Class 9 Social Science Notes Chapter 1 (India Size and Location) – Contemporary India Book

Right then, let's get straight into Chapter 1: 'India - Size and Location' from your Class 9 Geography textbook, 'Contemporary India - I'. This chapter lays the foundation for understanding India's geography, and many facts from here are frequently tested in government exams. Pay close attention to the details.

India - Size and Location: Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Location:

• Hemisphere: India is located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. Longitudinally, it lies entirely in the Eastern Hemisphere.
• Latitudinal Extent:
  • Mainland India extends between latitudes 8°4' N and 37°6' N.
  • Key Point: This extent is approximately 30 degrees, influencing the duration of day and night as one moves from south to north. The difference is more pronounced at the extremities (Kanyakumari vs. Leh).
• Longitudinal Extent:
  • India extends between longitudes 68°7' E and 97°25' E.
  • Key Point: This extent is also approximately 30 degrees. This vast longitudinal extent causes a time difference of nearly two hours between the westernmost point (Gujarat) and the easternmost point (Arunachal Pradesh). (Since 1 degree longitude = 4 minutes time difference, approx 30 degrees * 4 mins/degree ≈ 120 minutes or 2 hours).
• Tropic of Cancer:
  • The Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N) divides India into almost two equal halves.
  • Exam Alert: It passes through 8 states:
    1. Gujarat
    2. Rajasthan
    3. Madhya Pradesh
    4. Chhattisgarh
    5. Jharkhand
    6. West Bengal
    7. Tripura
    8. Mizoram
       (Remember these states - questions often ask which state it passes through or doesn't pass through).
• Island Groups:
  • Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Located in the Bay of Bengal (southeast of the mainland).
  • Lakshadweep Islands: Located in the Arabian Sea (southwest of the mainland).
• Southernmost Point:
  • Mainland: Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) (8°4' N).
  • Indian Union: Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (approx. 6°45' N).
  • Important Note: Indira Point got submerged under seawater during the 2004 Tsunami.

2. Size:

• Total Area: India's total landmass is approximately 3.28 million square kilometres.
• World Percentage: This accounts for about 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world.
• Rank: India is the 7th largest country in the world by land area.
  • Order: Russia > Canada > USA > China > Brazil > Australia > India. (Knowing the top few can be helpful).
• Land Boundary: India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km.
• Coastline:
  • The total length of the coastline of the mainland, including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands, is 7,516.6 km.
  • The coastline of mainland India is approximately 6,100 km.
• Physical Boundaries:
  • India is bounded by young fold mountains (the Himalayas) in the northwest, north, and northeast.
  • South of about 22° N latitude, India begins to taper and extends towards the Indian Ocean, dividing it into two seas: the Arabian Sea (west) and the Bay of Bengal (east).

3. India and the World:

• Strategic Location: India occupies a central location between East and West Asia. It is a southward extension of the Asian continent.
• Trans-Indian Ocean Routes: These routes connect countries of Europe in the west and countries of East Asia, providing a strategic central location for India.
• 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 as long a coastline on the Indian Ocean as India has, justifying the naming of an ocean after it.
• Historical Connections:
  • India's contacts with the world have continued through ages, though land routes are much older than maritime routes.
  • Various passes across the mountains in the north provided passages for ancient travellers. These routes contributed to the exchange of ideas (Upanishads, Ramayana, Panchatantra stories, Indian numerals, decimal system) and commodities (spices, muslin etc.) since ancient times.
  • Greek sculpture, and architectural styles of domes and minarets from West Asia can be seen in different parts of India due to this interaction.
• Suez Canal: The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 reduced the distance between India and Europe by 7,000 km.

4. Standard Meridian of India:

• Need: To avoid confusion caused by the time difference (approx. 2 hours) due to the wide longitudinal extent, a standard meridian is chosen.
• Longitude: The Standard Meridian of India is 82°30' E.
• Location: It passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh.
• Indian Standard Time (IST): The time along this meridian is taken as the standard time for the whole country. IST is GMT + 5:30 hours.

5. India's Neighbours:

• Land Neighbours: India shares its land boundaries with:
  • North-West: Pakistan, Afghanistan
  • North: China (Tibet), Nepal, Bhutan
  • East: Myanmar, Bangladesh
• Sea Neighbours: Across the sea to the south, consist of two island countries:
  • Sri Lanka: Separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
  • Maldives: Islands situated to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.

Key Facts Summary for Quick Revision:

• Location: Northern & Eastern Hemispheres.
• Lat Extent: 8°4' N - 37°6' N (Mainland)
• Long Extent: 68°7' E - 97°25' E
• Area: 3.28 million sq km (2.4% of world)
• Rank (Area): 7th
• Land Boundary: 15,200 km
• Coastline: 7,516.6 km (Total)
• Tropic of Cancer: 23°30' N (Passes through 8 states)
• Standard Meridian: 82°30' E (Mirzapur, UP)
• Southernmost Point: Indira Point (Indian Union), Kanyakumari (Mainland)
• Neighbours (Land): Pak, Afg, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, B'desh
• Neighbours (Sea): Sri Lanka, Maldives

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. Which latitude divides India into almost two equal halves?
   (a) Equator (0°)
   (b) Tropic of Capricorn (23°30' S)
   (c) Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N)
   (d) Arctic Circle (66°30' N)

2. What is the total area of India's landmass?
   (a) 2.98 million sq km
   (b) 3.28 million sq km
   (c) 3.58 million sq km
   (d) 3.88 million sq km

3. The Standard Meridian of India, 82°30' E, passes through which of the following places?
   (a) Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu
   (b) Walong in Arunachal Pradesh
   (c) Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh
   (d) Guhar Moti in Gujarat

4. What is the southernmost point of the Indian Union?
   (a) Kanyakumari
   (b) Indira Col
   (c) Indira Point
   (d) Port Blair

5. Which of the following countries does NOT share a land boundary with India?
   (a) Bhutan
   (b) Bangladesh
   (c) Tajikistan
   (d) Myanmar

6. India ranks _______ in the world in terms of land area.
   (a) 5th
   (b) 6th
   (c) 7th
   (d) 8th

7. The Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar separate India from which country?
   (a) Maldives
   (b) Sri Lanka
   (c) Indonesia
   (d) Myanmar

8. What is the approximate time lag between the westernmost point (Gujarat) and the easternmost point (Arunachal Pradesh) of India?
   (a) 1 hour
   (b) 2 hours
   (c) 30 minutes
   (d) 2 hours 30 minutes

9. Through which of the following states does the Tropic of Cancer NOT pass?
   (a) Rajasthan
   (b) Chhattisgarh
   (c) Odisha
   (d) Tripura

10. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 reduced the distance between India and Europe by approximately:
    (a) 5,000 km
    (b) 6,000 km
    (c) 7,000 km
    (d) 8,000 km

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. (c) Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N)
2. (b) 3.28 million sq km
3. (c) Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh
4. (c) Indira Point
5. (c) Tajikistan (Shares border with Afghanistan, which shares a small border with India in PoK region, but Tajikistan itself does not directly border India)
6. (c) 7th
7. (b) Sri Lanka
8. (b) 2 hours
9. (c) Odisha
10. (c) 7,000 km

Make sure you revise these points thoroughly. Understanding India's location and size is crucial not just for geography but also for understanding its climate, resources, and strategic importance. Good luck with your preparation!