iess101

India: Size and Location

Geographic Overview

• India is located 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 the country into almost two equal halves.

• Country Area: 3.28 million square km, accounting for about 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world.

Boundary and Coastline

• India is the seventh largest country in the world.

• The land boundary is approximately 15,200 km.

• The total length of the coastline, including the Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands, is 7,516.6 km.

Islands and Regions

• Southeast: Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

• Southwest: Lakshadweep Islands.

• The southernmost point, Indira Point, submerged during the 2004 Tsunami.

• Explore the extent of these islands in an atlas.

India’s Socio-Economic Progress

• Ancient civilization with notable achievements in agriculture, industry, technology, and overall economic development over the last five decades.

• Significant contributions to world history.

Location Advantages

• India has a strategic location as it is a southward extension of the Asian continent.

• Central location for East-West trade routes (Europe to East Asia) and has prominent contact with continents via ocean routes.

• The Deccan Peninsula’s extension into the Indian Ocean supports trade routes with West Asia, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

• After the Suez Canal opening in 1869, the distance from India to Europe reduced by 7,000 km.

Latitudinal and Longitudinal Extent

• The mainland demonstrates a latitudinal extent of about 30°.

• East-West extent appears smaller compared to the North-South extent.

• Time lag of two hours exists from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh due to longitudinal distance.

• Standard time for India is set along the Standard Meridian (82°30'E) which passes through Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.

Influence of Latitude

• The latitudinal extent affects the duration of day and night across the country, showing pronounced differences from south to north.

Neighboring Countries

• India shares land boundaries with:

  • West: Pakistan and Afghanistan

  • North: China (Tibet), Nepal, and Bhutan

  • East: Myanmar and Bangladesh

• The Indian Ocean separates India from its southern neighbors, Sri Lanka and Maldives.

• Historical exchanges through land routes and the rich maritime heritage.

Geographic Isolation

• Notably geographical features and the Indian coastline set India apart from the rest of Asia.

Union Territories and States Structure

• India has 28 states and 8 Union Territories categorized based on various criteria.

• Historical context of states established before 1947: Provinces (British rule) and Princely states (local rulers with autonomy).

Map Skills and Exercises

• Various map skills to be developed such as identifying island groups, countries in the Indian subcontinent, states on the Tropic of Cancer, and key locations.

• Collecting data regarding geographical extremes such as latitudinal and longitudinal boundaries is encouraged.

• Visit the Bhuvan portal for map-based learning related to natural resources and sustainable development.