Important Questions: India – Size and Location | Social Studies (SST) Class 9 PDF Download

Answer: India extends between latitudes 8°4’ N and 37°6’ N and longitudes 68°7’ E and 97°25’ E.

Answer: Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Answer: The Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N) divides India into nearly two equal parts, influencing its climate. It causes minimal variation in day and night length in southern India (e.g., Kanyakumari) and greater variation in the north (e.g., Kashmir).

Answer: b) Maldives

Answer: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the Bay of Bengal (southeast of the mainland), and the Lakshadweep Islands are in the Arabian Sea (southwest of the mainland).

Answer: India covers 3.28 million sq. km, accounting for 2.4% of the world’s land area, making it the seventh-largest country.

• Land Boundary: Approximately 15,200 km, bordered by young fold mountains (Himalayas) in the northwest, north, and northeast.
• Coastline: Total length is 7,516.6 km, including the mainland, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
• Geographical Extent: Extends between latitudes 8°4’ N to 37°6’ N and longitudes 68°7’ E to 97°25’ E. The north-south extent is larger than the east-west extent, despite equal latitudinal and longitudinal degrees, due to the earth’s curvature.
• Impact: The longitudinal extent causes a two-hour time difference, managed by the Standard Meridian (82°30'E), while the latitudinal extent affects day-night duration variations across India.

Answer: The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, provides the shortest sea route from India to industrialized Europe and the Americas, reducing the distance by 7,000 km and boosting trade efficiency.

Answer: b) To standardize time across the country

Answer: Both assertion and reason are true, and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.

Answer:

Latitudinal Impact: India’s latitudinal extent (8°4’ N to 37°6’ N) affects day-night duration. Near the Tropic of Cancer (23°30' N), southern regions like Kanyakumari have nearly equal day and night (45-minute difference), while northern regions like Kashmir experience up to 5-hour variations due to greater distance from the equator. This influences climate and seasonal patterns.

Longitudinal Impact: Spanning 68°7’ E to 97°25’ E (about 30°), India has a two-hour time difference between Gujarat (west) and Arunachal Pradesh (east). The Standard Meridian (82°30' E) at Mirzapur standardizes time across the country, ensuring uniform timekeeping for administrative and economic purposes.

Combined Effect: The latitudinal and longitudinal extents create diverse climatic zones and necessitate a single time zone for national coordination.

Answer: India shares borders with several countries, forming part of the Indian subcontinent:

• North: China, Nepal, and Bhutan.
• East: Bangladesh and Myanmar.
• West and Northwest: Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• South: Sri Lanka, separated by the Palk Strait, and the Maldives, near Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea.
• Southeast (near Andaman and Nicobar Islands): Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
  These neighbors contribute to India’s strategic and cultural interactions, with the subcontinent including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh due to shared geographical and cultural identities.

Answer: India is called a subcontinent due to its vast size, distinct physical features (like the Himalayas and coastal plains), and unique cultural, historical, and social identity, encompassing countries like India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.

Answer: India’s location at the head of the Indian Ocean provides several strategic advantages:

• Proximity to Oil-Rich Persian Gulf: Facilitates access to energy supplies from oil-rich countries.
• Trade Connectivity: Connects Africa, Asia, and Australia, enhancing trade with densely populated regions like China, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
• Suez Canal Route: Provides the shortest sea route to Europe and the Americas, reducing travel distance by 7,000 km since 1869.
• Air Route Hub: Central position connects Europe, America, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia via global air routes.
• Historical Trade Hub: The Indian Ocean, named after India, highlights its historical role as a preferred destination for global traders, fostering cultural and commercial ties.

Answer: India’s location at the head of the Indian Ocean enabled extensive maritime trade and cultural exchanges:

• Maritime Routes: Established trade links with East Africa, West Asia, South and Southeast Asia, and East Asia.
• Commodities: Indian spices, muslin, and other goods were traded globally, influencing markets.
• Ideas and Texts: Ancient texts like the Upanishads, Ramayana, Panchatantra, Indian numerals, and the decimal system (including zero) spread worldwide, shaping global knowledge.
• Cultural Influences: Greek sculpture and West Asian architectural styles (e.g., domes, minarets) influenced Indian art and architecture.
• Impact: These exchanges enriched India’s cultural heritage and established it as a significant player in global trade and cultural diffusion during ancient and medieval times.

Answer: b) Tropic of Cancer