Important Questions (1 mark): Size And Location for Class 9 SST - Free

The eastern-most longitude of India is 97°25′E. This longitude marks the point known as Kibithu in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, making it the easternmost extent of India's mainland.

The Palk Strait is the narrow channel of sea that separates Sri Lanka from India. This significant water body has played a crucial role in defining the geographical boundaries between the two nations, facilitating trade and cultural exchanges over the centuries.

The Suez Canal has reduced India's distance from Europe by 7000 km by providing a shorter maritime route, allowing ships to bypass the lengthy journey around the southern tip of Africa.

All four statements about India's geographical and historical attributes are correct:

1. (i) India is located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere → Correct

   • India's latitudinal extent is 8°4′N to 37°6′N, meaning it lies completely in the Northern Hemisphere.

2. (ii) The Tropic of Cancer divides the country into almost two equal parts → Correct

   • The Tropic of Cancer (23°30′N) passes through 8 Indian states, dividing the country nearly into two halves.

3. (iii) The southernmost point of the Indian Union is known as Indira Point → Correct

   • Indira Point, located in the Nicobar Islands, is the southernmost point of India.

4. (iv) India's land mass covers an area of 3.28 million square km → Correct

   • India's total land area is 3.28 million square kilometers, making it the 7th largest country in the world.

• Option A: Standard Meridian of India - 82°30'E: This is correctly matched. The Standard Meridian of India is indeed 82°30'E, which passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh and is used to set the standard time for the entire country.
• Option B: Eastern Coast of India - Arabian Sea: This is incorrectly matched. The eastern coast of India is bounded by the Bay of Bengal, not the Arabian Sea. The Arabian Sea is on the western coast of India.
• Option C: Kanniyakumari - Time Lag of Two Hours: This is incorrectly matched. The time lag of two hours is observed between Gujarat in the west and Arunachal Pradesh in the east due to their longitudinal difference. Kanniyakumari, located at the southern tip of India, does not experience this specific time lag.
• Option D: Deccan Peninsula - Northern Hemisphere: This is incorrect in the context provided. While the Deccan Peninsula is indeed in the Northern Hemisphere, the more relevant description is its protrusion into the Indian Ocean, which helps India establish contact with various regions.

Although India's mainland has approximately equal latitudinal and longitudinal extents of about 30° each, on a map, India appears to have a smaller east-west extent compared to its north-south extent. This is because of the distortion caused by the projection method used to represent the curved surface of the Earth on a flat map, which exaggerates the north-south extent and compresses the east-west extent towards the poles.

The Tropic of Cancer passes through Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Tripura, but it does not pass through Odisha (formerly spelt as Orissa). This imaginary line of latitude marks the northernmost point where the sun appears directly overhead at least once during the year.

• Option A: Maldives - South of Lakshadweep Islands
  Correct. The Maldives are located to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands.

• Option B: India - Shares border with Thailand
  Incorrect. India does not share a border with Thailand. The countries that share a border with India are Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.

• Option C: India - Shares border with Myanmar
  Correct. India shares a border with Myanmar.

• Option D: Sri Lanka - Separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar
  Correct. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.

Therefore, Option B is the correctly identified incorrectly matched pair.

The group of islands belonging to the Indian territory that lies in the Arabian Sea is Lakshadweep. These islands are situated in the Arabian Sea, to the west of the Indian mainland, and are part of the Union Territory of India.

• Option A: Tropic of Cancer - 23° 30'N
  This option is correctly matched because the Tropic of Cancer does indeed pass through India at 23° 30'N latitude.
• Option B: Arunachal Pradesh (Incorrect): The westernmost point of India is actually located in the Gujarat state, near the Guhar Moti in the Kutch region, not in Arunachal Pradesh.
• Option C: Total area of India - 2.8 million square km
  This option is incorrectly matched.
  The total area of India is approximately 3.28 million square km, not 2.8 million square km.
• Option D: Main land of India extends between longitudes
  This is incorrect.
  The mainland of India extends between latitudes 8°4' N and 37°6'N and longitudes 68°7' E and 97°25'E.

• These states have common frontiers with Nepal.
• Uttarakhand shares its northern boundary with Nepal.
• Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal share their northern boundaries with Nepal.
• Sikkim shares its western boundary with Nepal.
• These states have important trade and cultural ties with Nepal due to their shared borders. 

In Arunachal Pradesh, the sun rises earlier due to its eastern location in the Indian time zone compared to Gujarat in the west, but the watches show the same time because the Indian Standard Time is maintained uniformly across the country, despite significant longitudinal differences. This practice ensures a standardized time system throughout India.

Kavarati is the capital of Lakshadweep, a Union Territory of India. It is a group of islands located in the Arabian Sea, known for its pristine beaches and coral reefs. If you plan to visit Kavaratti during your summer vacations, you'll be heading to the beautiful islands of Lakshadweep.

According to longitudes, India is in Eastern Hemisphere. It extends between 68°7′ E to 97°25′E.

According to latitudes, India is in Northern Hemisphere. It extends between 8°4′N to 37°6′N. Its southern extent is 8°4′N and northern extent is 37°6′N. 

The latitude that passes through the southern-most point of India's mainland is 8°4′N. This latitude line marks the southernmost extent of India's mainland, reaching its lowest point at the tip of the Indian peninsula in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.

• Tajikistan is the country that does not share a land boundary with India.


• Tajikistan is located in Central Asia, bordered by Afghanistan to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east.


• India does not share a direct land boundary with Tajikistan.


• Therefore, if your friend hails from Tajikistan, it is a country that does not share a land boundary with India.

• The ancient trade routes, such as the Silk Route, played a crucial role in facilitating the exchange of ideas and commodities between different regions.
• The Silk Route was a network of trade routes connecting the East and West, enabling the flow of goods, technologies, and cultural influences.