Our Country — India
Introduction
India is a vast and beautiful country with incredible diversity in its landscapes, climate, and cultures. It is the seventh-largest country in the world by area and the second-most populous. From the snow-capped Himalayas in the north to the tropical beaches in the south, from the Thar Desert in the west to the lush rainforests in the east — India has it all.
Location and Size
Geographical Location
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Latitudinal extent | 8°4'N to 37°6'N |
| Longitudinal extent | 68°7'E to 97°25'E |
| Tropic of Cancer | Passes through the middle of India (23½°N) |
| Location | Northern Hemisphere; entirely in the Eastern Hemisphere |
| Direction from Equator | Entirely north of the Equator |
Size
| Measurement | Value |
|---|---|
| Total area | 3.28 million sq km |
| North-South extent | 3,214 km |
| East-West extent | 2,933 km |
| Land frontier | 15,200 km |
| Coastline (mainland) | 6,100 km |
| Coastline (including islands) | 7,517 km |
India's total land area is about 2.4% of the world's land area. Despite this, India supports about 17.5% of the world's population.
Southernmost Points
- Mainland: Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) at 8°4'N
- Entire country (including islands): Indira Point, Nicobar Islands at 6°4'N
India in the World
- India is shaped like a rhombus or a diamond.
- India is part of the continent of Asia.
- India is located in the south-central part of Asia.
- The Indian landmass projects southwards into the Indian Ocean, dividing it into the Arabian Sea (west) and the Bay of Bengal (east).
Physical Divisions of India
India has six major physical divisions:
1. The Himalayas (Northern Mountains)
- Formation: Formed when the Indian tectonic plate collided with the Eurasian plate about 50 million years ago
- Length: 2,400 km east-west
- Width: 240-400 km north-south
- Significance: Act as a natural barrier, influence climate (block cold winds, trap monsoon), source of major rivers
Ranges of the Himalayas:
| Range | Height | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Himadri (Greater Himalayas) | 6,000+ m | Highest range; contains Mt. Everest (8,849 m); always snow-covered |
| Himachal (Lesser Himalayas) | 3,700-4,500 m | Hill stations (Shimla, Manali, Mussoorie); valleys (Kashmir, Kullu) |
| Shiwaliks (Outer Himalayas) | 900-1,200 m | Lowest range; foothills; made of loose materials |
The Himalayas are called the 'abode of snow' (Hima = snow, Alaya = abode). They are the youngest and highest mountain range in the world.
2. The Northern Plains
- Formation: Formed by the deposition of sediments by the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra rivers
- Area: About 7 lakh sq km
- Length: 2,400 km east-west
- Width: 240-320 km
- Significance: Most fertile and densely populated region of India; called the 'Food Bowl of India'
Sections of the Northern Plains:
| Section | River | States |
|---|---|---|
| Indus Plains | Indus and its tributaries | Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan |
| Ganga Plains | Ganga and its tributaries | UP, Bihar, West Bengal |
| Brahmaputra Plains | Brahmaputra | Assam, Arunachal Pradesh |
3. The Peninsular Plateau
- Shape: Triangular in shape (base in the north, apex in the south)
- Area: About 16 lakh sq km
- Age: One of the oldest landmasses on Earth (formed from ancient Gondwana land)
- Elevation: 600-900 m above sea level
Divisions:
| Division | Location | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Central Highlands | North of Narmada river | Malwa Plateau, Bundelkhand |
| Deccan Plateau | South of Narmada river | Largest part; black soil (rich for cotton) |
| Western Ghats | Western edge | Continuous; 1,600 km; higher (avg 1,200 m) |
| Eastern Ghats | Eastern edge | Discontinuous; lower (avg 600 m) |
The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats meet in the Nilgiri Hills in Tamil Nadu. The highest peak in the Western Ghats is Anamudi (2,695 m) in Kerala.
4. The Coastal Plains
| Coast | Location | Width | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Western Coastal Plain | Between Western Ghats and Arabian Sea | 50-80 km | Narrow; lagoons and backwaters in Kerala |
| Eastern Coastal Plain | Between Eastern Ghats and Bay of Bengal | 100-130 km | Broader; fertile deltas of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri |
Sections of Western Coastal Plain:
- Konkan (Mumbai to Goa)
- Kanara (Goa to Mangalore)
- Malabar Coast (Mangalore to Kanyakumari)
Sections of Eastern Coastal Plain:
- Northern Circars (Odisha to Andhra Pradesh)
- Coromandel Coast (Andhra Pradesh to Tamil Nadu)
Andhra Pradesh has both the Northern Circars and the Coromandel Coast along its coastline. The Eastern Coastal Plain is wider and more fertile than the Western Coastal Plain.
