Size and Location
* India spreads across the Eastern and Northern Hemisphere.
* India’s latitudinal stretch is from 8.4° E to 37.6° E.
* India’s longitudinal stretch is from 68.7° E to 97.25° E.
* The Tropic of Cancer at 23.30° N divides it almost into two equal halves.
* India has the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to its southeast and the Lakshadweep Islands to its southwest.
* The total area of the Indian land mass is 3.28 million square kilometres.
* India is the seventh largest country in the world.
India is bordered by:
* Young Fold Mountains
* The Bay of Bengal
* The Arabian Sea
* The Indian Ocean
* India’s coastline measures 7,516.6 kilometres.
* India’s east-west stretch and north south stretch each measure approximately the same.
* There is a lag of two hours between the local times of India’s eastern and western tips.
* Longitude 82.30° E, passing through Mirzapur, is the Standard Meridian of India.
India and the World – Conservation of Energy
* India’s location in south Asia is significant
* The Indian Ocean connects India to European and African countries in the west, and Asian countries in the east.
* India’s long coastline contributes to its contacts with the world through the sea route.
* Ancient travellers and traders used land routes, such as passes in mountains, to travel in and out of India.
These trade routes enabled:
* India to share ideas and commodities with the world.
* The world to influence India in its architectural styles.
* The Silk Road was an extensive network of trade routes connecting the east, west and south of Asia to the Mediterranean world.
India and its Neighbours
* Before independence, India had two types of states: provinces and princely states.
* India now has 28 states and 7 union territories.
India’s neighbours in each direction are:
* North-west: Pakistan and Afghanistan
* North: China, Nepal and Bhutan
* East: Myanmar and Bangladesh
* South: Sri Lanka and the Maldives
* Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait.