Q 1 – What is the location of India?
Ans.India’s location is in between 8°4′ and 37°6’N latitudes (Mainland) and 68°7’ and 97°25’E longitudes.
Q 2 – Why is there the sun almost overhead all the year-round at Kanyakumari and the southernmost tip of the great Nicobar island?
Ans. Because of their proximity of the equator.
Q 3 – What is the Standard Meridian of India?
Ans. 82°30′ East.
Q 4 – Name the two parts of the Northern portion of the Indian ocean which are divided by the Indian peninsula?
- Ans. Arabian sea,
- The Bay of Bengal.
Q 5– How long is India’s land frontiers?
Ans. 15,200 km.
Q 6 – Name the island groups which are a part and parcel of the Indian Union?
- Ans. The Lakshadweep Island,
- The Andaman and Nicobar Island.
Q 7 – Name the countries which have common boundaries with India?
- Ans. Afghanistan,
- Pakistan,
- Nepal,
- Bhutan,
- Myanmar,
- Bangladesh,
- China.
Q 8 – Who is the closest neighbour of India in the south?
Ans. Sri Lanka (separated from India by the Palk strait).
Q 9 – How large is our country in the world?
Ans. India is the 7th largest country in the world.
Q 10 – What are the main physical divisions of India?
- Ans. The great mountains of the North.
- The great plains of Northern India.
- The great plateau of peninsular India.
Q 11 – Name the highest mountain peak of peninsular India.
Ans. Anaimudi in Kerala.
Q 12 – Name the longest river in the south?
Ans. The Godavari.
Q 13 – What is the total area of India?
Ans. The total area of India is about 32,87,263 sq. km.
Q 14 – Which line of the latitude passes through the centre of India?
Ans. Tropic of Cancer (passes through the centre of India).
Q 15 – What is the length of the coastal line of India?
Ans. 6,100 km.
Q 16 – Which ocean route links India with Europe?
Ans. Suez canal.
Q 17 – What is the speciality of -India?
Ans. Unity in diversity.
Q 18 – Name the southern of most point of the Indian mainland.
Ans. Kanyakumari.
Q 19 – Name the northern of most point of India?
Ans. Indira point.
Q 20 – What are two geographical features which have played a great unifying role in strengthening Indian people?
Ans. The two features are:
- The great mountainous wall of Himalayas on the north,
- The peninsular part of India, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal on the south.
These are the two geographical features acted as a physical barrier and kept Indian culture in a unified nature.
Q 21 – What is the position of India in the world in terms of size, area and population?
Ans. India is the 7th largest country in the world having an area of 32,87,263 PQ. km. It is the second-largest country in population. The population of India is 103,00,00,000 next to China. India has 2% of the total area of the world while the population is 16% of the world.
Q 22 – Why India (subcontinent) show a distinct geography? Give reason in support of your answer.
Ans. The Indian subcontinent has considered a distinct geographical unit. Because it is separated from the rest of the Asia continent by Hindukush in the north-west and in the north by Himalayan ranges. On the southern side, it is isolated by the Indian ocean from the rest of the world.
It has a distinct type of climate which is not found beyond the Himalayas.
It shows unity in diversity which is quite unique.
Q 23 – What do you mean by MacMohan line? What does it signify?
Ans. The MacMohan line is a dividing line between India and China realms. Between India and China, the crest of Himalayas stand. It separates China and India. This crest of high Himalayas is known as the MacMohan line. It is to the East of Bhutan.
Q 24 – There is a difference of two hours in local time between the easternmost part and the westernmost part. Give reason.
Ans. The difference in local time between the easternmost part and the westernmost part is for two hours. Because there is a longitudinal distance of 30° longitudes. This distance makes a difference of 2 hours. Hence, when it is 6 a.m. in Arunachal Pradesh (eastern part) the local time at Saurashtra (western part) is supposed to be behind 2 hours as compared to Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, it is correct that when the sun has already risen in Arunachal Pradesh, it is still night in Saurashtra.
Q 25 – What is the importance of India in the eastern world? Describe in short.
