Introduction
India, one of the world’s oldest civilizations, is a land of diverse geography, culture, and history. Its size and location have always shaped its destiny.
Situated in the south-central part of Asia, India is unique in many ways – its massive area, large population, rich resources, and strategic geographical position make it significant not only in Asia but also in the world.
From ancient times to the modern era, India’s location has influenced trade, culture, politics, and economy. Its peninsular position surrounded by seas and its northern boundary with the Himalayas make it both connected and protected.
1. Location of India
1.1 Absolute Location (Latitudes and Longitudes)
- Latitudinal extent: 8°4′ N to 37°6′ N
- Longitudinal extent: 68°7′ E to 97°25′ E
- India lies completely in the Northern Hemisphere and the Eastern Hemisphere.
1.2 Tropic of Cancer
- The Tropic of Cancer (23°30′ N) passes almost through the middle of India.
- It divides India into:
- Northern part: Subtropical zone.
- Southern part: Tropical zone.
This division affects climate, agriculture, vegetation, and lifestyle.
1.3 Effect of Latitudinal Extent
- Affects climate → Southern India experiences a tropical climate, while northern India has a subtropical climate with extreme summers and winters.
- Longer day and night differences in the north compared to the south.
1.4 Longitudinal Extent
- Difference between the easternmost and westernmost longitudes = about 30°.
- Time lag = about 2 hours.
- To maintain uniformity, 82°30′ E longitude (near Mirzapur, UP) is taken as the Indian Standard Time (IST).
2. Size of India
- Total area: 3.28 million sq km.
- World rank (area): 7th largest country.
- Share in world area: 2.4% of total world land area.
- North-South extent: 3,214 km.
- East-West extent: 2,933 km.
- Land frontier (boundary length): 15,200 km.
- Coastline (including islands): 7,516.6 km.
2.1 Population
- Second-most populous country in the world (after China).
- Population = more than 17.5% of the world population.
2.2 Significance of Large Size
- Supports varied climates → deserts, mountains, coastal areas, plains.
- Provides rich natural resources.
- Enables diverse agriculture (rice in the east, wheat in the north, spices in the south).
- Large internal market due to huge population.
3. India’s Location and Its Significance
3.1 Central Position in Asia
- India is centrally located between East and West Asia.
- Acts as a link between the Middle East, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia.
3.2 The Indian Ocean
- India is the only country after which an ocean is named.
- Its long coastline gives it a dominant position in the Indian Ocean.
- Controls major sea routes connecting Europe, Africa, and East Asia.
3.3 Historical Importance of Location
- Land routes through passes (Himalayas, Hindukush):
- Facilitated trade of spices, silk, and textiles.
- Allowed the exchange of ideas (zero, decimal system, astronomy).
- Helped spread religions like Buddhism and Hinduism.
- Sea routes:
- Connected India with Southeast Asia, China, East Africa.
- Helped in spread of Indian culture, art, and architecture.
3.4 Modern Importance
- Location is strategically important for:
- Defence and security.
- International trade.
- Geopolitics (control over Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal).
4. India and Its Neighbours
4.1 Land Neighbours
India shares borders with 7 countries:
- Pakistan – northwest.
- Afghanistan – northwest (small boundary near Wakhan Corridor).
- China (Tibet) – north.
- Nepal – north.
- Bhutan – north.
- Bangladesh – east.
- Myanmar (Burma) – east.
4.2 Maritime Neighbours
- Sri Lanka – separated by Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar.
- Maldives – situated south-west of Lakshadweep Islands.
4.3 Importance of Neighbours
- India shares cultural and historical ties with neighbours.
- Common heritage → Buddhism in Sri Lanka & Myanmar, shared festivals, languages.
- Economic cooperation through SAARC and other organisations.
5. India’s Physical Divisions (Relation to Location & Size)
Although studied in detail in later chapters, the physical divisions are influenced by India’s vast size and unique location:
- The Himalayas – form natural frontiers in the north, protect from cold winds, and are a source of rivers.
- The Northern Plains – formed by the Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra rivers; agriculturally fertile.
- The Peninsular Plateau – rich in minerals and forests.
- The Coastal Plains – provide opportunities for fishing, trade, and transport.
- The Islands (Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep) – extend India’s maritime boundaries.
6. India’s Time and Location
- Longitudinal extent = about 30°.
- This leads to two hours’ time difference between Arunachal Pradesh (east) and Gujarat (west).
- To avoid confusion, Indian Standard Time (IST) is fixed at 82°30′ E longitude.
7. Significance of India’s Location
7.1 Strategic Importance
- Controls important sea lanes in the Indian Ocean.
- Acts as a bridge between East and West Asia.
7.2 Economic Importance
- Central position favours international trade.
- Rich natural resources → coal, iron, agriculture, forests, fisheries.
- A hub of software, textiles, spices, jewellery, pharmaceuticals.
7.3 Cultural Importance
- India’s central location made it a cultural crossroads.
- Spread of Indian art, literature, architecture, and philosophy to Southeast Asia and beyond.
8. Map Work (Exam-Oriented)
In exam maps, you may be asked to:
- Mark the Tropic of Cancer.
- Locate Standard Meridian of India (82°30′ E).
- Shade neighbouring countries (Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives).
- Mark the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean.
- Identify Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands.
Quick Revision Points
- Latitudes: 8°4′ N to 37°6′ N
- Longitudes: 68°7′ E to 97°25′ E
- IST Meridian: 82°30′ E (near Mirzapur, UP)
- Area: 3.28 million sq km (7th largest)
- Population rank: 2nd in the world
- Land frontier: 15,200 km
- Coastline: 7,516.6 km
- Neighbours: Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives
- Indian Ocean named after India