INDIA – LOCATION

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key geographic terms and facts from the India – Location chapter (latitude/longitude, IST, meridians, boundaries, surrounding bodies of water, and neighboring regions).

IST (Indian Standard Time)

The standard time observed in India, GMT+5:30, based on the standard meridian 82°30′E.

Standard Meridian (India)

82°30′ E; the reference longitude used to set Indian Standard Time (IST). Some countries use multiple meridians/timelines due to wide east–west extent.

Territorial Sea

India’s territorial limit extends up to 12 nautical miles from the coast (about 21.9 km).

Nautical mile

A unit of maritime distance equal to 1.852 kilometers.

Statute mile

A unit of land distance equal to about 1.6 kilometers.

Latitude

Imaginary lines parallel to the equator that measure distance north or south of the equator.

Longitude

Imaginary lines running north–south; measure distance east or west of the Prime Meridian; distances between meridians shrink toward the poles.

Latitude extent of India

Approximately from 8°4′ N in the south to 37°6′ N in the north.

Longitude extent of India

Approximately from 68°E in the west to 97°E in the east.

Tropic of Cancer

A latitude line at about 23.5°N that passes through India, marking the northern boundary of the tropical zone.

Bay of Bengal

An inlet of the Indian Ocean to the east of the Indian peninsula.

Arabian Sea

The portion of the Indian Ocean to the west of the Indian subcontinent.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Indian union territory consisting of a group of islands in the Bay of Bengal.

Lakshadweep

Indian union territory consisting of a group of islands in the Arabian Sea.

Peninsular India

The southern part of India that forms a peninsula projecting into the Indian Ocean, giving it a long coastline.

Indian subcontinent

The geographic region comprising India and its neighboring countries, bounded by the Himalayas to the north and the Indian Ocean to the south.

Coastline length

About 6,100 km along the mainland; 7,517 km including Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep island groups.

Gulf of Mannar

A gulf between the Indian mainland and Sri Lanka; a large sea inlet associated with the region.

Palk Strait

A strait separating the Indian mainland from Sri Lanka; a narrow waterway linking the Bay of Bengal with the Arabian Sea.

Gulf vs Strait (terminology)

A gulf is a large sea inlet; a strait is a narrow waterway that connects two larger bodies of water.

Neighbouring countries of India (examples)

Countries surrounding India on land or sea; examples include Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives, with proximity to Myanmar and China.

International Boundary

The boundary between two sovereign states as shown on maps.

State Boundary

An internal administrative boundary separating states within a country, such as Indian states.