CBSE Class 9 Social Science India Size Location Assignment

Location

• India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.
• India’s mainland extends between 8°4 'N and 37°8 'N latitudes, and 68°7 'E and97°25 'E longitudes.
• The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) divides India into two almost equal parts.

Size

• Covering an area of 3.28 million square kilometres, India’s total area is 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world.
• India is the world’s seventh largest country with a land boundary of about 15,200 km, with total length of the coastline being 7,516.6 km.
• India’s east-west extent appears to be smaller than the north-south extent.

India and the World

• The Indian landmass is centrally located between West and East Asia.
• India’s protruding Deccan Peninsula helped India to establish close contacts with West Asia, Africa and Europe, South-east and East Asia.
• India’s contacts with the world via land routes are much more than her maritime contacts.
• India has contributed a lot to the world in forms of ideas, philosophies (Upanishads, Ramayana, Panchtantra) and mathematics (Indian numerals and decimal system).
• In exchange, India’s architecture was influenced by Greek sculpture and architectural styles from West Asia.

India’s Neighbours

• India has an important position in South Asia and has 28 States and 7 Union Territories.
• India shares its boundaries with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bangladesh,Myanmar and Bhutan.
• The southern neighbours across the sea consist of the two island countries, namely Maldives and Sri Lanka.
• India stands apart from the rest of Asia.

Question : Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

Question : Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) Name the group of islands lying in the Arabian Sea.
Lakshadweep Islands lie in the Arabian Sea

(ii) Name the countries which are larger than India.
Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil and Australia are the countries that are larger than India.

(iii) Which island group of India lies to its south-east?
Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie to the south-east of India.

(iv) Which island countries are our southern neighbours?
Sri Lanka and Maldives are the two island countries that are the southern neighbours of India.

Question : The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujaratin the west but the watches show the same time. How does this happen?
Answer :The local times of places which lie on different meridians are bound to differ. The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat in the west. This causes a time lag of two hours from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh. To avoid confusion due to time differences and to have a standard time for reference, the time along the meridian (82° 30' E) passing through Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh) has been taken as the standard time for the entire country. This is why the watches show the same time.

Question : The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why?
Answer :The Indian landmass is centrally located between east and west Asia. The part that is attached to the Asian continent connects India (through land routes and mountain passes) to the various countries lying to its north, west and east. The part that protrudes into the Indian Ocean connects India (through the trans Indian Ocean routes) to Europe, west Asia and Africa in the west and the countries of east Asia. The strategic location of India has contributed to the exchange of ideas and commodities, through land and sea, since ancient times. This is the reason why its location at the head of the Indian Ocean is significant. 

Question. Indian Standard Time or I.S.T. is how many hours ahead or behind of G.M.T. or Universal Time?
(a) 5 hrs 30 min behind GM.T.
(b) 15 hrs ahead of G.M.T.
(c) 5 hrs 30 min ahead of GM.T.
(d) None of the above
Answer. (c)

Question. Which of the following has reduced India’s distance from Europe by 7000 km?
(a) Suez Canal
(b) Panama Canal
(c) Indira Gandhi Canal
(d) Buckingham Canal
Answer. (a)

Question. Which of the following influences the duration of the day and night, as one moves from south to north?
(a) Longitudinal extent
(b) Latitudinal extent
(c) Standard Meridian
(d) All the above
Answer. (b)

Question. The Standard Meridian of India, 82°30’E passes through which of the following places?
(a) Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu
(b) Walong in Arunachal Pradesh
(c) Kachchh in Gujarat
(d) Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh
Answer. (d)

Question. Which geographical feature bounds India’s mainland south of 22°N latitude?
(a) Young Fold Mountains
(b) Sandy Desert
(c) Lava Plateaus
(d) Seas and Ocean
Answer. (d)

Question. By which geographical feature is India bounded in the north-west, north and north-east?
(a) Seas
(b) Lave Plateaus
(c) Young Fold Mountains
(d) Sandy Desert
Answer. (c)

Question. What is India’s size with respect to other countries of the world?
(a) First
(b) Third
(c) Fourth
(d) Seventh
Answer. (d)

Question. Which of the following figures shows the total area of India’s landmass?
(a) 2.4 million square km
(b) 3.28 million square km
(c) 32.8 million square km
(d) 3.28 million km
Answer. (b)

Question. Which of the following groups of islands belonging to the Indian territory lies in the Arabian Sea?
(a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(b) Sri Lanka
(c) Lakshdweep
(d) Maldives

SHORT ANSWERS :-

Question. Discuss the location of India.
Answer. India is a vast country. Lying entirely in the Northern hemisphere the main 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 the country into almost two equal parts.

