Chapter 7: Our Country – India
Source: The Earth: Our Habitat – Class VI Geography, Pages 47–55 Class: VI | Subject: Geography
Section 1. India – An Overview 🌍
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Area | About 3.28 million sq. km |
| North-south extent | Ladakh to Kanyakumari – about 3,200 km |
| East-west extent | Arunachal Pradesh to Kuchchh – about 2,900 km |
| Population | More than 120 crores (since 2011) |
| World rank by population | Second most populous, after China |
Boundaries of India:
| Direction | Boundary |
|---|---|
| North | The lofty Himalayas |
| West | Arabian Sea |
| East | Bay of Bengal |
| South | Indian Ocean |
Section 2. Locational Setting 🌍
- India is located in the northern hemisphere.
- The Tropic of Cancer (23°30'N) passes almost halfway through the country.
Extent of India:
| Direction | Extent |
|---|---|
| South to North (latitude) | 8°4'N to 37°6'N |
| West to East (longitude) | 68°7'E to 97°25'E |
Indian Standard Time:
- India's longitudinal extent is about 29°.
- Local time changes by 4 minutes for every 1 degree of longitude.
- This creates a difference of about 2 hours between the easternmost and westernmost points of India.
- The sun rises about 2 hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh (east) than in Gujarat (west).
- The longitude 82°30'E has been taken as the Indian Standard Time (IST).
- This longitude is also called the Standard Meridian of India.
Section 3. India's Neighbours 🌍
- Seven countries share land boundaries with India.
- Across the sea to the south lie India's island neighbours – Sri Lanka and Maldives.
- Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait.
Section 4. Political and Administrative Divisions 🏛️
- India is divided into 28 States and 8 Union Territories for administrative purposes.
- Delhi is the national capital.
- States have been formed mainly on the basis of languages.
Section 5. Physical Divisions 🌍
India is marked by a diversity of physical features – mountains, plateaus, plains, coasts, and islands.
5.1 The Himalayas
- Stand as sentinels (guards) in the north.
- Him + alaya means 'the abode of snow'.
Divided into Three Main Parallel Ranges:
| Range | Position | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Great Himalaya / Himadri | Northernmost | World's highest peaks are located here |
| Middle Himalaya / Himachal | South of Himadri | Many popular hill stations are situated here |
| Shiwalik | Southernmost | – |
5.2 Northern Indian Plains
- Lie to the south of the Himalayas – generally level and flat.
- Formed by alluvial deposits laid down by rivers – the Indus, the Ganga, the Brahmaputra, and their tributaries.
- These plains provide fertile land for cultivation.
- That is why there is a high concentration of population in these plains.
5.3 Great Indian Desert
- Located in the western part of India.
- A dry, hot, and sandy stretch of land.
- Has very little vegetation.
5.4 Peninsular Plateau
- Lies to the south of the Northern Plains.
- Triangular in shape with highly uneven relief.
- A region with numerous hill ranges and valleys.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Northwestern border | Aravali hills – one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world |
| Important ranges | Vindhyas and Satpuras |
| West-flowing rivers | Narmada and Tapi – drain into the Arabian Sea |
| Western boundary | Western Ghats / Sahyadris – almost continuous |
| Eastern boundary | Eastern Ghats – broken and uneven |
| Mineral wealth | Rich in coal and iron-ore |
5.5 Coastal Plains
- Lie to the West of the Western Ghats and the East of the Eastern Ghats.
| Feature | Western Coastal Plains | Eastern Coastal Plains |
|---|---|---|
| Width | Very narrow | Much broader |
| Rivers | – | Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri – drain into Bay of Bengal |
| Deltas formed | – | Fertile deltas at river mouths |
- The Sunderban delta is formed where the Ganga and Brahmaputra flow into the Bay of Bengal.
Section 6. Islands of India 🌍
Two Groups of Islands Form Part of India:
| Island Group | Location | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Lakshadweep Islands | Arabian Sea | Coral islands; located off the coast of Kerala |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Bay of Bengal | Lie to the southeast of the Indian mainland |
What are coral islands? Corals are skeletons of tiny marine animals called Polyps. When living polyps die, their skeletons remain. New polyps grow on top, building the skeleton higher and higher – forming coral islands.
Tsunami: A tsunami is a huge sea wave generated due to an earthquake on the sea floor.
