“India: Size and Location – Overview and Important MCQs for Competitive Exams”

India is the world’s seventh-largest country, standing out in both geography and culture. Situated in South Asia, it is popular for its rich diversity ranging from diverse terrains, climatic conditions, and cultural identification. From the towering Himalayas of the north to the large Indian Ocean of the south, India’s geographical size and strategic location have profoundly shaped its history, economy, and international relations.

Stretching to almost 3.28 million square kilometers, India borders all those countries: Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. India has a coast of almost 7,500 km in length and has remained one of the significant centers for maritime trade and cultural intercourse through all ages. Its longitudinal and latitudinal extend has also allowed it the benefit of varying climates; it is blessed with plenty of biodiversity and agricultural productions.

This would help many students preparing for exams, especially if they are going to opt for geography, history, and general knowledge. The topic creates a foundation for Indian geography and also makes a large point about the global importance of its location. Let us dive deeper into the fascinating facts of India’s size and location!

Location of the country

• •India is located in the Northern Hemisphere

• The Tropic of Cancer (23°30′ N) passes almost halfway
  through the country.
• Latitude and Longitude of India- Latitude: 8°4′ N and 37°6′ N, from south to north.
• Longitudes: 68°7′ E and 97°25′ E, from west to east.

Physical Features of the country

India is a country of massive geographical area.
It is bounded by-
•The lofty Himalayas in the North;
•The Arabian Sea in the West;
•The Bay of Bengal in the East; and
•The Indian Ocean in the South
•India has an area of about 3, 28 million sq. km.
•The north-south extent from Kashmir to Kanyakumari measures about 3,200 km.
•The east-west extent from Arunachal Pradesh to Kucchi measures
about 2,900 km.

India’s Neighbours

•There are seven countries that share land boundaries with India.
•And the nine neighbouring countries of India are – Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and
Sri Lanka.
•Number of Neighbouring Countries: 9
•Length of Land Border: 15,106.7 km
•Coastline: 7,516.6 km

•Sri Lanka is separated from India by the Palk Strait.
•India is a vast country.
•For administrative purposes, the country is divided into 28
states and 8 Union Territories.
•With the declaration of Jammu and Kashmir as a Union
Territory, the number of states in India was declared to be 28.

MCQs OF India: Size and Location

Q1. In India, how many States/Union Territories have more than two international boundaries?
(a) 1
(b) 2
(c) 3
(d) 4
Ans 😀
•In total, there are 3 states and 1 Union territory that share more than two international boundaries.
Ladakh shares international boundaries with Pakistan, Afghanistan and China. West Bengal shares international boundaries with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

Q2. The southernmost range of India is?

(a) Nilgiri
(b) Annamalai
(c) Cardamom
(d) Nallamalai
Ans :C

•The Cardamom Hills or Yela Mala are mountain range of southern India and part of the southern Western Ghats located in Idukki district, Kerala, India.

Their name comes from the cardamom spice grown in much of the hills’ cool elevation, which also supports pepper and coffee.

Q3. The northem plain of India is formed of…?

(a) Metamorphic soil
(b) Igneous rocks
(c) Alluvial soil
(d) Old crystalline rocks
Ans :C

•The Northern Plain was formed by the interplay of the three major river systems, namely– the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra along with their tributaries.
It is composed of alluvial soil which has been deposited over millions of years, it is about 2400 km long and about 240 to 320 km broad.

Q4. The Indian Standard Time is calculated from the clock tower of?
(a) Hamirpur
(b) Rampur
(c) Mirzapur
(d) Sambalpur

Ans :

The Purvanchal range includes the mountain ranges of the Patkai
hills, Barail range, Manipur, and Naga Hills.

Q5. India has a land boundary of about……… km.
(a) 5200
(b) 10200
(c) 15200
(d) 20200
Ans :

• India has an enormous land boundary.
• Its land boundary extends to about 15,200 km.
• The total length of the coastline of the Indian mainland, along with the islands of Andaman and Nicobar, as well as Lakshadweep, is 7516.6 km.

Q6. India is the…… largest country in terms of size?
(a) Seventh
(b) Sixth
(c) Eighth
(d) Second
Ans :A
In terms of land area, India is the 7th largest country after Russia,
Canada, USA, People’s Republic of China, Brazil and Australia..

Q7. West Bengal shares boundaries with……countries.
(a) 2
(b) 4
(c) 1
(d) 3
Ans 😀
West Bengal – state in eastern India and is the nation’s fourth-most populous state, with over 91 million inhabitants.

It is Spread over 34,267 sq mi (88,750 km2), it is bordered by the countries of Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, and the Indian states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim and Assam.

Q7. Which state of India touches maximum State boundaries?
(a) Madhya Pradesh
(b) Karnataka
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Uttar Pradesh
Ans 😀
•Uttar Pradesh share borders with 9 different states. Neighbouring States
of Uttar Pradesh – Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in northwest, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan in west, Madhya Pradesh in south, Chhattisgarh in southeast, Bihar and Jharkhand in east.

