Ch - 1: India - Size and Location
A.MCQs
1. India is located in which continent?
a) Asia
b) Europe
c) Africa
d) North America
2. Which two countries share the longest border with India?
a) China and Nepal
b) Pakistan and Afghanistan
c) Bangladesh and Bhutan
d) China and Pakistan
3. India is the ____ largest country in the world by land area.
a) second
b) fourth
c) seventh
d) tenth
4. The southernmost point of the Indian mainland is:
a) Kanyakumari
b) Rameswaram
c) Cape Comorin
d) Thiruvananthapuram
5. India is divided into how many major physical divisions?
a) 3
b) 6
c) 7
d) 9
6. The Tropic of Cancer passes through which Indian states?
a) Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Mizoram
b) Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Assam
c) Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and West Bengal
d) Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Arunachal Pradesh
7. Which Indian state has the longest coastline?
a) Kerala
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Andhra Pradesh
d) Gujarat
8. The Indian Standard Time is ahead of Greenwich Mean Time by how many hours?
a) 4 hrs 45 mins
b) 5 hrs 30 mins
c) 6 hrs 15 mins
d) 7 hrs
9. The total land border of India is approximately:
a) 15,200 kilometers
b) 7,500 kilometers
c) 9,000 kilometers
d) 11,000 kilometers
10. The Palk Strait lies between India and:
a) Sri Lanka
b) Maldives
c) Bangladesh
d) Myanmar
11. The northernmost point of India is in:
a) Jammu and Kashmir
b) Punjab
c) Uttarakhand
d) Himachal Pradesh
12. Which river forms the boundary between India and Nepal?
a) Ganges
b) Sharda River
c) Yamuna
d) Sutlej
13. The easternmost longitude of India is:
a) 97° 25' E
b) 82° 30' E
c) 68° 7' E
d) 77° 6' E
14. The Indian Ocean lies to the _______ of India.
a) east
b) west
c) north
d) south
15. Which of the following countries share the shortest border with India?
a) Nepal
b) Myanmar
c) Bhutan
d) Afghanistan
The correct answers for the questions are as follows:
1. a) Asia
2. d) China and Pakistan
3. c) seventh
4. a) Kanyakumari
5. b) 6
6. a) Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Mizoram
7. d) Gujarat
8. b) 5 hrs 30 mins
9. c) 15,200 kilometers
10. a) Sri Lanka
11. a) Jammu and Kashmir
12. b) Sharda River
13. a) 97°256' E
14. d) south
15. d) Afghanistan
Question 1
Why 82°30'E has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India?
Answer
82°30'E has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India because it lies in the middle of
the eastern and western longitudinal extremities of the country.
Question 2
Why is the difference between the durations of day and night hardly felt at Kanniyakumari but
not so in Kashmir?
Answer
The difference between the durations of day and night is hardly felt at Kanniyakumari
because it lies close to the equator. At equator the sun rays are straight and the duration of
day and night are equal. On other hand, Kashmir lies in north of India, in temperate zone
where Sun rays are tilted and therefore, there is considerable difference between duration of
day and night.
Question 3
The number of Union Territories along the western and eastern coasts.
Answer
Union Territories along the western coast:
Daman and Diu & Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Lakshadweep
Union Territories along the eastern coast:
Andaman and Nicobar
Puducherry
Question 4
Area-wise which is the smallest and which is the largest state.
Answer
Smallest state : Goa
Largest state : Rajasthan
Question 3
The states which do not have an international border or lie on the coast.
Answer
Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand
Question 5
Classify the states into four groups each having common frontiers with (i) Pakistan (ii) China
(iii) Myanmar and (iv) Bangladesh
Answer
(i) Pakistan: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir (UT), Ladakh (UT)
(ii) China: Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh
(iii) Myanmar: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram
(iv) Bangladesh: West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram
Answer the following questions briefly
Question 2(i)
Name the group of islands lying in the Arabian Sea.
Answer
Lakshadweep
Question 2(ii)
Name the countries which are larger than India.
Answer
The countries which are larger than India are:
Russia
Canada
USA
China
Brazil
Australia
Question 2(iii)
Which island group of India lies to its south-east?
Answer
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Question 2(iv)
Which island countries are our southern neighbours?
Answer
Sri Lanka and Maldives
Answer the following questions
Question 3
The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat in the west but
the watches show the same time. How does this happen?
Answer
India lies between 68°7'E and 97°25'E, making a 28° difference from extreme west (Gujarat)
to extreme east (Arunachal Pradesh) of the country. The Earth rotates 360° in 24 hours, i.e., it
moves 1° in 4 minutes. Thus, for moving 28° the earth takes 28 x 4 i.e., about 2 hours. As a
result, the Sun rises 2 hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh compared to Gujarat. However, both
regions use the same time because they follow the standard time of India, which is set along
the Standard meridian of India (82°30'E).
