India is the seventh largest country in the world covering an area of 32,87,590 square
kilometers, but in population it stands next only to China.
South Asia has total area of about 4,488 million sq. km out which India has the largest area
(3.287 sq. km). It occupies 73.2% of total area.
India stands at the head of Indian Ocean that spans the continent of Asia, Africa and Oceania
providing further links to other continent through the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean
In the Indian subcontinent, India is the only country to share its land frontiers with every
member country of subcontinent
It is 4 times larger than Pakistan which is second largest in South Asia. India is 12 times larger
than UK and 8 times larger then Japan.
The mainland stretches from latitude 8.4’ north to 37.6’ north and from longitude 68.7 east to
97.25’ east of Greenwich.
The latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the country is almost same
in degree i.e. about 30 degree.
The variation in local time between the eastern and western extermites of India is of two hours.
This has been minimised to a certain extent by adopting 82.30’ E longitude as the Standard
Meridian of India Standard Time which we follow through our watches.
Uttar Pradesh borders maximum number of states: 8 (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh,
Harayana, Rajastan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Bihar)
Tropic of Cancer passes through 8 states: Gujarat, Rajastan, MP, Chhattishgarh, Jharkhand,
West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
Indian Standard Meridian (82.30’E meridian) passes through UP, MP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and
Andhra Pradesh.
The country lies wholly in the northern and eastern hemispheres.
The 82.30’ E longitude is taken as Standard Time Meridian of India, as it passes through the
middle of India (from Naini , near Allahabad) Hence, Naini, near Allahabad is the Standard Time
of India.
The country is of the vast size and measures about 3,214 kilometers from north to south and
about 2,933 kilometers from west to east.
Indian Standard Time:- GMT +05:30
Coastline : 7,516.6 km encompassing the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and the Andaman &
Nicobar Islands.
India lies midway between the Far East and the Middle East. India dominates the Indian Ocean
and commands an important strategic position. Her land frontier is 15,200 kilometers long. Her
northern borderland, being mountainous, is very difficult to cross.
In India, total land mass is
Plains : 43.3 %
Plateaus : 27.7 %
Hills : 18.6 %
Mountains : 10.7 %
In the south, on the eastern side, the Gulf of Mannar & the Palk Strait separate India from Sri
Lanka.
India’s Islands include the Andaman & Nicobar Islands in Bay of Bengal & Lakshadweep,
Minicoy & Amindivi Islands in the Arabian Sea.
Total land neighbours of India are 7, these are
Pakistan
Afghanistan
China
Nepal
Bhutan
Bangladesh
Myanmar
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