Chapter 1 India – Size And Location

India is an ancient civilization with a rich history. Over the last five decades, it has made significant strides in various sectors, including agriculture, industry, technology, and overall economic development. India's contributions have also left a mark on global history.

Location

India is a vast country situated entirely in the **Northern Hemisphere**. Its mainland extends from **latitude 8°4'N to 37°6'N**.

Longitudinally, the mainland stretches from **68°7'E to 97°25'E**.

The **Tropic of Cancer** (23°30'N latitude) is a significant line that divides the country into nearly two equal halves.

To the southeast of the mainland, in the Bay of Bengal, lie the **Andaman and Nicobar islands**. To the southwest of the mainland, in the Arabian Sea, are the **Lakshadweep islands**. It is worth noting that the southernmost point of the Indian Union, known as **'Indira Point'**, was submerged under seawater during the 2004 Tsunami.

Figure 1.1 is a world map illustrating the location of India. It clearly shows India positioned entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, highlighting its latitudinal and longitudinal extent within the global grid.

Size

The total land mass of India covers an area of **3.28 million square kilometres**. This area represents about **2.4% of the world's total geographical area**.

In terms of size, India is the **seventh largest country** in the world. It is smaller than Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil, and Australia (in descending order of size).

India has a land boundary stretching approximately **15,200 kilometres**. The total length of its coastline, encompassing the mainland, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Lakshadweep Islands, is **7,516.6 kilometres**.

Figure 1.2 is a bar graph that visually compares the land area of the seven largest countries in the world, clearly showing India's position as the seventh largest nation.

India's geographical features include young fold mountains in the northwest, north, and northeast. South of approximately 22° North latitude, the landmass narrows and extends into the Indian Ocean. This tapering peninsula divides the Indian Ocean into two main bodies of water: the **Arabian Sea** to the west and the **Bay of Bengal** to the east.

Looking at the map showing India's extent (Figure 1.3), the mainland's latitudinal and longitudinal extent is roughly 30 degrees in both directions. However, the east-west distance (from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh) appears shorter than the north-south distance (from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari).

This longitudinal extent causes a **time lag of two hours** between the easternmost point (Arunachal Pradesh) and the westernmost point (Gujarat). To avoid having different local times across the country, a single **Standard Meridian of India** is chosen. This meridian is located at **82°30'E longitude** and passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. The time along this meridian is adopted as the official standard time for the entire country.

Figure 1.3 is a map of India that illustrates its latitudinal and longitudinal boundaries. It also prominently shows the Standard Meridian of India at 82°30'E and the location of Mirzapur, through which it passes, serving as the basis for the country's standard time.

The latitudinal extent influences the **duration of day and night**. As one moves from the southern part of India (near the Equator, like Kanniyakumari) towards the northern part (closer to the poles, like Kashmir), the difference between the lengths of day and night becomes more noticeable throughout the year. Near the Equator, day and night durations are relatively constant, while further north, seasonal variations are more pronounced.

The Standard Meridian of India (82°30'E) was selected because it is located roughly in the **centre** of India's longitudinal extent (between 68°7'E and 97°25'E). Using a central longitude for the standard time minimises the time difference from the actual local time across the country, ensuring convenience and uniformity for administrative and daily life purposes.

The difference between day and night durations is hardly felt at Kanniyakumari because it is located close to the Equator. Near the Equator, the Earth's tilt relative to the sun causes minimal variation in the angle of sunlight received throughout the year, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths. In Kashmir, which is located further north, the effect of the Earth's tilt is much more significant, leading to pronounced differences between day and night durations depending on the season (longer days in summer, shorter days in winter).

India And The World

India's geographical location is considered highly **strategic** in the context of global trade and connectivity. Its landmass is centrally located between West Asia and East Asia, serving as a **southward extension of the Asian continent**.

India's position at the head of the **Indian Ocean** is particularly significant. The trans-Indian Ocean routes are major sea lanes connecting countries in Europe and the Americas (via the West) with countries in East Asia. India's location along these routes provides it with a **strategic central position** for trade and commerce.

