India – Size And Location (Basic)

Latitudinal Extent:

The latitudinal extent influences the climate of India. The southern parts of India are closer to the equator and experience a tropical climate, while the northern parts are temperate and experience greater variations in temperature.

Longitudinal Extent:

India's longitudinal extent is about $30^\circ$, which causes a time difference between the eastern and western parts of the country. To standardize time, India follows Indian Standard Time (IST), which is based on the longitude $82^\circ30'E$. This line passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh.

Key Geographical Points:

• The southernmost point of the Indian Union is Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• The mainland's southernmost point is Kanyakumari.
• The westernmost point is in Gujarat (near Ghuar Moti).
• The easternmost point is in Arunachal Pradesh (near Kibithu).

Area:

The total area of India is about 3.28 million square kilometers ($3,287,263 \, km^2$). This is approximately 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world.

Land Boundary and Coastline:

• India has a land boundary of about 15,200 kilometers.
• The mainland coastline extends for about 6,100 kilometers.
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands add about 7516.6 kilometers to the coastline.

Comparison with Other Countries:

India is larger than countries like France, Ukraine, and South Africa, but smaller than Russia, Canada, China, the USA, Brazil, and Australia.

Table: Land Area Comparison (Approximate in million sq km)

Strategic Location:

India is centrally located between West Asia and East Asia. The Indian Ocean, named after India, is the only ocean named after a country. This central location in the Indian Ocean provides India with a unique maritime link to Africa, West Asia, Europe, and East Asia.

Trans-Oceanic Routes:

The vast coastline and its central location in the Indian Ocean have facilitated trade and cultural exchange between India and other parts of the world for centuries. Many sea routes pass through India's exclusive economic zone.

Cultural Exchange:

India's geopolitical location has influenced its culture, trade, and history. Ideas of the Upanishads, the Ramayana, the stories of Panchatantra, and the Indian numeral system (which influenced the decimal system) spread to many parts of the world through trade routes.

Neighbouring Countries:

India shares its land frontiers with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. Its island neighbors are Sri Lanka and Maldives.

Land Frontiers:

India shares its land boundaries with the following countries:

• North-West: Pakistan
• North: China, Nepal, Bhutan
• East: Myanmar, Bangladesh

Maritime Frontiers:

India also shares maritime boundaries with:

• South: Sri Lanka
• South-West: Maldives

Note: Afghanistan shares a very small border with India in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir region.

Geographical Significance:

The Himalayan mountain range in the north acts as a natural barrier, protecting India from much of the cold winds from Central Asia and limiting cultural diffusion in ancient times. The Indian Ocean to the south provides sea access and trade routes.

Table: India's Neighbours and Border Lengths (Approximate)