5. The Islands
| Island Group | Location | Number of Islands | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar | Bay of Bengal | 572 | Volcanic origin; tropical forests; rich marine life |
| Lakshadweep | Arabian Sea | 36 | Coral islands; small area (32 sq km) |
Political Divisions of India
India is divided into administrative units:
| Unit | Number | Description |
|---|---|---|
| States | 28 | Main administrative units |
| Union Territories | 8 | Administered directly by the central government |
| Districts | 797+ | Subdivisions within states |
| Tehsils/Taluks | Multiple | Smaller administrative units |
| Villages | Over 6 lakh | The smallest unit |
States of India (Alphabetical Order)
Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal
Union Territories
Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Delhi (National Capital Territory), Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Puducherry
India's Neighbours
India shares land boundaries with seven countries:
| Neighbour | Direction | Border Length (km) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Northwest | 3,323 | India-Pakistan border (Radcliffe Line) |
| Afghanistan | Northwest | 106 | Through the Wakhan corridor |
| China | North | 3,488 | Line of Actual Control (LAC) |
| Nepal | North | 1,751 | Open border; friendly relations |
| Bhutan | Northeast | 699 | Friendly relations |
| Myanmar | East | 1,643 | Border in Northeast India |
| Bangladesh | East | 4,096 | Longest border; surrounded by India on three sides |
Maritime neighbours: Sri Lanka (south), Maldives (southwest), Indonesia (southeast)
The border with Bangladesh is the longest land border that India shares with any country.
AP Context: Andhra Pradesh within India
Location
- Region: Coastal Andhra lies on the southeast coast of India
- Latitudinal extent: 12°41'N to 19°54'N
- Longitudinal extent: 76°48'E to 84°58'E
- Area: 1,62,968 sq km (7th largest state by area)
- Position: South of the Tropic of Cancer (entirely in the Torrid Zone)
Boundaries of Andhra Pradesh
| Direction | State/Union Territory |
|---|---|
| North | Telangana, Odisha |
| South | Tamil Nadu |
| West | Karnataka, Telangana |
| East | Bay of Bengal (974 km coastline) |
Rivers of Andhra Pradesh
| River | Origin | Length in AP | Tributaries | Importance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Godavari | Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra | 1,065 km (in AP) | Purna, Indravati, Sabari, Manjira | Longest river in AP; delta is very fertile |
| Krishna | Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra | 960 km (total: 1,400 km) | Tungabhadra, Bhima, Musi | Second longest; Nagarjunasagar Dam |
| Penna | Nandi Hills, Karnataka | 597 km | Chitravati, Papagni, Cheyyeru | Seasonal river; mainly in Rayalaseema |
The Godavari and Krishna deltas are the most fertile regions of Andhra Pradesh. Rice is the main crop grown here.
Major Cities of Andhra Pradesh
Amaravati (capital), Visakhapatnam (largest city/largest port), Vijayawada (commercial centre), Guntur, Kurnool, Tirupati (religious centre), Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada, Nellore, Anantapur, Kadapa, Chittoor, Srikakulam.
Common Mistakes Students Make
- Thinking India is entirely in the Torrid Zone — the southern half is in the Torrid Zone, the northern half is in the Temperate Zone.
- Confusing the Western Ghats with the Eastern Ghats — Western Ghats are higher and continuous; Eastern Ghats are lower and discontinuous.
- Forgetting that India has islands — Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep.
- Believing India has 29 states — it was 29 before Jammu and Kashmir was reorganised in 2019 (now 28 states).
- Mixing up the origin points of major rivers.
Quick Self-Test
- What is the latitudinal extent of India?
- Name the six physical divisions of India.
- Which is the highest mountain range in India?
- How were the Northern Plains formed?
- What is the Deccan Plateau?
- Name the coastal plains of India.
- How many states and union territories does India have?
- Name India's neighbours.
- What is the longest river in Andhra Pradesh?
- What is the capital of Andhra Pradesh?
Exam Focus (5 Marks)
- Describe the physical divisions of India with their features.
- Explain the location and size of India.
- Describe the position of Andhra Pradesh within India — boundaries, rivers, and physical features.
