Important Questions: India: Location | Geography Class 11 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Very Short Answer Type Questions

Q1: Why is there the sun almost overhead all the year-round at Kanyakumari and the southernmost tip of the great Nicobar island?
Ans: Because of their proximity of the equator.

Q2: Name the two parts of the Northern portion of the Indian ocean which are divided by the Indian peninsula?
Ans:

• Arabian sea,
• The Bay of Bengal.

Q3: Name the island groups which are a part and parcel of the Indian Union?
Ans:

• The Lakshadweep Island,
• The Andaman and Nicobar Island.

Q4: Who is the closest neighbour of India in the south?
Ans: Sri Lanka (separated from India by the Palk strait).

Q5: What are the main physical divisions of India?
Ans:

• The great mountains of the North.
• The great plains of Northern India.
• The great plateau of peninsular India.

Q6: Name the longest river in the south?
Ans: The Godavari.

Q7: What is the total area of India?
Ans: The total area of India is about 32,87,263 sq. km.

Q8: What is the length of the coastal line of India?
Ans: 6,100 km.

Short Answer Type Questions

Q9: What is the position of India in the world in terms of size, area and population?
Ans: India is the 7th largest country in the world having an area of 32,87,263 PQ. km. It is the second-largest country in population. The population of India is 103,00,00,000 next to China. India has 2% of the total area of the world while the population is 16% of the world.

Q10: What do you mean by MacMohan line? What does it signify?
Ans: The MacMohan line is a dividing line between India and China realms. Between India and China, the crest of Himalayas stand. It separates China and India. This crest of high Himalayas is known as the MacMohan line. It is to the East of Bhutan.

Q11: What is the importance of India in the eastern world? Describe in short.
Ans: India has great importance in the eastern world. It lies between West Asia and East Asia, The trans-oceanic routes connecting Africa, Europe, West Asia and Southeast Asian countries pass through India. The sea plays an important role in India’s relations with the external world. The Indian and Chinese cultures meet in south-east Asia and their local culture reflected in terms like Indo-China.

Q12: Write a short note on the peninsular river system in India.
Ans: The peninsular river system is divided into two:

• Rivers flowing into the Arabian sea are Narmada and Tapi.’ They originate from Deccan plateau and flow westwards into the Arabian sea. These rivers form estuaries and not deltas.
• Rivers flowing into the Bay of Bengal are Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri. These rivers form deltas. Most of these peninsular rivers flow rapidly and they are ideal for generating hydel power.

Q13: What is the difference between local time and standard time?
Ans: Local time of a place is the time of its meridian. All places on a meridian have same local time. Each place has its own local time. The place in the east is ahead of the west in time. Standard time is the time of central meridian of an area. All places have a uniform time. It has no relation with the moon or height of the sun. There is no change in time. So it is known as standard time.

Q14: What are two geographical features that have played a great unifying role in strengthening Indian people?
Ans: The two features are:

• The great mountainous wall of Himalayas on the north,
• The peninsular part of India, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal on the south.

These are the two geographical features acted as a physical barrier and kept Indian culture in a unified nature.

Long Answer Type Questions

Q15: Explain the term unity in diversity.
Ans: In India, many diversities are found but India exhibits a high degree of unity in diversity. The factors which are responsible for this unique feature of the Indian polity are much large geographical spread of the subcontinent provides fertile grounds for germination and blossoming of regional diversities in the social setup. Differentiation in the physical landscape has contributed to the emergence of different ways and pattern of human interaction with nature. People led to the concentration of diverse elements in different regions.
The factors which are responsible for the unity of social character in the country are:

• Monsoonal season.
• The horizontal spread of cultural and socio-economic attributes from different parts of the country.

The strong bond generated by nationhood and belongingness. The development of regional linkages and emergence of a regional home market during the British rule in India.

Q16: What are the three major physical divisions of India? Describe one of them in detail:
(i) The great mountain of north.
Ans: The great mountains of the north: This physical part lie between the great mountains of the north and the peninsular plateau. It has been built by the deposition of the sediments brought by the rivers. It is alluvial and extremely level. It extends from east to west, about 2,500 km! in length.

(ii) The great plains.
Ans: The plains consist of the two river basins – Indus and the Ganga- Brahmaputra basins. The Indus and its tributaries The Jhelum, The Chenab, The Ravi, The Beas and the Sutlej flow into The Arabian sea through Pakistan.

(iii) The great plateau Of peninsular India.
Ans: The Ganga, Brahmaputra and their tributaries flow into the Bay of Bengal. Indus and Brahmaputra originated beyond the Himalayas.
The entire plain region is very fertile and the major occupation of the people is agriculture. A large number of industries come up in the region. This region has a dense network of transport. This region is densely populated.

