CH 1 INDIA : SIZE AND LOCATION

• India is lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere

  • The 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 India into almost two equal parts.
• India's total area accounts for about 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world
• India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km
• India is the 7th largest country in the world by its size
• The total length of the coastline of the mainland is 7,516.6 km including Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep
• Mountains in the northwest, north, and northeast bound India
• South of about 22° north latitude, India begins to taper and extends towards the Indian Ocean
• This division creates two seas: the Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on the east
• Time along the Standard Meridian of India (82°30’E) passing through Mirzapur (in Uttar Pradesh) is taken as the standard time for India
• India has a central location between East and West Asia
• India is a southward extension of the Asian continent
• Trans-Indian Ocean routes connect Europe in the West and countries of East Asia
• India has the longest coastline on the Indian Ocean compared to any other country
• India's contacts with the world have continued through the ages
• Spices, muslin, and other merchandise were taken from India to different countries
• Greek sculpture and architectural styles of domes and minarets from West Asia have influenced different parts of India
• India has 28 states and eight Union Territories. India shares its land boundaries with:

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


  The southern neighbours across the sea consist of the two island countries, Sri Lanka and Maldives. India has had strong geographical and historical links with its neighbours.