeast Asia.

 

India and the World:

·         The Indian landmass has a central location between the East and West Asia. India is a southward extension of the Asian continent.

·         The trans-Indian Ocean routes connect the countries of Europe in the West and the countries of East Asia.

·         India has a longest coastline as compared to the other countries. India’s contacts with the World have continued through the ages. This eminent position is the reason which justifies the naming of the Indian Ocean after the name of the country.

·         The spices, muslin and other merchandise were taken from India to different countries.

·          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 India.

 

India’s Contacts with the World

·         The land routes of India are much older than sea route. Various passes across mountains in the north have provided passages to the ancient travellers as ocean limited such interaction for a long time.

 

·         The land routes helped India in the exchange of ideas and commodities since ancient times.

 

·         India have propagated the ideas of the Upanishads and the Ramayana, the stories of Panchtantra, the Indian numerals and the decimal system as well as given spices, muslin and other merchandise to different countries.

 

·         Also, the influence of Greek sculpture, and the architectural styles of dome and minarets from West Asia can be seen in different parts of India.

 

 

India’s Neighbours: India has 28 states and 9 Union Territories. India shares its land boundaries with:

• Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest
• China (Tibet), Nepal and Bhutan in the north
• Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east

·         The southern neighbours across the sea consist of the two island countries, Sri Lanka and Maldives. India has had strong geographical and historical links with her neighbours.