Selina Textbook Solutions: India Location, Extent, Political and Physical Features | Geography Class 8 ICSE PDF Download

 Page 1


India Location, Extent, Political and Physical Features 
Exercises 
A. Fill in the blanks 
1. There are seven union territories in India. 
2. The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two halves. 
3. The Himalayas literally means abode of snow. 
4. The Lakshadweep Islands have been formed by the growth of corals. 
B. Identify who I am 
1. A river that divides the Peninsular Plateau of India into the Malwa and the Deccan 
plateaux : Narmada. 
2. A vast sandy low-lying plain in north-west Rajasthan : The Thar Desert. 
3. Barren Island is the only volcanically active island of India. 
4. The longest river of south India : Godavari. 
C. Distinguish between each of the following pairs 
Question 1. 
The Eastern and the Western Ghats 
Answer: 
Western Ghats : 
1. They extend from the mouth of river Tapi to Kan niyakumari. 
2. The average height is 1,200 m but in some parts it rises to 2,440 m. 
3. They are continuous. 
4. They are the source of rivers that flow across the Deccan. 
5. They are steep and rugged, and rise abruptly from the arrow Western Coastal 
Plains. 
6. They lie close to the Arabian Sea. 
Eastern Ghats : 
1. They extend from the Mahanadi Valley up to the Nilgiri Hills. 
2. The average height is 450 m, rarely exceeding 1,200 m. 
3. They are not continuous. Many rivers flow through them. 
4. They have gentle slopes that rise from the Eastern Coastal Plains. 
5. They lie at some distance from the Bay of Bengal. 
 
Page 2


India Location, Extent, Political and Physical Features 
Exercises 
A. Fill in the blanks 
1. There are seven union territories in India. 
2. The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two halves. 
3. The Himalayas literally means abode of snow. 
4. The Lakshadweep Islands have been formed by the growth of corals. 
B. Identify who I am 
1. A river that divides the Peninsular Plateau of India into the Malwa and the Deccan 
plateaux : Narmada. 
2. A vast sandy low-lying plain in north-west Rajasthan : The Thar Desert. 
3. Barren Island is the only volcanically active island of India. 
4. The longest river of south India : Godavari. 
C. Distinguish between each of the following pairs 
Question 1. 
The Eastern and the Western Ghats 
Answer: 
Western Ghats : 
1. They extend from the mouth of river Tapi to Kan niyakumari. 
2. The average height is 1,200 m but in some parts it rises to 2,440 m. 
3. They are continuous. 
4. They are the source of rivers that flow across the Deccan. 
5. They are steep and rugged, and rise abruptly from the arrow Western Coastal 
Plains. 
6. They lie close to the Arabian Sea. 
Eastern Ghats : 
1. They extend from the Mahanadi Valley up to the Nilgiri Hills. 
2. The average height is 450 m, rarely exceeding 1,200 m. 
3. They are not continuous. Many rivers flow through them. 
4. They have gentle slopes that rise from the Eastern Coastal Plains. 
5. They lie at some distance from the Bay of Bengal. 
 
Question 2. 
The Eastern and the Western Coastal Plains 
Answer: 
Western Coastal Plains : 
1. They stretch from Kachchh in the north to Kanniya-kumari in the south. 
2. They lie between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. 
3. They are narrower than the Eastern Coastal Plains. 
4. They do not have deltas, only estuaries and lagoons. 
5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Konkan 
Coast in Maharashtra, The Kanara Coast in Karnataka and the Malabar Coast 
The Kerala. 
6. They lie in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa. Karnataka, and Kerala. 
7. Their important ports are Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagao, Mangalore, and Kochi. 
Eastern Coastal Plains : 
1. They stretch from the mouth of the river Ganga in the north to Kanniyakumari in 
the south. 
2. They lie between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. 
3. They are wider than the Western Coastal Plains. 
4. They are composed of the deltas of all the majorrlvers of the Deccan. 
5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Northern 
Circars in the region north of the river Godavari and the Coromandel Coast in the 
region south of the river Godavari. 
6. They lie in the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. 
7. Their important ports are Vishakhapatnam, Paradwip, Chennai, and Tuticorin. 
Question 3. 
The Himalayan and peninsular rivers 
Answer: 
The Himalayan Rivers : 
1. They are also called as North Indian Rivers. 
2. The three important rivers are the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra. 
3. They are longer and slow moving. 
4. They are snow fed and hence perennial. 
5. These rivers are navigable. 
6. These rivers are more suitable for irrigation. 
The Peninsular Rivers : 
1. They are also called as South Indian Rivers. 
2. The six important rivers are the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri, 
the Narmada and the Tapi. 
Page 3


