Class 11 Geography Notes Chapter 1 (India location) – India Physical Environment Book
Alright class, let's begin our study of Chapter 1: India - Location, from your 'India Physical Environment' textbook. This chapter is fundamental not just for your Class 11 understanding but also forms the bedrock for many questions in competitive government exams. Pay close attention.
Chapter 1: India - Location: Detailed Notes
1. Introduction:
- India is a country of vast geographical expanse and diversity.
- Its strategic location in Southern Asia has shaped its history, culture, and economy.
- It is recognized as one of the ancient civilizations but has achieved significant progress in various fields post-independence.
2. Location:
- Hemisphere: India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere latitudinally and the Eastern Hemisphere longitudinally.
- Latitudinal Extent:
- Mainland: Extends between 8°4' N (Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu) and 37°6' N (Indira Col, Ladakh).
- Including Islands: The southernmost point of the Indian Union is Indira Point (formerly Pygmalion Point) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, located at 6°45' N latitude. (Submerged partially during the 2004 Tsunami).
- Longitudinal Extent:
- Extends between 68°7' E (Ghuar Moti in Kutch region, Gujarat) and 97°25' E (Kibithu, Arunachal Pradesh).
- Implications of Latitudinal Extent:
- The large latitudinal extent (approx. 30°) results in significant variation in the duration of day and night between the southern and northern parts of India. The difference is much less near the Equator (Kanyakumari) and increases further north (Ladakh).
- It also influences climate variations across the country.
- Implications of Longitudinal Extent:
- The large longitudinal extent (approx. 30°) causes a time difference of nearly two hours between the easternmost (Arunachal Pradesh) and westernmost (Gujarat) parts of India. (The sun rises about two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than in Gujarat).
- Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N):
- Passes almost halfway through the country, dividing it into roughly two equal parts: the tropical zone (south) and the sub-tropical zone (north).
- It passes through 8 Indian states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, and Mizoram. (Remember this sequence from West to East).
3. Size:
- Area: India's total geographical area is 3.28 million square kilometers.
- World Rank: This makes India the 7th largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil, Australia).
- Percentage of World Area: India accounts for about 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world.
- Land Frontier: India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km.
- Coastline:
- Total length of the coastline of the mainland, including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands, is 7,516.6 km.
- Length of the mainland coastline is approximately 6,100 km.
- Shape: India is broad in the north and tapers southwards from about 22° N latitude, forming a peninsula.
4. India and the World:
- Location: India is located in the south-central part of the continent of Asia.
- Strategic Position: It occupies a strategic position at the head of the Indian Ocean. The trans-Indian Ocean routes connect countries of Europe in the west and countries of East Asia in the east, providing a central location.
- Deccan Peninsula: The Deccan Peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean, helping India establish close contact with West Asia, Africa, and Europe from the western coast, and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.
- Indian Ocean: No other country has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India has, justifying the naming of an ocean after it.
- Land Routes: India's contacts with the world through land routes (via mountain passes in the north) are much older than its maritime contacts. These routes facilitated the exchange of ideas (Upanishads, Ramayana, Panchatantra stories, Indian numerals, decimal system) and commodities since ancient times. Spices, muslin, and other merchandise were taken from India to different countries. Influence of Greek sculpture and architectural styles from West Asia can be seen in India.
- Sea Routes: Opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 reduced the distance between India and Europe by about 7,000 km.
5. India's Neighbours:
- India shares its land boundaries with:
- North-West: Pakistan and Afghanistan
- North: China (Tibet), Nepal, and Bhutan
- East: Myanmar and Bangladesh
- Southern Neighbours (Island Nations):
- Sri Lanka: Separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
- Maldives: Situated to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.
- India has strong geographical and historical links with its neighbours.
6. Standard Meridian of India:
- Longitude: 82°30' E (or 82.5° E) is taken as the Standard Meridian of India.
- Reason: To avoid confusion and have a uniform time across the country due to the vast longitudinal extent (approx. 30° or 2 hours time lag). This meridian passes almost through the middle of India.
- Location: It passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh.
- Indian Standard Time (IST): The local time at this meridian is taken as the standard time for the whole country.
- Relation to GMT: IST is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). (GMT +5:30).
- States it passes through: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh.
Key Concepts Recap:
- Latitude: Angular distance north or south of the Equator.
- Longitude: Angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian.
- Peninsula: A piece of land almost surrounded by water or projecting out into a body of water.
- Strait: A narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water.
- Gulf: A deep inlet of the sea almost surrounded by land, with a narrow mouth.
- Subcontinent: A large, distinguishable part of a continent. India, along with its neighbours (Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh), is often referred to as the Indian subcontinent due to its distinct geography and shared cultural history.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
-
Which of the following represents the southernmost point of the Indian Union?
(a) Kanyakumari
(b) Indira Point
(c) Indira Col
(d) Kibithu -
The Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N) passes through which one of the following groups of Indian states?
(a) Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal
(b) Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Mizoram
(c) Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh
(d) Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tripura -
What is the approximate time difference between the easternmost point in Arunachal Pradesh and the westernmost point in Gujarat?
(a) 1 hour
(b) 2 hours
(c) 30 minutes
(d) 2 hours 30 minutes -
Which longitude is taken as the Standard Meridian of India?
(a) 68°7' E
(b) 97°25' E
(c) 82°30' E
(d) 23°30' N -
India's total area accounts for about what percentage of the total geographical area of the world?
(a) 3.28%
(b) 2.4%
(c) 7.0%
(d) 15.2% -
Which neighbouring country is separated from India by the Palk Strait?
(a) Pakistan
(b) Bangladesh
(c) Myanmar
(d) Sri Lanka -
What is the approximate total length of India's coastline, including the island groups?
(a) 15,200 km
(b) 6,100 km
(c) 7,516.6 km
(d) 3,214 km -
Which of the following mountain passes provided routes to ancient travellers into India?
(a) Nathu La Pass
(b) Shipki La Pass
(c) Khyber Pass
(d) Bom Di La Pass
(Note: While NCERT mentions 'passes across the mountains in the north', Khyber is the most historically significant in this context, though geographically now in Pakistan/Afghanistan border) -
Indian Standard Time (IST) is how many hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)?
(a) 4 hours 30 minutes
(b) 5 hours
(c) 5 hours 30 minutes
(d) 6 hours -
Which one of the following statements is INCORRECT regarding India's location?
(a) India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.
(b) India lies entirely in the Eastern Hemisphere.
(c) The Tropic of Capricorn divides India into almost two equal parts.
(d) India is the 7th largest country in the world by area.
Answer Key for MCQs:
- (b) Indira Point
- (b) Rajasthan, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Mizoram (Also Gujarat, MP, Chhattisgarh, Tripura)
- (b) 2 hours
- (c) 82°30' E
- (b) 2.4%
- (d) Sri Lanka
- (c) 7,516.6 km
- (c) Khyber Pass (Historically most significant for ancient land routes mentioned in context)
- (c) 5 hours 30 minutes
- (c) The Tropic of Capricorn divides India into almost two equal parts. (Incorrect - it's the Tropic of Cancer)
Make sure you revise these points thoroughly. Understanding India's location is crucial before we delve deeper into its physical features. Any questions?