Location of India in the World
India is the ancient civilization in the world. It has displayed remarkable progress in many fields such as agriculture, technology, economic development, and industry and has contributed forward in the making of world history.
India is located in the Northern hemisphere. By land area, it is the seventh-largest country and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean, The Arabian Sea, and the Bay Of Bengal. It shares its land borders with Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The following points will discuss more about its location:
The land extends between latitude 8°4’N and 37°6’N and longitudes 68°7’E and 97°25’E.
The Tropic Of Cancer divides India into two equal parts.
Size of India
It is the seventh-largest country in the world covering a total area of 3,287,263 square kilometres. It has a land frontier of 15200 km and a coastline that covers 7516.6 km. The following points discuss more about the landmark.
India is covered by mountains in the northwest, north, and northeast.
The landmark begins to taper and extends towards the Indian Ocean, dividing into two seas. The Arabian Sea on the west and the Bay Of Bengal on the east.
Time along the Standard Meridian of India is taken as the standard time zone of India.
The Standard Meridian passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh (82°30’E)
India and the World
The Indian landmark is centrally located between west and east Asia. The countries in the west and east are connected through trans-Indian routes. India enjoys its contacts with the world via land routes more than maritime contacts and is the only nation that has an ocean named after it ( Indian Ocean )
India has contributed a lot to the world in the forms of philosophies and mathematics. Philosophies include Upanishads, Panchtantra, and Ramayana Mahabharat. Mathematics contributions include Indian numerals and decimal systems.
Due to various contributions to the outside territory, India’s architecture was influenced by Greek sculpture and architectural styles of West India.
India’s Neighbours
India occupies an important position in South Asia and has 29 States and 7 Union Territories. Its boundaries are shared with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and China. The southern neighbours across the sea consist of two island countries, namely the Maldives and Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka and India are separated by Pak Strait, a narrow strip of sea. India stands apart from the rest of Asia and always has had strong geographical and historical links with its neighbours.
Climate
India hosts 6 major climatic conditions ranging from the arid desert, glaciers, humid tropicals, and alpine tundra. The Himalayas act as a barrier from Central Asia. Due to this northern India is kept warm or mildly cool during winters. In summers, it is relatively hot. The Tropic Of Cancer - the boundary between tropics and subtropics passes through the middle of India and the whole country is considered to be tropical. It governs a tropical rainy climate in some regions with persistent warm or high temperatures. Also here a tropical wet and dry climate is more common.
Summers last between March and June. The rain-bearing monsoon clouds are attracted to the low-pressure system. The southwest monsoon diverges into two parts, the Bay Of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. Winters in the peninsula experience mild to warm days and cool nights. Temperatures in some parts fall below freezing. Most of the northern part of India is plagued by fog during the season. The highest temperature being recorded in India is 51 degrees in Phalodi ( Rajasthan ) Celcius and the lowest temperature being recorded is -60 degrees Celcius in Dras ( Jammu and Kashmir )
FAQs on Size and Location of India
1. What is the precise geographical location of India on the globe?
India is a vast country located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. The mainland extends between latitudes 8°4'N and 37°6'N and longitudes 68°7'E and 97°25'E. This strategic location places it in South Asia, with the Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) dividing the country into almost two equal halves.
2. What is the total size of India's landmass and what is its rank in the world?
India's landmass covers an area of 3.28 million square kilometres. This accounts for about 2.4% of the total geographical area of the world, making India the seventh-largest country by land area. Its land boundary is approximately 15,200 km, and the total length of its coastline, including the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands, is 7,516.6 km.
3. Why is 82°30'E chosen as the Standard Meridian of India?
The longitude 82°30'E is chosen as the Standard Meridian of India to avoid time confusion across the country. India has a vast longitudinal extent of about 30 degrees, which could cause a time difference of nearly two hours between its easternmost (Arunachal Pradesh) and westernmost (Gujarat) points. To maintain a uniform time for all states, this central meridian, which passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh, is taken as the standard time for the whole country, known as Indian Standard Time (IST).
4. What is the difference between the southernmost point of the Indian mainland and the Indian Union?
There is a key distinction between these two points.
- The southernmost point of the Indian mainland is Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
- The southernmost point of the Indian Union as a whole is the Indira Point, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Unfortunately, Indira Point was submerged under the sea during the 2004 Tsunami.
5. How does India's location at the head of the Indian Ocean provide a strategic advantage?
India's position at the head of the Indian Ocean is of great strategic importance. The trans-Indian Ocean routes connect the countries of Europe in the west with the countries of East Asia. The Deccan Peninsula protrudes 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. No other country has such a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India does, justifying the naming of an ocean after it.
6. Why is the difference in the duration of day and night greater in Kashmir than in Kanyakumari?
This difference is due to the latitudinal extent. Kanyakumari is located near the Equator at about 8°N latitude. At the Equator, days and nights are of almost equal duration. As Kanyakumari is very close to it, the difference between the duration of day and night is hardly one hour. Conversely, Kashmir is located further away from the Equator at over 30°N latitude. As we move away from the Equator, the difference between the duration of day and night becomes more pronounced.
7. What are the main geographical features that separate India from the rest of Asia?
India is separated from the rest of the Asian continent by a major physical barrier, the Himalayas. This massive mountain range, along with its extensions like the Hindu Kush and Patkai ranges, forms a distinct geographical entity often referred to as the Indian subcontinent. This separation has resulted in a unique climate, culture, and history for the region, which also includes countries like Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh.
8. Name the countries that share a land boundary with India.
As per the NCERT syllabus for the 2025-26 session, India shares its land boundaries with seven countries. These are:
- Pakistan and Afghanistan in the northwest.
- China (Tibet), Nepal, and Bhutan in the north.
- Myanmar and Bangladesh in the east.