Section 7. Key Terms 🔑
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Peninsula | A piece of land that is surrounded by water on three sides |
| Alluvial deposits | Very fine soils brought by rivers and deposited in river basins |
| Tributary | A river or stream that contributes its water to a main river by discharging into it from either side |
| Delta | An area of land formed at the mouth of a river (where a river enters the sea) |
| Palk Strait | The narrow strip of water separating India from Sri Lanka |
| Standard Meridian of India | The longitude 82°30'E taken as the basis for Indian Standard Time |
Common Confusions ⚠️
| Confusion | Clarification |
|---|---|
| Himadri vs Himachal vs Shiwalik | Himadri is the northernmost (world's highest peaks). Himachal is in the middle (hill stations). Shiwalik is the southernmost range. |
| Western Ghats vs Eastern Ghats | Western Ghats (Sahyadris) are almost continuous; Eastern Ghats are broken and uneven. Western Ghats border the plateau on the west; Eastern Ghats on the east. |
| Lakshadweep vs Andaman & Nicobar | Lakshadweep is in the Arabian Sea (coral islands, off Kerala). Andaman and Nicobar are in the Bay of Bengal (southeast of mainland). |
| Narmada and Tapi vs Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri | Narmada and Tapi flow west into the Arabian Sea. Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri flow east into the Bay of Bengal. |
| IST longitude | The Standard Meridian of India is 82°30'E – not 82°E or 83°E. |
Memory Aids 💡
| What to Remember | Mnemonic / Trick |
|---|---|
| Three Himalayan ranges (north to south) | 💡 H-H-S – Himadri, Himachal, Shiwalik. Think: "High Hills Stand" – north to south, getting lower. |
| Four east-flowing rivers into Bay of Bengal | 💡 MaGKaK – Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Kaveri. Think: "My Good King's Kingdom drains East." |
| Standard Meridian – 82°30'E | 💡 Think of a clock at 8:2 (82) and the 30 minutes hand – that's IST time! |
| Lakshadweep location | 💡 "Laksha-DEEP in the Arabian Sea" – it is located deep in the west. |
| India's extent (latitudes) | 💡 8 to 37 North – "8ighty-7 steps North" (8°4'N to 37°6'N). |
Exam Corner 🎯
Directly from The Earth: Our Habitat – Exercise, Pages 54–55:
| Question | Topic Tested | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Q1(a) Name the major physical divisions of India | Physical divisions | Page 54, Q1(a) |
| Q1(b) Name the 7 countries sharing land boundary | India's neighbours | Page 54, Q1(b) |
| Q1(c) Which two major rivers fall into the Arabian Sea? | Rivers – Narmada and Tapi | Page 54, Q1(c) |
| Q1(d) Name the delta formed by Ganga and Brahmaputra | Sunderban delta | Page 54, Q1(d) |
| Q1(e) How many States and UTs? Which states share a capital? | Political divisions | Page 54, Q1(e) |
| Q1(f) Why do many people live in the Northern Plains? | Fertile alluvial land for cultivation | Page 54, Q1(f) |
| Q1(g) Why is Lakshadweep known as a coral island? | Coral islands / Polyps | Page 54, Q1(g) |
| Q2(a) Southernmost Himalayas = Shiwaliks | Himalayan ranges | Page 54, Q2(a) |
| Q2(b) Sahyadris = Western Ghats | Peninsular plateau | Page 54, Q2(b) |
| Q2(c) Palk Strait lies between India and Sri Lanka | India's neighbours | Page 54, Q2(c) |
| Q2(d) Indian islands in Arabian Sea = Lakshadweep | Islands | Page 54, Q2(d) |
| Q2(e) Oldest mountain range = Aravali hills | Peninsular plateau | Page 55, Q2(e) |
| Q3(a) Area of India = 3.28 million sq. km | Overview | Page 55, Q3(a) |
| Q3(b) Greater Himalayas = Himadri | Himalayan ranges | Page 55, Q3(b) |
| Q3(c) Narmada falls into the Arabian Sea | Rivers | Page 55, Q3(c) |
| Q3(d) Tropic of Cancer runs halfway through India | Locational setting | Page 55, Q3(d) |
| Map Skills: Tropic of Cancer, Standard Meridian, Andaman & Lakshadweep, Western & Eastern Ghats | Map-based | Page 55 |
Abbreviation Legend
| Abbreviation | Full Form |
|---|---|
| IST | Indian Standard Time |
| km | Kilometre |
| sq. km | Square kilometre |
| N | North (latitude) |
| E | East (longitude) |
| UTs | Union Territories |
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