India: Shape and Size

Important Term:
1. Equator: An Imaginary line that goes round the globe and
divides it into the northern and southern hemisphere.
2. Globe: A globe is a small model of the earth.
3. Map: A map is a drawing of the earth’s surface on a flat
surface.
4. Prime Meridian: The longitude running through Greenwich
near London is marked as 0 degree, it is called the prime
meridian.
5. Latitude: An imaginary lines that run parallel to the equator in
the east-west direction. It is also called parallels.
6. Longitude: an imaginary lines that run vertically from the
north pole to the south pole. It is also called meridians.
7. Indian Union: Indian Union referes to the federations of India
comprising 28 states and 7 union territories.
8. Indian Mainland: Indian mainland refers to the continuous
stretch of landmass from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari
and from Gujrat to Arunachal Pradesh.
9. Local Time: The time of a place determined by the position of
sun at noon.
10. Standard Time: When the local time of a meridian or
longitude is taken as a time for the whole country, it is called the
standard time of that country.
11. Indian Standard Time: The standard time of India is also
known as Indian standard time(IST) . It is the local time of 82
degree 30’ E taken for the whole country as standard time. It is
5hour 30 minute ahead of GMT.
12. Subcontinent: A subcontinent is a part of the country
separated from the rest of the continent by natural features like
mountain rivers and having specific climate conditions and
distict cultural identity.
13. Oriental World: the countries included in south-east, south
and east Asia are known as oriental world.
14. Maritime: when people started using sea routes.
15. Tropic of Cancer: Tropic of cancer is the imaginary parallel
of latitudes which is supposed to be drawn parallel to equator, 23
degree and 30’ N it passes through middle of our country.
Important Points:
1. Equator is the largest degree on globe.
2. Prime meridian divides the earth in eastern and western
hemisphere.
3. Equator divides the earth in northern and southern
hemisphere.
4. 1 degree= 111km
1degree = 4’ (symbol of min)
5. Longitude= 180 degree+180 degree= 360 degree
6. latitude= 90degree+90degree= 180 degree
7. Latidnal extend of India is 8degree 4’ N and 37degree 6’ N
8. Longitudnal extent of India is 68 degree 7’ E and 97degree
25’ E
9. 0 degree prime meridian is the international time line.
1 degree= 4’
15 degree= 60’(1time zone)
10. Political boundary of India:
North- China, Afganistan
South- Sri Lanka
East- Bangladesh, Myanmar
West- Pakistan
Natural Boundry:
North- Himalaya
South- Indian Ocean
East- Bay of Bengal
West- Arabian Sea
11. Tropic of Cancer Passes through 8 states:-
Mizoram
Madhya Pradesh
Jharkhand
Rajsthan
Gujarat
West Bengal
Tripura
Chattisgarh
Extra Questions:
1. What are the factors to know about size and location of a
country?
Ans. Latitude, Longitude, equator, direction, and scale
2. Explain the function of latitude and longitude?
Ans.i. Both help us to know about size and location.
ii. Latitude help us to know about the duration of day and night.
iii. Longitude help us to know time, day, date.
3. why India need standard meridian?
Ans. India is situated from west to east in about 30 longitudes. It
takes 4 min to cross a longitude. 360 longitude ÷ 24 hours = 15
longitudes in 1 hour ( 60 min)
Hence, 1 longitude= 60/15= 4min
India is situated between 68 degree to 97 degree E(approx).
Hence, there is two hours difference ( 4×29= 116 min) in the
timings of westmost extremily and easternmost extremely of
India. If there is no standard meridian (longitude) in India, we
have to advance our watch by 4 min in each longitude, if we
travel from west to east. In order to avoid the problem we have
chosen 82degree 30’ E as standard meridian and its local time is
taken as standard thoughout the country.
4. Why 82degree 30’ is the meridian of India?
Ans. Reason for selectcting this meridian as standard meridian of
India:
i. 82degree 30’ E is almost the middle meridian of longitude of
India.
ii. Its time is considerd the standard throughout India, even on
the easternmost tip of Arunachal Pradesh and western tip of
Gujarat where there is 2 hour difference between their local
times.
5. What is Trans Ocean sea routes?
Ans. The ocean route which connects two or more ocean is
called Trans oceans route.
6. If latitudinal and longitudinal extent is equal in degree then,
why difference in Km?
Ans. the latitudinal and longitudinal extends of Indai are same
but there is a difference in the length of Km because longitudes
taper at poles and are not like latitudes, hence the distance
reduces between them as one moves towards poles.
7. What are the benefits of central location of india in the world?
Ans. i. Trans Indian ocean routes, connects the countries of
Europe in the west and the countries of east Asia, provides a
strategic central location to India.
ii. The Deccan Peninsula protrudes into India ocean, thus helping
India to establish close contact with west Asia, Africa and
Europe from the western coast and with southeast and east Asia
from Eastern coast.
8. Why is the name of India is given after Indian ocean?
Ans. Indian ocean is named after inida because no other country
has long coastline on the Indian ocean as India has and indeed, it
is India’s eminent position in the Indian Ocean, which justifies
the naming of an ocean after it.
9. What is Palk Strait?
Ans. A narrow channel of sea which separates India and Sri
Lanka.
10. Write a short on silk route?
Ans. the silk route was a series of ancient trade networks that
connect china and the far east with countries in Europe and the
middle east. The route included a group of trading posts and
markets that were used to help in the storage, transport, and
exchange of goods. It was also known as silk road.
11. Draw map of India and show extent and standard meridian.
Ans. for ans draw map of page 9
Exercise Questions
Do yourself