Q8. The Andaman Group of islands and the Nicobar group of islands are separated by which one of the following latitudes ?
(a) 8° N latitude
(b) 10° N latitude
(c) 12° N latitude
(d) 13° N latitude
Ans :B
The Ten Degree Channel is a channel that separates the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands from each other in the Bay of Bengal.

The two sets of islands together form the Indian Union Territory (UT) of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Q9. Mount Everest is part of which among the following ?
(a) Himadri
(b) Himachal
(c) Siwalik
(d) None the above
Ans :A
Himadri (Greater Himalaya) is the northernmost and the highest range of the Himalayas.

The extent of this range is from the Nanga Parbat peak (8126 m) in the west and Namcha Barwa peak (7756 m) in the east.

The highest peak of the world, Mount Everest (8848 m) is situated in this range.

Q10. Kanchenjunga is part of which among the following ?
(a) Himadri
(b) Himachal
(c) Siwalik
(d) None the above
Ans :A
Kanchenjunga is the highest peak of the Himalayas in India.

It is part of the Himadri (Greater Himalaya) range. Mount Everest, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Annapurna are some of the other peaks of this range.

Q11. The southern most range of Himalayas is known as ?
(a) Himadri
(b) Himachal
(c) Siwalik
(d) Trans Himalayas
Ans :C
Siwalik (Outer Himalaya) is the southernmost range of Himalayas.

The average height of the Siwalik range is very low compared to Himachal and Himadri.

There are broad valleys between the Himachal and the Siwalik ranges known as ‘Duns’. Dehradun valley is one of the best examples.

Q12. Majuli, the world’s largest river island, is located in which river ?
(a) Ganga
(b) Brahmaputra
(c) Yamuna
(d) Satluj
Ans :
Brahmaputra river is highly prone to devastating floods at regular intervals.

Majuli, the world’s largest river island, is located in Brahmaputra

This part of land is very fertile as it is made up of the deposition of alluvium brought by Brahmaputra river.

Q13. India and Sri Lanka are separated by which among the following strait ?
(a) Malacca Strait
(b) Sunda Strait
(c) Palk Strait
(d) Strait of Gibraltar
Ans :C
India and Sri Lanka are narrowly separated by the Palk Strait.

Q14. The easternmost point of India is located in the state of ?
(a) Aasam
(b) Arunachal Pradesh
(c) Meghalaya
(d) Sikkim
Ans :A
Kibithu is the easternmost place of India. It is located in the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh. Lohit River enters India at Kibithu.

Q15. The standard time meridian of India is ?
(a) 83°30′ E
(b) 82°30′ E
(c) 81°30′ E
(d) 80°30′ E
Ans :B
The standard time meridian of India is 82°30′ E.
It passes through the following states of India:

• Uttar Pradesh
• Orissa
• Andhra Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Chattisgarh

Q16. Over how many Indian states does the Deccan Plateau extend?
A. 5
B. 8
C. 6
D. 3
Ans :B

The eight Indian states.
■ Telangana ■ Maharashtra
■Karnataka. ■ Andhra Pradesh
■ Kerala. ■Tamil Nadu
■ It also covers some parts of Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh.

The Deccan Plateau covers the majority of the southern part of the country.

Q17. Which is the smallest union territory of India in terms of total area?
A. Puducherry
B. Daman and Diu
C. Chandigarh
D. Lakshadweep
Ans 😀

Lakshadweep is formerly known as Laccadive Islands.

• The name Lakshadweep in Malayalam and Sanskrit means ‘a hundred thousand islands’.

•Kavaratti is the capital of Lakshadweep.

Lakshadweep is the smallest union territory of India.It consists of 36 islands with an area of 32 sq km.

Q18. Which state does not share its boundary with Myanmar ?
A. Arunachal Pradesh
B. Mizoram
C. Manipur
D. Sikkim
Ans 😀
The correct answer is Sikkim. Sikkim shares international boundaries with Bhutan, China, and Nepal. Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram share an international boundary with Myanmar.

Q19. The Zoji La Pass is in which mountain range?
A. Zanskar Range
B. Ladakh Range
C. East Karakoram Range
D. Dhauladhar Range
Ans :A
Zoji La Pass: It is in the Zaskar range in the Indian union territory of Ladakh.

Zoji La is a mountain pass located in the Himalayas in Ladakh. Zoji La connects Srinagar and Leh.

It connects the Kashmir Valley to its west with the Dras and Suru valleys to its northeast and the Indus valley further east.

Q20. Which of the following rivers originate from the Vindhya Range?
A. Betwa
B. Kaveri
C. Chenab
D. Gomati
Ans :A

Betwa river flows in Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Rivers like Chambal, Betwa, and Ken rise from Vindhya Range.

The Betwa river is a tributary of Yamuna.

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