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India - Location

CH 1 Geography | Class 11
Notes + Important Questions
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INDIA -

→
LOCATION
→ The mainland of India ,
extends from Kashmir in the north
to Kanniyalaumari in the south .

→
Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Gujarat in the west .

→
India 's territorial limit further extends towards the sea upto
12 nautical miles ( about 21.9km) from the coast .

Statute mile =
63,360 inches

Nautical miles =
72,960 inches

9 Statute mile = about 1.6km G. 584km)

1 Nautical mile =
about 1.8km ( 9.852km)

→
Latidunal and longitudinal extent of India , they are roughly
about 30 degrees .

→
Whereas the actual distance measured from north to south extremity
is 3,214km ,
and that's from east to west is only 2,933km .

* From the values of latitude ,

it is understood that -

•
The southern part of the country lies within the tropics .

•
The northern part lies in the sub -

tropical zone or the warm

temperate zone .

•
This location is responsible for large variations in

large forms ,
climate ,
soil types and natural vegetation
the
in
country .

* Time Difference :

•
From the values of longitude it is , quite discernible that there
is a variation of nearly 30 degrees .

•
Which causes a time difference of nearly two hourly two
hours between the easternmost and the westernmost parts of our

country .
 → While the sun rises in the northeastern states about
two hours earlier as compared to Jaisalmer the ,
watches
in Dibrugarh , Imphal in the east and Jaisalmer , Bhopal
or Chennai in the other parts of India show the
same time .

IST
)
* Concept of IST and GMT :

& GMT ( Greenwich Mean Time )

+ IST (Indian Standard Time )

4 IST is based on longitude 82.5° , which passes through

Mirzapur ,
near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh .
* India in the World
•
India has area of 3.28 million sq km
. .

• Accounts for 2.47 .

of the world 's land surface area .

• Stands as the seventh largest country in the world .

→ 10 largest countries :

Russia
-
Canada
-

United States of America

China

Brazil
-

Australia
-

India

Argentina
-

Kazakhstan

Sudan

* India Size
• The size of India has endowed her with great physical
diversity .

Mountains

Rivers
-
Green forested hills

Plateau
-
Deserts
-

Passes
* India is Bounded by
-

Himalayas in the north .

•
tlindukush and Sulaiman ranges in the north -

west .

•
Purvachal hills in the north -
east .

•
The large expanse of the Indian ocean in the south .

→
It forms a great geographic entity known as the Indian
subcontinent .

V
I
It includes the countries -

Ttakistan Nepal
, ,
Bhutan , Bangladesh
and India .
 Indian
subcontinent .

→ The Himalayas , together with other ranges ,

have acted as a

formidable physical barrier in the past .

Except for few mountain passes such as :

•
The Khyber
•
The Bolan

•
The Shipka
•
The Nathula

•
The Bomdila

Bomdila Khyber Bolan

 Nathan Shipkila

4 Country has a coastline of 6,100km in the mainland

and 7,517km in the entire geographical coast of the
mainland plus the island groups Andaman and Nicobar
located in the Bay of Bengal and the takshadweep in
the Arabian Sea .

I Thus India as a country ,

is a physically diverse land providing
occurrence of varied resources .

* India and its neighbours

• India is located in the south -

central part of the

continent of Asia .

•
Bordering the Indian ocean and its two arms extending in
the form of Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea .

• Land neighbouring countries : Pakistan

Afghanistan
China

Bangladesh
Nepal
Bhutan

Myanmar
• Sea neighbouring countries : Sri Lanka

Maldives

•
Sri Tanka is separated from India by the Gulf of
Mannar and Palk Strait .

o
Gulf :

•
The water body almost surrounded by land with a narrow mouth

opening .
•
Bay :

•
A large body which is partially surrounded by land with a wide
mouth opens to water .
• Strait :

• It is naturally formed narrow

passage of water that connects
two larger water bodies .
* Difference between Gulf and Strait :

G- U L F S T R A I T

a
Gulf is a portion of the Strait is a narrow passage
sea that penetrates the land .
of water that connects large
bodies of water .

I> Gulf connects the land and Strait connects two larger water
the sea . bodies .

&
Gulf is always a natural Strait can be man-made ,
and
formation . such a structure is known as
canal .

4 Gulf serves as an excellent Strait cannot act as harbours .

location for harbours .

 India – Location DPP

Very short answer type questions:

Question 1.
What is the location of India?

Answer:
India’s location is in between 8°4′ and 37°6’N latitudes (Mainland) and 68°7’ and
97°25’E longitudes.

