Chapter 7 Our Country – India

India is a vast country with a diverse geographical expanse. Its boundaries are defined by the majestic Himalayas in the north, the Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east, and the Indian Ocean in the south, which washes the shores of the Indian peninsula.

India covers an area of approximately 3.28 million square kilometers. Its north-south extent, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, is about 3,200 km. The east-west extent, from Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh, is about 2,900 km.

The country's landscape is characterized by a diversity of landforms, including lofty mountains, the Great Indian Desert, the vast Northern Plains, the uneven Peninsular Plateau, coastal areas, and islands. This physical diversity is mirrored by a great variety in climate, vegetation, wildlife, language, and culture.

Despite this rich diversity, a strong sense of unity prevails, reflected in shared traditions that bind the nation together. As of 2011, India's population exceeded 1.2 billion, making it the second most populous country in the world after China.

Locational Setting

India is situated in the Northern Hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer ($23^\circ30'N$) passes roughly through the middle of the country.

The mainland of India extends:

• From south to north: between $8^\circ4'N$ and $37^\circ6'N$ latitudes.
• From west to east: between $68^\circ7'E$ and $97^\circ25'E$ longitudes.

Considering the Earth's eastern and western hemispheres (divided by the Prime Meridian), India lies entirely within the Eastern Hemisphere.

The significant longitudinal extent of about 29 degrees results in a considerable difference in local time between the easternmost and westernmost points of India. Since the local time changes by four minutes for every degree of longitude, the difference between Arunachal Pradesh (east) and Gujarat (west) is approximately $29^\circ \times 4 \text{ minutes/}^\circ \approx 116 \text{ minutes}$, which is about two hours.

To avoid having different local times across the country due to this longitudinal variation, India has adopted a single Standard Time. The local time of the longitude $82^\circ30'E$ has been chosen as the Indian Standard Time (IST). This meridian is also known as the Standard Meridian of India.

Do you know? Large countries with extensive east-west stretches often have multiple Standard Time Zones. The USA and Canada have seven and six time zones, respectively. Russia has eleven time zones.

The Peninsula: A piece of land surrounded by water on three sides.

India’s Neighbours

India shares land boundaries with seven countries. These are:

1. Pakistan (west)
2. Afghanistan (northwest)
3. China (north)
4. Nepal (north)
5. Bhutan (north)
6. Bangladesh (east)
7. Myanmar (east)

Countries that do not have access to any ocean or sea are landlocked. Among India's land neighbors, Nepal and Bhutan are landlocked countries.

Across the sea to the south, India's island neighbours are Sri Lanka and Maldives. Sri Lanka is separated from the Indian mainland by the Palk Strait.

Political And Administrative Divisions

For administrative convenience, India, a vast country, is divided into political units. As of recent information, India is divided into 28 States and 8 Union Territories. Delhi serves as the national capital. The formation of the states has primarily been based on the principle of language.

Physical Divisions

India's physical geography is highly varied, featuring mountains, plateaus, plains, coasts, and islands. The prominent physical divisions are:

1. The Himalayas: Lofty, snow-capped mountains in the north. 'Him+alaya' means 'the abode of snow'. The Himalayas consist of three main parallel ranges:
   • Great Himalaya or Himadri: The northernmost range, home to the world's highest peaks.
   • Middle Himalaya or Himachal: Located south of Himadri, known for many popular hill stations.
   • Shiwalik: The southernmost range of the Himalayas.
2. The Northern Indian Plains: Lie to the south of the Himalayas, characterized by generally level and flat terrain. These plains are formed by fertile alluvial deposits brought down by the rivers Indus, Ganga, Brahmaputra, and their tributaries. The fertile land makes these plains highly suitable for cultivation, supporting a high concentration of population.
3. The Great Indian Desert: Located in the western part of India. It is a hot, dry, and sandy region with very sparse vegetation.
4. The Peninsular Plateau: Situated to the south of the northern plains, triangular in shape with uneven relief. It features numerous hill ranges and valleys. Important ranges include the Aravalli hills (one of the world's oldest), which border the plateau in the north-west, and the Vindhyas and Satpuras. The west-flowing rivers Narmada and Tapi flow through these ranges and drain into the Arabian Sea. The plateau is flanked by the Western Ghats (Sahyadris) in the west (almost continuous) and the Eastern Ghats in the east (broken and uneven). This region is rich in minerals like coal and iron ore.
5. Coastal Plains: Lie to the west of the Western Ghats (Western Coastal Plains) and to the east of the Eastern Ghats (Eastern Coastal Plains). The western coastal plains are relatively narrow, while the eastern coastal plains are much broader. A number of east-flowing rivers (Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri) drain into the Bay of Bengal, forming fertile deltas at their mouths. The Sunderban delta, formed by the Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers, is the world's largest delta.
6. Islands: Two groups of islands are part of India:
   • Lakshadweep Islands: Located in the Arabian Sea, off the coast of Kerala. These are coral islands, formed from the skeletons of tiny marine animals called polyps (Figure 7.4).
   • Andaman and Nicobar Islands: Lie to the southeast of the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were severely affected by the Tsunami in 2004. A Tsunami is a large sea wave caused by an underwater earthquake. The Tsunami caused significant damage along the Indian coast and islands.

Do you know? Many girls are named after rivers (e.g., Yamuna, Mandakini, Kaveri). Some names are related to water in other ways (e.g., Shabnam).

Do you know? The Ganga and Brahmaputra rivers form the world's largest delta, the Sundarbans delta. A delta is a triangular-shaped area of land formed at the mouth of a river, where it enters the sea.