India Location, Extent, Political and Physical Features 
Exercises 
A. Fill in the blanks 
1. There are seven union territories in India. 
2. The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two halves. 
3. The Himalayas literally means abode of snow. 
4. The Lakshadweep Islands have been formed by the growth of corals. 
B. Identify who I am 
1. A river that divides the Peninsular Plateau of India into the Malwa and the Deccan 
plateaux : Narmada. 
2. A vast sandy low-lying plain in north-west Rajasthan : The Thar Desert. 
3. Barren Island is the only volcanically active island of India. 
4. The longest river of south India : Godavari. 
C. Distinguish between each of the following pairs 
Question 1. 
The Eastern and the Western Ghats 
Answer: 
Western Ghats : 
1. They extend from the mouth of river Tapi to Kan niyakumari. 
2. The average height is 1,200 m but in some parts it rises to 2,440 m. 
3. They are continuous. 
4. They are the source of rivers that flow across the Deccan. 
5. They are steep and rugged, and rise abruptly from the arrow Western Coastal 
Plains. 
6. They lie close to the Arabian Sea. 
Eastern Ghats : 
1. They extend from the Mahanadi Valley up to the Nilgiri Hills. 
2. The average height is 450 m, rarely exceeding 1,200 m. 
3. They are not continuous. Many rivers flow through them. 
4. They have gentle slopes that rise from the Eastern Coastal Plains. 
5. They lie at some distance from the Bay of Bengal. 
 
Question 2. 
The Eastern and the Western Coastal Plains 
Answer: 
Western Coastal Plains : 
1. They stretch from Kachchh in the north to Kanniya-kumari in the south. 
2. They lie between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. 
3. They are narrower than the Eastern Coastal Plains. 
4. They do not have deltas, only estuaries and lagoons. 
5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Konkan 
Coast in Maharashtra, The Kanara Coast in Karnataka and the Malabar Coast 
The Kerala. 
6. They lie in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa. Karnataka, and Kerala. 
7. Their important ports are Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagao, Mangalore, and Kochi. 
Eastern Coastal Plains : 
1. They stretch from the mouth of the river Ganga in the north to Kanniyakumari in 
the south. 
2. They lie between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. 
3. They are wider than the Western Coastal Plains. 
4. They are composed of the deltas of all the majorrlvers of the Deccan. 
5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Northern 
Circars in the region north of the river Godavari and the Coromandel Coast in the 
region south of the river Godavari. 
6. They lie in the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. 
7. Their important ports are Vishakhapatnam, Paradwip, Chennai, and Tuticorin. 
Question 3. 
The Himalayan and peninsular rivers 
Answer: 
The Himalayan Rivers : 
1. They are also called as North Indian Rivers. 
2. The three important rivers are the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra. 
3. They are longer and slow moving. 
4. They are snow fed and hence perennial. 
5. These rivers are navigable. 
6. These rivers are more suitable for irrigation. 
The Peninsular Rivers : 
1. They are also called as South Indian Rivers. 
2. The six important rivers are the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri, 
the Narmada and the Tapi. 
3. They are shorter and fast flowing. 
4. They are rain-fed and not always perennial. 
5. These rivers are not navigable. 
6. These rivers are less suitable for irrigation. 
Question 4. 
The east and the west-flowing rivers of south India. 
Answer: 
The east-flowing rivers of South India : 
1. The main rivers are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. 
2. These rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal. 
3. These rivers make deltas at their mouth. 
4. These rivers have large- amount of water. 
5. These rivers originate from the western Ghats and flow eastwards. 
The West-flowing rivers of South India : 
1. The main rivers are Narmada and Tapi. 
2. These rivers drain in the Arabian Sea. 
3. These rivers do not make deltas. 
4. These rivers have less amount of water. 
5. These rivers originate in Central India and flow westwards. 
D. Answer the following questions in brief 
Question 1. 
Do you think it is right to use the term ‘subcontinent’ for India and its neighbouring 
countries ? 
Answer: 
Yes, it is right to use the term ‘subcontinent’ for India and its neighbouring countries 
because although they are a part of Asia, they have developed their own distinct 
physical and cultural identity. This is due to the presence of protective barrier of the 
Himalayas which isolates these countries from the rest. of Asia. 
Question 2. 
How many states and union territories does India have ? 
Answer: 
India has 29 states and 7 union territories. 
Question 3. 
What do you know about the Purvanchal ranges ? 
Answer: 
The hills of the north-east India are collectively called the Purvanchal ranges. They lie 
Page 4


