Chapter 1 India – Location

Introduction

Observing the map of India, we can identify its extreme points in terms of latitude and longitude. The mainland of India stretches from the region of Kashmir in the north to Kanniyakumari in the south and from Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Gujarat in the west. India's legal territory extends beyond its coastline into the sea.

The territorial limit of India reaches up to **12 nautical miles** from the coast. A nautical mile is a unit used in navigation and maritime travel, equivalent to approximately 1.852 kilometers. A statute mile, commonly used on land, is about 1.609 kilometers.

Conversion Factors:

• 1 Statute mile = 63,360 inches $\approx$ 1.6 km (1.584 km)
• 1 Nautical mile = 72,960 inches $\approx$ 1.8 km (1.852 km)

India's southern boundary, including its islands, extends down to the latitude of $6^\circ45'$ North in the Bay of Bengal (specifically, Indira Point in the Nicobar Islands). The mainland's southern tip is near $8^\circ4'$ North latitude at Kanniyakumari.

When calculating the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of India's mainland, we find they are both approximately **30 degrees**. However, the actual north-south distance (from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari) is about 3,214 km, while the east-west distance (from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat) is only about 2,933 km.

This difference in actual distance despite a similar degree extent is because the **distance between two lines of longitude decreases towards the poles** (they converge), while the **distance between two lines of latitude remains roughly constant** everywhere on the Earth's surface (since latitudes are parallel circles). The approximate distance between two degrees of latitude is about 111 kilometers.

The latitudinal spread indicates that the southern part of India is situated within the **tropical zone**, while the northern part lies in the **sub-tropical** or warm temperate zone. This significant latitudinal extent contributes to considerable regional variations in landforms, climate patterns, soil types, and natural vegetation across the country.

Observing the longitudinal extent (approximately 30 degrees) reveals another important implication: a significant time difference between the easternmost and westernmost parts of India. Since the Earth rotates approximately 1 degree every 4 minutes ($360^\circ$ in 24 hours), a longitudinal difference of 30 degrees corresponds to a time difference of about $30 \times 4 = 120$ minutes, or **two hours**.

This means the sun rises approximately two hours earlier in the eastern states (like Arunachal Pradesh) compared to the western states (like Gujarat). To avoid confusion and maintain a uniform time system across the country, India follows a single **Indian Standard Time (IST)**. IST is based on the time at the **Standard Meridian of India**, which is $82^\circ30'$ East longitude. This longitude passes roughly through the center of the country (e.g., near Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh).

There is a global agreement among countries to select their standard meridians in multiples of $7^\circ30'$ of longitude to ensure coordinated time zones. The choice of $82^\circ30'$ E means that IST is **5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)** or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Despite the two-hour difference in sunrise and sunset times between the far east and west, all clocks across India are set to the same IST, ensuring standardized time for activities like transportation, communication, and work schedules.

Some large countries with significant east-west extent use multiple standard meridians to define several time zones (e.g., the USA has seven time zones including Alaska and Hawaii).

Size

India is the **seventh largest country in the world** in terms of land area. It covers a total geographical area of approximately **3.28 million square kilometers**. This area accounts for about **2.4 percent** of the total land surface area of the Earth.

Countries that are larger than India in area include Russia, Canada, the USA, China, Brazil, and Australia.

Physical Diversity

India's large size, coupled with its diverse geographical location and geological history, has endowed it with remarkable **physical diversity**. The landscape varies dramatically across the country.

Travelling across India, one can experience:

• Lofty and rugged **mountains** in the north (the Himalayas).
• Vast **plains** watered by major river systems like the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Mahanadi, Krishna, Godavari, and Kaveri.
• Green, undulating **forested hills** in the northeastern and southern parts of the country.
• The expansive sandy terrain of the **Great Indian Desert (Thar)** in the west (Marusthali).
• Plateaus, coastal plains, and islands, further adding to the varied topography.

Indian Subcontinent

India forms a significant part of a distinct geographical entity known as the **Indian subcontinent**. This region is clearly demarcated by prominent geographical features. It is bounded by the towering Himalayan mountain range in the north, the Hindukush and Sulaiman ranges in the northwest, and the Purvachal hills in the northeast. To the south, it is bordered by the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean.

The Indian subcontinent includes several countries: **Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and India**. Historically, the surrounding mountain ranges, particularly the Himalayas, acted as formidable physical barriers, limiting interaction with regions beyond. While some mountain passes like the Khyber, Bolan, Shipkila, Nathula, and Bomdila allowed limited movement, the mountains played a crucial role in isolating the region to some extent and fostering the evolution of a unique regional identity for the Indian subcontinent.

The peninsular part of India extends southward into the Indian Ocean. This provides India with an extensive coastline. The mainland coastline is approximately **6,100 km** long. Including the coastlines of the island groups – the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea – the total geographical coastline of India is approximately **7,517 km**. This extensive coastline offers varied resources and opportunities related to trade, fishing, and tourism.

Overall, India's size and geographical setting result in a physically diverse land, supporting a wide variety of natural resources.

India And Its Neighbours

Location In Asia

India occupies a strategic location in the south-central part of the Asian continent. It is positioned bordering the Indian Ocean, with its two major arms, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, flanking the Indian Peninsula. This prominent maritime location has historically facilitated trade, cultural exchange, and connectivity with neighboring regions and countries through sea and air routes.

Neighbouring Countries

India shares land borders with several countries. Consulting a map of India will show its immediate land neighbors:

• To the west and northwest: **Pakistan** and **Afghanistan** (a small border in the Pashtun region).
• To the north and northeast: **China** (sharing the longest land border with India after Bangladesh), **Nepal**, and **Bhutan**.
• To the east: **Bangladesh** (sharing the longest land border with India) and **Myanmar**.

In addition to land neighbors, India has two island neighbors located in the Indian Ocean:

• **Sri Lanka:** Located to the southeast, separated from the southern tip of India by a narrow channel.
• **Maldives:** Located to the southwest of the Lakshadweep Islands.

Sri Lanka is separated from India by the **Gulf of Mannar** and the **Palk Strait**. A strait is a narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water (e.g., Palk Strait connecting the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea/Indian Ocean), while a gulf is a large inlet of the sea, often larger and more enclosed than a bay (e.g., Gulf of Mannar).

While physical barriers like mountains were significant hindrances in the past, modern technology has greatly reduced their impact on interaction with neighboring countries. Development of roads and railways through mountain passes, construction of tunnels, and advancement in air transportation and communication technologies allow for much easier movement of people, goods, and information across these natural barriers today. Air travel, telecommunications, and the internet facilitate direct interaction regardless of physical geography.

Modern resources like the School Bhuvan NCERT portal (an initiative by ISRO) provide map-based learning tools to help students visualize India's geography, resources, and environmental aspects, based on the NCERT syllabus.

Exercises

Multiple Choice Questions

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Answer The Following Questions In About 30 Words

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Answer The Following Questions In About 150 Words

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Project/Activity

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