1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below:
(i) The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through
(a) Rajasthan (b) Odisha
(c) Chhattisgarh (d) Tripura
Ans: (b) Odisha
(ii) The easternmost longitude of India is
(a) 97° 25′ E (b) 68° 7′ E
(c) 77° 6′ E (d) 82° 32′ E
Ans: (a) 97° 25′ E
(iii) Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Sikkim have common frontiers with
(a) China (b) Bhutan
(c) Nepal (d) Myanmar
Ans: (c) Nepal
(iv) If you intend to visit Kavaratti during your summer vacations, which one of the following Union Territories of India will you be going to
(a) Puducherry (b) Lakshadweep
(c) Andaman and Nicobar (d) Daman and Diu
Ans: (b) Lakshadweep
(v) My friend hails from a country which does not share a land boundary with India. Identify the country.
(a) Bhutan (b) Tajikistan
(c) Bangladesh (d) Nepal
Ans: (b) Tajikistan
2. Answer the following questions briefly:
(i) Name the group of islands lying in the Arabian Sea.
The Lakshadweep Islands lie in the Arabian Sea to the southwest of the mainland.
(ii) Name the countries which are larger than India.
Countries larger than India are Russia, Canada, the U.S.A, China, Brazil, and Australia.
India has an area of 3.28 million sq.km, while Russia, the largest, has an area of 17.09 million sq.km.
(iii) Which island group of India lies to its south-east?
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie to the south-east of India in the Bay of Bengal.
(iv) Which island countries are our southern neighbours?
The island countries that are our southern neighbours are Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
The Maldives is situated to the south of the Lakshadweep Islands, while Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
3. The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat in the west, but the watches show the same time. How does this happen?
Ans: The time difference between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh is due to the longitudinal extent of India, which spans about 30°. Arunachal Pradesh lies to the east, where the sun rises earlier compared to Gujarat in the west. However, the entire country follows the same Indian Standard Time (IST), which is based on the 82°30′ E longitude (the Standard Meridian of India). This results in the watches showing the same time, even though the sun rises at different times in the east and west of the country.
4. The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why?
Ans: India’s central location at the head of the Indian Ocean is strategically important for several reasons:India acts as a bridge connecting East Asia with Europe.
The Deccan Peninsula extends into the Indian Ocean, enabling India to establish strong links with West Asia, Africa, and Europe from its western coast, and with Southeast and East Asia from its eastern coast.
India’s long coastline and location in the Indian Ocean make it a key player in maritime trade and international relations.
The Indian Ocean is named after India, emphasizing its historical and geographical significance.