Chapter - 1 India – Size and Location

Chapter - 1  India – Size and Location

Location of India

• India is located in the Northern Hemisphere and Eastern Hemisphere.
• The mainland of India lies 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) passes almost halfway through the country.
• India is located in South Asia, and it has a central location between East and West Asia.

Time Zone

• The standard meridian of India is 82°30'E, which is used to calculate the Indian Standard Time (IST).
• India has one time zone.

Size of India

• Total area: 3.28 million square kilometers (7th largest country in the world).
• Land boundary: About 15,200 km.
• Coastline: About 7,516.6 km (including islands).
• North to South extent: About 3,214 km.
• East to West extent: About 2,933 km.

India is bounded by the :- Young fold mountains in the northwest, north and northeast.

Latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland is about = 30 degree

India’s Neighbors

• India shares land boundaries with:
• Pakistan, Afghanistan (to the northwest)
• China, Nepal, Bhutan (to the north)
• Bangladesh, Myanmar (to the east)
• India is also close to Sri Lanka and Maldives (in the south, across the Indian Ocean).
• Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by Palk Strait and Gulf of  Mannar.

Why is there a Two-Hour Time Lag Between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat?

• Arunachal Pradesh is in the easternmost part of India.
• Gujarat is in the westernmost part of India.
• The Earth rotates from west to east, so the Sun rises earlier in the east than in the west.

Time Difference:

• There is a time difference of about 2 hours in sunrise between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
• This is because the longitudinal distance between them is about 30 degrees.
• For every 1 degree of longitude, there is a 4-minute difference in time.
• So, 30° × 4 minutes = 120 minutes = 2 hours.

India uses a single time zone:

• India follows Indian Standard Time (IST), which is based on 82°30'E longitude.
• This keeps one standard time for the whole country, even though sunrise happens at different times in different regions.

India as the Head of the Indian Ocean – Its Significance

• India is located in the center of the Indian Ocean, and it is often called the head of the Indian Ocean. This location gives India several important advantages:

1. Strategic Location

• India lies at the crossroads of East and West Asia.
• This helps India play a major role in international trade and politics.
• India can easily access Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Australia through sea routes.

2. Trade and Commerce

• Most of India's trade with other countries happens through the Indian Ocean.
• Major ports like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata help India connect with the world.

3. Control Over Sea Routes

• The Indian Ocean has some of the world's busiest sea routes.
• India’s central location allows it to monitor and secure these important routes.

4. Cultural and Historical Connections

• India has strong historical ties with countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia through the Indian Ocean.
• Indian culture, religion, and trade have spread across the ocean over centuries.

5. Defense and Security

• India can protect its coastline and islands (like Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep).
• The central location helps India maintain naval strength in the region.

Click here to Download Geography, - Chapter - 1, India Size and Location