Question 4
The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great
significance. Why?
Answer
The Indian landmass has a central location between the east and the west Asia. The trans
Indian ocean routes, which connect the countries of Europe in the west and the countries of
east Asia, provide a strategic and significant central location to India. The Deccan Peninsula
protrudes into the Indian ocean, thus helping India to establish close contact with west Asia,
Africa and Europe from the western coast and with southeast and east Asia from eastern
coast. Therefore, the central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of
great significance.
Extra Questions Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
How does India occupy an important strategic position in South Asia ?
Answer:
India occupies an important strategic position in South Asia in the following ways :
(a) The Indian landmass has a central location between the East and the West Asia.
(b) The trans Indian Ocean routes, which connect the countries of Europe in the West and the
countries of East Asia, provide a strategic central location to India.
(c) The Deccan Peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean has helped India to establish close
contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the western coast and with Southeast and
East Asia from the eastern coast.
Question 2.
What is the name of the southernmost point of India ? Why is it not visible today ?
Answer:
The southernmost point of India is Indira Point. The Indira point is situated in the Great
Nicobar Group of Island in Andaman Nicobar island.
It is not visible today because it was submerged under the sea water in the 2004 during the
Tsunami.
Question 3.
What is latitude? What is the latitudinal extent of India?
Answer:
The position of a place, measured in degrees north or south of the Equator. It is mostly
calculated because of angular distance of a place north-south of the equator,
The main land of India extends between latitudes 8°4′ N and 37°6′ N.
The latitudinal extension shows that India is located in the Northern Hemisphere.
Question 4.
Which ocean is named after India ? Give two reasons as to why it was named after India.
Answer:
The Indian Ocean is named after India. India is the only country which has the credit of an
ocean named after it. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, extensions of the Indian Ocean,
lie to the west and east of Indian Peninsula, and the Indian Ocean lies to its south. No other
country has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India. The central location of India at the
head of the Indian Ocean has provided India a strategic location of great significance along
the trans Indian Ocean routes. It is India’s eminent position in the Indian Ocean which justifies
the naming of the ocean after India.
Question 5.
Why is India called a subcontinent?
Answer:
India is called a subcontinent because :
It is a big landmass. This stands out as a distinct geographical unit from the rest of the
continent.
It is separated by natural features like mountains and rivers.
India is also separated from rest of the continent by the mighty Himalayas.
Question 6.
How have been mountain passes been helpful in India since historic times? Explain.
Answer:
India is bounded by the young fold mountains in the northwest, north and northeast. The
various passes across the mountains in the north have provided passages to the ancient
travelers. The spices, muslin and other merchandise’ were taken from India to different
countries through these passes. Mountain passes have contributed in the exchange of ideas
and commodities since historic times.
Question 7.
What is the latitudinal extent of India? How is the latitudinal spread in India advantageous to
her?
Answer:
The latitudinal extent of India lies between 8°4’ N and 37°6’ N. This means that the
longitudinal expanse is about 30° from west to east.
The advantages of longitudinal spread are :
(a) It influences the duration of the day and night as one moves from South to North.
(b) It also helps to take advantage of the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea on the west and the
Bay of Bengal on its east for sea movements.
Question 8.
Why do the days and nights are almost of equal duration at Kanniyakumari?
Answer:
Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu is located at the southernmost tip of India’s main land. The
latitude 8°4’ N passes close to it. The place is thus near the equator and lies close to the
Equatorial region. As the sun shines directly over the Equator throughout the year, the
durations of day and night are almost equal here. Hence, in Kanniyakumari, the difference in
the duration of day and night is very little.
Question 9.
Why Is the knowledge of latitude and longitude important for people?
Answer:
The knowledge of latitude and longitude is important for people because it helps them to
understand and locates the geographical location and globe better. The use of latitudes and
longitudes offer a better and quick grasp of geographical facts.
It determines the time zones of the different regions of the world. With the help of longitudes
and latitudes, it is easy to calculate local time and standard time. Longitudes and latitudes
also help in calculating the distance from one place to another.
Question 10.
What do you know about the neighbours of India?
Answer:
India occupies an important strategic position in South Asia. India shares its land boundaries
with Afghanisatan and Pakistan in the northwest; China, Nepal and Bhutan in the north and
Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east. The island states of Sri Lanka and Maldives are our
southern neighbours across the sea. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of
sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Manner, while Maldives Islands are situated to
the South of the Lakshadweep Islands. Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and India form
the most natural geographical unit, often referred to as the Indian subcontinent.