Question. What is the extent of coastline of mainland of India?
Answer. The total length of the coast line of the mainland including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep is 7,516.6 km.

Question. What is the area of India?
Answer. The land mass of India has an area of 3.28 million square km. India’s total area accounts for about 2.4 per cent of the total geographical area of the world. India is the seventh largest country of the world. India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km.

Question. Which mountain bounds India in northwest?
Answer. India is bounded by the young fold mountains in the northwest, north and north east. South of about 22° north latitude, it begins to taper, and extends towards the Indian Ocean, dividing it into two seas, the

Question. Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay of Bengal on its east.What is the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland?
Answer. The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland is about 30°. Despite this fact the east-west extent appears to be smaller than the north-south extent.

Question. Why is time along the Standard Meridian of India passing through Mirzapur taken as the standard time?
Answer. From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh there is a time lag of two hours. Hence, time along the Standard Meridian of India (82°30′E) passing through Mirzapur (in Uttar Pradesh) is taken as the standard time for the whole country.

Question. How is India connected to the world through the sea routes?
Answer. The Trans Indian Ocean routes which connect the countries of Europe in the West and the countries of East Asia provide a strategic central location to India. Note that the Deccan Peninsula protrudes into the Indian 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 the eastern coast.

Question. How has the opening of the Suez Canal helped in reducing India’s distance from Europe?
Answer. Since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, India’s distance from Europe has been reduced by 7,000 km.

Q9How has land routes contributed in the exchange of ideas and commodities since ancient times?
Answer. The land routes have contributed in the exchange of ideas and commodities since ancient times. The ideas of the Upanishads and the Ramayana, the stories of Panchtantra, the Indian numerals and the decimal system thus could reach many parts of the world. The spices, muslin and other merchandise were taken from India to different countries. On the other hand, the influence of Greek sculpture, and the architectural styles of dome and minarets from West Asia can be seen in different parts of India.

Question. What is the number of states in India?
Answer. India has 28 states and 7 Union Territories.

Question. Which countries share land border with India?
Answer. India shares its land boundaries with Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest, China (Tibet), Nepal and Bhutan in the north and Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east.

Question. Which two island countries are southern neighbours of India?
Answer. India’s southern neighbours across the sea consist of the two island countries, namely Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Question. How is Sri Lanka separated from India?
Answer. Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.

More Question..

Question. Give the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of India.
OR Mention the Latitudinal Extent of India? Mention its significance. 
Answer. Latitudinal extent: 8°4’N and 37°6’N. Longitudinal extent: 68°7’E and 97°25’E.
a) Latitudinal and longitudinal extent of India
b) What is a Sub-continent? Give an example of a Sub-continent. Name the countries of this Sub-continent. 
c) How many states and Union Territories does India have? Name the largest and smallest state of India in terms of area. 

Question. a) Name the southern most point of the Indian Union and state why it is submerged?
Answer. Indira Point.

Question. It is submerged under the sea water since 2004 due to the Tsunami
b) Name the southern most tip of the main land of India.
Answer. Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, 8°4’N. 

Question. Give the total length of the land boundary and the coastal line of India.
Answer.
1.The Land boundary—15,200 km.
2. The Coast line- 7,516.6 km.

Question. Why the time along the Standard Meridian of India passing through Mirzapur is taken as the standard time for the whole country?
Or Why is 82˚30‟E selected as the Standard Meridian of India?
Answer.
1. According to an International convention, the Standard Meridian of a country is selected in multiples of 7½˚ or 15 ˚.
2. 82˚30’E is a multiple of 7½˚. Hence it is internationally accepted.
3. Since there is a time lag of two hours between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh and 82˚30’E passes through Mirzapur, in Uttar Pradesh, which is a prominent place. It gives common time for the whole country.

Question. Give the Diagram. (to be drawn on the board)

Question. Name the countries which are larger than India.
Answer. Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil and Australia.

Question. Which Island countries are our southern neighbours?
Answer. 1. Maldives 2. SriLanka.