Question 2.
Name the island groups which are a part and parcel of the Indian Union?

Answer:

1. The Lakshadweep Island,

2. The Andaman and Nicobar Island.

Question 3.
Name the countries which have common boundaries with India?

Answer:

1. Afghanistan,
2. Pakistan,
3. Nepal,
4. Bhutan,
5. Myanmar,
6. Bangladesh,
7. China.

Question 4.
What are the main physical divisions of India?
Answer:

1. The great mountains of the North.

2. The great plains of Northern India.
3. The great plateau of peninsular India.

Question 5.
Which Ocean route links India with Europe?

Answer:
Suez Canal.

Short answer type questions:

Question 6.
What are two geographical features which have played a great unifying role in
strengthening Indian people?

Answer:
The two features are:

1. The great mountainous wall of Himalayas on the north,

2. The peninsular part of India, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian sea and the
Bay of Bengal on the south.

These are the two geographical features acted as a physical barrier and kept Indian
culture in a unified nature.

Question 7.
Why India (subcontinent) show a distinct geography? Give reason in support of your
answer.

Answer:
The Indian subcontinent has considered a distinct geographical unit. Because it is
separated from the rest of the Asia continent by Hindukush in the north-west and in
the north by Himalayan ranges. On the southern side, it is isolated by the Indian
ocean from the rest of the world.
Question 8.
What do you mean by MacMohan line? What does it signify?

Answer:
The MacMohan line is a dividing line between India and China realms. Between
India and China, the crest of Himalayas stands. It separates China and India. This
crest of high Himalayas is known as the MacMohan line. It is to the East of Bhutan.

Question 9.
There is a difference of two hours in local time between the easternmost part and
the westernmost part. Give reason.

Answer:
The difference in local time between the easternmost part and the westernmost part
is for two hours. Because there is a longitudinal distance of 30° longitudes. This
distance makes a difference of 2 hours. Hence, when it is 6 a.m. in Arunachal
Pradesh (eastern part) the local time at Saurashtra (western part) is supposed to be
behind 2 hours as compared to Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, it is correct that
when the sun has already risen in Arunachal Pradesh, it is still night in Saurashtra.

Question 10.
What is the importance of India in the eastern world? Describe in short.

Answer:
India has great importance in the eastern world. It lies between West Asia and East
Asia, The trans-oceanic routes connecting Africa, Europe, West Asia and South-
east Asian countries pass through India. The sea plays an important role in India’s
relations with the external world. The Indian and Chinese cultures meet in south-
east Asia and their local culture reflected in terms like Indo-China.

Question 11.
Write a short note on the peninsular river system in India.

Answer:
The peninsular river system is divided into two:
(a) Rivers flowing into the Arabian sea.
(b) Rivers flowing in the Bay of Bengal
Rivers flowing into the Arabian sea are Narmada and Tapi.’ They originate from
Deccan plateau and flow westwards into the Arabian sea. These rivers form
estuaries and not delta.

Rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri.
These rivers form deltas. Most of these peninsular rivers flow rapidly and they are
ideal for generating hydel power.

Question 12.
Distinguish between Latitudes and Longitudes.

Answer:

Latitudes Longitudes

1. The imaginary lines running east-west 1. The vertical lines running north-south

are known as parallels of latitudes. joining two poles are called meridians of

longitude.

2. These are circular and make a 2. They are halves of the great circle.

complete circle.

3. They run parallel to each other. 3. They all meet at the poles.

4. All are similar in size. 4. All are not similar in size.

Question 13.
What is the difference between local time and standard time?
Answer:
Local time of a place is the time of its meridian. All places on a meridian have same
local time. Each place has its own local time. The place in the east is ahead of the
west in time.

Standard time is the time of central meridian of an area. All places have a uniform
time. It has no relation with the moon or height of the sun. There is no change in
time. So it is known as standard time.

Question 14.
What is meant by local time?

Answer:
The local time of a place is the time of its meridian. The old method of determining
the time was to adjust the clock at noon when the sun would cross the local
meridian and shadows would be at their shortest. Time calculated by the position of
the sun at noon at a given place is called local time.

Question 15.
What do you mean by standard time?

Answer:
It is the standard time of central meridian of an area. To maintain the uniformity of
time as far as possible, within the territorial limits of a country, the time at central
meridian of the country is taken as the standard meridian and its local time is taken
as the standard time for the whole country. The standard meridian is selected in
such a manner that it is divisible by 15° or by 7°30′. The difference between its
standard time and Greenwich mean time may be expressed as multiples of an hour.