India Location, Extent, Political and Physical Features 
Exercises 
A. Fill in the blanks 
1. There are seven union territories in India. 
2. The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two halves. 
3. The Himalayas literally means abode of snow. 
4. The Lakshadweep Islands have been formed by the growth of corals. 
B. Identify who I am 
1. A river that divides the Peninsular Plateau of India into the Malwa and the Deccan 
plateaux : Narmada. 
2. A vast sandy low-lying plain in north-west Rajasthan : The Thar Desert. 
3. Barren Island is the only volcanically active island of India. 
4. The longest river of south India : Godavari. 
C. Distinguish between each of the following pairs 
Question 1. 
The Eastern and the Western Ghats 
Answer: 
Western Ghats : 
1. They extend from the mouth of river Tapi to Kan niyakumari. 
2. The average height is 1,200 m but in some parts it rises to 2,440 m. 
3. They are continuous. 
4. They are the source of rivers that flow across the Deccan. 
5. They are steep and rugged, and rise abruptly from the arrow Western Coastal 
Plains. 
6. They lie close to the Arabian Sea. 
Eastern Ghats : 
1. They extend from the Mahanadi Valley up to the Nilgiri Hills. 
2. The average height is 450 m, rarely exceeding 1,200 m. 
3. They are not continuous. Many rivers flow through them. 
4. They have gentle slopes that rise from the Eastern Coastal Plains. 
5. They lie at some distance from the Bay of Bengal. 
 
