location of india on the world map
- India is located in the north-eastern hemisphere on the world map
Expansion of India
- Latitudinal extension = 6 degrees 4 minutes north to 37 degrees 6 minutes north
- Longitudinal extension = 68 degrees 7 minutes east to 97 degrees 25 minutes east
- Total area = 32,87,263 km
- Length from north to south = 3214 KM
- Length from west to east = 2933 KM
last point of india
- Northernmost point = Indira Kol
- Westernmost point = Gohar Moti
- Easternmost point = Kibithu
- Southernmost point of the mainland = Kanyakumari
- Southernmost point including islands = Indira Point
Tropic of Cancer and Standard Meridian
- 23.5 degrees north is called the Tropic of Cancer
- The Tropic of Cancer passes through a total of 8 states of India
- It divides India into two parts
- States through which the Tropic of Cancer passes:
- Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura, Mizoram
standard meridian line
- 82.5 degrees east is called the standard meridian
- The standard meridian line determines the time in India
- It passes through a total of 5 states of India:
1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Madhya Pradesh
3. Chhattisgarh
4. Odisha
5. Andhra Pradesh
States and Union Territories
Total states at present = 28
Union Territories = 8
Confusing points:
- Many students are confused about the number of states and union territories in India
- In 2014, Telangana became the 29th state of India
- Total number of states at that time = 29
- Total number of territories at that time = 7
currently
- In 2019, statehood is withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir and it is divided into two union territories
- Due to which the total number of states decreases to 28 and the number of union territories increases to 9
- On 26 January 2020, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli were merged together
- At that time the total number of states remains 28 but the number of union territories decreases by one to 8.
- Total states at present = 28
- Union Territories = 8
Neighbouring countries
1. Pakistan
2. Afghanistan
3. China
4. Nepal
5. Bhutan
6. Myanmar
7. Bangladesh
Coastline
- Total length of the mainland = 6100 KM
- Total length including islands = 7,517
- States with coastlines
- Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.
Union territories
- Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Physical Features of India
- The physical features of India are extremely diverse.
- The Himalayan mountain range lies to the north, the Thar Desert to the west, and the Western and Eastern Ghats to the south.
- The major rivers here like Ganga, Yamuna and Brahmaputra are important for agriculture and water resources.
- The Indian subcontinent has a coastline bordered by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, which are important for maritime trade.
Cultural features of India
- India's cultural diversity includes different religions, languages, castes, and festivals.
- There are followers of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jain religions here.
- Every state in India has its own traditions, art, music, dance, and food specialities, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the country.
