Question

The standard meridian of India passes through _________.
(a) Bhagalpur
(b) Lucknow
(c) Mirzapur
(d) Dehradun

Answer 1

Hint: The $82 \dfrac{1}{2}^\circ E$ longitude is called standard meridian of India. The local time suggested or referred to at this meridian is known as the country-wide standard time. This is considered as Indian Standard Time.

Complete step by step answer:
The time of a place depends on the longitude that passes through it. Therefore the standard time of each country is usually taken as the time of the central meridian that passes through it. India has a vast longitudinal extent. Since many meridians pass through it, it is important to adopt the local time of one central meridian of a country as the standard time for the country. Thus we need a standard meridian for the country. In India, the $82 \dfrac{1}{2} ^\circ E$ longitude determines the standard time. This is known as Indian Standard Time (IST).
So, the correct answer is Option C.

Note: There is a time gap of two hours from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh. As a result, time along the Standard Meridian of India ($82^\circ 30$'E) passing via Mirzapur (in Uttar Pradesh) is taken as the standard time for the entire country. The latitudinal extent changes the length of day and night as one travels from the south to the north.