Long Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
How has the long coastline been beneficial to India?
Answer:
The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, extensions of the Indian Ocean, lie to the west and
east of Indian Peninsula, and the Indian Ocean lies to its south. The total length of the
coastline of the main land of India including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep is
7516.6 km. The long coastline of India has helped in maritime trade since ages. The central
location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean has provided it a strategic location along the
trans-Indian Ocean routes. India can establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe
from western coast and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast. The long
coastline has also played a major role in influencing the climate of India. It provides
opportunities for fishing and extraction of petroleum. It serves as a natural boundary
protecting India.
Question 2.
What was the contribution of land routes to India in ancient times? Explain.
Answer:
The contribution of land routes to India in ancient times are given below :
(a) The large land boundaries of India have helped to develop links with her neighbouring
countries.
(b) It contributed in the exchange of ideas and commodities since ancient times.
(c) The ideas of the Upanishads, the Ramayana, the Geeta, etc. have become known to the
world.
(d) The Indian numerals as well as the decimal system long back crossed the border. The
Arabs took these ideas to the West.
(e) The spices, muslin and other merchandise were taken away from India to different
countries through these land routes.
(f) On the other hand, the influence of Greek sculpture, and the architectural styles of dome
and minarets from West Asia can be seen in different parts of our country. (Any five points)
Question 3.
Write a note on the location and size of India.
Answer:
Location: India is a vast country. Lying entirely in the Northern hemisphere, the main 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 the country into almost two equal parts. To the southeast of
India’s main land lie the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal and to the
southwest lie the Lakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea.
Size: The land mass of India has an area of 3.28 million square km. India’s total area accounts
for about 2.4 per cent of the total geographical area of the world.
India is the seventh largest country of the world. India has a land boundary of about 15,200
km and the total length of the coastline of the mainland, including Andaman and Nicobar and
Lakshadweep, is 7,516.6 km. It has an east-west extent of 2,933 km from Arunachal Pradesh
to Kachchh in Gujarat and a north-south extent of 3,214 km from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari.
The southern part of the country is in form of a peninsula, tapering towards the Indian Ocean
in the south. It is bounded by the Arabian Sea in the southwest and the Bay of Bengal in the
southeast.
Extra Questions Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
The total length of the coastline of the mainland including Andaman and Nicobar and
Lakshadweep is _________ .
Answer:
7,516.6 km
Question 2.
The neighbouring countries that share their boundaries with India are _________ .
Answer:
Pakistan, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, Nepal and Bhutan.
Question 3.
What is the longitudinal extent of India ?
Answer:
68°7’E to 97°25’E
Question 4.
What is the latitudinal extent of India ?
Answer:
8°4’N and 37°6’N
Question 5.
Which is the smallest state in India ?
Answer:
Goa
Question 6.
The north-south extent of India is about _________ .
Answer:
3,214 km
Question 7.
Which states does not share any international boundary ?
Answer:
Madhya Pradesh
Question 8.
Which canal has reduced India’s distance from Europe by 7,000 km ?
Answer:
Suez Canal
Question 9.
What influences the duration of the day and night as one moves from south to north ?
Answer:
Latitudinal extent
Question 10.
Which ocean has been named after a country ?
Answer:
Indian Ocean
Question 11.
What is a strait ?
Answer:
A narrow channel of sea that connects two layer bodies of water.
Question 12.
China is the _________ largest country in the world ?
Answer:
Fourth
Question 13.
From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, the time lag is _________ .
Answer:
2 hours
Question 14.
The southernmost point of Indian mainland is _________ .
Answer:
Kanniyakumari
Question 15.
Suez Canal was opened in fke year.
Answer:
1869
Question 16.
India’s total area account for about of the total geographical area of the world.
Answer:
2.4%
Question 17.
Which neighbouring country of India is an island ?
Answer:
Maldives.
Question 18.
Name any two states of India that shares international boundaries.
Answer:
Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
Question 19.
State the types of states India had before 1947.
Answer:
Before 1947, there were two types of states in India such as the Provinces and Princely
States.
Question 20.
Which is the largest state (area-wise) of India ?
Answer:
Rajasthan.
Question 21.
Name the Indian states which are situated on the eastern coast of India.
Answer:
West Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Question 22.
Name the Indian states which are situated on the western coast of India.
Answer:
Kerala, Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra.
Question 23.
In which year did the Indira Point get submerged under the sea water ?
Answer:
Indira Point got submerged under the sea water in 2004 during the Tsunami.
Question 24.
Name the state that share border with Myanmar.
Answer:
Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland.
Question 25.
Which meridian has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India ?
Answer:
82°32’E has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India.