Question 2. 
The Eastern and the Western Coastal Plains 
Answer: 
Western Coastal Plains : 
1. They stretch from Kachchh in the north to Kanniya-kumari in the south. 
2. They lie between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. 
3. They are narrower than the Eastern Coastal Plains. 
4. They do not have deltas, only estuaries and lagoons. 
5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Konkan 
Coast in Maharashtra, The Kanara Coast in Karnataka and the Malabar Coast 
The Kerala. 
6. They lie in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa. Karnataka, and Kerala. 
7. Their important ports are Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagao, Mangalore, and Kochi. 
Eastern Coastal Plains : 
1. They stretch from the mouth of the river Ganga in the north to Kanniyakumari in 
the south. 
2. They lie between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. 
3. They are wider than the Western Coastal Plains. 
4. They are composed of the deltas of all the majorrlvers of the Deccan. 
5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Northern 
Circars in the region north of the river Godavari and the Coromandel Coast in the 
region south of the river Godavari. 
6. They lie in the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. 
7. Their important ports are Vishakhapatnam, Paradwip, Chennai, and Tuticorin. 
Question 3. 
The Himalayan and peninsular rivers 
Answer: 
The Himalayan Rivers : 
1. They are also called as North Indian Rivers. 
2. The three important rivers are the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra. 
3. They are longer and slow moving. 
4. They are snow fed and hence perennial. 
5. These rivers are navigable. 
6. These rivers are more suitable for irrigation. 
The Peninsular Rivers : 
1. They are also called as South Indian Rivers. 
2. The six important rivers are the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri, 
the Narmada and the Tapi. 
3. They are shorter and fast flowing. 
4. They are rain-fed and not always perennial. 
5. These rivers are not navigable. 
6. These rivers are less suitable for irrigation. 
Question 4. 
The east and the west-flowing rivers of south India. 
Answer: 
The east-flowing rivers of South India : 
1. The main rivers are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. 
2. These rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal. 
3. These rivers make deltas at their mouth. 
4. These rivers have large- amount of water. 
5. These rivers originate from the western Ghats and flow eastwards. 
The West-flowing rivers of South India : 
1. The main rivers are Narmada and Tapi. 
2. These rivers drain in the Arabian Sea. 
3. These rivers do not make deltas. 
4. These rivers have less amount of water. 
5. These rivers originate in Central India and flow westwards. 
D. Answer the following questions in brief 
Question 1. 
Do you think it is right to use the term ‘subcontinent’ for India and its neighbouring 
countries ? 
Answer: 
Yes, it is right to use the term ‘subcontinent’ for India and its neighbouring countries 
because although they are a part of Asia, they have developed their own distinct 
physical and cultural identity. This is due to the presence of protective barrier of the 
Himalayas which isolates these countries from the rest. of Asia. 
Question 2. 
How many states and union territories does India have ? 
Answer: 
India has 29 states and 7 union territories. 
Question 3. 
What do you know about the Purvanchal ranges ? 
Answer: 
The hills of the north-east India are collectively called the Purvanchal ranges. They lie 
along the eastern borders of India. Their average elevation is less than 3,000 m. They 
consist of several hill ranges such as Patkai Bum, Naga, Mizo, Garo, Khasi and Jaintia 
Hills. 
Question 4. 
Name the three divisions of the Great Northern Plains and the rivers responsible for 
their formation. 
Answer: 
The three divisions of the Great Northern Plains are : 
1. The Ganga Plains in the centre : They are formed by the alluvial deposits of the 
river Ganga and its tributaries such as Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, 
Chambal, Betwa and the Son. It is in U.P., Bihar and West Bengal. 
2. The Punjab Plains in the West : They are formed by the alluvial deposits of the 
tributaries of the rivers Indus — The Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and 
the Jhelum. It is in Punjab and Haryana. 
3. The Brahmaputra Valley in the East: It is formed by the Brahmaputra River. It lies 
in Assam. 
E. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraph: 
Question 1. 
Explain how India has benefited from its location. 
Answer: 
The location of India has helped in the development of trade and commerce. The 
existence of seas on three sides has encouraged international trade. From ancient 
times, India has had political, economic and cultural links with other countries. Today, 
India provides a link between the East and the West world. Its central position between 
the two world has helped the development of its own industries and trade. 
Question 2. 
Explain how the Himalayas have greatly influenced the life of the people of India. 
Answer: 
The Himalayas exert a significant influence on the life of the people of India in several 
ways. 
• They form a natural boundary between India and China. 
• They serve as a climatic barrier by preventing the entry of the cold winds from 
Central Asia and preventing the rain¬bearing monsoon winds from leaving India. 
• They are a source of perennial rivers such as the Indus, the Ganga, and the 
Brahmaputra and their tributaries. 
• Their rugged terrain is ideal for hydroelectric power generation. 
• The mountain slopes are forested. These forests provide different types of timber 
and forest products. 
Page 5