Long answer type questions:

Question 16.
What is a subcontinent? India is a subcontinent. Prove it.
Answer:
India has a well-knit independent geographical unit. A subcontinent is a vast
independent geographical unit. India is separated from the main continent. It is a
vast country that produces diversity in economic, social and cultural conditions.

It is a land of towering mountains, beautiful valleys, magnificent culture and

birthplace of numerous religious faiths. Geographically it stretches from the
Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south, but in terms of its cultural,
economic, political influences, it has an emphatic presence in the south and
southeast Asia and at the international level. India is the only land with a vast
diverse geographic culture which is woven by the strong bond of nationhood and
belongingness. India is described as a subcontinent. Other countries that are
included are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
Many factors which prove that India is a subcontinent are:

1. Natural frontiers of India.

2. India is surrounded by the major realness of Asia on all sides. The%
great mountain wall gives it an independent shape.
3. India is the 7th largest country in the world in area.
4. India is a land of rivers but it has cultural unity behind this diversity.
5. Monsoon climate determines the life of people and the economic
development of the country. It giveaway a distinct character of the
subcontinent to this landmass.

Question 17.
Explain the term unity in diversity.

Answer:
In India, many diversities are found but India exhibits a high degree of unity in
diversity. The factors which are responsible for this unique feature of the Indian
polity are much large geographical spread of the subcontinent provides fertile
grounds for germination and blossoming of regional diversities in the social setup.
Differentiation in the physical landscape has contributed to the emergence of
different ways and pattern of human interaction with nature. People led to the
concentration of diverse elements in different regions.

The factors which are responsible for the unity of social character in the country are:

1. Monsoonal season.
2. The horizontal spread of cultural and socio-economic attributes from
different parts of the country.
The strong bond generated by nationhood and belongingness. The development of
regional linkages and emergence of a regional home market during the British rule
in India.

Question 18.
How the central position of India is beneficial to us? Explain it.

Answer:
Geographically India occupies a central position in the Asia continent.

This position is beneficial to us in many ways:

1. India is located on the Eastern hemisphere, Europe and Eastern part of

America are at equal distance from India.
2. The tropic of cancer passes through the centre of India. So that India is a
tropical country.
3. India has a long coastline which provides many deep and natural
harbours.
4. Indian ocean provides a favourable route for international trade.
5. The natural boundaries are favourably located from a different point of
view.
6. Indian ocean is the origin of monsoons.
7. The chain of towering Himalayas acts as a climatic barrier. It protects
northern India from polar cold winds and forces the monsoon to give
rainfall.

Question 19.
What are the three major physical divisions of India? Describe one of them in detail:
(i) The great mountain of north.

Answer:
The great mountains of the north: This physical part lies between the great
mountains of the north and the peninsular plateau. It has been built by the
deposition of the sediments brought by the rivers. It is alluvial and extremely level. It
extends from east to west, about 2,500 km! in length.

(ii) The great plains.

Answer:
The plains consist of the two river basins – Indus and the Ganga- Brahmaputra
basins. The Indus and its tributaries The Jhelum, The Chenab, The Ravi, The Beas
and the Sutlej flow into The Arabian Sea through Pakistan.

(iii) The great plateau of peninsular India.

Answer:
The Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries flow into the Bay of Bengal. Indus and
Brahmaputra originated beyond the Himalayas.

The entire plain region is very fertile and the major occupation of the people is
agriculture. A large number of industries come up in the region. This region has a
dense network of transport. This region is densely populated.

Question 20.
Describe the changing pattern of human activities in India.

Answer:
The human activities in India have developed in stages. Because many racial stocks
came to India at different periods of history and they influence the human activities
in India. They had developed various human activities from food gathering to the
modem industries. This oldness and continuity of changing human activities of
cultural and civilisation areas:
(a) The Negritos represented the food gatherer of the stone age. They had led their
life completely on nature. They are still surviving in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
(b) The Dravidian presented the farmer. They came from the Mediterranean lands.
They started agriculture and led a settled life. They tilled their land with ordinary
instruments and produced various crops. They loved their motherland.
(c) The Aryans represented the artisans and handicraftsman. They started cottage
industries. They were more civilised people and knew the art of iron smelting. They
made canals from the rivers. They developed cities on the lands of Ganga and
Yamuna. They prepared the multicoloured cloth from the silk-threads.