India, the seventh-largest country in the world by land area, is a diverse nation with a rich geographical landscape that plays a pivotal role in its cultural, economic, and political life. Situated in South Asia, India’s geographical features and strategic location have been key in shaping its history and global interactions. This article provides an in-depth geographical overview of India, tailored for SSC, UPSC, and state PSC exam aspirants.
Location and Extent
India lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and extends between 8°4’ N to 37°6’ N latitude and 68°7’ E to 97°25’ E longitude. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30’ N) passes through the middle of the country, dividing it into almost two equal parts.
Total Area: 3,287,263 square kilometers, accounting for 2.4% of the world’s land area.
Land Frontier: 15,200 kilometers.
Coastline: 7,516.6 kilometers, including the mainland, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.
Neighboring Countries: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and maritime neighbors Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
India’s geographical location places it at the crossroads of trade routes, making it a critical junction for ancient and modern commerce.
Geological Structure
India is part of the ancient landmass Gondwanaland. Its geological structure is divided into three major divisions:
The Peninsular Plateau: Composed of ancient crystalline rocks, this stable landmass forms the backbone of the Indian subcontinent.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain: This alluvial plain formed by the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers is highly fertile and a hub for agriculture.
The Himalayan Mountains: The youngest and loftiest mountain range in the world, it acts as a natural barrier and a climatic divide.
Physical Features
India’s topography is diverse, comprising mountains, plateaus, plains, deserts, and islands. These features are grouped into six physiographic divisions:
1. The Northern Mountains
Include the Himalayas (Greater, Lesser, and Shiwalik ranges).
Home to some of the world’s highest peaks, including Mount Everest (8,848.86 m) and Kanchenjunga (8,586 m).
Source of major rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, Indus, and Brahmaputra.
2. The Northern Plains
Formed by the alluvial deposits of rivers.
Subdivided into:
Punjab Plains (Indus Basin).
Ganga Plains (Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin).
Brahmaputra Plains.
Known as the food bowl of India.
3. The Peninsular Plateau
The oldest landmass, rich in minerals.
Divided into:
Malwa Plateau.
Deccan Plateau.
Chotanagpur Plateau.
4. The Indian Desert
Located in Rajasthan, known as the Thar Desert.
Characterized by arid conditions, sand dunes, and sparse vegetation.
5. The Coastal Plains
Stretch along the Arabian Sea (western coast) and the Bay of Bengal (eastern coast).
Include features like the Konkan Coast, Malabar Coast, Coromandel Coast, and Northern Circar.
6. The Islands
Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea.
These islands are of strategic importance and rich in biodiversity.
Climate
India experiences a monsoonal climate, influenced by:
Latitude: Divided into tropical and subtropical zones.
Altitude: Varies from the Himalayan cold deserts to coastal humid tropics.
Pressure and Winds: Monsoon winds dominate, bringing seasonal rainfall.
Seasons:
Winter (January-February).
Summer (March-May).
Monsoon (June-September).
Post-Monsoon (October-December).
PRACTICE MCQ (SOLVED)
1. Name the place in India where Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean meet?
Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of mainland India where the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean meet.
2. Which one among the following cities is called the zero-mile centre of India?
Nagpur is called the zero-mile centre of India as it is located at the geographical centre of the country.
3. The Amindivi and Cannanore Islands are separated from Minicoy Island by?
The Nine Degree Channel separates the Amindivi and Cannanore Islands from Minicoy Island.
4. The Eight Degree Channel separates which of the following?
The Eight Degree Channel separates Lakshadweep from the Maldives.
5. The Andaman Group of Islands and the Nicobar Group of Islands are separated by which one of the following latitudes?
The Andaman and Nicobar Groups of Islands are separated by the 10° N latitude.
6. Consider the following statements: I. Longitude of Jabalpur’s location is between those of Indore and Bhopal. II. Latitude of Aurangabad’s location is between those of Vadodara and Pune. III. Bengaluru is situated more southward than Chennai. Which of these statements is/are correct?
All the given statements are correct.
7. Which of the following longitudes is known as “Standard Meridian” in India?
The 82°30'E longitude is the Standard Meridian of India.