India Location, Extent, Political and Physical Features 
Exercises 
A. Fill in the blanks 
1. There are seven union territories in India. 
2. The Tropic of Cancer divides India into two halves. 
3. The Himalayas literally means abode of snow. 
4. The Lakshadweep Islands have been formed by the growth of corals. 
B. Identify who I am 
1. A river that divides the Peninsular Plateau of India into the Malwa and the Deccan 
plateaux : Narmada. 
2. A vast sandy low-lying plain in north-west Rajasthan : The Thar Desert. 
3. Barren Island is the only volcanically active island of India. 
4. The longest river of south India : Godavari. 
C. Distinguish between each of the following pairs 
Question 1. 
The Eastern and the Western Ghats 
Answer: 
Western Ghats : 
1. They extend from the mouth of river Tapi to Kan niyakumari. 
2. The average height is 1,200 m but in some parts it rises to 2,440 m. 
3. They are continuous. 
4. They are the source of rivers that flow across the Deccan. 
5. They are steep and rugged, and rise abruptly from the arrow Western Coastal 
Plains. 
6. They lie close to the Arabian Sea. 
Eastern Ghats : 
1. They extend from the Mahanadi Valley up to the Nilgiri Hills. 
2. The average height is 450 m, rarely exceeding 1,200 m. 
3. They are not continuous. Many rivers flow through them. 
4. They have gentle slopes that rise from the Eastern Coastal Plains. 
5. They lie at some distance from the Bay of Bengal. 
 
