Exercise Solutions Available
Step-by-step answers for all textbook questions in this chapter
Location of India
- Latitudes: 8°4′ N to 37°6′ N
- Longitudes: 68°7′ E to 97°25′ E
- India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.
- The Tropic of Cancer (23½° N) passes almost through the middle, splitting India into two nearly equal climate zones.
Area and Size
- India has an area of about 3.28 million square kilometres.
- This is about 2.4% of the world's total area.
- India is the 7th largest country in the world.
- It has a land boundary of about 15,200 km and a coastline of about 7,516 km.
Neighbouring Countries
| Direction | Land neighbours |
|---|---|
| North-West | Pakistan, Afghanistan |
| North | China (Tibet), Nepal, Bhutan |
| East | Bangladesh, Myanmar |
- Island neighbours lie to the south:
- Sri Lanka — separated from India by the Palk Strait.
- Maldives — to the south-west, in the Indian Ocean.
Surrounding Water Bodies
| Direction | Water body |
|---|---|
| South | Indian Ocean |
| West | Arabian Sea |
| East | Bay of Bengal |
The southernmost point of India's mainland is near Kanyakumari, where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet.
Administrative Divisions
- India is divided into States and Union Territories.
- New Delhi is the national capital.
- For the latest count, States and Union Territories together number 36 (28 States + 8 Union Territories).
Physical Divisions of India
India has five major physical divisions:
| Division | Description |
|---|---|
| The Himalayas | Young fold mountains in the north; snow-fed rivers start here |
| The Northern Plains | Flat, fertile plains formed by the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers |
| The Peninsular Plateau | A flat-topped, old plateau (the Deccan) south of the plains |
| The Coastal Plains | Narrow strips of flat land along the west (Konkan, Malabar) and east coasts |
| The Islands | Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal |
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tropic of Cancer | The 23½°N latitude passing through the middle of India |
| Hemisphere | Half of the Earth (India is in the Northern) |
| Palk Strait | The strip of sea between India and Sri Lanka |
| Peninsula | Land surrounded by water on three sides (the Indian peninsula) |
| Union Territory | A region ruled directly by the Central Government |
| Alluvial plain | A fertile plain formed by river deposits |
Exam Tips
- The latitudinal/longitudinal extent (8°4′N–37°6′N, 68°7′E–97°25′E) is a very common 1-mark question.
- The Tropic of Cancer (23½°N) passes through the middle of India — learn this fact well.
- The seven land neighbours in order (Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar) plus the two island neighbours (Sri Lanka, Maldives) is a favourite 2-mark question.
- The five physical divisions — Himalayas, Northern Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coastal Plains, Islands — is a standard short answer.
- Lakshadweep = Arabian Sea; Andaman & Nicobar = Bay of Bengal — remember which sea each group lies in.
Frequently Asked Questions
India lies between 8°4′N and 37°6′N latitudes and between 68°7′E and 97°25′E longitudes, entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.