Class 9 NCERT - Solved Question Answers Documents

Q1.    Refer to Find Out, Textbook page 2.
(i)    Why 82°30′E has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India?
(ii)    Why is the difference between the duration of day and night hardly felt at Kanyakumari but not so in Kashmir?
Ans.(i) The Standard Meridian is situated in the centre of all longitudes and latitudes in which India is located. It passes through Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. The Indian Standard Time is calculated on the basis of 82°30′E longitude. It is west to Mirzapur, near Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh. There may be confusion due to time differences. In order to rectify such confusion and time along the meridian, i.e. 82°30′E has been selected as the Standard Time for the entire country.
(ii)    Kanyakumari is located near the equator whereas Kashmir is located far away from the equator. We know that the day and night is almost of 12 hours each on the equator. Hence, places located close to equator do not feel difference between the duration of day and night. The difference increases as we move far from the equator.

Q2.    Refer to Find Out, Textbook page 4.
(i)    The number of union territories along the western and eastern coasts.
(ii)    Area-wise which is the smallest and which is the largest state?
(iii)    The states which do not have an international border that lie on the coast.
(iv)    Classify the states into four groups each having common frontiers with
        • Pakistan • China • Myanmar and • Bangladesh.
Ans.(i) Three union territories: Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli on western coast and Puducherry on eastern coast.
(ii)    The smallest state    –    Goa
        The largest state    –    Rajasthan
(iii)    Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
(iv)

NCERT Textbook Questions Solved

Q1.    Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:
(i)    The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through:    
(a)    Rajasthan
(b)    Odisha
(c)    Chhattisgarh
(d)    Tripura
(ii)    The easternmost longitude of India is:
(a)    97° 25′E(b)    68° 7′E
(c)    77° 6′E(d)    82° 32′E
(iii)    Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim have common frontiers with:
(a)    China(b)    Bhutan
(c)    Nepal(d)    Myanmar
(iv)    If you intend to visit Kavaratti during your summer vacations, which one of the following union territories of India you will be going to
(a)    Puducherry(b)    Lakshadweep
(c)    Andaman and Nicobar
(d)    Diu and Daman
(v)    My friend hails from a country which does not share land boundary with India. Identify the country.
(a)    Bhutan(b)    Bangladesh
(c)    Tajikistan(d)    Nepal

Ans.(i)—(b)(ii)—(a)(iii)—(c)    (iv)—(b)    (v)—(c)

Q2.    Answer the following questions briefly:
(i)    Name the group of islands lying in the Arabian Sea.
(ii)    Name the countries which are larger than India.
(iii)    Which island group of India lies to its south-east?
(iv)    Which island countries are our southern neighbours?
Ans.    
(i)    Lakshadweep Islands lie in the Arabian Sea.
(ii)    Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil and Australia are the countries that are larger than India.
(iii)    Andaman and Nicobar Islands group lies in the south-east of India.
(iv)    Sri Lanka and Maldives are the two island countries that are our southern neighbours.

Q3.    The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat in the west but the watches show the same time. How does this happen?
Ans.    There is a time lag of two hours from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh. It means the sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat in the west. But the watches show the same time. The earth takes 4 minutes to rotate through 1° of longitude. Therefore, the time taken by the earth to rotate through 15° longitude is 1 hour. Since India has a longitudinal extent of 30°, so there is a time difference of two hours between Arunachal Pradesh (the easternmost part) and Gujarat (the westernmost part). But the watches are set for all parts of the country according to the Indian Standard Time measured at 82½° longitudes. This is the reason why the watches show the same time everywhere in India.

Q4.    The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why?
Ans.    The Indian landmass has a central location between the East and the West Asia. India is a southward extension of the Asian continent. The trans-Indian Ocean routes which connect the countries of Europe in the West and the countries of East Asia provide a strategic central location to India. The Deccan Peninsula protrudes into the Indian  Ocean, thus helping India to establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the western coast and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast. No other country has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India has and indeed, it is India’s eminent position in the Indian Ocean which justifies the naming of an ocean after it.

Map Skills

Q.    Identify the following with the help of map reading.
(i)    The Island groups of India lying in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
(ii)    The countries constituting Indian subcontinent.
(iii)    The states through which the Tropic of Cancer passes.
(iv)    The northernmost latitude in degrees.
(v)    The southernmost latitude of the Indian mainland in degrees.
(vi)    The eastern and the westernmost longitudes in degrees.
(vii)    The place situated on the three seas.
(viii)    The strait separating Sri Lanka from India.
(ix)    The Union Territories of India.

Ans.(i)    Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 
(ii)    Pakistan, Afghanistan, China (Tibet), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
(iii)    Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
(iv)    37°6′ 
(v)    8°4′
(vi)    68°7′ and 97°25′
(vii)    Kanniyakumari
(viii)    Palk Strait
(ix)    Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Delhi.

Project/Activities

Q1.    Find out the longitudinal and latitudinal extent of your state.
Ans.    Attempt yourself with the help of your geography teacher.

Q2.    Collect information about the ‘Silk Route’. Also find out the new developments which are improving communication routes in the regions of high altitude.
Ans.    The ‘Silk Route’ has its historical importance. It was an important international trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea. China produced large quantities of silk during the ancient time and exported it to the western countries through this route. The traditional silk route was developed as a link between east and west. It promoted exchange of cultural heritage.
In recent times, several new developments have taken place which are improving communication routes in the regions of high altitude. Now, we have motorable roads. Railway lines are also being laid through bridges, tunnels and caves. Means of communication such as telephones, satellite phones, mobile phones, etc. can also be found in these regions.