📌 Topic 01 of 6 · Chapter 01 · Location & Physiography
India’s Location, Extent & Neighbours
Latitude, longitude, area, coastline, land borders, Standard Meridian, and 7 neighbouring countries.
🌍 India’s Location
India is located in the Northern Hemisphere, in South Asia. It lies entirely north of the equator and east of the Prime Meridian.
| Parameter | Value | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Latitudinal Extent | 8°4’N to 37°6’N | Spans ~29° of latitude; tropical to sub-temperate climate |
| Longitudinal Extent | 68°7’E to 97°25’E | Spans ~29° of longitude; ~2 hours time difference east to west |
| Standard Meridian | 82°30’E (IST = UTC+5:30) | Passes through Mirzapur (UP); 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of GMT |
| Tropic of Cancer | 23°30’N | Passes through 8 states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, MP, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, WB, Tripura, Mizoram |
| Total Area | 3.28 million sq km | 7th largest country in the world; 2.4% of world’s land area |
| Land Boundary | ~15,200 km | Shares borders with 7 countries |
| Coastline | ~7,516 km (mainland + islands) | Mainland: ~6,100 km; 9 coastal states + 4 UTs |
⭐ Key Fact: India’s Standard Meridian (82°30’E) passes through Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh. India has a single time zone (IST = UTC+5:30) despite spanning ~29° of longitude. The sun rises ~2 hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh than in Gujarat.
🗺️ India’s Neighbouring Countries
| Country | Direction | Shared Border (approx.) | Key Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Northwest | ~3,323 km | Radcliffe Line (1947); Wagah border; shares Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, J&K |
| China | North/Northeast | ~3,488 km | McMahon Line (disputed); longest land border; shares J&K, HP, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal |
| Nepal | North | ~1,751 km | Open border; shares UP, Bihar, WB, Sikkim, Uttarakhand |
| Bhutan | Northeast | ~699 km | Shares Sikkim, Arunachal, Assam, WB |
| Bangladesh | East | ~4,156 km | Longest land border; shares WB, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram |
| Myanmar | East | ~1,643 km | Shares Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram |
| Sri Lanka | South | Sea boundary (Palk Strait) | Separated by Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar; Adam’s Bridge (Ram Setu) |
📝 Exam Tip — Neighbours Memory:
Clockwise from NW: Pakistan → China → Nepal → Bhutan → Bangladesh → Myanmar → Sri Lanka (sea)
• Longest land border = Bangladesh (~4,156 km)
• Shortest land border = Bhutan (~699 km)
• Only sea border = Sri Lanka (Palk Strait)
• Maldives = island nation in Indian Ocean; no land border
Clockwise from NW: Pakistan → China → Nepal → Bhutan → Bangladesh → Myanmar → Sri Lanka (sea)
• Longest land border = Bangladesh (~4,156 km)
• Shortest land border = Bhutan (~699 km)
• Only sea border = Sri Lanka (Palk Strait)
• Maldives = island nation in Indian Ocean; no land border
📍 Important Geographical Points
| Point | Location | State/UT |
|---|---|---|
| Northernmost point | Indira Col (Siachen Glacier) | J&K (Ladakh) |
| Southernmost point (mainland) | Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) | Tamil Nadu |
| Southernmost point (India) | Indira Point (Great Nicobar) | Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
| Easternmost point | Kibithu | Arunachal Pradesh |
| Westernmost point | Ghuar Mota (Sir Creek) | Gujarat |