India – Location (Advanced)
Location And Extent
India is a vast country located in the Northern Hemisphere. Geographically, it is situated in the southern part of the Asian continent.
Longitudinal and Latitudinal Extent:
- Latitudinal Extent: The mainland of India extends from 8°4' N to 37°6' N latitude. The southernmost point of the Indian Union, however, is Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which extends to 6°45' N latitude.
- Longitudinal Extent: India extends from 68°7' E to 97°25' E longitude.
Significance of Location:
- Strategic Location: India occupies a strategic position in South Asia, bridging East and West Asia. Its location facilitates trade and cultural exchange with regions across the Indian Ocean.
- Trans-Indian Ocean Routes: India's location at the head of the Indian Ocean is significant. It has a favourable position to establish trade links with Africa in the west and Southeast and East Asia in the east. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 reduced its distance from Europe by about 7,000 km, further enhancing its central position.
- Deccan Peninsula: The Deccan Peninsula thrusts into the Indian Ocean, helping India to establish close contact with West Asia, Africa, and Europe from the western coast and with Southeast and East Asia from the eastern coast.
Mainland Extent:
- East-West Extent: The mainland of India extends from Gujarat in the west to Arunachal Pradesh in the east. The longitudinal difference accounts for a time difference, which is managed by the Standard Meridian.
- North-South Extent: From Jammu and Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari in the south.
The Standard Meridian: The 82°30' E longitude is taken as the Standard Meridian of India. This line passes through the cities of Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. It is used to calculate the Indian Standard Time (IST) to maintain uniformity across the country.
Time Difference: Due to its vast longitudinal extent (about 30 degrees), there is a difference of approximately 2 hours between sunrise and sunset in the easternmost part (Arunachal Pradesh) and the westernmost part (Gujarat). IST helps to avoid confusion.
Size
India is the seventh-largest country in the world by area.
Area:
- The total area of India is 3.28 million square kilometres.
- This accounts for about 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world.
Comparison with Other Countries (by Area):
| Rank | Country | Area (million sq km) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russia | 17.10 |
| 2 | Canada | 10.00 |
| 3 | China | 9.60 |
| 4 | USA | 9.50 |
| 5 | Brazil | 8.50 |
| 6 | Australia | 7.70 |
| 7 | India | 3.28 |
| 8 | Argentina | 2.78 |
Geographical Significance of Size:
- Diversity: India's vast size contributes to its immense physical and climatic diversity, supporting a wide range of ecosystems and wildlife.
- East-West and North-South Extent:
- The east-west extent from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh is approximately 2,933 km.
- The north-south extent from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari is approximately 3,214 km.
- Land Frontier: India has a land frontier of about 15,200 km.
- Total Coastline: The total length of the coastline, including the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands, is 7,516.6 km.
India And Its Neighbours
India shares its land boundaries with seven countries and has island neighbours across the seas.
Land Neighbours (West to East):
- Pakistan: To the west.
- Afghanistan: To the northwest (a very short border, disputed with Pakistan-occupied Kashmir).
- China: To the north and northeast.
- Nepal: To the north.
- Bhutan: To the northeast.
- Myanmar (Burma): To the east.
- Bangladesh: To the east, and also bordering India on the west of the Ganga delta.
Island Neighbours:
- Sri Lanka: Southeast of the mainland, separated by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
- Maldives: Southwest of India's Lakshadweep islands in the Arabian Sea.
Significance of Neighbours:
- Geopolitical Importance: Sharing borders with several countries influences India's foreign policy, security, and regional cooperation initiatives.
- Cultural Exchange: Proximity has facilitated historical and ongoing cultural exchanges, trade, and migration.
- Border Management: India faces challenges related to border management, including security, illegal migration, and trade regulation.
- Straits and Channels: The Palk Strait separating India and Sri Lanka is a significant maritime boundary. The Ten Degree Channel separates the Andaman Islands from the Nicobar Islands.
Peninsular Aspect: India's southern peninsula juts into the Indian Ocean, connecting it to Southeast Asia and Africa through maritime routes, further highlighting its strategic location in relation to its neighbours.