Geographical Location

  1. Hemisphere: India is entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.
  2. Latitude and Longitude:
    • Latitude: 8°4’N to 37°6’N.
    • Longitude: 68°7’E to 97°25’E.
  3. Southernmost Point: Indira Point (in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands) got submerged during the 2004 Tsunami.
  4. Extent:
    • North-South extent: Greater than East-West extent.
    • Latitudinal and longitudinal spans both measure about 30°.

Size of India

  1. Land Area:
    • Seventh-largest country globally.
    • Total land boundary: 15,200 km.
    • Coastline: 7,516.6 km, including Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep Islands.
  2. Mountain Borders:
    • Northwest, North, and Northeast regions are bounded by young fold mountains (like the Himalayas).
  3. Ocean Borders:
    • South of 22°N latitude, India tapers into the Indian Ocean.
    • Divides into:
      • Arabian Sea (west).
      • Bay of Bengal (east).

Standard Meridian and Time Zones

  1. Standard Meridian: 82°30’E (passing through Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh) is used to maintain uniform Indian Standard Time (IST).
  2. Time Lag: From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, there is a time lag of 2 hours.
  3. Day and Night Variation:
    • Minimal difference in duration of day and night near Kanniyakumari.
    • Significant variation as one moves north, e.g., Kashmir.

India and the World

Strategic Location

  1. Central Position in Asia: India serves as a link between East and West Asia.
  2. Indian Ocean Advantage:
    • The Deccan Peninsula extends into the Indian Ocean, fostering trade routes.
    • Enables close contact with:
      • West Asia, Africa, and Europe (via the western coast).
      • Southeast Asia and East Asia (via the eastern coast).
  3. Suez Canal: Opened in 1869, it reduced India’s distance to Europe by 7,000 km.

Historical Connectivity

  1. Land Routes:
    • Older than maritime routes.
    • Various mountain passes in the north (like Khyber Pass) facilitated trade and cultural exchange.
  2. Cultural Exchange:
    • India’s Upanishads, Ramayana, Panchatantra, numerals, and decimal system spread worldwide.
    • Influences on India: Greek sculpture, domes, and minarets from West Asia.

India’s Neighbours

Bordering Countries

  1. Land Neighbours:
    • Northwest: Pakistan, Afghanistan.
    • North: China (Tibet), Nepal, Bhutan.
    • East: Myanmar, Bangladesh.
  2. Island Neighbours:
    • Sri Lanka: Separated by Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar.
    • Maldives: South of Lakshadweep Islands.

States and Union Territories

  1. Total: 28 States and 8 Union Territories.
  2. Largest and Smallest States:
    • Largest (Area-wise): Rajasthan.
    • Smallest (Area-wise): Goa.
  3. Border and Coastal Classification:
    • States with International Borders: Punjab, Rajasthan, etc.
    • Coastal States: Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, etc.
    • Landlocked States: Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, etc.

Historical Context

  1. Pre-1947 India:
    • Divided into Provinces (direct British rule) and Princely States (ruled by local monarchs under British sovereignty).

Key Concepts and Competitive Insights

Geographical Insights

  • The latitudinal extent influences climate, agriculture, and duration of day and night.
  • The Indian Ocean provides India with a strategic edge in trade, defense, and international relations.

Cultural and Historical Linkages

  • India’s ancient trade and ideas enriched the world (e.g., numerals, spices).
  • Cultural assimilation brought architectural styles like domes (e.g., Mughal architecture).

Key Questions for Practice

  1. Why was 82°30’E chosen as India’s Standard Meridian?
    • It divides the country roughly equally and avoids extremes.
  2. Why is there minimal variation in day-night duration in Kanniyakumari?
    • Its proximity to the equator results in almost equal day and night lengths year-round.
  3. What makes India’s location strategically important?
    • Centrality in Asia, trade routes via the Indian Ocean, and proximity to major global economies.

THESE ALL ARE THE NOTES OF CHAPTER 1 GEOGRAPHY. AND AFTER SOME TIME YOU GET IMPORTANT QUESTIONS HERE. *#THANKS FOR VISITING, VISIT AGAIN#* 😊