Class 9 (Geography) Chapter 1 (India – Size and Location)

 

Class 9 (Geography)

Chapter 1 (India – Size and Location)

 

Notes

 

Location of India

• India is situated on the Asian continent, lying entirely within the Northern and Eastern hemispheres.
• It spans between latitudes 8'4" N and 37°6'N, and longitudes 68°7' E and 97°25' E.
• The Tropic of Cancer at 23°30' N divides India into two almost equal parts, with the upper half having a temperate cooler climate and the lower half a tropical climate.
• The southernmost point of India, known as 'Indira Point,' was submerged in the 2004 Tsunami.
• To the southeast lie the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, while the Lakshadweep Islands are situated southwest in the Arabian Sea.

Size of India

• India is the 7th largest country globally in terms of landmass, covering a total area of 3.28 million square kilometers.
• It accounts for 2.4% of the world's land area, with a land boundary stretching 15,200 km and a coastal boundary, including islands, spanning 7,516 km.
• The east-west and north-south stretches of India measure approximately 3,000 km each, with the east-west stretch being slightly shorter.
• This vast distance between the eastern and western ends of the country results in a two-hour time difference between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh, despite both following Indian Standard Time (IST) along longitude 82.30° E.

India and the World

• India's strategic location between East and West Asia offers advantages over both water and land routes.
• It serves as the southward extension of the Asian continent, connecting trans-Indian Ocean routes to Southeast Asian, Eastern, African, and European countries.
• India's long coastline facilitates extensive contact with the world through sea routes, leading to the Indian Ocean being named after the country.
• Historically, traders and travelers used mountain passes when sea routes were less explored, highlighting India's strategic position in facilitating trade and cultural exchange.
• Both sea and land routes have facilitated significant exchanges of ideas and commodities between India and the world, contributing to intellectual, trade, and architectural developments in the region.

 

 

Important Question Answers

Very Short Question Answers

Question 1: What is the name of the island group situated in the Arabian Sea?

Answer: The group of islands lying in the Arabian Sea is known as the Lakshadweep islands.

Question 2: Which countries are larger than India in terms of land area?

Answer: Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil, and Australia are countries that have a larger land area than India.

Question 3: Which island group of India is located to its southeast?

 Answer: The Andaman and Nicobar islands constitute the island group of India lying to its southeast.

Question 4: What are the island countries that are southern neighbors of India?

Answer: Sri Lanka and Maldives are the island countries that are southern neighbors of India.

Question 5: What are the northern and southern latitudinal extents of India?

 Answer: The latitudinal extent of India ranges between 8°4′ N (southernmost) and 37°6’ N (northernmost) latitude.

Question 6: What are the westernmost and easternmost longitudinal extents of India?

Answer: India's longitudinal extent stretches from 68°7′ E (westernmost) to 97°25′ E (easternmost) longitude.

Question 7: What is the southernmost point of the Union of India?

Answer: The southernmost point of the Union of India is known as Indira Point.

Question 8: In which year did 'Indira Point' become submerged underwater due to a tsunami?

Answer: 'Indira Point' got submerged under sea water in the year 2004 due to a tsunami.

Question 9: What is the total land area of the Indian landmass?

Answer: The landmass of India covers an area of 3.28 million square kilometers, accounting for 2.4% of the total area of the world.

Question 10: How does India rank in terms of size among the countries of the world?

Answer: India is the seventh largest country in the world.

Question 11: What is the total land frontier of India?

 Answer: The total land frontier of India measures 15,200 kilometers.

Question 12: What is the total length of the Indian coastline, including the Indian islands?

 Answer: The total length of the Indian coastline, including the Indian islands, is 7,516.6 kilometers.

Question 13: What is the time difference between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh?

Answer: The time difference between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh is 2 hours.

Question 14: Why was 82°30′ selected as the standard meridian of India?

Answer: 82°30′ E was chosen as the standard meridian of India because it passes through the center of India, specifically Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh.

Question 15: In which year was the Suez Canal inaugurated?

 Answer: The Suez Canal was inaugurated in 1869.

Question 16: What is the significance of the Suez Canal?

Answer: The Suez Canal reduced India's distance from Europe by 7,000 kilometers.

Question 17: What is the total north-south extent of India in kilometers?

 Answer: The north-south extent of India spans 3,214 kilometers.

Question 18: What is the total east-west extent of India in kilometers?

Answer: The total east-west extent of India is 2,933 kilometers.

Question 19: Which state is the largest and which one is the smallest in terms of area in India?

Answer: The largest state in India by area is Rajasthan, while the smallest state is Goa.

Question 20: Name the states of India that neither have an international border nor lie on the coast.

Answer: The states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, and Jharkhand do not have an international border or lie on the coast.

