India - Size and Location Class 9 ||Geography|| Chapter 1 Notes
1. Introduction to India’s Location
India's Location in the World:
- India lies in the northern hemisphere.
- Latitudinal extent: 8°4'N to 37°6'N.
- Longitudinal extent: 68°7'E to 97°25'E.
- The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) divides India into two almost equal halves.
- The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie to the southeast, and the Lakshadweep Islands lie to the southwest.
Time Zone:
- India uses a single time zone (Indian Standard Time or IST), which is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). The reference longitude for IST is 82°30'E, near Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.
2. India’s Size and Area
Area:
- Total area: 3.28 million square kilometers.
- India is the seventh-largest country in the world by land area.
- It accounts for about 2.4% of the world’s total area.
Land Borders and Coastline:
- India has a land boundary of about 15,200 kilometers.
- It has a coastline of 7,516.6 kilometers, including the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands.
3. India’s Neighbors
India shares its borders with several countries:
- North and Northwest: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
- North: China (Tibet), Nepal, and Bhutan.
- East: Myanmar (Burma) and Bangladesh.
- South: Across the sea, Sri Lanka (separated by the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar) and the Maldives.
Strategic Location:
- India’s location at the head of the Indian Ocean gives it a strategic position. It connects Western Asia, Africa, Europe in the west, and Southeast Asia and East Asia in the east.
- India’s central position between the east and the west enhances trade and cultural exchanges.
4. India and the World
- Important Trade Routes:
- India’s coastline helps in establishing strong maritime connections with West Asia, Africa, and Europe from the western coast and Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.
- Cultural and Historical Influence:
- India has historically been a major point of interaction through trade, culture, and religion with other countries.
- India’s rich heritage has influenced regions like Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Far East, especially in areas like art, architecture, and religion (spread of Buddhism, etc.).
5. India’s Subcontinent
- Indian Subcontinent:
- India forms a major part of the Indian subcontinent, which also includes Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka.
- The subcontinent is characterized by geographical diversity, including mountains (Himalayas), plains (Indo-Gangetic Plains), plateaus (Deccan Plateau), deserts (Thar Desert), and coastal plains.
6. Latitudinal and Longitudinal Extent
- Latitudinal Extent:
- The latitudinal spread from 8°4’ N to 37°6’ N has implications on India’s climate, with tropical conditions in the southern part and subtropical to temperate conditions in the northern part.
- Longitudinal Extent:
- The longitudinal extent results in a time difference of about 2 hours between the easternmost and westernmost points of India.
7. Significance of India’s Location
- International Trade:
- India’s central location at the crossroads of the eastern and western parts of the world allows it to play a vital role in international trade.
- Neighbor Relations:
- The country's extensive land borders and sea routes enable strong economic and cultural connections with neighboring countries and regions.
Summary of Key Points:
- India is located in the northern hemisphere, with latitudinal and longitudinal extents of 8°4'N to 37°6'N and 68°7'E to 97°25'E, respectively.
- It is the seventh-largest country in the world, with a land area of 3.28 million square kilometers.
- India’s strategic location between the east and the west enhances its significance for trade and cultural exchanges.
- India shares land boundaries with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and maritime borders with Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
- The Indian subcontinent consists of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, all sharing common geographic features and history.