India-Size and Location Class 9 Extra Short Answer Type from previous years’ CBSE Exam papers. the question was asked in different years of class 9 Exams. Study them to understand the type of questions asked in exams.
Short Answer Type Previous Years’ Board Questions
Location and Size
1. What is the size of India? What is its rank with respect to the world in terms of size?
2. Explain the size and geographical extent of India. [CBSE 2012]
3. Although the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland is about 30°. Despite this fact the east-west extent appears to be smaller than the north-south extent. Why?
4. Explain the major reasons for the two-hour time difference in local time between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat. [CBSE 2016]
5. What is the time lag between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat? How is a uniform time set at all places?
Answers
1. The land mass of India has an area of 3.28 million square km. India’s total area accounts for about 2.4 per cent of the total geographical area of the world and ranks seventh largest country of the world.
2. Size and geographical extent:
(i) The mainland extends between latitude 8°4’N and 37°6′ N and longitude 68°4’N and 97°25’E.
(ii) The land mass of India has an area of 3.28 million sq. km.
(iii) India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km and length of coastline including island 7,516.6 km.
3. The east-west extent appears to be smaller than the north-south extent despite the fact that the latitudinal and longitudinal extent of the mainland is about 30° because the distance between the longitudes becomes less as we move towards the poles from the equator as a result east west extent is less in kms (2933 km). As India lies on the Tropic of Cancer so in comparison with the equator the distance between the longitudes is less than that on the equator, whereas the latitudinal extent remains the same from equator to the poles.
4. The major reasons of time difference are:
(i) Arunachal Pradesh lies on the eastern-most tip of the country and Gujarat lies on the western most tip.
(ii) The longitudinal difference between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat is of 30°.
(iii) Hence, the sun rays will take 2 hours to travel from Arunachal Pradesh to Gujarat.
(iv) If the Earth takes 4 minutes to travel 1° of longitude it would take 30°× 4 = 120 min or 2 hours to cross the distance between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat. Thus, their time difference in local time is 2 hours.
5. The time difference between any two longitude is 4 minutes. The longitudinal difference between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujaratis 30° so there is a time lag of two hours. Hence, time along the Standard Meridian of India (82°30’E) passing through Mirzapur (in Uttar Pradesh) is taken as the Standard Time for the whole country.
India and the World
6. “Our country has cultural linkage with entire Asian countries through the ages.” Explain the statement. [CBSE 2015]
OR | The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why?
Answers
6. Significance of India’s central location has a role in its cultural linkage with entire Asian countries through ages.
- The Indian landmass has a central location between the East and the West Asia.
- Trans-Indian Ocean routes connect the countries of Europe in the West and the countries of east Asia which provides strategic location to our country.
- The Deccan peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean, thus helping to establish close contact with west Asia, Africa and Europe from western coast and with southeast and east Asia from the eastern coast.
India’s Neighbours
7. Why is India called a subcontinent? How is it separated?
8. Which neighbouring island country lies to the south east of India? Name the water bodies that separate this Island country from India. [CBSE 2015]
Answers
7. India is called a subcontinent because it is big landmass, which stands out as a distinct geographical unit from the rest of the continent. It is separated by natural features like mountains and rivers. India is also separated from rest of the continent by the mighty Himalayas.
8. Sri Lanka is the neighbouring country that lies to the south east of India.
Sri Lanka is separated from India by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
