India: Location and Size

• India is an ancient civilization that has achieved socio-economic progress, especially in agriculture, industry, technology, and economic development.
• India has contributed significantly to world history.

Location

• India is located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.
• The mainland extends between 8°4'N and 37°6'N latitudes.
• The mainland extends between 68°7'E and 97°25'E longitudes.
• The Tropic of Cancer (23° 30'N) divides the country into two parts.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are in the Bay of Bengal.
• The Lakshadweep Islands are in the Arabian Sea.
• Indira Point, the southernmost point of India, got submerged in 2004 during the Tsunami.

Size

• The landmass of India covers 3.28 million square km.
• India's area accounts for 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world.
• India is the seventh largest country in the world.
• India's land boundary is about 15,200 km.
• The total length of the coastline, including Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep, is 7,516.6 km.
• India is bounded by young fold mountains in the northwest, north, and northeast.
• South of 22° north latitude, India tapers and extends towards the Indian Ocean.
• The Arabian Sea lies to India's west.
• The Bay of Bengal lies to India's east.
• The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of mainland India is about 30°.
• The east-west extent appears shorter than the north-south extent.
• There is a two-hour time lag from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh.
• The Standard Meridian of India (82°30'E) passes through Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.
• The Standard Meridian of India (82°30'E) determines the standard time for the country.
• Latitudinal extent influences the duration of day and night from south to north.

India And The World

• The Indian landmass is centrally located between East and West Asia.
• India is a southward extension of the Asian continent.
• Trans Indian Ocean routes connect Europe in the West and East Asia.
• The Deccan Peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean.
• The Deccan Peninsula helps India maintain close contact with West Asia, Africa, and Europe from the western coast.
• The Deccan Peninsula helps India maintain contact with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.
• India has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean, justifying the ocean's name.
• Since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, India's distance from Europe has reduced by 7,000 km.

India's relationship with the world

• India's relationship with the world is old, especially through land routes.
• Mountain passes in the north provided routes for ancient travelers.
• These routes facilitated the exchange of ideas and commodities.
• The Upanishads, Ramayana, Panchtantra, Indian numerals, and the decimal system reached other parts of the world.
• Spices and merchandise were exported from India to different countries.
• Greek sculpture and architectural styles from West Asia influenced India.

India's Neighbours

• India has a strategic position in South Asia.
• It has 28 states and Eight Union Territories.
• India shares land boundaries with Pakistan and Afghanistan to the northwest.
• India shares land boundaries with China (Tibet), Nepal, and Bhutan to the north.
• India shares land boundaries with Myanmar and Bangladesh to the east.
• Sri Lanka and Maldives are the two island countries to the south.
• The Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar separate Sri Lanka from India.
• The Maldives Islands are located to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.