Ans. India has great importance in the eastern world. It lies between West Asia and East Asia, The trans-oceanic routes connecting Africa, Europe, West Asia and South-east Asian countries pass through India. The sea plays an important role in India’s relations with the external world. The Indian and Chinese cultures meet in south-east Asia and their local culture reflected in terms like Indo-China
Q 26 – Which countries share their international boundaries with India?
Ans. The long international boundary of India is shared in the East by Bangladesh (4,096 km), on the north by China (3,917 km), Afghanistan (80 km) and on the north-west by Pakistan (3,310 km). It also has borders with Nepal (1,752 km), Myanmar (1,458 km) and with Bhutan (587 km) India has a land frontier of about 15,200 km. and coastline of 6,100 km.
Q 27 – Write a short note on the peninsular river system in India.
Ans. The peninsular river system is divided into two:
(a) Rivers flowing into the Arabian sea.
(b) Rivers flowing in the Bay of Bengal
Rivers flowing into the Arabian sea are Narmada and Tapi.’ They originate from Deccan plateau and flow westwards into the Arabian sea. These rivers form estuaries and not delta.
Rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. These rivers form deltas. Most of these peninsular rivers flow rapidly and they are ideal for generating hydel power.
Q 28 – Distinguish between Latitudes and Longitudes.
Ans.
| Latitudes | Longitudes |
| 1. The imaginary lines running east-west are known as parallels of latitudes. | 1. The vertical lines running north-south joining two poles are called meridians of longitude. |
| 2. These are circular and make a complete circle. | 2. They are halves of the great circle. |
| 3. They run parallel to each other. | 3. They all meet at the poles. |
| 4. All are similar in size. | 4. All are not similar in size. |
Q 29 What is the difference between local time and standard time?
Ans. Local time of a place is the time of its meridian. All places on a meridian have same local time. Each place has its own local time. The place in the east is ahead of the west in time
Standard time is the time of central meridian of an area. All places have a uniform time. It has no relation with the moon or height of the sun. There is no change in time. So it is known as standard time
Q 30 – What is meant by local time?
Ans. The local time of a place is the time of its meridian. The old method of determining the time was to adjust the clock at noon when the sun would cross the local meridian and shadows would be at their shortest. Time calculated by the position of the sun at noon at a given place is called local time.
Q 31 – What do you mean by standard time?
Ans. It is the standard time of central meridian of an area. To maintain the uniformity of time as far as possible, within the territorial limits of a country, the time at central meridian of the country is taken as the standard meridian and its local time is taken as the standard time for the whole country. The standard meridian is selected in such a manner that it is divisible by 15° or by 7°30′. The difference between its standard time and Greenwich mean time may be expressed as multiples of an hour
Q 32 – What is a subcontinent? India is a subcontinent. Prove it.
Ans. India has a well-knit independent geographical unit. A subcontinent is a vast independent geographical unit. India is separated from the main continent. It is a vast country that produces diversity in economic, social and cultural conditions.
It is a land of towering mountains, beautiful valleys, magnificent culture and birthplace of numerous religious faiths. Geographically it stretches from the Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south, but in terms of its cultural, economic, political influences, it has an emphatic presence in the south and southeast Asia and at the international level. India is the only land with a vast diverse geographic culture which is woven by the strong bond of nationhood and belongingness. India is described as a subcontinent. Other countries that are included are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives. Many factors which prove that India is a subcontinent are:
- Natural frontiers of India.
- India is surrounded by the major realness of Asia on all sides. The% great mountain wall gives it an independent shape.
- India is the 7th largest country in the world in area.
- India is a land of rivers but it has cultural unity behind this diversity.
- Monsoon climate determines the life of people and the economic development of the country. It givei^a a distinct character of the subcontinent to this landmass.
Q 33 – Explain the term unity in diversity.
Ans. In India, many diversities are found but India exhibits a high degree of unity in diversity. The factors which are responsible for this unique feature of the Indian polity are much large geographical spread of the subcontinent provides fertile grounds for germination and blossoming of regional diversities in the social setup. Differentiation in the physical landscape has contributed to the emergence of different ways and pattern of human interaction with nature. People led to the concentration of diverse elements in different regions.
- The factors which are responsible for the unity of social character in the country are: Monsoonal season.
- The horizontal spread of cultural and socio-economic attributes from different parts of the country.
