Class 9 NCERT Solutions Geography Chapter 1 - India - Size and Location

(i) Lakshadweep Islands are the group of islands that lie in the Arabian Sea.

(ii) Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil and Australia are the countries that are larger than India.

(iii) Andaman and Nicobar Islands lie to the south-east of India.

(iv) Sri Lanka and Maldives are the two island countries that are the southern neighbours of India.

India has a vast latitudinal and longitudinal extent. As the Sun rises two hours earlier in Arunanchal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat, a time lag of two hours is caused while travelling between the two states. In order to avoid confusion, the time along the Standard Meridian of India (82 ⁰30’E) passing through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh is taken as a standard time. Hence, the watches show the same time.

The Indian landmass is centrally located between east and west Asia. The part that is attached to the Asian continent connects India (through land routes and mountain passes) to the various countries lying to its north, west and east. The part that extends into the Indian Ocean connects India (through the trans Indian Ocean routes) to Europe, west Asia and Africa in the west and the countries of east Asia. The strategic location of India has contributed to the exchange of ideas and flourishing through land and sea, since ancient times. This is the reason why its location at the head of the Indian Ocean is significant.