NCERT Solutions for Class 9 Geography Chapter 1 India Size and Location

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Q. Which of the following figures shows the total area of India’s landmass?

(a) 2.4 million square km
(b) 3.28 million square km
(c) 32.8 million square km
(d) 3.28 million km

Ans. (b) 3.28 million square km

Q. The neighbouring countries that share their land boundaries with India are:

(a) Pakistan and Afghanistan
(b) Myanmar and Bangladesh
(c) China and Nepal
(d) All of the above

Ans. (d) All of the above

Q. ---------- has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India.

Ans. 82°30’E.

Q. Before 1947 the Princely states were ruled by local-------------

Ans. hereditary rulers.

Q. What divides the country into almost two equal parts?

Ans. The Tropic of Cancer (23° 30’N) divides the country into almost two equal parts.

Q. What is the total geographical area of India?

Ans. Total geographical area of India is 3.28 million square km.

Q. What is the southernmost latitude of the Indian mainland in degrees?

Ans. 8°4' N is the southernmost latitude of the Indian mainland.

Q. What is the longitudinal extent of India? Mention the degree of longitude for the Standard Meridian. State the importance of the Standard Meridian.

Ans. (i) The longitudinal extent of India is between 68°7'E and 97°25'E.
(ii) The degree of longitude of the Standard Meridian of India is 82°30'E.
(iii) Standard Meridian signifies the standard time for the entire nation. A country can choose multiple standard meridian (multiple of 7.5 or 15 degrees) as per its longitudinal width.

Q. The opening of Suez canal helped India to make better connect with Europe. How?

Ans. (i) Since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, India’s distance from Europe has been reduced by 7,000 km.
(ii) Suez Canal connects Mediterranean Sea with Red Sea further with Arabian Sea and brought two highly developed trade peninsulas closer.
(iii) This helped India(western coast) to develop new trade opportunities with Europe.

Q. Why is the day and night difference not felt so hardly at Kanyakumari but no so in Kashmir?

Ans. Kanyakumari is located 8° away from the equator. As equator receives direct sunlight, there will be no strong difference between day and night. Whereas, Kashmir is located at 37° away from the equator, so the difference between day and night is about 4 hours.

Q. Why is the difference in the duration of day and night very little in Kanyakumari while it is not so in the northern part of the country? Give specific reasons for your answer.

Ans. Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu is located at the southern-most tip of India’s mainland. The latitude 8°4'N passes close to it. The place is thus near the equator and lies close to the equatorial region. As the sun shines directly over the equator all throughout the year, the duration of day and night is almost equal here. Hence, in Kanyakumari the difference in the duration of day and night is very little. But in the northern part of the country located to the north of the Tropic of Cancer away from the equator, the difference between the lengths of day and night becomes increasingly greater.

Q. How many states and union territories form the Union of India? Write a note on the smallest and the largest Indian states.

Ans. For administrative convenience, India has been divided into political units – the State and the Union Territories.
(i) The administrative divisions have been made mainly on the basis of language. At present, India is a union of 28 states and 8 Union Territories including the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Delhi is the national capital of India.
(ii) Rajasthan, the largest state, has an area of about 342 thousand sq km. It lies to the west of India. It shares its boundary with our neighbouring country, Pakistan in the west. In its east lie the state of Uttar Pradesh and parts of Madhya Pradesh. To its north lie Punjab and Haryana, Gujarat and parts of Madhya Pradesh lie to its south. The Thar Desert or the Great Indian Desert is located in Rajasthan. Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan.
(iii) Goa, the smallest state of India, has an area of only 3,702 sq km (approximately 3.7 thousand sq km). The Arabian Sea lies to the west of Goa. To its north lies Maharashtra and to its east a

Q. The Tropic of Cancer passes half-way through the country. What does this imply?

Ans. The Tropic of Cancer, 23°30'N, passes halfway through the country. It influences climate of India as well as the duration of day and night.
(i) Places on either side of the Tropic of Cancer experience tropical climate. The tropical monsoon type of climate that India experiences is extreme on account of the Tropic of Cancer.
(ii) Places further south of the Indian Union away from the Tropic of Cancer have more equable climate being closer to equator. Places further north of the Tropic of Cancer have subtropical climate. The sun shines directly on the Tropic of Cancer on 21st June or Summer Solstice.
(iii) Countries in the Northern Hemisphere including India experience summer during this part of the year. It is also associated with maximum heating of tropics during this period that influences advance of monsoons or rainy season.
(iv) Areas along the Tropic of Cancer have their longest day on 21st June. These areas have their shortest day on 22nd December or Winter Solstice when the sun rays are directly overhead the Tropic of Capricorn.-

Q. The central location of India at the head of the Indian ocean is considered of great significance. Why?

Ans. India is the southward extension of the Asian continent and is located in a central position between the East and West Asia. The Indian Ocean provides a strategic central location to India, as it connects the East Asian Countries with the countries of Europe in the West. The Deccan Peninsula also protrudes into the Indian Ocean, thus helping India establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the western coast and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast. There is no other country like India in the world, which has such a long coastline on the Indian Ocean and thus, justifying the naming of an ocean after it.