NCERT Book Class 6 Geography Our Country India

OUR COUNTRY – INDIA

India is a country of vast geographical expanse. In the north, it is bound by the lofty Himalayas. The Arabian Sea in the west, the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Indian Ocean in the south, wash the shores of the Indian peninsula.

India has an area of about 3.28 million sq. km. The north-south extent from Kashmir to Kanyakumari is about 3,200 km. And the east-west extent from Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh is about 2,900 km. The lofty mountains, the Great Indian Desert, the Northern Plains, the uneven plateau surface and the coasts and islands present a diversity of landforms. There is a great variety in the climate, vegetation, wildlife as well as in the language and culture. In this diversity, we find unity that is reflected in traditions that bind us as one nation. India has a population of more than a hundred crores since the year 2001. It is the second most populous country of the world after China.

LOCATIONAL SETTING

India is located in the northern hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) passes almost halfway through the country (Figure 7.2). From south to north, India extends between 8°4'N and 37°6'N latitudes. From west to east, India extends between 68°7'E and 97°25'E longitudes. If we divide the world into eastern and western hemispheres, which hemisphere would India belong to? Due to great longitudinal extent of about 29°, there could be a wide differences in local time of places located at two extreme points of India. As such, the difference between these two points would be of about two hours. As you have learnt earlier, the local time changes by four minutes for every one degree of longitude. The sun rises two hours earlier in the east (Arunachal Pradesh) than in the west (Gujarat). You have already read earlier, why the local time of longitude of 82°30'E has been taken as the Indian Standard Time. This meridian or longitude is also termed as the Standard Meridian of India.

INDIA’S NEIGHBOURS

There are seven countries that share land boundaries with India. Find out names of these countries from the Figure 7.1. How many of these countries do not have access to any ocean or sea? Across the sea to the south, lie our island neighbours— Sri Lanka and Maldives. Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strai

EXERCISE

1. Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) Name the major physical divisions of India.

(b) India shares its land boundaries with seven countries. Name them.

(c) Which two major rivers fall into the Arabian Sea?

(d) Name the delta formed by the Ganga and the Brahmaputra.

(e) How many States and Union Territories are there in India? Which stateshave a common capital?

(f) Why do a large number of people live in the Northern plains?

(g) Why is Lakshadweep known as a coral island?

2. Tick the correct answers.

(a) The southernmost Himalayas are known as

(i) Siwaliks     (ii) Himadri     (iii) Himachal

(b) Sahyadris is also known as

(i) Aravali    (ii) Western Ghats    (iii) Himadri

(c) The Palk Strait lies between the countries

(i) Sri Lanka and Maldives

(ii) India and Sri Lanka

(iii) India and Maldives

(d) The Indian islands in the Arabian Sea are known as

(i) Andaman and Nicobar Islands

(ii) Lakshadweep Islands

(iii) Maldives

Please refer to attached file for NCERT Class 6 Geography Our Country – India