Question 21: Which states of India share a common border with Pakistan?

 Answer: The states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Jammu and Kashmir share a common border with Pakistan.

Question 22: Name the states of India that share a common border with China.

Answer: The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh share a common border with China.

Question 23: Which states of India share a common border with Myanmar?

Answer: The states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram share a common border with Myanmar.

Question 24: Which countries share borders with India?

 Answer: India shares its borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest, China (Tibet), Nepal, and Bhutan in the north, and Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east.

Question 25: Which two island countries are India’s neighbors?

 Answer: The two island countries that are India’s neighbors are Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Question 26: What are the two water bodies that separate India from Sri Lanka?

Answer: The two water bodies that separate India from Sri Lanka are the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.

Question 27: What were the types of states present in India before 1947?

Answer: The types of states present in India before 1947 were provinces and princely states.

Question 28: Through which states does the Tropic of Cancer pass?

 Answer: The Tropic of Cancer passes through the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram.

Question 29: With which country do Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat share an international boundary?

 Answer: Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat share an international boundary with Pakistan.

Question 30: Name the two states of India that are part of the Indian desert.

 Answer: The two states of India that are part of the Indian desert are Gujarat and Rajasthan.

Long Question Answers

Q1: Why is the difference between the durations of day and night hardly felt at Kanyakumari but not so in Kashmir?

The disparity in the lengths of day and night in Kanyakumari and Kashmir is predominantly influenced by their latitudinal positions. Kanyakumari, situated closer to the equator, experiences a relatively minor variation of about 45 minutes between the duration of day and night. In contrast, Kashmir, positioned farther from the equator, undergoes a significant contrast in the length of day and night, which can extend to approximately 3-5 hours.

Q2: What is a subcontinent? Name the countries that constitute the Indian subcontinent. How is India different from other countries of Asia?

1. A subcontinent is a distinct geographical unit that stands out prominently from the rest of the region due to its large size, varied climates, and diverse relief.
2. The countries comprising the Indian subcontinent are India at its core, Pakistan to the west, Nepal and China (Tibet) to the north, and Bhutan and Bangladesh to the east.
3. India sets itself apart from other Asian countries concerning climate, vegetation, and culture.

Q3: India’s land routes have been important since ancient times. Explain.

India's connections with the outside world have persisted through the ages, with its land routes dating back much earlier than its maritime contacts. Various passes across the northern mountains have facilitated passage for ancient travelers, contributing to the exchange of ideas and commodities since antiquity. These routes, such as the Kyber and Bolan passes, have enabled the dissemination of cultural and intellectual concepts like the Upanishads, Ramayana, and Panchatantra stories, along with commodities like spices and muslin cloth. This exchange of goods and ideas has also influenced architectural styles, such as the adoption of Greek sculpture and West Asian architectural designs in various parts of India.

Q4: Why are Ahmedabad and Kolkata able to see the noon seen exactly overhead twice a year but not Delhi?

The sun's apparent movement within the tropics accounts for the phenomenon of the noon sun being directly overhead in certain locations. Places situated within the tropics witness the overhead sun twice a year. Both Ahmedabad and Kolkata are positioned south of the Tropic of Cancer, allowing them to experience the noon sun overhead twice annually. However, Delhi, located at 29°N latitude well to the north of the Tropic of Cancer, falls outside the tropics. Therefore, it never observes the noon sun directly overhead at any time of the year due to its position in the subtropical zone.

Q5: India occupies an important strategic position in South Asia. Discuss.

The Indian subcontinent occupies a crucial strategic position in South Asia due to its central location between East and West Asia. Its extension into the Indian Ocean connects it to both Europe and East Asia, making it a pivotal point along the trans-Indian Ocean routes. Additionally, its landmass connects India through land routes and mountain passes to various countries to the north, west, and east. Furthermore, the Deccan Peninsula's protrusion into the Indian Ocean enhances India's connectivity with West Asia, Africa, and Europe from the western coast, as well as Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.

Q6: Describe how the geographical features of India have fostered unity and homogeneity in Indian society.

India's geographical diversity has played a significant role in fostering unity and homogeneity within its society. The lofty northward-extending mountains create a natural barrier against potential intrusions, contributing to India's structural integrity. The southern peninsula, surrounded by seas and oceans, limits outside access to well-defended routes via sea or mountain passes. Additionally, the adoption of the standard meridian 82’30” as local time across India promotes uniformity. Rivers and their tributaries provide irrigation facilities nationwide, facilitating uniform development. Monsoons further foster unity through associated festivals and by fulfilling agricultural and domestic needs. This amalgamation of diverse geographical features has facilitated the adoption of new norms and values, promoting unity and homogeneity throughout India.