Question. Name the Straits that separate Sri Lanka from India.
Answer. The Palk Strait and The Gulf of Mannar.

Question. Name the states that share common frontiers with Nepal.
Answer. Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim.

Question. "The Central location of India at the head of the Indian ocean is considered of great significance‟ Why? 
Answer.
1. The Indian landmass has a central location between the East and West Asia.
2. The Trans Indian Ocean routes, which connect the countries of Europe in the west and the countries of East Asia, provide a strategic central location to India.
3. The Deccan Peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean, thus helping India to establish close contact with the West Asia, Africa, and Europe from the western coast and with southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.

Question. Give a brief account of India‟s contacts with the outside world in ancient and medieval times. OR Describe India‟s contact with the world through ages. 
Answer.
1. These contacts have contributed in the exchange of ideas and commodities since ancient times.
2. The ideas of the Upanishads and the Ramayana, the stories of Panchatantra thus could reach many parts of the world
3. The spices, muslin and other merchandise were taken from India to different countries.
4. On the other hand, the influence of Greek sculpture and the architectural styles of dome and minarets from West Asia can be seen in different parts of our country.

Question. Name the States in all the four extreme directions.
OR Which is the western most state of India? 
Answer. Jammu and Kashmir (North), Tamil Nadu(South) Gujarat(West) Arunachal Pradesh (East)

Question.What is the total area of India? What percentage does it constitute of the world‟s total area?
Answer. 1. Total area—3.28 million sq. km. 2. It has only 2.42% of the world’s total land area.

Question. How was the land route favourable to India in the past?
Answer.
1. India’s contacts with the world had continued for ages, but her relationships through the land routes are much older than her maritime contacts.
2. The various passes across the mountains in the north have provided passage to the orient travellers while the oceans restricted such interactions for a long time.

Question. Why the difference between the duration of day and night is felt more in Kashmir than in Kanyakumari?
Answer.
1. Kanyakumari: It receives vertical rays of the sun which give more heat. It is situated near the equator (0˚) therefore the difference between day and night is of 45 minutes.
2. Jammu and Kashmir: It is located far away from the equator. It receives oblique rays. Therefore there is some difference between the duration of day and night (5 hours).

Question. “The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than Gujarat, but the watches show the same time”. How does this happen?
OR What is the time lag between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat? How is a uniform time set at all places? 
OR “While it is still dark in Gujarat, the sun has already risen in Arunachal Pradesh.” Justify the Statement. 
Answer.
a) This is because of the vastness of the country.
b) The difference in degrees of Arunachal Pradesh (97°25’E) and Gujarat is 30˚ (approximate) 68°7’E.
c) As the earth rotates from West to East and India being situated in the east, sun rises two hours early in Arunachal Pradesh.
d) We have a standard time for the whole country which is taken from the Standard Meridian (82˚30’E) passing through Mirzapur. Hence, the watches show the same time in the country. 

Question. The latitudinal and the longitudinal extent of the country is almost the same in degrees,i.e., 30˚, but in kilometres the North-South extent is more than the East –west extent.Why?
Degrees      0˚    10˚     20˚     30˚     40˚    50˚    60˚    70˚    80˚   90˚
of
Latitude
Distance   111   109.6   104.6   96.4   85.4   71.7   55.8   38.2   19.4   0
in Kms
Answer.
1. The distance between any two consecutive latitudes is 111 km approximately, as we move away from the equator towards the poles.
2. But the distance between two consecutive longitudes decreases as we move away from the equator to the poles. Reason- longitudes are drawn from North pole to the South Pole.
3. The distance between the East –West extent is (3000 km approximately) is lesser than the North-South extent in km (3200km approximately).
4. Diagram: (To be given in the class)

Question. Explain why Ahmedabad and Kolkota are able to see the noon sun exactly overhead twice a year, but not Delhi.
Answer.
1. The Northern most limit for the apparent migration of the sun is 23˚30’N (Tropic of Cancer).
2. Ahmedabad and Kolkota are located within the tropics. They experience overhead sun once between the Equator and Tropic of Cancer and for the second time between the Tropic of Cancer and the equator.
3. Delhi is located beyond the Tropic of Cancer. It never experiences the overhead sun.
4. Diagram: (to be given in the class)