8. The Indian Standard Time is taken from which of the following city?
Indian Standard Time is calculated from Allahabad (Naini).
9. How much is the difference between Indian Standard Time (IST) and Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)?
Indian Standard Time (IST) is +5½ hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
10. Sunrise in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh would be about how many hours before the sunrise in Western Gujarat?
The sunrise in Eastern Arunachal Pradesh is approximately two hours earlier than in Western Gujarat.
11. Which of the following cities is closest to IST (Indian Standard Time) meridian?
Rewa is closest to the Indian Standard Time meridian (82°30'E).
12. Which among the following places will have maximum day length in the month of June?
Delhi experiences the maximum day length in the month of June as it is farther north.
13. Where does India rank in the area among the countries of the world?
India ranks seventh in the area among the countries of the world.
14. Area of India is 2.4% of the total area of the world but its?
India has 2.4% of the world’s land area but accounts for 17% of its population.
15. India’s share of total land area in the world is about?
India’s share of the total land area in the world is 2.4%.
16. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
India currently has 28 states, not 26.
17. Which of the following statements are true about India? I. India is the fifth largest country of the world. II. It occupies about 2.4 per cent of the total area of the lithosphere. III. Whole of India lies in the tropic zone. IV. 82°30' East longitude is used to determine Indian Standard Time.
India is the seventh largest country, occupies 2.4% of the lithosphere, and 82°30'E longitude is used for IST.
18. Arrange the following Indian cities according to their locations from West to East: I. Bilaspur, II. Jodhpur, III. Bhopal, IV. Ranchi.
From West to East, the cities are arranged as Jodhpur, Bilaspur, Bhopal, and Ranchi.
19. Which one of the following countries shares the longest land frontier with India?
Bangladesh shares the longest land frontier with India.
20. Who decided the border between India and Pakistan?
Sir Cyril Radcliffe decided the border between India and Pakistan.
21. The boundary line between India and Pakistan is an example of?
The boundary line between India and Pakistan is a subsequent boundary as it was drawn after settlement.
22. Durand Line demarcated the Indian boundary with which of the following countries?
The Durand Line demarcated the boundary between India (then British India) and Afghanistan.
23. Which of the following separates India and Sri Lanka?
The Palk Strait separates India and Sri Lanka.
24. Extension of the international boundaries of India along with their neighbouring countries in ascending order are:
The boundaries in ascending order are Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China.
25. Which of the following is geographically closest to Great Nicobar?
Sumatra is geographically closest to Great Nicobar.
26. Which among the following is not correctly matched? Bordering nation - Land boundary in km:
Nepal's land boundary with India is 1751 km, not 1752 km.
27. The latitudinal extent of mainland India is between ........ [SSC 2017]
The latitudinal extent of mainland India is 8°4' N to 37°6' N.
28. The latitudes that pass through Sikkim also pass through [IAS (Pre) 2010]
The latitudes passing through Sikkim also pass through Himachal Pradesh.
29. Which one of the following latitudes passes through maximum Indian states? [Astt. Comm. 2019]
The 24° N latitude passes through the maximum number of Indian states.
30. The important latitude which almost divides India into two parts is [MPPSC (Pre) 2008]
The 23°30' N latitude, also known as the Tropic of Cancer, divides India into two parts.
31. The longitudinal extent of India is between [RRB 2011, 2006, 2005]
The longitudinal extent of India is 68° 7' E to 97° 25' E.
32. Tropic of Cancer passes through [MPPSC (Pre) 2014]
The Tropic of Cancer passes through Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, and Mizoram.
33. Through how many Indian states does the Tropic of Cancer pass? [UKPSC (Pre) 2010]
The Tropic of Cancer passes through 8 Indian states.
34. Name the State of India through which Tropic of Cancer passes. [JPSC (Pre) 2011]
Jharkhand is one of the states through which the Tropic of Cancer passes.
35. Which of the following Indian state lies North of the Tropic of Cancer? [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2013]
Manipur lies to the north of the Tropic of Cancer.
36. Among the following cities, which one is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer? [IAS (Pre) 2003]
Kolkata is the city nearest to the Tropic of Cancer.
