Overview
This lecture introduces the geography of India, focusing on its position, diversity, physical features, political-administrative structure, neighboring countries, and key landforms.
Introduction to India
- India is located in South Asia with a unique and strategic geographical position.
- The country covers 3.28 million square kilometers, ranking seventh in area globally.
- India is the second most populous country, after China, with high population density.
- The nation features great diversity in landforms, vegetation, languages, and culture.
Location and Extent
- India stretches about 3,200 km from north (Kashmir) to south (Kanyakumari) and 2,900 km from east (Arunachal Pradesh) to west (Gujarat).
- It is located between latitudes 8°4'N and 37°6'N, and longitudes 68°7'E and 97°25'E.
- The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) divides India almost into two halves.
- Due to its east-west extent, there is a time difference of about two hours between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat.
- Indian Standard Time (IST) is set at 82°30'E longitude, near Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh.
Neighbouring Countries
- India shares land borders with Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
- It shares maritime borders with Sri Lanka and Maldives.
- Some neighboring countries like Nepal and Bhutan are landlocked, having no coastal access.
- The Palk Strait separates India and Sri Lanka.
Political and Administrative Divisions
- India is divided into states, union territories, and districts for better administration.
- There are 28 states and 8 union territories (including recent changes such as the creation of Ladakh and the merging of Daman & Diu with Dadra & Nagar Haveli).
- States have their own governments, while union territories are administered by the central government.
- Delhi is the national capital, Rajasthan is the largest state by area, and Goa is the smallest.
Physical Divisions of India
- The major physical divisions include:
- The Himalayan Mountains (three ranges: Himadri/Greater Himalayas, Himachal/Middle Himalayas, and Shivalik/Outer Himalayas).
- The Northern Plains, formed by the deposition of Himalayan rivers (Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus).
- The Great Indian Desert (Thar Desert) in Rajasthan.
- The Peninsular Plateau, which is triangular, elevated, and rich in minerals (includes Aravali, Vindhya, Satpura ranges).
- The Coastal Plains, located between Western/Eastern Ghats and the sea (Malabar Coast and Coromandel Coast).
- The Islands: Andaman & Nicobar (Bay of Bengal) and Lakshadweep (Arabian Sea), the latter being coral islands.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Latitude — imaginary horizontal lines measuring north-south position on Earth.
- Longitude — imaginary vertical lines measuring east-west position.
- Tropic of Cancer — latitude 23°30'N, passes nearly through the middle of India.
- Delta — landform formed at the mouth of a river due to sediment deposition; e.g., Sundarban Delta (Ganga-Brahmaputra).
- Coral Island — island formed by the accumulation of coral skeletons, like Lakshadweep.
- Peninsula — land surrounded by water on three sides, like southern India.
- Landlocked Country — a country surrounded by land, with no direct sea access.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review maps for the location and physical/political divisions of India.
- Memorize the names and features of India's neighboring countries and physical features.
- Prepare answers for short questions on India's geography and key landforms.
- Watch assigned video lectures for detailed understanding of each division.