NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Geography - India Location

Q1: Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) Which one of the following latitudinal extent is relevant for the extent of India’s area?
(a) 8°41'N - 35°7'N
(b) 8°4'N - 37°6'N
(c) 8°4'N - 35°6'N
(d) 6°45'N - 37°6'N
Ans: (b)

(ii) Which one of the following countries shares the longest land frontier with India?
(a) Bangladesh
(b) China
(c) Pakistan
(d) Myanmar
Ans: (a)

(iii) Which one of the following countries is larger in area than India?
(a) China
(b) Egypt
(c) France
(d) Iran
Ans: (a)

(iv) Which one of the following longitudes is the standard meridian for India?
(a) 69°30'E
(b) 82°30'E
(c) 75°30'E
(d) 90°30'E
Ans: (b)

Q2: Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) Does India need to have more than one standard time? If yes, why do you think so?
Ans: Yes, as per my thinking India need to have more than one standard time because there is a time gap of about 2 hours between the easternmost parts to westernmost parts of the country. The longitudinal extent of India is large i.e., 30° approximately. Therefore, we need to more than one time zones. There are some countries where there is more than one standard meridian due to their vast east-to-west extent. For example, the USA has seven time zones.

(ii) What are the implications of India having a long coastline?
Ans: Peninsular part of India extends towards the Indian Ocean. This has provided the country with a coastline of 6,100 km in the mainland and 7,517 km in the entire geographical coast of the mainland plus the island groups Andaman and Nicobar and the Lakshadweep. This helps India in establishing close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the western coast and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast. However, it also forces India to have regular monitoring of coastline for the protection from external forces.

(iii) How is the latitudinal spread of India advantageous to her?
Ans: The latitudinal spread of India advantageous to her in many ways:

• The southern part of the country lies within the tropics and the northern part lies in the sub-tropical zone or the warm temperate zone.
• This is responsible for large variations in land forms, climate, soil types and natural vegetation in the country

(iv) While the sun rises earlier in the east, say Nagaland and also sets earlier, how do the watches at Kohima and New Delhi show the same time?
Ans: India follows one standard time for the whole country. 82°30' E has been selected as the ‘standard meridian’ of India. Indian Standard Time is ahead of Greenwich Mean Time by 5 hours and 30 minutes. Therefore, while in Nagaland sun rises earlier and also sets earlier, but the watches at Kohima and New Delhi show the same time.