The **Deccan Peninsula**, protruding into the Indian Ocean, gives India a long coastline and facilitates extensive maritime connections. India can easily establish close contact with West Asia, Africa, and Europe from its western coast, and with Southeast and East Asia from its eastern coast. No other country has such a long and dominant coastline on the Indian Ocean as India. This prominent position in the ocean justifies the naming of the ocean after India.

Figure 1.4 is a map that depicts India's position relative to international trade and commerce routes. It shows major sea lanes crossing the Indian Ocean and land routes connecting India to its neighbours, illustrating India's strategic geographical advantage in global connectivity.

India's connections with the world are ancient. While maritime contacts developed over time, relationships through **land routes** across the mountains in the north are even older. These mountain passes facilitated interactions between ancient travellers, allowing for the exchange of ideas and commodities across civilizations.

Through these routes, Indian ideas like the **Upanishads, the Ramayana, stories from Panchtantra, Indian numerals, and the decimal system** spread to many parts of the world. Commodities such as **spices, muslin, and other merchandise** were exported from India. Conversely, India received influences from other regions, seen in the impact of **Greek sculpture** and the architectural styles of **domes and minarets from West Asia** found in various parts of the country.

The opening of the **Suez Canal in 1869** was a major development that significantly reduced India's distance from Europe by approximately 7,000 kilometres, further enhancing maritime trade and connectivity between India and the West.

India’s Neighbours

India occupies an important strategic location in **South Asia**. It is a large country with a diverse political structure comprising **28 states and Eight Union Territories**.

Historically, before 1947, India consisted of two types of administrative units: **Provinces**, which were ruled directly by British officials appointed by the Viceroy, and **Princely States**, which were governed by local hereditary rulers who accepted British sovereignty in exchange for internal autonomy.

India shares its **land boundaries** with several countries:

• In the northwest: **Pakistan and Afghanistan**
• In the north: **China (Tibet), Nepal, and Bhutan**
• In the east: **Myanmar and Bangladesh**

India's **southern neighbours across the sea** are two island countries: **Sri Lanka** and **Maldives**.

• **Sri Lanka** is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea known as the **Palk Strait** and the **Gulf of Mannar**.
• The **Maldives Islands** are located to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.

Figure 1.5 is a map showing India and its neighbouring countries. It clearly illustrates the land borders shared with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, as well as the island neighbours across the sea: Sri Lanka and Maldives.

India has strong historical and geographical ties with its neighbours in South Asia. Comparing India's physical map with that of the rest of Asia reveals its distinct geographical features within the continent.

The total number of Union Territories along the western coast are Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, and Puducherry (having an enclave on the western coast). Those on the eastern coast are Puducherry (main territory and an enclave in Tamil Nadu), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and potentially parts of West Bengal's coast falling under UT administration if any (though primarily coastal states are in view). Note: Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu are now a single Union Territory.

To identify the smallest and largest state area-wise, a political map of India is needed.

To identify states without international borders or coastlines, a political map is needed. These would be landlocked states entirely within India.

Classifying states based on common frontiers with neighbouring countries requires careful observation of a political map showing state boundaries and international borders.

Based on the provided map and information, the Union Territories are: Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Delhi, Puducherry, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

The island groups of India are the **Lakshadweep Islands** in the Arabian Sea and the **Andaman and Nicobar Islands** in the Bay of Bengal.

Countries constituting the Indian subcontinent typically include India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and sometimes Sri Lanka and Maldives (though sometimes debated in terms of the core landmass). Based on the adjacent countries shown, the land neighbours are Pakistan, Afghanistan, China (Tibet), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. The sea neighbours are Sri Lanka and Maldives.

The Tropic of Cancer passes through Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram.

The northernmost latitude of India is 37°6'N. The southernmost latitude of the Indian mainland is 8°4'N.

The easternmost longitude is 97°25'E, and the westernmost longitude is 68°7'E.

The place situated on three seas is **Kanniyakumari** in Tamil Nadu, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal meet.

The strait separating Sri Lanka from India is the **Palk Strait**.

The Union Territories of India are mentioned above.