Question 2. 
The Eastern and the Western Coastal Plains 
Answer: 
Western Coastal Plains : 
1. They stretch from Kachchh in the north to Kanniya-kumari in the south. 
2. They lie between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. 
3. They are narrower than the Eastern Coastal Plains. 
4. They do not have deltas, only estuaries and lagoons. 
5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Konkan 
Coast in Maharashtra, The Kanara Coast in Karnataka and the Malabar Coast 
The Kerala. 
6. They lie in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa. Karnataka, and Kerala. 
7. Their important ports are Kandla, Mumbai, Marmagao, Mangalore, and Kochi. 
Eastern Coastal Plains : 
1. They stretch from the mouth of the river Ganga in the north to Kanniyakumari in 
the south. 
2. They lie between the Eastern Ghats and the Bay of Bengal. 
3. They are wider than the Western Coastal Plains. 
4. They are composed of the deltas of all the majorrlvers of the Deccan. 
5. They have different names in different parts—they are known as the Northern 
Circars in the region north of the river Godavari and the Coromandel Coast in the 
region south of the river Godavari. 
6. They lie in the states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. 
7. Their important ports are Vishakhapatnam, Paradwip, Chennai, and Tuticorin. 
Question 3. 
The Himalayan and peninsular rivers 
Answer: 
The Himalayan Rivers : 
1. They are also called as North Indian Rivers. 
2. The three important rivers are the Ganga, the Indus and the Brahmaputra. 
3. They are longer and slow moving. 
4. They are snow fed and hence perennial. 
5. These rivers are navigable. 
6. These rivers are more suitable for irrigation. 
The Peninsular Rivers : 
1. They are also called as South Indian Rivers. 
2. The six important rivers are the Mahanadi, the Godavari, the Krishna, the Kaveri, 
the Narmada and the Tapi. 
3. They are shorter and fast flowing. 
4. They are rain-fed and not always perennial. 
5. These rivers are not navigable. 
6. These rivers are less suitable for irrigation. 
Question 4. 
The east and the west-flowing rivers of south India. 
Answer: 
The east-flowing rivers of South India : 
1. The main rivers are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. 
2. These rivers drain into the Bay of Bengal. 
3. These rivers make deltas at their mouth. 
4. These rivers have large- amount of water. 
5. These rivers originate from the western Ghats and flow eastwards. 
The West-flowing rivers of South India : 
1. The main rivers are Narmada and Tapi. 
2. These rivers drain in the Arabian Sea. 
3. These rivers do not make deltas. 
4. These rivers have less amount of water. 
5. These rivers originate in Central India and flow westwards. 
D. Answer the following questions in brief 
Question 1. 
Do you think it is right to use the term ‘subcontinent’ for India and its neighbouring 
countries ? 
Answer: 
Yes, it is right to use the term ‘subcontinent’ for India and its neighbouring countries 
because although they are a part of Asia, they have developed their own distinct 
physical and cultural identity. This is due to the presence of protective barrier of the 
Himalayas which isolates these countries from the rest. of Asia. 
Question 2. 
How many states and union territories does India have ? 
Answer: 
India has 29 states and 7 union territories. 
Question 3. 
What do you know about the Purvanchal ranges ? 
Answer: 
The hills of the north-east India are collectively called the Purvanchal ranges. They lie 
along the eastern borders of India. Their average elevation is less than 3,000 m. They 
consist of several hill ranges such as Patkai Bum, Naga, Mizo, Garo, Khasi and Jaintia 
Hills. 
Question 4. 
Name the three divisions of the Great Northern Plains and the rivers responsible for 
their formation. 
Answer: 
The three divisions of the Great Northern Plains are : 
1. The Ganga Plains in the centre : They are formed by the alluvial deposits of the 
river Ganga and its tributaries such as Yamuna, Gomti, Ghaghara, Gandak, 
Chambal, Betwa and the Son. It is in U.P., Bihar and West Bengal. 
2. The Punjab Plains in the West : They are formed by the alluvial deposits of the 
tributaries of the rivers Indus — The Satluj, the Beas, the Ravi, the Chenab and 
the Jhelum. It is in Punjab and Haryana. 
3. The Brahmaputra Valley in the East: It is formed by the Brahmaputra River. It lies 
in Assam. 
E. Answer the following questions in one or two paragraph: 
Question 1. 
Explain how India has benefited from its location. 
Answer: 
The location of India has helped in the development of trade and commerce. The 
existence of seas on three sides has encouraged international trade. From ancient 
times, India has had political, economic and cultural links with other countries. Today, 
India provides a link between the East and the West world. Its central position between 
the two world has helped the development of its own industries and trade. 
Question 2. 
Explain how the Himalayas have greatly influenced the life of the people of India. 
Answer: 
The Himalayas exert a significant influence on the life of the people of India in several 
ways. 
• They form a natural boundary between India and China. 
• They serve as a climatic barrier by preventing the entry of the cold winds from 
Central Asia and preventing the rain¬bearing monsoon winds from leaving India. 
• They are a source of perennial rivers such as the Indus, the Ganga, and the 
Brahmaputra and their tributaries. 
• Their rugged terrain is ideal for hydroelectric power generation. 
• The mountain slopes are forested. These forests provide different types of timber 
and forest products. 
• The Himalayas have beautiful hill Stations Shimla, Darjeeling, Mussorie, etc. 
Question 3. 
Explain why the Great Northern Plains are densely populated. 
Answer: 
The Great Northern Plains are densely populated because of the following reasons 
1. The fertile soil of the plains has helped in the development of agriculture. 
2. Its soft soil has made irrigation possible. 
3. Their flatness has promoted growth and development of a dense network of road 
and rail transport. 
4. Their rivers and tributaries provide cheap water transport. 
Question 4. 
Describe the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Lakshadweep Islands. 
Answer: 
There are two Island groups of India : 
1. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands — They lie in the Bay of Bengal. They are 
about 550 in number and are of volcanic origin. Barren Island is the only 
volcanically active island. They are separated by a wide channel called the Ten 
Degree channel. 
2. The Lakshadweep Islands — They lie in the Arabian Sea. They have been 
formed by the growth of corals and are fewer in number than the Andaman and 
Nicobar Islands. Many of them are uninhabited. These islands form the smallest 
union territory of India. 
F. Picture study.