Q17: What is a subcontinent? India is a subcontinent. Prove it.
Ans: India has a well-knit independent geographical unit. A subcontinent is a vast independent geographical unit. India is separated from the main continent. It is a vast country that produces diversity in economic, social and cultural conditions. It is a land of towering mountains, beautiful valleys, magnificent culture and birthplace of numerous religious faiths. Geographically it stretches from the Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south, but in terms of its cultural, economic, political influences, it has an emphatic presence in the south and southeast Asia and at the international level. India is the only land with a vast diverse geographic culture which is woven by the strong bond of nationhood and belongingness. India is described as a subcontinent. Other countries that are included are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.
Many factors which prove that India is a subcontinent are:

• Natural frontiers of India.
• India is surrounded by the major realness of Asia on all sides. The Great mountain wall gives it an independent shape.
• India is the 7th largest country in the world in area.
• India is a land of rivers but it has cultural unity behind this diversity.
• Monsoon climate determines the life of people and the economic development of the country. It gives a distinct character of the subcontinent to this landmass.

Q18: Describe the changing pattern of human activities in India.
Ans: The human activities in India have developed in stages. Because many racial stocks came to India at different periods of history and they influence the human activities in India. They had developed various human activities from food gathering to the modem industries. This oldness and continuity of changing human activities of cultural and civilisation areas:

• The Negritos represented the food gatherer of the stone age. They had led their life completely on nature. They are still surviving in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The Dravidian presented the farmer. They came from the Mediterranean lands. They started agriculture and led a settled life. They tilled their land with ordinary instruments and produced various crops. They loved their motherland.
• The Aryans represented the artisans and handcraftsmen. They started cottage industries. They were more civilized people and knew the art of iron smelting. They made canals from the rivers. They developed cities on the lands of Ganga and Yamuna. They prepared the multicolored cloth from the silk threads.

Q19: Why India (subcontinent) show a distinct geography? Give reason in support of your answer.
Ans: India, as a subcontinent, exhibits distinct geography due to a combination of geological, climatic, and tectonic factors. Here are some reasons that support the distinct geography of India:

• Collision of Tectonic Plates: One of the most significant geological events in the history of India is the collision between the Indian Plate and the Eurasian Plate. This collision, which began around 50 million years ago, led to the rise of the Himalayan mountain range and the Tibetan Plateau. The ongoing tectonic activity in the region has shaped India's diverse landscape, including mountains, plains, and plateaus.
• Himalayan Barrier: The Himalayas, the world's highest and youngest mountain range, form a natural barrier to the north of the Indian subcontinent. This massive mountain range has a significant impact on the climate of India, influencing the monsoon patterns, precipitation, and temperature variations across the region.
• Diverse Climate Zones: India experiences a wide range of climate zones, from the arid desert regions of Rajasthan to the tropical climate in the Western Ghats. This diversity is influenced by factors like latitude, altitude, proximity to the sea, and the barrier effect of the Himalayas. These varied climates contribute to different types of vegetation, ecosystems, and agricultural practices.
• Rich Biodiversity: India's distinct geography, with its varied climate and topography, supports an incredibly diverse range of flora and fauna. The country is home to various ecosystems, including rainforests, deserts, mangroves, grasslands, and alpine meadows, each harboring unique plant and animal species.
• Historical and Cultural Impact: India's geographic diversity has played a crucial role in shaping its rich cultural heritage. Different regions developed unique languages, cuisines, art forms, and traditions due to the geographical barriers and climatic variations. Rivers like the Ganges and the Indus have been lifelines for ancient civilizations, fostering agricultural growth and urban development.

Q20: Which countries share their international boundaries with India?
Ans: India shares its international boundaries with the following countries:

• Pakistan: To the northwest, India shares a border with Pakistan. The border between the two countries is a source of geopolitical significance and tension, particularly in the region of Jammu and Kashmir.
• China: India shares its northern border with China, which is demarcated by the Himalayan mountain range. The border between India and China has been a contentious issue, leading to conflicts in certain regions, such as the Doklam plateau and Ladakh.
• Nepal: India's border with Nepal lies to the north of the Indian states of Bihar, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The open border between India and Nepal allows for considerable cultural and economic exchange.
• Bhutan: Bhutan shares its eastern border with the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Sikkim. India maintains close political, economic, and military ties with Bhutan.
• Bangladesh: India shares a long border with Bangladesh, which runs along the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. The border is of historical significance due to the partition of British India in 1947, leading to the creation of East Pakistan (which later became Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (which later became Pakistan).
• Myanmar (Burma): To the east, India shares a border with Myanmar, which is located in the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
• Sri Lanka: India is separated from Sri Lanka by the Palk Strait, a narrow stretch of water between the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu and the northern tip of Sri Lanka. While not a direct land border, the proximity has historical and cultural significance.