CBSE Class 9 Chapter 1 ‘India – Size and Location’ Solutions: As you may know, this chapter is a crucial part of the syllabus and covers various aspects of India’s geography. here we will provide you with detailed solutions to both intext and textbook questions, along with map skill work and project activity solutions. So, if you’re looking for comprehensive and reliable resources to help you ace this chapter, you’ve come to the right place! Let’s get started and enjoy a free learning here:
Intext Questions (Inside Chapter Text)
On Page-2
1. Why 82° 30’ E has been selected as the Standard Meridian of India?
Ans. There is a two-hour time difference between Gujarat and Arunachal Pradesh. Therefore, to avoid complications arising from different time zones across India, the time along the Standard Meridian of India (82° 30′ E) passing through Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, is chosen as the standard time for the entire country. This unified time is known as Indian Standard Time (IST), ensuring consistency and eliminating time discrepancies between regions.
2. Why is the difference between the duration of day and night hardly felt at Kanyakumari but not so in Kashmir?
Ans. The day and night are nearly of the same duration at the equator. As Kanyakumari is quite near the equator at 8°4’N the day-night difference is hardly one hour there, and therefore, the duration of day and night is hardly felt at Kanyakumari.
On the other hand, as we move away from the equator to the poles the variations in duration of day and night become greater. Kashmir is over 30° away from the equator and so the difference in duration of day and night is more there and we feel that difference.
Long Answer:
The difference between the duration of day and night is hardly felt at Kanyakumari, which is located near the southern tip of India, because it is very close to the equator. At the equator, the day and night are almost equal throughout the year, as the sun is directly overhead and the length of the day and night remains almost constant.
On the other hand, in Kashmir, which is located at a high altitude in the northern part of India, the difference between the duration of day and night is more noticeable. This is because as you move away from the equator towards the poles, the angle at which the sun’s rays hit the Earth changes, causing the length of the day and night to vary more significantly throughout the year. At higher latitudes, such as those found in Kashmir, the length of the day and night can vary greatly from season to season, with very long days in the summer and very short days in the winter.
Therefore, the location of Kanyakumari near the equator results in a minimal difference between the duration of day and night, while the high altitude and latitude of Kashmir result in a more significant difference.
On Page-4
1. The number of Union Territories along the western and eastern coasts.
Ans. The Union Territories along the coasts of India are:
(i) Western Coast – Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and Mahe (belonging to Puducherry)
(ii) Eastern Coast – Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
2. Area-wise which is the smallest and which is the largest state?
Ans. Area-wise smallest state is Goa and the largest state is Rajasthan.
3. The states which do not have an international border or lie on the coast.
Ans. States which do not have International Boundary or lie on the coast
(i) Haryana
(ii) Jharkhand
(iii) Madhya Pradesh and
(iv) Chhattisgarh
4. Classify the states into four groups each having common frontiers with
(a) Pakistan (b) China
(c) Myanmar (d) Bangladesh
Ans. (a) Pakistan – Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir
(b) China – Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir
(c) Myanmar – Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram
(d) Bangladesh – West Bengal, Asom, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram
Textbook Exercise Answers
On Page – 6
Q.1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) The Tropic of Cancer does not pass through
(a) Rajasthan (c) Chhattisgarh
(b) Odisha (d) Tripura
Ans. (b)
(ii) The easternmost longitude of India is
(a) 97° 25′ E (c) 77° 6′ E
(b) 68° 7′ E (d) 82° 32′ E
Ans. (a)
(iii) Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim have common frontiers with
(a) China (c) Nepal
(b) Bhutan (d) Myanmar
Ans. (c)
(iv) If you intend to visit Kavarati during your summer vacations, which one of the following Union Territories of India you will be going to
(a) Puducherry (c) Andaman and Nicobar
(b) Lakshadweep (d) Daman and Diu
Ans. (b)
(v) My friend hails from a country which does not share land boundary with India. Identify the country.
(a) Bhutan (c) Bangladesh
(b) Tajikistan (d) Nepal
Ans. (b)
Answers: (b), (a), (c), (b), (b)
Q.2. Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) Name the group of islands lying in the Arabian Sea.
Ans. Lakshadweep Islands
(ii) Name the countries which are larger than India.
Ans. Russia, Canada, USA, China, Australia and Brazil.
(iii) Which island group of India lies to its south-east?
Ans. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(iv) Which island countries are our southern neighbours?
Ans. Sri Lanka and Maldives
3. The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat in the west but the watches show the same time. How does this happen?
Ans. From Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh there is a time lag of two hours, but the watches show the same time because the time along the Standard Meridian of India (82° 30′ E) passing through Mirzapur in Uttar
Pradesh is taken as the standard time for the whole country. Because the same standard time for the whole country has been adopted, the watches show the same time in Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat and in all parts of the country
Long Answer:
- The geographical distance between Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat is substantial, with Arunachal Pradesh being farther east. The time difference between the two states is approximately two hours.
- Since the Earth rotates from west to east, the eastern regions, such as Arunachal Pradesh, experience sunrise earlier than the western regions like Gujarat.