37. Which one of the following towns is nearest to the Tropic of Cancer? [UPPSC (Pre) 1999]
Agartala is the nearest town to the Tropic of Cancer.
38. 70° East longitude passes through [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2010]
70° East longitude passes through Dholpur.
39. The Western most place of India, "Guhar Moti," is situated in which the State/UT of India.
Guhar Moti, the westernmost place of India, is situated in Gujarat.
40. The Southern most point of India is [UKPSC (Pre) 2003, UP Lower Sub (Pre) 2002]
Indira Point is the southernmost point of India, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
41. Where is the Southern most point of India located? [MPPSC (Pre) 2006]
The southernmost point of India is located in Great Nicobar, where Indira Point is situated.
42. The Northernmost place of India, "Indira Col," is situated in
Indira Col, the northernmost point of India, is situated in Ladakh.
43. Which one among the following major Indian cities is most Eastward located? [IAS (Pre) 2007]
Lucknow is the most eastward located among the given cities.
44. In terms of longitude, the Eastern most State of India is [WBCS 2017]
Arunachal Pradesh is the easternmost state of India in terms of longitude.
45. Which one of the following pairs of states of India indicates the Eastern most and Western most state? [IAS (Pre) 2015]
Arunachal Pradesh is the easternmost state, and Gujarat is the westernmost state of India.
Rivers and Drainage Systems
India’s river systems are categorized into:
Himalayan Rivers:
Perennial rivers like Ganga, Indus, and Brahmaputra.
Form extensive deltas and provide fertile plains.
Peninsular Rivers:
Seasonal rivers like Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri.
Important for irrigation and hydropower.
Natural Vegetation and Wildlife
India’s biodiversity ranks among the top in the world. The natural vegetation varies from:
Tropical Rainforests in the Western Ghats and Andaman Islands.
Deciduous Forests in central and northern India.
Desert Vegetation in Rajasthan.
Mangroves in the Sundarbans.
Protected areas like national parks and wildlife sanctuaries (e.g., Jim Corbett, Kaziranga) are crucial for conservation.
Soils
India has a diverse range of soils:
Alluvial Soil: Found in plains, highly fertile.
Black Soil: Known for cotton cultivation.
Red Soil: Found in the Deccan Plateau.
Laterite Soil: Found in hilly areas.
Desert Soil: Found in arid regions.
Minerals and Resources
India is rich in minerals like coal, iron ore, bauxite, and mica. The Peninsular Plateau is the most significant mineral-producing region.
Strategic Importance
Maritime Access: Facilitates trade through ports like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.
Defense: The Himalayas act as a natural barrier.
Connectivity: Central location in the Indian Ocean enhances strategic influence.
Conclusion
India’s geographical diversity is a testament to its natural wealth and strategic significance. From the towering Himalayas to the vast coastal plains, the country’s geography is not just a topic for academic study but a critical component of its development. For exam aspirants, understanding these features is key to mastering geography and appreciating the role it plays in India’s growth and identity.
Explore the physical division of India, including the Himalayas, Indo-Gangetic Plains, Peninsular Plateau, Coastal Plains, Desert Region, and Islands. Learn key facts and features essential for SSC, UPSC, and State PSC exam preparation.
India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, with a diverse range of industries and cutting-edge research centers contributing significantly to its development. Understanding the industries and research hubs in India is vital for competitive exams as it not only highlights the country’s economic strength but also emphasizes advancements in science, technology, and…
Discover the diverse soils of India, their characteristics, distribution, and significance. A comprehensive guide for competitive exams, covering all facts about the soils of India.
Dear Students! We are now ready wih 200 MCQ on Agriculture, Irrigation and Animal Husbandry in India with solutions. These MCQs are very important part of your Geography of India preparation for competitive exams like UPSC,SSC ,STATE PSC and similar exams in which GK-GS are important part of the exam. Click on correct Option
Discover the diverse natural vegetation and wildlife of India in this in-depth guide. Perfect for competitive exams, it covers forest types, notable wildlife, conservation efforts, and challenges, offering a complete understanding of India’s biodiversity.
Discover everything about India’s minerals and energy resources, their types, importance, latest data, and sustainable management practices. Perfect for students preparing for exams or gaining insights into India’s resource potential.