The strong bond generated by nationhood and belongingness. The development of regional linkages and emergence of a regional home market during the British rule in India.
Q 34 – How the central position of India is beneficial to us? Explain it.
Ans. Geographically India occupies a central position in the Asia continent.
This position is beneficial to us in many ways:
- India is located on the Eastern hemisphere, Europe and Eastern part of America are at equal distance from India.
- The tropic of cancer passes through the centre of India. So that India is a tropical country.
- India has a long coastline which provides many deep and natural harbours.
- Indian ocean provides a favourable route for international trade.
- The natural boundaries are favourably located from a different point of view.
- Indian ocean is the origin of monsoons.
- The chain of towering Himalayas acts as a climatic barrier. It protects northern India from polar cold winds and forces the monsoon to give rainfall.
Q 35 – What are the three major physical divisions of India? Describe one of them in detail:
(i) The great mountain of north
Ans. The great mountains of the north: This physical part lie between the great mountains of the north and the peninsular plateau. It has been built by the deposition of the sediments brought by the rivers. It is alluvial and extremely level. It extends from east to west, about 2,500 km! in length.
(ii) The great plains.
The plains consist of the two river basins – Indus and the Ganga- Brahmaputra basins. The Indus and its tributaries The Jhelum, The Chenab, The Ravi, The Beas and the Sutlej flow into The Arabian sea through Pakistan.
(iii) The great plateau Of peninsular India.
The Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries flow into the Bay of Bengal. Indus and Brahmaputra originated beyond the Himalayas.
The entire plain region is very fertile and the major occupation of the people is agriculture. A large number of industries come up in the region. This region has a dense network of transport. This region is densely populated.
Q 36 – Describe the changing pattern of human activities in India.
Ans. The human activities in India have developed in stages. Because many racial stocks came to India at different periods of history and they influence the human activities in India. They had developed various human activities from food gathering to the modem industries. This oldness and continuity of changing human activities of cultural and civilisation areas:
(a) The Negritos represented the food gatherer of the stone age. They had led their life completely on nature. They are still surviving in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
(b) The Dravidian presented the farmer. They came from the Mediterranean lands. They started agriculture and led a settled life. They tilled their land with ordinary instruments and produced various crops. They loved their motherland.
(c) The Aryans represented the artisans and handcraftsman. They started cottage industries. They were more civilised people and knew the art of iron smelting. They made canals from the rivers. They developed cities on the lands of Ganga and Yamuna. They prepared the multicoloured cloth from the silk-threads.
Q 37 – Does India need to have more than one standard time? If yes, why do you think so?
Ans. Yes, as per my thinking India need to have more than one standard time because there is a time gap of about 2 hours between the easternmost parts to westernmost parts of the country. The longitudinal extent of India is large i.e., 30° approximately. Therefore, we need to more than one time zones. There are some countries where there is more than one standard meridian due to their vast east-to-west extent. For example, the USA has seven time zones.
Q 38 – What are the implications of India having a long coastline?
Ans. Peninsular part of India extends towards the Indian Ocean. This has provided the country with a coastline of 6,100 km in the mainland and 7,517 km in the entire geographical coast of the mainland plus the island groups Andaman and Nicobar and the Lakshadweep. This helps India in establishing close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the western coast and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast. However, it also forces India to have regular monitoring of coastline for the protection from external forces.
Q 39 – How is the latitudinal spread of India advantageous to her?
Ans. The latitudinal spread of India advantageous to her in many ways:
• The southern part of the country lies within the tropics and the northern part lies in the sub[1]tropical zone or the warm temperate zone.
• This is responsible for large variations in land forms, climate, soil types and natural vegetation in the country
Q 40 – While the sun rises earlier in the east, say Nagaland and also sets earlier, how do the watches at Kohima and New Delhi show the same time?
Ans. India follows one standard time for the whole country. 82°30′ E has been selected as the ‘standard meridian’ of India. Indian Standard Time is ahead of Greenwich Mean Time by 5 hours and 30 minutes. Therefore, while in Nagaland sun rises earlier and also sets earlier, but the watches at Kohima and New Delhi show the same time.
Q 41 –Which rivers size beyond the Himalayas?
- Ans. The Indus,
- The Brahmaputra.