- To maintain uniformity within the country, Standard Meridian (82°30’E) passing through Mirzapur is taken as the Indian standard time (IST) for the whole country.
- The watches and clocks in both Arunachal Pradesh and Gujarat (along with the rest of India) are set to the Indian Standard Time. This means that even though the sun rises earlier in Arunachal Pradesh, the clocks in both states show the same time.
4. The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why?
Ans. The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance because of the following reasons:
- The Indian landmass has a central location between East and West Asia.
- India is a southward extension of the Asian continent.
- The trans Indian Ocean routes which connect the countries of Europe in the West to the countries of East Asia provide a strategic central location to India.
- The sea routes have contributed in the exchange of ideas and commodities, architecture and sculpture etc.
- The Deccan peninsula protrudes into the Indian Ocean, thus helping India to establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the Western coast and South-East and East Asia from the Eastern coast.
- No other country has a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India has which accounts for naming of The Indian Ocean.
Map Skills: India-Size and Location
I. Identify the following with the help of map reading.
(i) The island groups of India lying in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.
(ii) The countries constituting Indian subcontinent.
(iii) The States through which the Tropic of Cancer passes.
(iv) The northernmost latitude in degrees.
(v) The southernmost latitude of the Indian mainland in degrees.
(vi) The eastern and the western-most longitude in degrees.
(vii) The place situated on the three seas.
(viii) The strait separating Sri Lanka from India.
(ix) The Union Territories of India.
Answers:
(i) Lakshadweep Islands and Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(ii) Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
(iii) Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.
(iv) 37° 6’N
(v) 8° 4’N
(vi) 68° 7’E and 97° 25’E
(vii) Kanyakumari
(viii) Palk Strait
(ix) Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep, Puducherry and Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir and Laddakh.
Project/Activity: India-Size and Location
(i) Find out the longitudinal and latitudinal extent of your state.
Ans. Do it yourself. An example is given below.
I live in Uttar Pradesh. Longitudinally it extends from 77°4’E to 84°39’E. Latitudinally it extends from about 30°20’N to about 23°53’N.
(ii) Collect information about the ‘Silk Route’. Also find out the new developments which are improving communication routes in the regions of the high altitude.
Answer:
The Silk Route, also known as the Silk Road, refers to a historical network of trade routes that connected various regions of the world, primarily Asia, Europe, and Africa. It played a significant role in facilitating cultural exchange, economic activities, and the movement of goods, ideas, and people between different civilizations from around the 2nd century BCE to the 15th century CE.
The Silk Route derived its name from the lucrative trade in silk, which was one of the most sought-after commodities exchanged along the route. However, the Silk Route was not limited to silk trade alone. It served as a vital link for the exchange of goods such as spices, precious metals, gems, textiles, tea, and other luxury items. Moreover, it facilitated the transmission of ideas, technologies, religions, and philosophies, contributing to the development of various civilizations along its path.
The Silk Route encompassed several branches and pathways, which covered vast distances and traversed diverse terrains, including deserts, mountains, grasslands, and maritime routes. The most well-known route was the land-based route that stretched from the ancient capital of China, Xi’an, to the Mediterranean Sea, passing through Central Asia, Persia (modern-day Iran), the Middle East, and ultimately reaching destinations like Rome. Maritime routes also played a crucial role, connecting China with Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and East Africa.
In recent times, there have been several developments aimed at improving communication routes in the regions of high altitude, especially in the mountainous areas along the historical Silk Route. These developments focus on enhancing transportation infrastructure, promoting trade, and fostering connectivity. Here are some notable examples:
- China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Launched in 2013, the BRI is a massive infrastructure project aimed at enhancing connectivity and economic cooperation between Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. It involves the construction of roads, railways, ports, and other infrastructure projects, including those in high-altitude regions.
- China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC): As part of the BRI, the CPEC focuses on improving transportation links between China’s northwestern region and the Gwadar Port in southwestern Pakistan. This includes the construction of the Karakoram Highway and the upgrading of transportation infrastructure in high-altitude areas like Gilgit-Baltistan.
- Trans-Siberian Railway: While not directly related to the Silk Route, the Trans-Siberian Railway provides an essential rail link between Moscow and the Russian Far East, including regions bordering China and Mongolia. It serves as a key trade route and has undergone modernization efforts to improve communication and transportation in high-altitude areas.
- Karakoram Highway: Often referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” the Karakoram Highway connects China’s Xinjiang region with Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region. It traverses the Karakoram mountain range, including high-altitude areas, and has undergone improvements to enhance connectivity and trade.
- New Silk Road Network: Several countries have initiated projects to revive and modernize sections of the Silk Route. For example, Kazakhstan’s Nurly Zhol (“Path to the Future”) program aims to develop transportation infrastructure along the historical Silk Route to improve regional connectivity.
These developments, among others, are helping to improve communication routes in high-altitude regions, enabling easier transportation, trade, and cultural exchange along the path of the Silk Route.
