India Size and Location — Class 9 Geography Notes

Chapter 1 of NCERT Class 9 Geography — Contemporary India covers India's Size and Location. This chapter establishes the basic geographic position of India — a fundamental foundation for all subsequent geography topics.

Question (Click to Flip)

What is the Standard Meridian of India and why was it chosen?

Answer

India's Standard Meridian is 82°30'E, which passes through Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh). It was chosen because it lies roughly at the midpoint of India's east-west span, minimizing the difference between IST and local time across the country.

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Key Facts

The Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N) passes almost through the middle of India, dividing it into the tropical south (Torrid Zone) and the sub-tropical north (Temperate Zone).

Location of India

Latitudinal Extent: 8°4'N to 37°6'N
Longitudinal Extent: 68°7'E to 97°25'E
Standard Meridian: 82°30'E (passes through Mirzapur, UP)
Hemisphere: India lies entirely in the Northern and Eastern hemispheres
Position: India is located in South Asia. The mainland extends from the snow-capped Himalayas in the north to the tropical southern tip at Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari).

Size and Area

Total Area: 3.28 million km² (32.8 lakh km²)
Rank in World: 7th largest country by area
India accounts for about 2.4% of the world's total area
India has a land boundary of about 15,200 km and a coastline of about 7,516.6 km (including island territories)

Neighbouring Countries (7 land neighbours): Pakistan, Afghanistan (disputed), China, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh Sea neighbours: Sri Lanka (separated by Palk Strait), Maldives, Indonesia

Time Difference — East to West

From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh, the time lag is about 2 hours. India's longitudinal extent is about 29°. At a rate of 4 minutes per degree of longitude, the sun rises approximately 2 hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than in Gujarat. This is why India follows a single Indian Standard Time (IST) based on 82°30'E.

Questions and Answers

What is the Standard Meridian of India and why was it chosen?+

India's Standard Meridian is **82°30'E**, which passes through **Mirzapur (Uttar Pradesh)**. It was chosen because it lies roughly at the midpoint of India's east-west span, minimizing the difference between IST and local time across the country.

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